| Cunard prepares for third Queen 16/8/2005 Cunard Line is preparing to become a ‘Three Queen’ fleet for the first time in its 165-year history. Work is well advanced on the line’s new build Queen Victoria at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard near Venice. The new Queen is scheduled to enter service in Cunard livery late 2007 or early 2008, Cunard’s European president Carol Marlow told Seatrade Insider yesterday. She was speaking on board Queen Mary 2 after the Master, officers and crew of the flagship had been presented with the Freedom of the City of Southampton. ‘Work is very well advanced,’ said Marlow. ‘I have studied the plans and Queen Victoria will be a very distinct Cunarder. We will be revealing more details later this year and she will enter service late in 2007 or early in 2008.’ When she does so, she will join QM2 and Queen Elizabeth 2, currently enjoying strong seasons, added Marlow. ‘Both QM2 and QE2 are having a very strong year and the fact that both liners are offering world cruises in 2007 has already generated enormous interest. We will move towards revealing more details about Queen Victoria in September,’ she added. Originally, Cunard’s Queen Victoria was to have entered service this year, but the order for the Vista class vessel was switched to Cunard’s Carnival Corporation sister line P&O Cruises and introduced as Arcadia last April. The order book switch has given the Carnival and Cunard design team time to create new public room layouts and other features which will give the liner a unique appeal to Cunard passengers old and new, added Marlow. |
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