If sheer opulence and grandeur is what you’re looking for on your cruise holiday of a lifetime then there’s only really one choice - and that’s Cunard.

Concentrating on extreme quality rather than quantity, her fleet is proudly exclusive, offering just three ships –each meticulously faithful to the splendidly luxurious traditions so synonymous with the Cunard name.

Heading the fleet is Queen Mary 2, universally accepted as quite simply the most magnificent ocean liner ever built; there’s Queen Victoria with her contemporary ambience complementing the hallmark Cunard qualities and the line’s latest incarnation, Queen Elizabeth, whose elegant environs hark back to the golden age of cruising while introducing modern aspects that bring it to the forefront of today’s luxury holiday market.

Dramatic grand lobbies with majestically sweeping staircases leading down to courtyards where the harmonious sounds of a string quartet demand you sit awhile over afternoon tea.

Spacious cabins whose decor and facilities seem more in keeping with a high class London hotel.

Extravagant dining rooms where you can enjoy world-class cuisine prepared to the instruction of famous chefs like American celebrity restaurateur, Todd English.

In the Queen’s Grill your delicious dishes and fine wines will be enjoyed with added luxurious touches like Wedgewood china and Waterford crystal. Princess Grill diners will enjoy the regal splendour of the restaurants warm red and silver flourishes. And guests delight in drifting down the sweeping staircase of the main Britannia room for a real flavour of ocean dining’s golden age.

Galleries exhibiting original works by the likes of Picasso, Dali and Chagall – it just doesn’t get more delightfully decadent than this.

The Regal splendour evoked by these great ships’ very names is reflected throughout the decor, dining, leisure activities and entertainment.

Palace style garden parties, complete with the click of croquet balls are hosted in Kew-inspired botanical lounges. Lavish musical productions are performed in sumptuous settings at the 1,000 seat Royal Court Theatre.

Relaxing by the pool evokes images of lazy days at luxury lidos along the millionaire playgrounds of Europe’s chic resorts.

Younger guests have their own range of craft sessions, learning through play activities and fun parties, all supervised by Cunard’s team of highly qualified, carefully chosen nannies.

If you want to listen to a lecture on the universe, Cunard will introduce you to experts from the Royal Astronomical Society who will deliver his talk in the Queen Mary 2’s Planetarium – the only one at sea anywhere in the world.

Or perhaps it’s an extract from a Shakespeare play that appeals – okay, step forward Cunard’s invited guest performers from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA).

It’s not all so fabulously high-brow, though. Everyone needs to loosen up once in a while.

And Cunard gives you the chance to do that as well (though it’ll still be in great style!).

Try out your karaoke skills in the traditional old English ‘Golden Lion’ pub or book one of the sports areas for a gentle game of bowls with a new-found friend.

Dance to the classic sounds of the ‘70s or ‘80s under the stunning domed roof of the contemporary Hemispheres nightclub.

Or take to the floor of the beautiful ballroom and swirl the night away to the sounds of the resident dance band.

It’s all there in all its luxurious glory on a Cunard voyage that truly is THE cruise experience of a lifetime.

Cunard cruises offer itineraries from the signature Transatlantic crossings and World Voyages to shorter European holidays, the Canaries, Caribbean, Mediterranean and USA/Canada.