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.

Spring is on the way! Book up now for Bank holiday cruises

The seasons are changing and spring is finally on its way, which not only means daffodils and lambs being born but also some well earned rest for the Brits with all the up and coming Bank holidays.

What better way to escape from it and make the most of those extra days off then by setting off on a cruise closer to home and with many cruise lines offering cruises departing from the UK it is even easier to get away.

The first of the public holidays this year is the Easter weekend between Friday 10 April and Monday 13 April. After that there are two May bank holidays on Monday 4 May and Monday 25 May, followed by a final summer bank holiday on Monday 30 August.

There are some fantastic cruises sailing out from Southampton, with five big ships including Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Princess Cruises’ new flagship Grand Princess, setting sail during the August bank holiday.

How about a two-night mini cruise on P&O Cruises’ incredible new ship Ventura, sailing to Brugge departing on the 30 August? Or Cunard Cruises’ 4 night Western Europe cruise on board Queen Victoria departing on the 2 May?

These are just a few of the many options available to take advantage of those lovely extra days off so why not give us a call to check out all the latest offers.

Queen Mary 2 Birthday Celebrations

In celebration of the ships fifth birthday, Cunard Cruises Queen Mary 2 will embark on a voyage around the UK this autumn. Queen Mary 2 entered service in 2004 and was named by HRH Queen Elizabeth in one of the most lavish naming ceremonies ever seen. Since then Queen Mary 2 has crossed the Atlantic 104 times and sailed more than 750,000 nautical miles.

Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Cruises Line, said the ship had reached an important milestone and that the Cunard Cruises Line was "very proud" of her many achievements.

"In her young life, Queen Mary 2 has attracted thousands of well-wishers in many ports around the world, achieving iconic status," she added.

As part of the ship’s birthday celebrations it will embark on a ‘lap of honour’ around the UK later this year, departing from Southampton on the 15 October 2008. Queen Mary 2 will call in at Rosyth, Greenock, Liverpool, Cork and Cherbourg in France before returning to Southampton. Guests will have the chance to explore Edinburgh and Glasgow on organised shore excursions, as well as the old town of Cherbourg with its ‘Plage Vert’, the town’s grassy beach.

Following the retirement of Cunard Cruises Line Queen Elizabeth 2 ship earlier this year, the line is now preparing to launch a new Queen Elizabeth ship in the autumn of 2010.

QE2's final farewell to Southampton

Cunard Cruises have announced plans for QE2’s final departure from her home port of Southampton on Tuesday 11 November 2008, when she leaves for her new life in Dubai. After an incredible 39 years of service, 806 transatlantic crossings, 25 world cruises, 5.9 million nautical miles travelled and assisting her country during the Falklands Campaign, QE2 will leave her service with Cunard Cruises to become a first class hotel and entertainment centre.

One of the most momentous moments of 11 November will be a farewell visit from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. This will be His Royal Highness’s seventh visit and during his visit a two minute silence will take place at 1100 hours prior to meeting crew members who went to the Falklands with QE2.

After a tour of the ship, His Royal Highness will present a painting of QE2, which was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen during her farewell visit to the ship on 2 June 2008, to the Mayor of Southampton, who will accept it on behalf of the city.

It is expected that people from all over the country will travel to Southampton to make their farewells to QE2. Other highlights include a million poppies to be dropped from a Tiger Moth to commemorate Remembrance Day and QE2’s role in the Falklands and a flypast of a Harrier which will hover and bow to QE2 approximately 500 feet off her stern.

At 1915 hours QE2 will leave her berth and remain for a period at Mayflower Park, where a pre-recorded message from her Captain, Ian McNaught, will be broadcast on a screen in the Park. Immediately afterwards there will be an amazing firework display and then QE2 will proceed downriver with her whistle blasting, down Southampton Water for the start of her journey to Dubai.

Cunard Cruises flagship Queen Mary 2 remains the largest and grandest ocean liner at sea and accompanied by Queen Victoria have revived the ‘Golden Age of Ocean Travel’. Cunard Cruises will not have to wait long for a new ‘Elizabeth’ as Queen Elizabeth will enter service in autumn 2010.

America to bid farewell to QE2

Thursday 16 October is set to be a momentous day as Cunard Cruises Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) bids her final farewell to America during a celebratory call befitting of the cruise line’s longest serving ocean liner. This will be the legendary ship’s 706^th and final visit to New York and she will be escorted by FDNY fireboats and a flotilla of pleasure craft, due to depart Westside Terminal at 5pm to meet with her sister ship, Queen Mary 2, for a Cunard Royal Rendezvous at the Stature of Liberty. Following this, both ships will embark on a tandem voyage to Southampton, England, marking QE2’s 806^th and final Transatlantic crossing.

"It is most fitting that QE2's farewell to America be celebrated in New York, the city Cunard has called our North America homeport since 1847. She will always be remembered as the best loved ship in the world and we are delighted that she will be cherished by future generations of travelers at her new home in Dubai," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "Her mantle as flagship of the British merchant fleet has proudly been bestowed upon Queen Mary 2, a ship recognised as the grandest ocean liner ever built and surely destined to continue Cunard's legacy," Marlow added.

Recognised at the most famous ship in the world, QE2 has an illustrious history since her naming by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967. QE2 has logged more than 5.9 million nautical miles – the equivalent of traveling to the moon and back 13 times – carried more than 2.5 million passengers and was even requisitioned for military service in the Falklands in 1982.

Throughout her arrival in New York in the early morning of 16 October, QE2 will fly a traditional Paying-Off Pennant, a maritime flag signifying the ship's length of service to the fleet. The pennant will be presented as a commemorative gift to a local dignitary during a reception onboard the ship.

To celebrate this historic occasion, a pipe and drum corps will perform in Battery Park as a fitting salute and final "Bon Voyage" to Queen Elizabeth 2.

QE2 completes service to Cunard in November after sailing a final voyage to Dubai where she will be refurbished and become a luxury hotel, entertainment destination and maritime museum.

Queen Mary 2 100th Transatlantic crossing

Cunard Cruises flagship Queen Mary 2 will set sail on her 100^th Transatlantic crossing from her home port of Southampton today, Sunday 21 September 2008. The momentous crossing with finish in New York on 27 September.

Queen Mary 2 entered service in January 2004 and since then has completed 711,288 nautical miles, with 316,729 nautical miles spent on Transatlantic voyages alone.

Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:
“Perhaps more than any other voyage, a Transatlantic Crossing captures the imagination of most travellers and recalls a bygone era of glamour and sophistication. For many, it is on par with the world’s greatest travel experiences.”

Queen Mary 2’s regular Transatlantic crossings form the foundation of her annual itineraries, in addition to sailings in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Norway, plus her Second World cruise in 2009. Not only has Queen Mary 2 logged nearly three-quarters of a million miles but her 100th Transatlantic voyage also marks many other milestones including –

- More than 229,000 guests crossing the North Atlantic

- 450 pets crossing the North Atlantic

- 97,000 pounds of lobster served

- 2,7000 pounds of caviar served

- 206,200 bottles of champagne served

- Enough tea to fill nearly five Olympic-sized swimming pools

Queen Mary 2 has welcomed many notable guests, including HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Noor, Former President George Bush, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Hillary Clinton, Uma Thurman, John Cleese, Richard Dreyfuss, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, Tina Brown and Harold Evans, Donald Trump, and Dame Shirley Bassey.

The Duke of Edinburgh to bid farewell to QE2

It was with great honour that Cunard Cruises announced that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will make a farewell visit to Queen Elizabeth 2 in her homeport of Southampton on Tuesday 11 November 2008.

Cunard Cruise’s most famous ship, QE2 will spend her final day in the UK on Tuesday 11 November before departing on her final voyage at 1915 hours to journey to Dubai where she will become a first class hotel and entertainment centre.

QE2 is the most famous ship in the world and for some 35 years has been Cunard Cruises flagship, since being launched by Her Majesty The Queen at Clydebank on 20 September 1967 with His Royal Highness also in attendance.

Since that day QE2 has become a ship of legends, travelling almost 5.9 million nautical miles, more than any ship ever; has carried 2.5 million guests; has completed 25 world cruises and crossed the Atlantic 804 times.

His Royal Highness has a history with QE2 that dates from her launch and has visited her five times since the laying of her Keel on 14 July 1967. Immediately prior her maiden voyage His Royal Highness visited on 1 May 1969; on 29 May 1969 for the Council of Industrial Design Awards; on 19 June 1991 for a Royal Ball in association with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and on 27 July 1990 to mark Cunard Cruises 150^th Anniversary.

Details of the visit on 11 November will be announced shortly, but Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Carol Marlow, comments:

“We are delighted and honoured that His Royal Highness has agreed to visit QE2 on her last day in the UK. The Duke of Edinburgh has taken a close interest in the ship over the last forty years, and I am certain this will be a memorable occasion for all involved”.


Cunard Cruises remaining two ships, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, will continue to fly the Cunard Cruises name.

Boston Symphony Chamber Players to Perform Aboard Queen Mary 2

One of the worlds most distinguished chamber music ensembles The Boston Symphony Chamber Players will perform on Cunard Cruises Queen Mary 2 on her eastbound Transatlantic crossing departing from New York on September 4.

Cunard, the official cruise line of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will welcome the players and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s esteemed Artistic Administrator, Anthony Fogg, for special performances and lectures held throughout the voyage.

The Boston Symphony Chamber Players were founded in 1964 to ensure the BSO could share the unique qualities of the full chamber repertoire with concertgoers. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players engagement is a highlight this season of many illuminating performances and appearances that comprise Cunard Insights™, the lines award winning enrichment program which is now available on all three of the celebrated ocean liners.

"Live classical music remains a Cunard hallmark to this day and showcasing a world-class chamber orchestra of this notoriety will be a truly memorable event for our guests," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.