Cunard's Queen Elizabeth maiden voyage all sold out

Cunard Cruises maiden voyage on their new Queen Elizabeth ocean liner has become the fastest selling voyage in the cruise lines history.

29 minutes! That is all it took for the 13 night Canary Islands voyage to sell out, beating the record of 36 minutes set in June 2007 for the final sailing of Queen Elizabeth 2. More than half of the remainder of the maiden season cruises were then snapped up within 90 minutes.

Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard, said that bookings had been particularly strong from people in the UK, the US and Germany.

"This is an impressive record set by what will be an impressive ship and speaks volumes for the Cunard brand as well as for the resilience of the cruise sector," she commented.

Cunard Cruises latest ship Queen Elizabeth is set to launch in autumn 2010 and will only further enhance Cunard Cruises illustrious reputation for exquisite ocean travel. Queen Elizabeth will feature many luxurious and elegant public rooms, plus a bowling green, a croquet lawn and even country house parties.

Broadway musical Hairspray set to wow on Oasis of the Seas

The award-winning musical ‘Hairspray’ is set to debut on Royal Caribbean cruise lines eagerly anticipated Oasis of the Seas when the new ship sets sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in December 2009. One of two productions taking place in Oasis of the Seas’ grand Opal Theatre, ‘Hairspray’ will open with a wide range of cruise industry firsts that Royal Caribbean will be debuting with the launch of their new ship.

“We are thrilled to bring to our guests a ground-breaking entertainment feature such as Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas,” said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean. “The addition of this popular musical to Royal Caribbean’s entertainment lineup will undoubtedly take cruise entertainment to the next level and cater to the evolving tastes of vacationers. Guests will be able to enjoy an award-winning Broadway-caliber production on Oasis of the Seas along with a myriad of revolutionary onboard amenities for a most memorable cruise vacation.”

Set in 1962, ‘Hairspray’ follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big aspirations who wins a spot on the local TV dance program, ‘The Corny Collins Show’ and finds herself transformed into an overnight teen sensation. The show has been licensed to Royal Caribbean for three years aboard Oasis of the Seas under an agreement struck with the aid of New York City-based Musical Theater International and Broadway Theatrical; the show will be available exclusively to the cruise line.

Oasis of the Seas is set to offer a myriad of diverse entertainment options for guests including an innovative aerial show which is yet to be formally announced but will make its home in the Opal Theater. In addition to the headlining shows, guests can visit Entertainment Place, one of seven diverse neighborhoods on Oasis of the Seas, which will offer Jazz on 4, an intimate lounge filled with live jazz and blues; Comedy Live, featuring side-splitting comedy; Studio B with an ice show, ‘Frozen in Time’ featuring the writings of Hans Christian Anderson; and more.

Basil Brush to sail on Ocean Village cruises

The most famous fox in the world is set to sail with Ocean Village Cruises this July – none other than Basil Brush will be the latest family favourite to perform an exclusive fun family show on board which will be his first ever season of live shows at sea. Basil will be boarding the original Ocean Village for a summer of sailing around the Western Mediterranean, joining other children’s icons such as Bagpuss and Paddington Bear

The legendary puppet first hit British TV screens back in 1963 and became known for his cheeky jokes and famous ‘Boom boom!’ catchphrase. Guests on board will be able to enjoy live shows in Ocean Village’s Connexions Bar from July onwards and will also be able to have their photo taken with Basil, complete with his trade mark tweed cape, waistcoat and cravat.

The performance will take place on all Ocean Village ''Emperors and Espresso'' fly cruises, running for seven days from Palma to Ajaccio on Corsica.

According to Travelmole, Gill Haynes, Ocean Village head of marketing communications, said: "We think parents will be as amused as their children to find Basil on board – his shows make great family entertainment and reach across the generations.

"This trio of retro children's icons is sure to charm the kids and send parents hurtling down memory lane."

British cruises with P&O are snapped up!

P&O Cruises have sold out on their new itineraries featuring UK ports in just over half an hour. This is the first time P&O Cruises have offered such holidays in the UK and judging by the reception they look to be the holiday hit of the summer.

Among the trips on offer are cruises to ports such as Newcastle, Milford Haven and Belfast. So step aside St Tropez, Barbados and Venice – the hot new destinations for cruise ships seem to be much closer to home. P&O Cruises have introduced only one cruise on board P&O Atermis so far to gauge demand but it now looks like there is a strong desire to see parts of the country you couldn’t normally combine in a holiday.

Next year P&O Cruises will be deploying both Artemis and Oriana on round-Britain routes so if you missed out this time make sure you get in early for next year. Michele Andjel, a spokesperson for the cruise line, commented: "There's a strong desire to see parts of the country you couldn't normally combine in a two-week holiday. Programmes like Coast have been really popular, and the whole surge in interest in the provenance of British food has helped give people an appetite for exploring their own country."

In related news, cruises on board P&O Cruises newest ship Azura have recently gone on sale. Along with its sister ship P&O Ventura, Azura will be the largest ever built for the cruise line.

Princess Cruises offer two new three-day sailings on Ruby Princess

Princess Cruises have added two new sampler cruises for the new Princess Ruby Princess, giving guests the chance to experience the delights of the newest addition to the fleet at a great value price. There are two three day cruises from Fort Lauderdale departing on Monday 14 December and Thursday 17 December, both calling in at the line’s private island, Princess Cays – an exclusive beach resort offering a day of relaxation and water sports. The sailings replace a previously scheduled wet-dock which has now been deemed unnecessary.

Ruby Princess was launched in November 2008 and features many of Princess Cruises most popular new features, such as the dramatic piazza-style atrium with intimate small-bite eateries and engaging street performers. There are a whole host of enticing dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill steak house. Ruby Princess also offers Princess Cruises’ newest innovation, the relaxing adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary.

Cunard and Oxford University Press introduce the Science Club

Cunard Cruises is joining forces with Oxford University Press (OUP) to introduce the Cunard/Oxford University Press Science Club. This innovative venture will be a multi-faceted membership programme featuring the new on board Science at Seas lectures performed by prominent science writers.

Guests on board with Cunard Cruises will also be able to join the Science Club providing ongoing opportunities to stay abreast of the most current popular science publishing through quarterly OUP email newsletters, invitations to book launches and much more. The programme is set to kick off on Queen Mary’s 8 April, 2009 westbound transatlantic voyage and there will be three leading scientists and science writers on board for lectures, book signings and interviews.

“We are delighted to partner with Oxford University Press, the world’s oldest and most prestigious publishing house, to offer the new Science at Sea programme that specifically addresses our guests’ passionate interest in this discipline,” said Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Cruises.

“Our guests are not merely on a voyage, but on a quest for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Whether tackling evolution, genetics or biodiversity, this programme will allow our guests to learn from some of the world’s most accomplished scientists,” Marlow added.

Science at Sea only further demonstrates Cunard Cruises ongoing commitment to providing their guests with the industry’s most compelling on board enrichment opportunities. Cunard Cruises have the award-winning Cunard Insights programme, as well as the Cunard Book Club and they also continuously pursue the best and brightest minds to tackle the most fascinating and relevant issues of the day.