LONDON, ENGLAND -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 31, 2006 -- Bookings for the first-ever westbound tandem crossing of two Cunard Queens are now being taken as Cunard launches its much anticipated main 2008 World Cruise brochure - on sale 1 September 2006. And not only will the crossing be historic, but their arrival in New York will be unparalleled, as they are greeted in the harbour by their flagship sister Queen Mary 2 - the first-ever meeting of three Cunard Queens.
The new brochure also details new World Cruise segments from GBP1,899 per person and exclusive new Cunard tours in the Far East and Australia from GBP1,450 per person.
Amidst a great fanfare, the world's newest Cunarder, Queen Victoria, and the world's most famous ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth 2, will leave their homeport of Southampton on Sunday 6 January 2008 and head for New York at the start of their 2008 World Cruises. QE2, making her 804th Atlantic crossing, will escort Queen Victoria, making her first, to New York where they will arrive a week later on 13 January to meet up with Queen Mary 2. Cunard's 168-year reign on the Atlantic has produced countless memories and historic occasions but none will have a finale like this.
The Cunard flagship and the largest liner in the world, Queen Mary 2, will greet her sisters with a host of photo opportunities, and special events will mark the event - a first in maritime history.
Fares for the tandem crossing on Queen Victoria range from GBP999 to GBP15,849 per person while for QE2 they range from GBP899 to GBP13,799.
QE2 will then escort Queen Victoria to Fort Lauderdale where they will arrive two days later. There the ships will bid farewell to each other and will set off on different journeys to the other side of the world where they will see each other again in a further spectacular 'Meeting of the Queens' in Sydney on Sunday 24 February.
The tandem crossing and 'Meeting of the Queens' in Southampton, New York, Fort Lauderdale and Sydney are just part of Cunard's historic 2008 World Cruise story - full details of which can be found in the new brochure, along with itineraries and prices for longer and shorter segments of these momentous voyages. Guests can choose to travel on just one Queen, or combine sectors on QE2 and Queen Victoria.
Cunard Line invented World Cruising in 1922 and will take this tradition to new heights in 2008 with its brand-new 90,000-ton liner Queen Victoria offering its 106-night 'Maiden World Cruise' as well as the world's most famous ocean liner, QE2, offering a 103-night 'South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey'. These epic voyages follow just a year after the 'Maiden World Cruise' of Queen Mary 2 and the 25th World Cruise of QE2 in 2007.
Carol Marlow, Cunard's President and Managing Director, says:
"Cunard's famous, historic, World Cruises have always set the benchmark for round-the-world voyaging and 2008 will take that tradition to a new height with the introduction of a new Queen to the world, the first ever westbound tandem crossing and the spectacular meetings we have planned for our ships around the world - starting with all three Queens in New York. The company has never before issued its full World Cruise brochure so early but as 2008 promises to be such a landmark year we have published it now to give our past guests and Cunard newcomers ample opportunity to secure their place in history".
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 in New York and Florida, she will make her first transit of 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. En route, Queen Victoria will also transit the Suez Canal, before returning to her homeport of Southampton on 22 April. Early Booking Fares for the complete voyage range from GBP10,999 per person for double occupancy of a D8 inside cabin to GBP115,869 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 GBP5,799 to GBP53,379) and Singapore to Southampton (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from GBP4,199 to GBP38,849).
The new brochure details the new sectors now available including Southampton to Los Angeles (25-nights including the historic tandem crossing and ports in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and California; fares range from GBP2,899 to GBP26,659 per person) and Sydney to Singapore (24-nights around Australia and up through the Far East; fares range from GBP3,699 to GBP25,469 per person).
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 GBP8,999 per person for double occupancy of an M6 inside cabin to GBP114,919 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 GBP6,249 to GBP76,579) and Sydney to Los Angeles (35-nights with Early Booking Fares ranging from GBP4,319 to GBP43,269).
The new brochure also details QE2's sectors for 2008 including Southampton to Valparaiso (32-nights including the tandem crossing and around South America; fares range from GBP3,599 to GBP38,079 per person) and Singapore to Los Angeles (21-nights across the Pacific including Hawaii; fares range from GBP2,699 to GBP26,079 per person).
'One Voyage, Two Ships'
In Sydney, guests who wish to can enjoy a 'One Voyage, Two Ships' adventure by swapping from ship to the other. This combination voyage (also offered in the new 2008 World Cruise brochure) involves sailing from Southampton to Sydney on QE2 (48-nights) before transferring to Queen Victoria for 58-nights on 24 February and returning home on 22 April after a 106-night journey; fares range from GBP10,098 to GBP122,288 per person.
Early Booking Benefits
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.
Promotional fares range from GBP10,098 to GBP122,288 per person for the 'One Voyage, Two Ships' combination.
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.
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