Cunard has hosted its first dedicated familiarisation voyage exclusively for homeworking travel agents aboard Queen Mary 2, the world’s only ocean liner, as part of a broader initiative to strengthen its relationship with the homeworking sector.
A total of 21 travel agents joined the 5-night sailing from Southampton on June 5th, calling at Le Havre and Cherbourg. The voyage formed part of Cunard’s wider strategy to provide homeworkers with a comprehensive understanding of the brand and its product offering, enabling them to present the Cunard experience more effectively to clients and develop into long-term advocates for the company.
The programme offered participants a detailed introduction to life aboard Queen Mary 2, combining the vessel’s maritime heritage with its dining, entertainment and enrichment facilities. During the voyage, agents experienced key elements of the Cunard product, including gala evening events, specialty restaurants, the line’s traditional Afternoon Tea service in the Queens Room, and a shore excursion in Le Havre.
The itinerary also incorporated a series of training sessions focused on Cunard’s Grill Suites, Queen Anne’s Norwegian Fjords programme, and business development opportunities. Participants received additional support through dedicated workshops and one-to-one sessions with Cunard’s Business Managers.
The familiarisation voyage forms part of a wider programme aimed at homeworkers, including exclusive events, networking opportunities and tailored training initiatives. Cunard reported that the strategy has already generated notable commercial results, including group bookings valued at more than GBP 200,000, reinforcing its position within key homeworking travel networks.
David Jones, Vice President of Global Marketing and EMEA Sales, indicated that homeworkers play an important role in introducing new guests to the Cunard brand. He noted that the voyage had been designed to provide agents with direct experience of Queen Mary 2, including its White Star Service and signature onboard offerings, allowing them to recommend the brand with greater confidence and accuracy. He added that Cunard’s objective is to develop a network of informed brand advocates while also supporting the growth of their individual businesses.
Among the participants was Michelle Tolton of Personal Travel Agents, part of Your Co-op, who has worked in the travel industry for 38 years. She observed that the voyage had provided valuable professional insight and demonstrated aspects of the Cunard experience that could not be fully conveyed through training alone. According to Tolton, experiencing the ship’s dining venues, entertainment programme and onboard atmosphere firsthand enhanced her ability to explain the product to clients and identify travellers most suited to the Cunard experience. She further noted that such opportunities are particularly valuable for homeworkers, as they allow practical product knowledge to be translated into more informed customer recommendations.
Cunard is currently offering a 10% early booking discount on selected 2028 and 2029 voyages reserved before June 30th, 2026, together with low deposits starting from GBP 50 per person on selected sailings.