Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
- Cruises
- 143
- From
- $359
Ship comparison
Queen Mary 2 vs Scarlet Lady
Virgin Voyages
Scarlet Lady
- Cruises
- 59
- From
- $545
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Queen Mary 2 is a large Cunard Line ship carrying 2,620 passengers, in service since 2004. Scarlet Lady is a large Virgin Voyages ship carrying 2,770 passengers, in service since 2021.
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you want better-rated entertainment, a more family-friendly ship or more space per passenger: it outscores Scarlet Lady for entertainment (8.0 vs 3.0) and family friendly (4.0 vs 1.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 57.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 39.7).
Choose Scarlet Lady if you want more of a party, a newer ship or a more active cruise: it outscores Queen Mary 2 for party (8.0 vs 5.0) and active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2021 (vs 2004).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Queen Mary 2 | Scarlet Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Cunard Line | Virgin Voyages |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 | 2021 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 151,400 | 110,000 |
| Passengers | 2,620 | 2,770 |
| Crew | 1,253 | 1,160 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.1 (better) | 2.4 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 57.8 (better) | 39.7 |
| Decks | 17 | 17 |
| Length | 1,132 ft | 909 ft |
| Beam | 148 ft | 135 ft |
| Speed | 35 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 143 | 59 |
| Upcoming sailings | 204 | 111 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–35 nights | 4–14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $359 (better) | $545 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Queen Mary 2 leads on 6 of the ten, Scarlet Lady on 2, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
The ocean liner Queen Mary 2, flagship of the 184-year-old Cunard Line, embodies the grace and classic heritage of ships from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. She is the only ship in operation that retains a scheduled transatlantic service, from New York to England and back.
Highlights
- The planetarium shows
- Lectures by leading academics, scientists, politicians, entertainers and historians
- Canyon Ranch Spa and Thalassotherapy pool, if you can afford it
- The transatlantic crossings from New York to Southampton are really one of a kind.
Sailing now
143 cruises on sale, from $359.
Virgin Voyages
Scarlet Lady
Scarlet Lady, the first ship from billionaire Richard Branson's upstart Virgin Voyages, debuted in August 2021 in England and made its U.S. debut out of Miami in October 2021.
Sailing now
59 cruises on sale, from $545.
Questions
Queen Mary 2 or Scarlet Lady?
Which is bigger, Queen Mary 2 or Scarlet Lady?
Queen Mary 2 is bigger at 151,400 gross tons, against 110,000 gross tons for Scarlet Lady. Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620 passengers and Scarlet Lady carries 2,770.
Which ship is newer, Queen Mary 2 or Scarlet Lady?
Scarlet Lady is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2021 against 2004 for Queen Mary 2.
Which has more space per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with 57.8 gross tons per passenger against 39.7 on Scarlet Lady. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 2.4 on Scarlet Lady.
Which is better for families?
Queen Mary 2 scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 4.0 out of 10, against 1.0 for Scarlet Lady.
Still deciding?
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