Queens Jubilee Celebration

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

 2 - 5 June, 2012

 The Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch in 2012.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years since her accession in 1952. Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reigns and national life. In 2012, The Queen will become only the second UK monarch to mark 60 years on the throne. Celebrations were previously held for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Golden Jubilee in 2002.

On Saturday 2 June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. On Sunday 3 June the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place. On Monday 4 June a concert will be held at Buckingham Palace and a network of beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. On Tuesday 5 June a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage Procession.

Cruise Lines Join in Celebration

Cunard Line will celebrate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee with a special event on Tuesday 5 June 2012, the final day of the extended bank holiday.  Cunard's three Queens will meet at their home port in Southampton for the first time, with a Red Arrows display and spectacular fireworks in the evening!

Vantage Points - Click to Enlarge (courtesy Cunard)

Approximate Schedule:

Three Ships Arrival: 5.30am - 6.15am
Red Arrows Aerial Display: 6.20pm -6.45pm
Firework Spectacular: 10.20pm - 10.35pm
Three Ships Departure: 11pm

Marking 74-Year Association

The celebration takes place onboard all day as well, including talks from guest speakers with royal connections and a display of royal art. A rare vintage of Graham's 1952 Diamond Jubilee Tawny Port, specially released for Cunard's Jubilee cruises, will be on sale. Grand Balls will be held on each ship on June 6 preceded by a Commemorative Dinner with a souvenir keepsake menu that sets out the 74-year association of Cunard with The Queen. All TV coverage of the June 5 royal procession through London will be screened onboard.


Additional Cruise Line Celebrations

P&O Cruises will hold a royal gala dinner onboard each ship with a toast to the Queen, and a rendition of the national anthem after both evening performances in the theatre on June 5, as well as royal-themed movies onboard and live coverage all day on June 5 of events in London. Each ship will hold a street party and a tea dance with Champagne, with special Jubilee cakes on display. Kids in the children's clubs will be put to work decorating bunting for the street parties. 

Princess Cruises' Grand Princess will have a brass band send-off as its sails for Scandinavia from Southampton on June 2, with British comedians and singers onboard, a ‘British Invasion' production show, and royal-themed movies including The Queen and The King's Speech showing, as well as British-themed trivia pub quizzes and even a children's party. Passengers will be issued with union jack flags and hats and there will be a huge party on deck at which the national anthem will be sung and strawberries and cream and Pimms served, as well as cider and British beers. Royal historian Janet Campbell will give lectures. The Captain will raise a champagne toast to the Queen, and British pub food will be served at lunchtime on every sea day during the voyage, as well as a gala dinner one night with a special dessert dedicated to the Queen. A giant Jubilee cake will also be displayed in the Atrium. 


Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas will host a lavish Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch on June 3 (the day those of us ashore are being encouraged to throw street parties) Approximately 3,634 guests will participate in this street party at sea. Special dishes over the weekend will include British classics such as prawn cocktail, roast beef, bread and butter pudding, beer-battered fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and Cumberland sausages with mash. The ship's Royal Promenade will be decked out in red, white and blue bunting and passengers will be given flags to wave and will be able to enjoy live music, traditional village fair-style stalls, English strawberries and Union Jack cupcakes. Sculptors will create special Jubilee ice carvings throughout the ship. On June 4, the Royal Promenade will be the venue for the ‘Rock Britannia' performance by the onboard team. 

Some of the less-known lines will also hold various festivities and have special menus to commemorate the event.  We're certain that there will be many pints raised in tribute to the Queen cruise-industry wide.

Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth on the achievement of this milestone.

Cunard 2012 World Cruises

QM2 & Queen Elizabeth in Sydney Harbor                Credit: Cunard Line

Cunard 2O12 World Voyages

Options ranging from 12 to 108 day

QM2 World Cruise 2012

QUEEN MARY 2 sets sail on a 108-day journey roundtrip from Southampton, England, bringing guests to renowned destinations around the globe in the grandest style imaginable.

• Southampton to Southampton – 108 days
• Southampton to Dubai – 92 days 
• Cape Town to Southampton – 93 days
• Begin your World voyage in New York with a Transatlantic crossing

If you’d like to be part of the Cunard World Voyage with Queen Mary 2 in 2012
without sailing the entire itinerary, we offer a selection of Liner and Segment Voyages —
shorter portions of the full voyage ranging from 15 to 77 days. These shorter voyages
are ideal for those with less time or an interest in a specific region. Choose to sail on a
Liner or Segment, and be a part of this awe-inspiring adventure.

• Explore exciting ports in South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe
• Overnight stays in Cape Town, Dubai, and Hong Kong
• Guests may embark or disembark in New York by adding a Transatlantic Crossing to the beginning or end of their voyage.

Queen Elizabeth World Cruise 2012

QUEEN ELIZABETH embarks on this classic 107-day World Cruise voyage roundtrip from Southampton.

• Southampton to Southampton – 107 days
• Southampton to Dubai – 85 days
• New York to Southampton – 99 days
• San Francisco to Southampton – 82 days

If there’s a particular part of the world that interests you most, consider sailing a portion of
Queen Elizabeth's Full World Voyage on one of her Liner or Segment Voyages. Liner Voyages
range from 34 to 77 days, allowing you to join the grand celebration along spectacular routes
such as San Francisco to Singapore or Sydney to Dubai. For a smaller taste of the World Voyage
experience, enjoy a Segment Voyage of 12 to 24 days with departures from around the globe.

• Chart a course to destinations in Central America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe
• Voyage features full transits of the Panama and Suez canals
• Overnight stays in New York, Sydney, and Hong Kong 
• Guests may disembark in New York by adding a Transatlantic Crossing to the
  end of voyages sailing to Southampton.

When you’re embarking on a journey this grand, you want to see the world from a perspective that does it justice. And on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2, you may find it is time on board you most look forward to. Whichever Queen you sail upon, you’ll delight in ample time to truly enjoy all a Cunard ocean liner offers you.

Royal Rendezvous New York

Three Queens Rendezvous

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and  Queen Elizabeth

January 13, 2011 three Cunard Queens will  rendezvous in front of the Statue of Liberty amidst the fanfare of a spectacular fireworks by Grucci show. In honour of the Cunard Royal Rendezvous the Empire State Building will be lit red starting at sunset to 2:00 a.m. the following day!

Three Queens Courtesy Cunard Line

The most panoramic views for this rare event are from the AAA Five Diamond award-winning Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.  The meeting of the Queens will most optimally be seen from a Statue of Liberty View guestroom or suite.  All Statue of Liberty View rooms are equipped with telescopes for prime viewing.

VIEWING LOCATIONS INCLUDE:

Battery ParkOn the southern shoreline of Manhattan, www.thebattery.org
Map link: http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/map/map.php

Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park
Overlooking the Hudson River with great views of the Statue of Liberty
Just south of the Museum of Jewish Heritage
By subway: 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or N or R to Whitehall

The Esplanade
Running the entire length of Battery Park City, along the Hudson River from Stuyvesant High School, on the north end all the way south to Battery Park

Hudson River Park
550-acre Park extending for five miles along the Manhattan shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street

SCHEDULE:

ARRIVALS:
6:00 AM (approx) All ships will be berthed at respective cruise terminal (see below).

DEPARTURES:
6:00 PM

• Queen Mary 2 - from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal 
• Queen Victoria - from Pier 90, Manhattan Cruise Terminal 
• Queen Elizabeth - from Pier 88, Manhattan Cruise Terminal
  

6:40 PM (approx) 

• Cunard Royal Rendezvous at the Statue of Liberty featuring Fireworks by Grucci for a spectacular sail away celebration. 

*2011 Mediterranean Voyages
*2011 Northern Europe Voyages

Save up to 55% Off Early Booking Fares
2011 World Voyage Segments

Save up to $600 per person in Balcony staterooms

2011 Transatlantic Crossings

Live from the bridge

The view from: QUEEN ELIZABETH Bridge Cam

The view from: QUEEN MARY 2 Bridge Cam

The view from: QUEEN VICTORIA Bridge Cam

Cunard Celebrates Royal Wedding At Sea

Three Queens to Celebrate Royal Wedding at Sea

Prince William and Kate Middleton are to be wed 

on Friday, April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

After a week of speculation, the royal couple have
announced their wedding plans.

Prince William's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton,
said the couple chose the 1,000-year-old abbey in central
London because it has a sense of intimacy.


The wedding day will be a national holiday in Britain,
known there as a bank holiday, and has been described
as a semi-state occasion. It's also the feast day of St.
Catherine of Siena, whose name Middleton shares,
though that is a coincidence.

Engaged at last

On Nov. 16, the royal family announced that Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged. The prince had popped the question to his longtime girlfriend during an October 2010 vacation to Kenya, it was revealed. William and Kate pose for the media at St. James's Palace in London on Nov. 16, after they announced their engagement. The couple are to wed in 2011. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP) 

"The wedding of Kate and William will be a happy and momentous occasion," said Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday. "We want to mark the day as one of national celebration, a public holiday will ensure the most people possible will have a chance to celebrate on the day."

Three Queens to View Royal Wedding at Sea

Guests on board Cunard's three ships - Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth - on 29 April 2011, the day of the Royal Wedding, need have no fear of missing one second of the historic union of the future King and Kate Middleton.

Each of the three ships feature Royal Court Theatres - West End in style and West End in size - where the wedding ceremony will be broadcast live. 

• Queen Mary 2's Royal Court Theatre (capacity 1000)
• Queen Elizabeth's Royal Court Theatre (capacity 800)
• Queen  Victoria's Royal Court Theatre (capacity 800)

 Additional venues will be used, such as Queen Mary's Planetarium and lecture room, Illuminations, which seats a further 450 passengers, should demand exceed seating capacity in the theatres.

A Day of Celebration

The day will also be one of celebration on all ships, with that evening's dinner featuring a commemorative menu and a champagne toast.

"Cunard is a company with an enviable heritage and unparalleled links to the Royal family - our ships were named either by Her Majesty The Queen or by her apparent successor, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard. "It follows then that our passengers are likely to have an above average interest in the pageantry of a Royal wedding. We intend to cater for that and ensure they do not miss one minute.

"Royal weddings don't happen that often and with our impeccable Royal connections we intend to ensure that our red ensign ships lead the British merchant marine in marking this momentous day." 

At the time Queen Elizabeth will be at sea heading for Southampton, Queen Victoria will be at sea in the Mediterranean, and Queen Mary 2 will be on a seven-night Transatlantic Crossing.

Congratulations to the Royal couple and to Cunard Lines for quickly responding to the announcement and assuring that their guests have an opportunity to participate in this festive occasion.

Cunard Line Takes Delivery of Queen Elizabeth

Pictured: Cunard President Peter Shanks symbolically holds the keys to Queen Elizabeth, which he handed over to
Captain Christopher Wells

Newest Cunard Ocean Liner 

Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line has taken delivery of Queen Elizabeth  – the second largest Cunarder ever built and the third new liner for the luxury cruise vacation company in six years. 


The Handover Ceremony took place today on board the new 92,400-ton vessel at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard. The event included a speech by Cunard President Peter Shanks. The Italian flag was ceremonially lowered and the Blue Ensign was raised, marking the entry of another magnificent Cunard liner into the Register of British Shipping.

“This ceremony to mark the completion of the Queen Elizabeth and our acceptance of delivery, is just the first of a number of significant events over the next few weeks – including the ship’s official naming by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton on Monday 11 October,” said Shanks. “I’m certain the British will take this truly magnificent ship to their hearts, as they have all the Cunard Queens.”

Queen Elizabeth is due to leave the shipyard on 30 September and sail to Southampton, where she will berth at the Ocean Cruise Terminal on Friday 8 October.

Queen Elizabeth will depart on her Maiden Voyage at 5:00pm on Tuesday 12 October. She is s one of the largest panamax vessels, i.e. capable of passing through the Panama canal. Mini and luxury suites abound on board the superbly finished “Queen Elizabeth” whose 1,046 cabins can accommodate over 2,500 guests assisted by a crew of 1,097.

Cunard Announces 2011-2012 Program

Photos courtesy Cunard Line

Cunard Line Announces 2011-2012 

Voyage Programme

 On Sale 26 April for Cunard 
World Club Members

Three Queens Offer More 
Itinerary Options 

on World's Youngest Luxury Fleet
 

Combining 170 years of experience with the youngest, luxury fleet at sea - flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the soon-to-be-launched Queen Elizabeth - Cunard is pleased to announce its most extensive range of voyages to date, with a greater choice of itineraries, departure dates and overnight stays. Guests will have more opportunities to experience the new golden age of ocean travel with the classic traditions and legendary White Star Service for which Cunard is renowned.

The line's flagship, Queen Mary 2, will continue to offer extended Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton, as well as to Hamburg; Queen Victoria will journey across the Atlantic for a second Americas season in early 2012; and new to the voyage schedule will be visits to the Holy Land aboard both Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth.

Legendary QUEEN MARY 2 Sailings

•  21 Transatlantic Crossings, plus extended voyages to and from Hamburg and five Grand Voyages roundtrip from New York.

•  Seven explorations of Northern Europe and an Around the British Isles voyage - all sailing roundtrip from Southampton. 

•  Two voyages to the Atlantic Isles and Iberia.

•  Enhanced 10-day Canada and New England sailing in the fall now featuring an overnight in Quebec, and a Fourth of July Getaway.

•  Caribbean Celebration holiday voyage.

Regal QUEEN VICTORIA Voyages

•  Five spectacular voyages based in the Mediterranean and visiting the best of the region including the Black Sea, Greek Isles, Egypt, and - new for 2011 - the Holy Land.  

• Enhanced Northern Europe itineraries including overnight stays in St. Petersburg and a new Gallic Overture voyage. 

• The celebrated QUEEN returns for her second Americas season in winter 2011/2012 including Panama Canal and Hawaii itineraries.   

• Med, Canary Islands and Atlantic Isles roundtrip from Southampton are also available.

Adventures aboard the New QUEEN ELIZABETH

• New for 2011, a Voyage to the Holy Land, plus four Mediterranean voyages roundtrip from Southampton.

• Northern Europe itineraries include the Norwegian Fjords, the North Cape and two enhanced Baltic sailings that feature a full day and an overnight call in St Petersburg.

• Maiden Around the British Isles voyage.

• Two Iberian journeys and a Canary Islands voyage sailing roundtrip from Southampton.

 Full Text of Press Release - 15 March, 2010      Cunard Itineraries

Other news:  Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to Circumnavigate Australia (March 9, 2010)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Float Out

Photos courtesy Cunard Cruise Line

Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Peter Shanks, was joined January 5th by 79-year-old Florence (Dennie) Farmer, honored as the “Madrina” to the third Queen Elizabeth at the float out of Cunard's latest ship. Dennie's husband, now deceased, joined Cunard in September 1938 and served as Chief Engineer on both the first Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2 until his retirement in October 1979.

Two ceremonies were held at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste, Italy. The first ceremony involved the welding of significant coins beneath the mast of Queen Elizabeth for good luck. Three coins were chosen – a half crown dated 1938 (the year the first Queen Elizabeth was launched), a sovereign dated 1967 (the year Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched) and a sovereign dated 2010 (to acknowledge the new Queen Elizabeth being floated out in 2010). After the coin ceremony, the new liner was blessed and a bottle of Italian prossecco was smashed against the hull by the Madrina. The valves of the dry dock were then opened and the liner met the water for the first time.

For more information about Queen Elizabeth, see previous article, Construction of Queen Elizabeth Begins. Queen Elizabeth’s Maiden Voyage, now sold out, will depart on Tuesday October 12, 2010. Her Maiden Season will run from October 2010 to January 2011 and include voyages to the Western and Central Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Click here for information about itineraries and pricing on Queen Elizabeth.

For information about her maiden World Voyage, see Cunard 2011 World Voyages.

Construction of Queen Elizabeth Begins

Photo Courtesy Cunard Line

Queen Elizabeth's Keel Laid

A ceremony was held today, at the Monfalcone shipyard of Fincantieri near Trieste, Italy, to mark the keel laying of Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth. The second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Elizabeth’s keel is the third Cunard has lain in the space of seven years. When she enters service in October 2010, she will join Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria as not only the most famous ocean liners in the world but also the youngest fleet in passenger travel.

The keel laying involves the placement in the dry dock of the first section of the ship’s hull. This section is made up of six pre-manufactured blocks, weighs 364 tons and is fitted with 104 tons of pipes, cables, insulation and other equipment. Fifty-three sections will be used in the construction of Queen Elizabeth and she will take to the water for the first time at her float out in December.

The new ship is named after the first Queen Elizabeth, one of Cunard’s greatest ships. The exterior design will be like her sister ships with the distinctive black and red design. The interior of the ship will consist of elegant double and triple height public rooms on a grand scale, luxuriously endowed with rich wood panelling, intricate mosaics, gleaming chandeliers and cool marbles. Art Deco features will pay homage to the original Queen Elizabeth and will allow the new ship to reflect a more civilized era of travel.

Queen Elizabeth's maiden voyage will be October 12, 2010. That voyage sold out in just over 29 minutes back in April this year. Her Maiden Season will run from October 2010 to January 2011 and include voyages to the Western and Central Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Fares start from just $1,195 per person for the five-night 26 November 2010 Gallic Debut voyage with ports of call at Amsterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre; while the 13-night Iberian Discovery voyage departing 1 December 2010 features fares from $2,395 per person, with ports of call at Vigo, Lisbon, Seville, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira.

The world’s newest ocean liner will depart Southampton on January 5, 2011, on her 103-night epic Maiden World Voyage, which has just been released for sale. This will see her make 35 maiden calls, including Cunard’s first call ever at Port Denarau (Fiji). In total, Queen Elizabeth will call at 38 ports in 24 countries as she makes her way west around the globe, with maiden transits of both the Panama and Suez Canals and calls at Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Lisbon.

Cunard 2011 World Voyages

SEE THE WORLD'S WONDERS ABOARD QUEEN MARY 2 IN 2011

2011 MAIDEN WORLD VOYAGE ABOARD QUEEN ELIZABETH

I am pleased to give you a sneak preview of Cunard's 2011 World Voyages. Both iconic QUEEN MARY 2 and the gracious new QUEEN ELIZABETH will sail around the globe on two distinct itineraries as part of the youngest luxury fleet at sea. These epic voyages will go on sale to the public on July 1, 2009, at 5:00 a.m. PDT (8:00 a.m. EDT).

QUEEN MARY 2 sets sail on a 103-day journey roundtrip from New York, bringing guests to renowned destinations around the globe in the grandest style imaginable.

• Explore exciting ports in South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe


• Voyage concludes with a classic Westbound Transatlantic Crossing from Cunard's home port of Southampton


• Overnight stays in Cape Town, Sydney and Hong Kong
  

QUEEN ELIZABETH will define a New Golden Age of Ocean Travel as she embarks on her maiden 103-day World Cruise voyage roundtrip from Southampton.

• Chart a western course to destinations in Central America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe


• Voyage features full transits of the Panama and Suez canals


• Experience the fanfare and excitement of maiden-calls in many ports


• Overnight stays in Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai

TWO SHIPS, ONE FULL WORLD VOYAGE

You can discover two views of the world on a special 2-Ship World Voyage option sailing aboard QUEEN ELIZABETH from New York to Sydney, then joining QUEEN MARY 2 on the westbound return journey to New York. On both ships, you will encounter a wide range of inspiring regions and maiden ports.

Book early to take advantage of bonus fares. Early Booking Fares applies to reservations made before February 28, 2010. Contact me for full details and restrictions. It is also possible to book segments of the entire world voyage.

Request More Information on Cunard 2011 World Voyages via email

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