October 15, 2007
Cunard Offers Sneak Queen Victoria Peek!
This sneak preview of the new Cunard ship from http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2230
"Cruise Critic editor Carolyn Spencer Brown visited Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera, just outside of Italy's Venice, on Saturday, October 13, to check out the progression of Cunard's Queen Victoria, which will launch on December 10. With just about six weeks to go, the ship is definitely nearly ready, she reports; stay tuned for Monday's launch of photos, videos and commentary.
The biggest surprise about Cunard's Queen Victoria is that it's not merely a slimmed-down version of Queen Mary 2, the already-iconic mega-ship that Cunard debuted in 2003. Queen Victoria very much has -- even while still in its construction phase -- a spirit and personality of its own.
And sure, size has something to do with that. At 90,000 tons and carrying 2,000 passengers, Queen Victoria is a third smaller than Queen Mary 2. It's just not possible to include all the features -- expansive or otherwise -- of Queen Mary 2 on this next-generation Cunard vessel.
Editor's Note: Cunard President Carol Marlow told us that the new Queen Elizabeth (the ship, incidentally, is named after the first queen, not the present one) will be a sister ship of Victoria and so will be more similar than different.
The other big difference is that while Queen Mary 2 is primarily an ocean liner that, despite some efforts at sailing cruise-type trips, was actually designed and built to slice through seas, Queen Victoria is more of a hybrid. Cunard is calling the ship an ocean liner, and certain statistics support that. (The ship is longer and narrower than the typical cruise vessel, which enables it to travel more smoothly through tumultuous waters.) But it feels a bit more like a cruise ship in some ways, than a liner.
With just six weeks left to go (as opposed to our shipyard visit in March when Queen Victoria wasn't terribly recognizable), the best part of the visit was that you could really see the rooms taking shape and assuming personalities. Before we launch into our photo essay, here are a few observations:
Queen Victoria is, overall, a cozier, more intimate ship. While of course size is a factor in that, public rooms in particular feel more intimate. The Golden Lion Pub, a trademark Cunard favorite, actually has a bigger space -- but special details, including doors that close it off from the hustle and bustle of corridors and casino just outside, give it more of a High Street feel. The Commodore Club also feels more private. And even on a grand scale, the Lobby is elegant and yet cozy.
Fans of Queen Mary 2 will recognize some familiar places at least in concept, such as the aforementioned Golden Lion and Commodore Club, the Queens Lounge, the Royal Court Theater, the Winter Garden, Todd English's alternative restaurant, and an elegant, two-story library.
What's New? Princess and Queen's Grill diners not only have an exclusive outdoor terrace area for dining and cocktails, they also have only-Grill access to an upper deck above the pool -- complete with fancy loungers, big, thirsty beach towels and bar service. In the Royal Court Theater -- on its second deck -- there are private boxes for two. Couples pay $50 to watch the shows from there (fee also includes treats like chocolate and champagne); the hoi polloi can still enjoy productions from the orchestra rows below at no extra charge. And absolutely don't bypass Cunardia, the ship's museum space....
Cruise ship vs. ocean liner? Public spaces on Decks 2 and 3 definitely have the expansive, high-ceilinged, grand Queen Mary 2 ambience. Where the ship feels more like a cruise vessel is in places like the lido buffet. On Queen Victoria, the buffet is located in the usual cruise ship spot -- between pool area and aft -- rather than, as on Queen Mary 2, stretching along the ship on a middle deck. The spa, which on Queen Victoria will not be operated by Canyon Ranch, is pretty much same-old in terms of layout and design. (You'll particularly see similarities to spas in Holland America's Vista-class ships.)
Captain Paul Wright will usher Queen Victoria into its maiden season. Robert Howie is the hotel director and Alastair Greener is the entertainment director. All are already on hand to prepare the ship for its maiden voyage -- and beyond"
The biggest surprise about Cunard's Queen Victoria is that it's not merely a slimmed-down version of Queen Mary 2, the already-iconic mega-ship that Cunard debuted in 2003. Queen Victoria very much has -- even while still in its construction phase -- a spirit and personality of its own.
And sure, size has something to do with that. At 90,000 tons and carrying 2,000 passengers, Queen Victoria is a third smaller than Queen Mary 2. It's just not possible to include all the features -- expansive or otherwise -- of Queen Mary 2 on this next-generation Cunard vessel.
Editor's Note: Cunard President Carol Marlow told us that the new Queen Elizabeth (the ship, incidentally, is named after the first queen, not the present one) will be a sister ship of Victoria and so will be more similar than different.
The other big difference is that while Queen Mary 2 is primarily an ocean liner that, despite some efforts at sailing cruise-type trips, was actually designed and built to slice through seas, Queen Victoria is more of a hybrid. Cunard is calling the ship an ocean liner, and certain statistics support that. (The ship is longer and narrower than the typical cruise vessel, which enables it to travel more smoothly through tumultuous waters.) But it feels a bit more like a cruise ship in some ways, than a liner.
With just six weeks left to go (as opposed to our shipyard visit in March when Queen Victoria wasn't terribly recognizable), the best part of the visit was that you could really see the rooms taking shape and assuming personalities. Before we launch into our photo essay, here are a few observations:
Queen Victoria is, overall, a cozier, more intimate ship. While of course size is a factor in that, public rooms in particular feel more intimate. The Golden Lion Pub, a trademark Cunard favorite, actually has a bigger space -- but special details, including doors that close it off from the hustle and bustle of corridors and casino just outside, give it more of a High Street feel. The Commodore Club also feels more private. And even on a grand scale, the Lobby is elegant and yet cozy. Fans of Queen Mary 2 will recognize some familiar places at least in concept, such as the aforementioned Golden Lion and Commodore Club, the Queens Lounge, the Royal Court Theater, the Winter Garden, Todd English's alternative restaurant, and an elegant, two-story library. What's New? Princess and Queen's Grill diners not only have an exclusive outdoor terrace area for dining and cocktails, they also have only-Grill access to an upper deck above the pool -- complete with fancy loungers, big, thirsty beach towels and bar service. In the Royal Court Theater -- on its second deck -- there are private boxes for two. Couples pay $50 to watch the shows from there (fee also includes treats like chocolate and champagne); the hoi polloi can still enjoy productions from the orchestra rows below at no extra charge. And absolutely don't bypass Cunardia, the ship's museum space.... Cruise ship vs. ocean liner? Public spaces on Decks 2 and 3 definitely have the expansive, high-ceilinged, grand Queen Mary 2 ambience. Where the ship feels more like a cruise vessel is in places like the lido buffet. On Queen Victoria, the buffet is located in the usual cruise ship spot -- between pool area and aft -- rather than, as on Queen Mary 2, stretching along the ship on a middle deck. The spa, which on Queen Victoria will not be operated by Canyon Ranch, is pretty much same-old in terms of layout and design. (You'll particularly see similarities to spas in Holland America's Vista-class ships.)Captain Paul Wright will usher Queen Victoria into its maiden season. Robert Howie is the hotel director and Alastair Greener is the entertainment director. All are already on hand to prepare the ship for its maiden voyage -- and beyond"
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October 14, 2007
October 11, 2007
New Cunard ship announced: Queen Elizabeth
This from: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LAW04610102007-1.htm
"VALENCIA, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cunard Line announces that it has ordered a new 92,000-ton liner, to be named "Queen Elizabeth," scheduled to enter service in the autumn of 2010. Cunard, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092-passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately $700 million. The vessel will be the second largest Cunarder the company has ever built.
"Cunard already owns and operates the two most famous ocean liners in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2, and a third -- Queen Victoria -- is due to be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in December of this year," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "The decision to order another ship for Cunard Line has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria, and we are extremely pleased that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet so soon after the departure of the much-celebrated Queen Elizabeth 2 in November next year. Furthermore, we are delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new Cunarder 'Queen Elizabeth', after our first vessel of that name."
The new ship follows a long line of famous Cunard liners stretching back to the company's inception as the first operator of a timetabled transatlantic service 167 years ago.
"It is a particularly special moment for Fincantieri to have secured a second order from Cunard at a time when we are nearing the completion of Queen Victoria," said Mr. Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer. "Cunard is the most famous name in passenger shipping and we are honoured to have been chosen to build Queen Elizabeth and to continue the tradition and heritage of that great company."
Queen Elizabeth will offer the very best of Cunard's values and traditions, blended with every conceivable modern luxury that today's discerning travellers expect. Through her opulent public rooms and impeccable service, the new ship will reflect the grandeur which has been associated with Cunard ships since the introduction of the Mauretania in 1907; and from the outside, her black hull, gleaming white superstructure and distinctive red funnel will echo the classic characteristics of the company's distinctive liner heritage.
Queen Elizabeth will fly the Red Ensign with her home-port Southampton, as is the case with the other ships in the Cunard fleet.
The agreement is subject to approval by the board of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc. Design details and initial itineraries will be announced in due course.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(SM), fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
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