Queen Mary 2 dining guide: Britannia, Grills, Kings Court and afternoon tea
Queen Mary 2 dining guide to accommodation-based restaurants, Kings Court, Golden Lion, afternoon tea, The Verandah and planning meals on a crossing.
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Queen Mary 2’s main restaurant is linked to your accommodation, so begin with the cabin rather than a list of places to reserve. Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill are different booked experiences. Everyone’s wider food plan can also include Kings Court, the Golden Lion and afternoon tea, with optional alternative dining when you want a change.
A transatlantic crossing gives dining a different rhythm from a port-intensive cruise. With several sea days, a long lunch and afternoon tea can be as important as dinner. This guide separates the restaurant included with your accommodation from shared casual venues and paid occasions, so a dining-focused upgrade can be judged against its real cost.
What matters for your decision
- Your booked accommodation determines the main restaurant; the four restaurant grades are not freely interchangeable.
- Kings Court’s regular buffet and its scheduled alternative dinners have different cost rules.
- The Verandah is an optional paid steakhouse; ordinary afternoon tea is part of the included experience.
Which restaurants are included on Queen Mary 2?
Your accommodation includes dining in its corresponding restaurant: Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill or Queens Grill. Kings Court supplies the shared buffet option. Golden Lion has included pub dishes, with drinks and any priced selections charged separately. Standard afternoon tea is included. Carinthia Lounge offers light bites and drinks; check its menu prices. Food-service hours can be shorter than a lounge's overall opening hours.
For room service, Cunard's fare information distinguishes the cabin grades: Britannia includes breakfast until 10 a.m., while Britannia Club and Grills guests retain a complimentary room-service menu around the clock. Check the menu for any separately priced selections before ordering.
| Venue | Food and occasion | Cost / access |
|---|---|---|
| Britannia Restaurant | Main dining for Britannia accommodation | Included for eligible booked guests |
| Britannia Club Restaurant | Dedicated dining for Britannia Club accommodation | Included for eligible booked guests |
| Princess Grill / Queens Grill | Main restaurants tied to the corresponding suites | Restricted to eligible guests |
| Kings Court buffet | Flexible self-service meals | Included standard food |
| Golden Lion | Pub-style food during scheduled service | Included dishes available; drinks and priced selections extra |
| Carinthia Lounge | Light food and a lounge setting | Check food-item charges; specialty drinks extra |
| Traditional afternoon tea | Tea, sandwiches and sweet items in scheduled service | Included; specialty tea events may differ |
| Steakhouse at The Verandah | Optional steakhouse dining | Additional charge; reservations advised |
| Kings Court alternative dining | Table-service dinner on selected evenings | Additional cover charge |
| Sir Samuel’s | Specialty coffee and café choices | Check individual menu charges |
| Boardwalk Café | Outdoor casual food when operating | Weather-dependent; verify daily offering |
| Room service | In-cabin meals from the current menu | Britannia breakfast included until 10 a.m.; Club and Grills retain a complimentary menu around the clock |
The restaurant grade is part of the cabin purchase
The four principal restaurant experiences are attached to accommodation categories. A Queens Grill listing does not mean a Britannia guest can book a table there as an ordinary extra-cost dinner. If the Grills experience is the reason for considering a suite, compare the complete accommodation fare and benefits. Then ask whether the alternative would be a less expensive cabin plus one or two optional restaurant evenings.
Kings Court is a different kind of distinction. Its ordinary buffet is included, but Cunard also offers alternative table-service dinners there on selected evenings for a cover charge. Seeing the same venue name on a schedule does not establish the same price or service. Check the theme, menu, reservation requirement and cost before treating the evening as a casual buffet visit.
The Verandah is the straightforward optional steakhouse occasion. Compare its current menu and the lunch or dinner services available on your voyage. It can add variety without changing accommodation, but a meal there does not reproduce the broader restaurant access and service arrangements of a Grills booking. Choose it for the actual menu and evening you want.
Make time for afternoon tea on a first crossing
For a first crossing, I would first make room for the main restaurant and traditional afternoon tea. Those are central parts of the included Cunard rhythm. Add The Verandah if a steakhouse occasion appeals, or investigate a Kings Court alternative evening when the advertised cuisine is a good fit. A paid dinner is optional rather than a requirement for variety.
The Golden Lion, Carinthia Lounge and Kings Court offer less structured alternatives to the main restaurant. Check their food-service hours in the daily program, particularly if a lecture or afternoon tea falls between lunch and dinner. There is no need to reserve every meal in advance.
Queen Mary 2 dining times and Gala Evenings
Confirm the dining arrangement for your cabin and the evening dress schedule before packing. Cunard’s smart-attire and Gala Evening expectations are part of the restaurant experience, with more casual alternatives available in designated venues. Check the current policy and daily program rather than assuming every restaurant has an identical rule every night.
Sea days leave time to combine meals with lectures, concerts and time on deck. Check event finishing times before choosing a dinner reservation. Boardwalk Café operates according to the weather, so use the daily program to decide whether to plan an outdoor meal.
Your decision checklist
- Confirm the dining room attached to your accommodation category.
- Fit meals around afternoon tea, performances and Gala Evening arrangements.
Questions travelers ask
Can I eat on Queen Mary 2 without paying for specialty restaurants?
Yes. Your accommodation's main restaurant, the regular Kings Court buffet, included Golden Lion dishes and traditional afternoon tea provide choices without buying specialty dining. Alternative dinners, drinks and individually priced items can cost extra.
Which Queen Mary 2 restaurant should I book first?
First confirm your accommodation’s main dining arrangement. If you want an optional occasion, compare The Verandah’s menu with any Kings Court alternative dinner offered on your voyage.
Is dinner at Kings Court always included?
The ordinary buffet is included, but scheduled alternative table-service dinners carry a cover charge. Check the specific evening’s service, menu and reservation requirement.
Official sources and further reading
Sources checked September 20, 2026. Explore the original policies, destination guidance and provider information behind this article. Each description explains what you will find at the source.
- Cunard: Queen Mary 2 official dining guideAccommodation-linked main restaurants, Kings Court, Golden Lion, tea and The Verandah.
- Cunard included fare informationIncluded food and drinks versus alternative dining and specialty purchases.
- Cunard2025–2028 brochureQueen Mary2 venue roster, weather-dependent Boardwalk Café and evening dress framework.
- Cunard Queen Mary2 voyage dining detailsExplicit selected-evening Kings Court alternative dining cover charge.
- Cunard: Steakhouse at The VerandahAlternative steakhouse dining concept and reservation information.
- Queen Mary 2 November 2026 voyage dining detailsCurrent descriptions distinguish included Golden Lion dishes from drinks and paid Kings Court alternative dining.
- Carinthia LoungeQueen Mary 2 light food, drinks and additional-charge classification.
- Cunard dining and traditional afternoon teaTraditional afternoon tea is included; Champagne tea and alternative dining cost extra.