THE ENGLISH National Ballet will return to Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 next year as part of the cruise line’s latest programme of arts-focused voyages.
The company’s Dance the Atlantic crossing, taking place from 16 to 23 July 2027, will feature performances by English National Ballet artists alongside workshops and talks offering passengers an insight into the company’s work. The voyage forms part of Cunard’s newly announced 2027 entertainment programme, which also includes partnerships with the Olivier Awards, the National Symphony Orchestra and The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Dance the Atlantic
Dance the Atlantic has become one of Cunard’s flagship cultural voyages, combining performances with talks and workshops led by dancers and creative teams. Elsewhere, Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards returns for a transatlantic crossing celebrating the best of theatre through performances, industry insights and special events. The voyage forms part of Cunard’s ongoing partnership with the Olivier Awards, which enters its second year in 2027.
Also back by popular demand is the annual voyage led by conductor Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra, now in its 18th year, while the Literature Festival at Sea, curated by the team behind The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, will offer up authors, journalists and commentators for a week-long programme of talks and events.
Dance the Atlantic Ivana Bueno as Sugar Plum Fairy in Nutcracker
Against the backdrop of the themed voyages, Cunard has announced a new programme of entertainment residencies across Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria that’ll include theatre productions, literary adaptations and solo performances, along with workshops and recitals.
McAlister said the programme reflects Cunard’s continued investment in partnerships with major arts organisations, “Entertainment has always been central to the Cunard experience, and our 2027 programme brings together world leading cultural partners in a way that only Cunard can. From our signature Event Voyages on board the world’s only ocean liner to new residencies across the fleet, we’re giving guests the opportunity to connect with the arts in a way that simply isn’t possible anywhere else.”
by Felicity Carter
See more on cunard.com.