September 7, 2026
10-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,199
Price / day
$120
Queen Elizabeth|Queen Mary 2
Queen Elizabeth vs Queen Mary 2
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Queen Elizabeth
Cunard Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Queen Elizabeth
Built in 2010
6 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Queen Elizabeth
$139 / day
$23 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Queen Mary 2
57 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Queen Elizabeth vs Queen Mary 2: Quick Comparison
Queen Elizabeth is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2010, it is 6 years newer than Queen Mary 2, which entered service in 2004. Queen Mary 2 is approximately 64% larger by gross tonnage at 149,215 GT. Queen Mary 2 also carries 552 more passengers. Queen Elizabeth has upcoming sailings in Alaska, while Queen Mary 2 has sailings in Transatlantic. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Queen Elizabeth has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Queen Elizabeth | Queen Mary 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2010Newer | 2004 |
| Gross Tonnage | 90,901 GT | 149,215 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,068 | 2,620 |
| Space per Passenger | 44 GT | 57 GT |
| Length | 294 m | 345.03 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Queen Elizabeth vs Queen Mary 2
Age
Queen Elizabeth was built in 2010, making it 6 years newer than Queen Mary 2, which was built in 2004.
Size
At 149,215 GT, Queen Mary 2 is approximately 64% larger by gross tonnage than Queen Elizabeth at 90,901 GT.
Passenger capacity
Queen Mary 2 carries up to 2,620 passengers compared with 2,068 aboard Queen Elizabeth, a difference of 552 passengers.
Passenger space
Queen Mary 2 offers more space per passenger: 57 GT per guest, compared with 44 aboard Queen Elizabeth. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Queen Elizabeth (Alaska) and Queen Mary 2 (Transatlantic) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Queen Elizabeth has the lower average starting price per day at $139 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Queen Elizabeth
Alaska, 10 Nights
- Departure Port
- Seattle
- Region
- Alaska
- Nights
- 10
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 7, 2026Seattle
- Day 2 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 9, 2026Wrangell
- Day 4 · Sep 10, 2026Juneau
- Day 5 · Sep 11, 2026Skagway
- Day 6 · Sep 12, 2026Hubbard Glacier
- Day 7 · Sep 13, 2026Sitka
- Day 8 · Sep 14, 2026Ketchikan
- Day 9 · Sep 15, 2026At Sea
- Day 10 · Sep 16, 2026Victoria
- Day 11 · Sep 17, 2026Seattle
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Queen Mary 2
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing, 10 Nights
- Departure Port
- Hamburg
- Region
- Transatlantic
- Nights
- 10
- Round Trip
- No
- Day 1 · Sep 2, 2026Hamburg
- Day 2 · Sep 3, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 4, 2026Zeebrugge
- Day 4 · Sep 5, 2026Southampton
- Day 5 · Sep 6, 2026At Sea
- Day 6 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
- Day 7 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Sep 9, 2026At Sea
- Day 9 · Sep 10, 2026At Sea
- Day 10 · Sep 11, 2026At Sea
- Day 11 · Sep 12, 2026New York
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Queen Elizabeth
September 17, 2026
7-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,099
Price / day
$157
Queen Mary 2
September 2, 2026
10-Night Transatlantic Cruise
Departing from Hamburg
From
$1,379
Price / day
$138
September 5, 2026
14-Night Transatlantic Cruise
Departing from Southampton
From
$2,599
Price / day
$186
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Queen Elizabeth
Average
$139 / day
VS
Queen Mary 2
Average
$162 / day
Queen Elizabeth has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$139/day vs $162/day
About $23 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Queen Elizabeth if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Alaska.
- Departing from Seattle works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Queen Mary 2 if…
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Transatlantic.
- Departing from Hamburg and Southampton works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth vs Queen Mary 2: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Queen Elizabeth
Built in 2010
6 years newer
Bigger
Queen Mary 2
149,215 GT
64% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Queen Elizabeth
$139 / day
About $23 less per day
- Queen Elizabeth is 6 years newer.
- Queen Mary 2 is 64% larger by gross tonnage.
- Queen Mary 2 carries 552 more passengers.
- Queen Mary 2 offers more space per passenger (57 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Elizabeth is newer. It was built in 2010, while Queen Mary 2 was built in 2004, making Queen Elizabeth 6 years newer.
Which is bigger, Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Mary 2 is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 149,215 GT compared with Queen Elizabeth at 90,901 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Queen Mary 2 has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,620, compared with 2,068 for Queen Elizabeth.
Which ship is more spacious, Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Mary 2 has the higher passenger space ratio at 57 GT per passenger, versus 44 for Queen Elizabeth. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary 2?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Queen Elizabeth has the lower average starting price per day at $139 per day versus $162 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Queen Elizabeth sail?
The upcoming Queen Elizabeth sailings currently listed cover Alaska, departing from Seattle.
Related Cruise Ship Comparisons
Explore Upcoming Cruises
Queen Elizabeth
Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
Cunard Line