Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
- Cruises
- 127
- From
- $359
Ship comparison
Queen Mary 2 vs Valiant Lady
Virgin Voyages
Valiant Lady
- Cruises
- 48
- From
- $507
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Queen Mary 2 is a large Cunard Line ship carrying 2,620 passengers, in service since 2004. Valiant Lady is a large Virgin Voyages ship carrying 2,770 passengers, in service since 2022.
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you want a more family-friendly ship, more space per passenger or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Valiant Lady for family friendly (4.0 vs 1.0) and spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 57.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 39.7).
Choose Valiant 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 2022 (vs 2004).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Queen Mary 2 | Valiant Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Cunard Line | Virgin Voyages |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 | 2022 (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 | 127 | 48 |
| Upcoming sailings | 180 | 123 |
| Cruise lengths | 2 to 35 nights | 3 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $359 (better) | $507 |
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, Valiant 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
127 cruises on sale, from $359.
Virgin Voyages
Valiant Lady
Valiant Lady, the second ship from billionaire Richard Branson's upstart Virgin Voyages, launched in March 2022 with cruises to some of the most exciting ports of call in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.
Sailing now
48 cruises on sale, from $507.
Questions
Queen Mary 2 or Valiant Lady?
Which is bigger, Queen Mary 2 or Valiant Lady?
Queen Mary 2 is bigger at 151,400 gross tons, against 110,000 gross tons for Valiant Lady. Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620 passengers and Valiant Lady carries 2,770.
Which ship is newer, Queen Mary 2 or Valiant Lady?
Valiant Lady is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2022 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 Valiant 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 Valiant 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 Valiant Lady.
Still deciding?
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