CUNARD LINE ANNOUNCE 2011 PROGRAMME

Cunard Queen Victoria in Rotterdam Holland (21)
Originally uploaded by garybembridge
CUNARD LINE ANNOUNCE 2011 PROGRAMME

With the addition of Queen Elizabeth to the fleet later this year, Cunard Line will offer its most extensive range of voyages in 2011 - providing the widest choice for guests. The anticipation of Queen Elizabeth and her series of Maiden Voyages will capture the imagination and drive strong early demand when the programme goes on sale worldwide on the 26 April. Highlights of the programme, which covers voyages from April 2011 to January 2012, include:

Queen Elizabeth
• Based in her home port of Southampton, a Maiden Season of 22 voyages from five- to 24-nights from £499 per person.
• Five short five-night voyages to give access to aspiring Cunard guests and a taste of the most notable ship to come into service in 2010.
• Voyages from Southampton feature the Fjords, the Baltic, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, USA / Canada and the Caribbean.
• Four ‘Maiden Voyages’ to the Baltic, Around the British Isles, the Fjords and USA / Canada with a total of 52 maiden calls in her first season.

Growing interest in overnight calls will see Queen Elizabeth stay overnight in St Petersburg, Amsterdam, Venice, New York and Quebec giving guests more time to explore these famous cities. The 23-night Caribbean voyage from Southampton in December will take in 6 famous ports including Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts and St Maarten. The 19-night Eastern Mediterranean voyage in October will take in Cairo, Cyprus, Jerusalem and Haifa in Israel. Every voyage in the maiden season will be treasured as over 52 ports welcome Queen Elizabeth for the first time adding an extra sense of excitement and intrigue for guests.

Queen Victoria
• 23 voyages from seven- to 22-nights from just £799 per person.
• Strong Southampton programme from April to August with the best of the Canaries, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Fjords.
• Fly-voyages to the Mediterranean with eight voyages for 12-nights sailing out of Venice, Rome and Athens from £1,349 per person.
• A 15-night Caribbean voyage from Venice to Fort Lauderdale from £1,999 per person.
• A 14 night Christmas voyage from Los Angeles taking in the best of Hawaii from £2,699 per person

After two years in service, Queen Victoria has built an enviable reputation and become a second home to many Cunarders – especially past QE2 guests. She now has a varied deployment year round and for 2011 will be offering some new options. Her 17- and 19-night Eastern Mediterranean voyages are set to be very popular from Southampton taking in famous ports including Dubrovnik and Venice as well as many much-loved days at sea. The Fly-Voyage programme from August to the Mediterranean is set to trigger high demand with the ability to visit 9 ports in just 12-nights. The Fly-Voyages will visit many famous cities including Venice, Rome, Naples, Athens, Odessa, Istanbul, Cairo, Jerusalem and Messina.

Queen Mary 2
• 21 Transatlantic voyages between Southampton and New York; most crossings are now seven nights in duration - from £899 per person.
• The only way to visit famous cities in the USA and Canada from the UK with no flying and as much luggage as you like
• 11 roundtrip Southampton departures to Europe and the Caribbean from two- to 29- nights from £399 per person.
• A repeat of the popular ‘Around the British Isles’ voyage, eight-nights from £999 per person.

Queen Mary 2 is now well established on the growing transatlantic market with more and more regular cruisers around the world vowing to experience the unique event of a crossing. After introducing seven-night crossings as well as six-nights in 2010, they have proved so popular that all but one of 21 crossings in 2011 will be for seven-nights – allowing more time to relax and to enjoy the many varied experiences on the historic journey. From Southampton, British guests can now combine two crossings with ports including New York, Boston, Halifax, Rhode Island and Bar Harbour. No flying and as much luggage as you like on roundtrip voyages from Southampton of 17-, 18-, 19- or 24-nights duration to the USA and Canada. Queen Mary 2 will also be offering her first ever Caribbean Christmas voyage from Southampton for 29-nights – set to be a very a very popular choice when the programme goes on sale.

The 2011 programme has been designed to suit the growing trends in UK cruising including;

Around the British Isles – a tradition for Cunard Line since 1990. In 2011 Queen Elizabeth will embark on her maiden circumnavigation on the 2 September and Queen Mary 2 will commence her second Round Britain voyage on the 12 September. Not only is it a chance to see many famous British cities in comfort , but with Cunard a unique experience to celebrate the history, tradition and bonds between Cunard Line and cities like Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cork. Queen Elizabeth will pass the baton to Queen Mary 2 when both ships are in Southampton on the 12 September.

Fly - Voyages to the Mediterranean – Queen Victoria will undertake eight voyages in the Mediterranean. She will visit many famous ports and is an excellent choice for those wishing to start their holiday from the warmer climate in the Mediterranean with up to nine ports over 12-nights.

Sailing from Southampton – Now with three liners, in 2011, Cunard will offer its widest choice from its home port for many years. There will be 46 different itineraries from Southampton in 2011 to the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Norway, Around Britain, the Americas and the Caribbean.

Christmas Voyages – Christmas with Cunard Line is special indeed and growing in popularity. In 2011 for the first time Queen Mary 2 will sail roundtrip from her homeport Southampton on a 29-night voyage to the Caribbean from £3,899 per person. Queen Mary 2 also offers a voyage from New York to the Caribbean for 15-nights from £2,999 per person. Queen Elizabeth offers a 16-night voyage from Southampton around the Canaries from £2,199 per person. Queen Victoria sails from Los Angeles for 14-nights to Hawaii from £2,599 per person.

The Youngest Fleet in the World – for the first time Cunard will be sailing with three modern ocean liners and now has the youngest fleet in the world – younger than all other cruise lines. That, coupled with the unique history and heritage of the brand and award winning products and services gives Cunard Line a unique and distinct competitive advantage in the luxury cruise sector.

Value for Money – the new programme for 2011 will offer a range of early booking discounts including discounts of up to £800 per stateroom. There are also some double Balcony savings and up to $600 onboard credit per stateroom.

Commenting on the 2011 programme, Cunard President and Managing Director Peter Shanks says:
“Three new ocean liners in just six years proves the demand for the Cunard brand from guests looking for the best in luxury cruising and the ability to experience a unique sense of heritage, history and tradition. With the anticipation and arrival of Queen Elizabeth, and our biggest ever offering for the UK market for many years.

“With three liners in the fleet we can now offer our travel agent partners a choice of all the best destinations. In 2011 we will be covering Europe, the Americas, Transatlantic, the Caribbean and with our world voyages – the world.

“As the Best Cruise Line sailing out of Southampton – as judged by Conde Nast Traveller, The Daily Telegraph Ultras, and the Berlitz Guide, and with the youngest fleet in the world, Cunard Line is now the undisputed leading brand in the luxury cruise market in the UK”.

More reading: