QM2 Transatlantic Crossings Per Year

[bluemarble]

It's been a while since I've updated the counts I keep of the number of QM2 transatlantic crossings per year. I started posting these counts a few years ago in response to a question about whether the number of crossings had been decreasing in recent years.

 

For obvious reasons, QM2 crossings were severely curtailed during 2020/2021.

 

There is going to be an uptick in crossings for 2022 if all goes as scheduled. That's due in large part to the crossings included in the early 2022 Caribbean cruises which are replacing QM2's canceled 2022 World Voyage. For example, I'm counting two crossings for the QM2 Caribbean cruise currently underway: Southampton-Barbados (a westbound crossing) and then Tortola-Southampton (an eastbound crossing). Some of you may recall our discussions about that in my earlier thread What's the precise definition of "Transatlantic Crossing"?

 

But now that the 2023 schedules are out, there is a significant drop off in the number of crossings scheduled for 2023. Some, but by no means all of that could be attributed to the gap in QM2's schedule between October 20 and November 16, 2023 which looks like it might be another drydock/refit. For 2023 crossings, it would appear it's back to levels comparable to ten years ago during 2013/2014.

 

QM2 Crossings Per Year

2004 = 15

2005 = 26

2006 = 20

2007 = 23

2008 = 24

2009 = 23

2010 = 21

2011 = 21

2012 = 20

2013 = 18

2014 = 18

2015 = 22

2016 = 21

2017 = 24

2018 = 24

2019 = 24

2020 = 1

2021 = 1

2022 = 26

2023 = 18

 

Total QM2 crossings through 2023 = 390

[david,Mississauga]

As much as I enjoy the 7-night crossings, if they were shorter obviously there could be more crossings in the same amount of time.  Next year's 18 crossings take 126 days.

 

I have referred to two QE2 brochures. In 1985 (a year on which we took a crossing) there were 26 crossings of 5 days each, so 130 days were spent on crossings. 

 

In 1975 there were 30 crossings. All of them included a call at Cherbourg. The e/b crossings took 6 days and w/b was 5 days even with that Cherbourg call, so 165 days were spent on the crossings.

[P2l]

Just a guess, but fuel costs and/or climate footprint may be why they are disinclined to cross quicker.

[john watson]

On a slower crossing the passengers spend more money and the cruise line needs to find fewer people for say ten crossings because they are taking up a greater number of days. If they could cross in half the time you need twice as many passengers.

 

I think Cunard would do well to have a smaller ship alternating the direction QM2 is sailing to give a short break in US and UK with passengers sailing both directions.

 

Regards John

Edited January 18, 2022 by john watson

[jimbo1683]

1 hour ago, john watson said:

On a slower crossing the passengers spend more money and the cruise line needs to find fewer people for say ten crossings because they are taking up a greater number of days. If they could cross in half the time you need twice as many passengers.

Swings and roundabouts. With shorter crossings there could be more people wanting to go, it would be more accessible to more people - the cruise should cost less as it's fewer nights, less pressure on limited holiday time from work, it could be more appealing to less seasoned cruisers to not be at sea for so long.

Edited January 18, 2022 by jimbo1683

[RICHARD@SEA]

I have mentioned this in the past....I really enjoyed the 5 day crossings years ago as I could spend a weekend in Paris or London & still take the QE2 or FRANCE crossing in a week.

 

the 7 day crossings are nice but if 5/6 days come back(especially w the option of boarding in Cherbourg) I'd be booking more.(& I love being at sea)

[navybankerteacher]

On 1/18/2022 at 6:02 PM, jimbo1683 said:

Swings and roundabouts. With shorter crossings there could be more people wanting to go, it would be more accessible to more people - the cruise should cost less as it's fewer nights, less pressure on limited holiday time from work, it could be more appealing to less seasoned cruisers to not be at sea for so long.

Shorter crossings might not cost that much less, since the highest fuel consumption comes with the higher speed necessary to do it in five or six days.  Also, a lot of the customer base are not in that great a hurry.   I am inclined to think that the people at Cunard (who are in a position to know) feel that the 7 day crossing best serves their, and their market's, interest  --- they would not so structure their schedule without figuring out that sort of thing.

[john watson]

Years ago it was straightforward to sail in both directions as there were other lines doing transatlantic crossings and this made a long stay in US or UK possible.  I think there is a big market in staying in either continent without flying.

 

Regards John

[navybankerteacher]

Given the number of Eastbound Springtime and Westbound Autumn cruise lines’ repositioning itineraries, it is possible to cobble together a fair number of trans-Atlantic round trips (utilising QM 2’s straight shots) without having to go near an airport.

Edited January 20, 2022 by navybankerteacher

[MylesS]

On 1/18/2022 at 9:44 PM, P2l said:

Just a guess, but fuel costs and/or climate footprint may be why they are disinclined to cross quicker.

Stephen Payne was on the 2021 December crossing, which I was lucky enough to be a part of. He did a talk on the construction of the ship, and at the end spoke about what he would do differently.

He mentioned he would find an alternative for the gas turbines up behind the funnel, as the increase in fuel price has meant they're rarely used, hence the extra day now on the crossings.

[bluemarble]

Now that the full 2024 schedules have been formally announced (and are on sale as of today), I think it's time to update this thread to include the number of crossings scheduled for 2024.

 

QM2 Crossings Per Year

2004 = 15

2005 = 26

2006 = 20

2007 = 23

2008 = 24

2009 = 23

2010 = 21

2011 = 21

2012 = 20

2013 = 18

2014 = 18

2015 = 22

2016 = 21

2017 = 24

2018 = 24

2019 = 24

2020 = 1

2021 = 1

2022 = 26

2023 = 18

2024 = 20

 

Total QM2 crossings through 2024 = 410.

 

If Cunard's counts agree with mine, the westbound crossing departing Southampton on July 21, 2024 should be QM2's 400th transatlantic crossing.

[bluemarble]

Time to amend these counts to take into account the two crossings recently canceled. The 2023 crossings count drops from 18 to 16.

 

QM2 Crossings Per Year

2004 = 15

2005 = 26

2006 = 20

2007 = 23

2008 = 24

2009 = 23

2010 = 21

2011 = 21

2012 = 20

2013 = 18

2014 = 18

2015 = 22

2016 = 21

2017 = 24

2018 = 24

2019 = 24

2020 = 1

2021 = 1

2022 = 26

2023 = 16

2024 = 20

 

Total QM2 crossings through 2024 = 408.

 

If Cunard's counts agree with mine, the westbound crossing departing Southampton on August 16, 2024 now should be QM2's 400th transatlantic crossing. Sorry to those who were anticipating the July 21, 2024 crossing might be the one for that milestone.

[bluemarble]

Time to update these counts to add what looks like the count is going to be for 2025.

 

I also need to amend my previous counts since Cunard has announced on their Event Voyages page that the August 23–30, 2024 eastbound crossing will be “Queen Mary 2’s 400th Transatlantic Crossing”. My previous counts are one too high. I had figured the August 16-23, 2024 westbound crossing would be QM2’s 400th crossing.

 

My counts are correct through what Cunard promoted as the 300th crossing. That was the June 3-10, 2018 westbound crossing. Looking for a subsequent crossing which I’ve counted but Cunard is not counting, there is one prime suspect. That’s the return to Southampton after the 2021-22 Christmas Caribbean cruise was curtailed because of a Covid outbreak. Instead of returning to New York for the scheduled eastbound crossing on January 3, 2022, QM2 spent several days in Barbados before returning to Southampton from there on January 2, 2022. I’ve been counting that return from Barbados in my 2022 crossing counts, but I now suspect Cunard is excluding that unscheduled voyage from their crossing counts.

 

In any event, to get my counts back in sync with Cunard’s counts, I’ll reduce the total number of crossings for 2022 from 26 to 25.

 

One footnote on the count for 2025 I’m adding here. I’m assuming the roundtrip Caribbean cruise from Southampton scheduled for January 11 to February 15, 2025 is going to count as two crossings (i.e. a westbound crossing to Grenada and an eastbound crossing from Philipsburg). I figure Cunard counted a similar Caribbean cruise from Southampton in early 2022 as two crossings.

 

QM2 Crossings Per Year

2004 = 15

2005 = 26

2006 = 20

2007 = 23

2008 = 24

2009 = 23

2010 = 21

2011 = 21

2012 = 20

2013 = 18

2014 = 18

2015 = 22

2016 = 21

2017 = 24

2018 = 24

2019 = 24

2020 = 1

2021 = 1

2022 = 25

2023 = 16

2024 = 20

2025 = 24

 

Total QM2 crossings through 2025 = 431.

[alibabacruisers]

You are amazing with this kind of information gathering and I applaud you John!!

[NE John]

12 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

Time to update these counts to add what looks like the count is going to be for 2025.

 

I also need to amend my previous counts since Cunard has announced on their Event Voyages page that the August 23–30, 2024 eastbound crossing will be “Queen Mary 2’s 400th Transatlantic Crossing”. My previous counts are one too high. I had figured the August 16-23, 2024 westbound crossing would be QM2’s 400th crossing.

 

My counts are correct through what Cunard promoted as the 300th crossing. That was the June 3-10, 2018 westbound crossing. Looking for a subsequent crossing which I’ve counted but Cunard is not counting, there is one prime suspect. That’s the return to Southampton after the 2021-22 Christmas Caribbean cruise was curtailed because of a Covid outbreak. Instead of returning to New York for the scheduled eastbound crossing on January 3, 2022, QM2 spent several days in Barbados before returning to Southampton from there on January 2, 2022. I’ve been counting that return from Barbados in my 2022 crossing counts, but I now suspect Cunard is excluding that unscheduled voyage from their crossing counts.

 

In any event, to get my counts back in sync with Cunard’s counts, I’ll reduce the total number of crossings for 2022 from 26 to 25.

 

One footnote on the count for 2025 I’m adding here. I’m assuming the roundtrip Caribbean cruise from Southampton scheduled for January 11 to February 15, 2025 is going to count as two crossings (i.e. a westbound crossing to Grenada and an eastbound crossing from Philipsburg). I figure Cunard counted a similar Caribbean cruise from Southampton in early 2022 as two crossings.

 

QM2 Crossings Per Year

2004 = 15

2005 = 26

2006 = 20

2007 = 23

2008 = 24

2009 = 23

2010 = 21

2011 = 21

2012 = 20

2013 = 18

2014 = 18

2015 = 22

2016 = 21

2017 = 24

2018 = 24

2019 = 24

2020 = 1

2021 = 1

2022 = 25

2023 = 16

2024 = 20

2025 = 24

 

Total QM2 crossings through 2025 = 431.

Let’s get through 2023 first! It’s been a Crazy year for our old Aunt!!

[SusieAV8R]

4 hours ago, NE John said:

Let’s get through 2023 first! It’s been a Crazy year for our old Aunt!!

DH agrees with your sentiment...I am a crazy planner 🙄