Cunard Cruises
Cunard Cruises
Independent Expert Reviews by Professional Travel Journalists
The most famous ocean liners in the world are operating by Cunard, running worldwide itineraries to exotic ports of call and the only scheduled transatlantic crossing.
The historic line’s two ships, the glorious Queen Mary 2 and the iconic QE2, have been joined by the £300 million Queen Victoria to maintain Cunard’s world renowned White Star Service.
The company has also ordered another new vessel to be named Queen Elizabeth, due to enter service in 2010.
QM2, at more than double the size of QE2, is the only cruise ship to sail a regular transatlantic service between Southampton and New York.
Carrying more than 2,600 passengers, the luxury QM2 had 24 transatlantic departures in 2007 alone.
QE2 will continue to set the standard for British elegance with round the world itineraries and voyages from Southampton until the 40 year old vessel leaves the fleet in November 2008 to become a luxury floating hotel in Dubai.
The 2,014-passenger Queen Victoria entered service in December after being named in Southampton by the Duchess of Cornwall.
A quintessential Cunard liner, Queen Victoria includes hallmark features naturally associated with the Cunard brand plus a range of new innovations.
The ship features the line’s celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill cabins and private dining rooms together with alfresco dining in an exclusive outdoor patio, private viewing boxes in the 800-seat Royal Court Theatre, a museum of Cunard memorabilia and a two-storey wood-panelled library holding 6,000 books.
Queen Victoria offers the classic Cunard luxury and experience passengers have come to expect while providing the most up-to-date amenities and facilities.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth will be the second largest Cunard ship ever built, with a capacity for 2,092 passengers, when it enters service in the autumn of 2010.
The decision to order another ship has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria.
The move means that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet soon after the departure of the much-celebrated QE2.
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.
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 its 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.
From the outside, Queen Elizabeth’s black hull, gleaming white superstructure and distinctive red funnel will echo the classic characteristics of the company's distinctive liner heritage.
