IS CUNARD FOR YOU?

For sure, Cunard is one of the most revered and highly styled names in maritime history, In terms of today's contemporary cruise product, it stands as a thing apart; a line where old traditions still hold sway, and nostalgia is still very much the prime dirving factor in retaining passenger loyalty and, to a lesser extent, in attracting new followers.

If you enjoy the idea of dressing for dinner, then Cunard will definitely float your boat, pun wholly intentional. The company still has formal ballrooms on all three of its current ships, and big band dancing and formal cocktail parties are very much the name of the game here. In this, Cunard definitely harkens back to the lustre of its fabled transatlantic heyday.

On the other hand, there are those who do not like the idea of the on board lifestyle, where restaurants and dining are tied to whichever grade of accommodation you book. These people see the Cunard ships as a kind of tiered, archaic hierachy; a series of three class ships where some areas are definitely off limits to the many. It sets up a kind of 'them and us' vibe for those people, and they tend not to return to Cunard.

And yet, by way of diversity, Cunard ships are some of the most technically up to date vessels out there, full of unique, passenger friendly facilities that people genuinely love. From the fabulous Planetarium on Queen Mary 2 to the first rate roster of top end speakers that sail on all three ships, Cunard feels- and is- a far more rounded, infinitely less banal travel experience than many of its rivals out there.

The Cunard ships emphasise style, service, and succulent cuisine served in gracious surroundings. by an attentive staff. This isn't hype; more the logical continuation of a benchmark established more than a century ago. Some people perceive this as Cunard being unable to let go of the past; others as welcome continuation of a style that is ever rarer in today's fast paced era.

The accommodation is as superb as you would expect, even in the lowest grades. Cunard's lead in prices do tend to be higher than those of many lines, and even more than it's stable mates in the Carnival portfolio, This in part reflects what it sees as its own unique, elevated status. And again, this is something that a lot of people tend to resent.

But Cunard is special, different and, on so many levels, totally delightful. Whether or not you buy into it, and it's unique way of being and doing, is a decision that only you are best qualified to make.