Cunard Line, inventor of the World Cruise in 1922, will once again celebrate its illustrious history in 2008 when its brand new 90,000-ton liner Queen Victoria departs on her 106-night ‘Maiden World Cruise’ simultaneously with the world’s most famous ocean liner, QE2, as she embarks on a 103-night ‘South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey’. These epic voyages follow on from the ‘Maiden World Cruise’ of Queen Mary 2 and the 25th World Cruise of QE2 in 2007.
Departing from Southampton on the same day, the 2008 world voyages of Queen Victoria and QE2 follow very different routes.
Both ships will leave from their homeport of Southampton on Sunday 6 January 2008, amidst a great fanfare, and will head for New York on the first-ever tandem westbound Transatlantic crossing. QE2, making her 804th Atlantic crossing, will escort Queen Victoria, making her first, with both arriving in New York a week later on 13 January. They then continue together, reaching Fort Lauderdale two days later. From there the ships will take different courses before a further spectacular ‘Meeting of the Queens’ in Sydney on Sunday 24 February.
In Sydney, guests who wish to can enjoy our ‘One Voyage, Two Ships’ adventure by swapping from one ship to the other. This combination voyage (also offered in the new 2008 World Cruise brochure) involves sailing from Southampton to Sydney on QE2 (49-nights) before transferring to Queen Victoria for 58-nights on 24 February and returning home on 22 April after a 107-night journey; fares range from £12,128 to £123,418 per person.
Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:
“Continuing Cunard’s legacy of noteworthy firsts in maritime history, we are delighted to announce the simultaneous grand ocean voyages in 2008 for our newest liner Queen Victoria and our ‘grande dame’ QE2. Cunard’s World Cruises are already considered the ‘gold standard’ in voyages around the world – after all it was a Cunarder – Laconia – which undertook the first one in 1922. QE2 has undertaken more long voyages then any other ship afloat and we are delighted that Queen Victoria will continue this fine tradition - offering a 21st century ocean liner experience as she makes her own circumnavigation of the globe in renowned Cunard style.”
Queen Victoria ‘Maiden World Cruise’
The world’s newest ocean liner will depart Southampton on 6 January 2008 on her 106-night ‘Maiden World Cruise’ which will call at 37 cities in 23 countries. Every call, with the exception of Lisbon, will be a maiden call for Cunard’s new Queen. Queen Victoria will circumnavigate the globe in a westbound direction and, after calling at New York, will transit the Panama Canal before making maiden calls at some of the world’s most famous cities including Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Dubai, Athens and Barcelona. Queen Victoria will also transit the other of the great canals, the Suez, before returning to her homeport of Southampton on 22 April. Early Booking Fares for the complete voyage range from £10,999 per person for double occupancy of a D8 inside cabin to £115,869 per person for double occupancy of a Q1 Queens Grill Grand Suite.
Shorter ‘Liner Voyages’ are also available and include Southampton to Sydney (48-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £7,899 to £53,379) and Singapore to Southampton (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £4,199 to £38,845).
QE2 ‘South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey’
QE2 is the most experienced world voyager afloat and, for the first time in over a decade, her 2008 voyage will see her concentrate on South America and the Pacific in a 103-night odyssey that will leave Southampton on 6 January and call at 30 places in 17 countries – a mix of exciting cities and interesting ports. After leaving New York QE2 will head around South America calling at Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, the Falkland Islands and Valparaiso. Cruising into the Pacific she will then circle the world’s largest ocean before arriving at Los Angeles on 30 March. Port calls will include Easter Island, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Honolulu. After transiting the Panama Canal QE2 will return home to Southampton on 18 April. Early Booking Fares for Southampton to Southampton range from £8,999 per person for double occupancy of an M6 inside cabin to £114,919 per person for double occupancy of a Q1 Grand Suite.
Shorter ‘Liner Voyages’ are also available and include Southampton to Singapore (64-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £6,349 to £77,809) and Sydney to Los Angeles (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £3,949 to £42,899).
Early Booking Benefits
The voyages are on sale from 5 June 2006 and savings of up to 50% (QE2) and up to 45% (Queen Victoria) are available for bookings made by 31 January 2007, subject to availability. For bookings made by this date there is also a range of additional benefits including upgraded air, complimentary gratuities, generous onboard credits and past passenger savings, also subject to availability. These are applicable depending on the voyage selected and grade of accommodation.
In addition, for passengers in Grills Accommodation (Princess and Queens Grills), the additional benefit of exclusive shore events are offered if the booking is made before 31 January, again subject to availability.
Reservations can be made on 0845 071 0300.
- Ends -
For Further PRESS Information
Contacts
Eric Flounders, Public Relations Manager:0207 940 5390
eric.flounders@cunard.co.uk
Michael Gallagher, Public Relations Executive:0207 940 5391
michael.gallagher@cunard.co.uk
Or visit the Cunard website: www.cunard.co.uk
Departing from Southampton on the same day, the 2008 world voyages of Queen Victoria and QE2 follow very different routes.
Both ships will leave from their homeport of Southampton on Sunday 6 January 2008, amidst a great fanfare, and will head for New York on the first-ever tandem westbound Transatlantic crossing. QE2, making her 804th Atlantic crossing, will escort Queen Victoria, making her first, with both arriving in New York a week later on 13 January. They then continue together, reaching Fort Lauderdale two days later. From there the ships will take different courses before a further spectacular ‘Meeting of the Queens’ in Sydney on Sunday 24 February.
In Sydney, guests who wish to can enjoy our ‘One Voyage, Two Ships’ adventure by swapping from one ship to the other. This combination voyage (also offered in the new 2008 World Cruise brochure) involves sailing from Southampton to Sydney on QE2 (49-nights) before transferring to Queen Victoria for 58-nights on 24 February and returning home on 22 April after a 107-night journey; fares range from £12,128 to £123,418 per person.
Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:
“Continuing Cunard’s legacy of noteworthy firsts in maritime history, we are delighted to announce the simultaneous grand ocean voyages in 2008 for our newest liner Queen Victoria and our ‘grande dame’ QE2. Cunard’s World Cruises are already considered the ‘gold standard’ in voyages around the world – after all it was a Cunarder – Laconia – which undertook the first one in 1922. QE2 has undertaken more long voyages then any other ship afloat and we are delighted that Queen Victoria will continue this fine tradition - offering a 21st century ocean liner experience as she makes her own circumnavigation of the globe in renowned Cunard style.”
Queen Victoria ‘Maiden World Cruise’
The world’s newest ocean liner will depart Southampton on 6 January 2008 on her 106-night ‘Maiden World Cruise’ which will call at 37 cities in 23 countries. Every call, with the exception of Lisbon, will be a maiden call for Cunard’s new Queen. Queen Victoria will circumnavigate the globe in a westbound direction and, after calling at New York, will transit the Panama Canal before making maiden calls at some of the world’s most famous cities including Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Dubai, Athens and Barcelona. Queen Victoria will also transit the other of the great canals, the Suez, before returning to her homeport of Southampton on 22 April. Early Booking Fares for the complete voyage range from £10,999 per person for double occupancy of a D8 inside cabin to £115,869 per person for double occupancy of a Q1 Queens Grill Grand Suite.
Shorter ‘Liner Voyages’ are also available and include Southampton to Sydney (48-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £7,899 to £53,379) and Singapore to Southampton (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £4,199 to £38,845).
QE2 ‘South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey’
QE2 is the most experienced world voyager afloat and, for the first time in over a decade, her 2008 voyage will see her concentrate on South America and the Pacific in a 103-night odyssey that will leave Southampton on 6 January and call at 30 places in 17 countries – a mix of exciting cities and interesting ports. After leaving New York QE2 will head around South America calling at Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, the Falkland Islands and Valparaiso. Cruising into the Pacific she will then circle the world’s largest ocean before arriving at Los Angeles on 30 March. Port calls will include Easter Island, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Honolulu. After transiting the Panama Canal QE2 will return home to Southampton on 18 April. Early Booking Fares for Southampton to Southampton range from £8,999 per person for double occupancy of an M6 inside cabin to £114,919 per person for double occupancy of a Q1 Grand Suite.
Shorter ‘Liner Voyages’ are also available and include Southampton to Singapore (64-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £6,349 to £77,809) and Sydney to Los Angeles (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from £3,949 to £42,899).
Early Booking Benefits
The voyages are on sale from 5 June 2006 and savings of up to 50% (QE2) and up to 45% (Queen Victoria) are available for bookings made by 31 January 2007, subject to availability. For bookings made by this date there is also a range of additional benefits including upgraded air, complimentary gratuities, generous onboard credits and past passenger savings, also subject to availability. These are applicable depending on the voyage selected and grade of accommodation.
In addition, for passengers in Grills Accommodation (Princess and Queens Grills), the additional benefit of exclusive shore events are offered if the booking is made before 31 January, again subject to availability.
Reservations can be made on 0845 071 0300.
- Ends -
For Further PRESS Information
Contacts
Eric Flounders, Public Relations Manager:0207 940 5390
eric.flounders@cunard.co.uk
Michael Gallagher, Public Relations Executive:0207 940 5391
michael.gallagher@cunard.co.uk
Or visit the Cunard website: www.cunard.co.uk
Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
