The Official "unveiling"...

N E W S



Cunard Line Unveils Queen Elizabeth


With the Debut of its Third New Ocean Liner in Six Years, One of the Oldest Names In Ocean Travel will Operate the Industry’s Youngest Fleet

Bookings Open for Sale on April 2






17 March 2009 – Today, Cunard Line revealed itinerary and design plans for its newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, which is scheduled to enter service on 12 October 2010, giving one of the oldest names in shipping the strength of operating the youngest fleet in the industry. Queen Elizabeth will be the third new ocean liner to be introduced by Cunard in six years and the second largest Cunard ship ever built.


Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions linking her with her sisters Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, and their predecessors. She will also debut some exciting features that will give the vessel her own style and personality, plus all the modern day luxuries Cunard’s guests have come to expect.

Likewise, Cunard’s renowned White Star Service will be ever-present, ensuring that travellers who seek a return to tradition will enjoy proper, authentic experiences that reflect the line’s 170-year heritage of formality and civility at sea.


In announcing the first details of the new ship, Cunard President Carol Marlow said “Cunard holds the distinction of sailing the most famous ocean liners in the world and I’m delighted to announce this magnificent addition to our fleet, which marks the return to our operation of three Queens simultaneously. For more than 70 years there has been an ‘Elizabeth’ in the fleet and this beautiful modern-day celebration of our past ‘Elizabeths’ will ensure this proud tradition continues far into this century. Sir Samuel Cunard would be rightly proud.”


A Nod to Cunard’s History and Heritage

Queen Elizabeth is named after Cunard’s first Queen Elizabeth, the famed Cunard ship which was launched in 1938 as the world’s largest liner. The new ship will reference her predecessor in interior grandeur, décor and style, but with a modern twist.


From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at the experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a modern-day cruise ship. This will be most evident in the ship’s adherence to liner decor, with elegant double and triple height public rooms on a grand scale, intricately detailed interiors replete with rich wood panelling, 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. And in addition to the extensive Cunard entertainment programmes onboard, Queen Elizabeth will offer some unique strands inspired by the era of the first Queen Elizabeth, including country house parties, lively piano evenings and a variety of dancing from that time – including the jitterbug and jive - all within the setting of this 21st century ship.


As a successor to Queen Elizabeth 2, the ship will also reflect this great liner via artwork and memorabilia and will have its very own ‘Yacht Club,’ named after the lively aft lounge on QE2. Offering guests 270 degree views and the perfect setting for activities and gatherings during the day, it will also double as a dramatic evening venue for cocktails and dancing.


Similarly, through photography, memorabilia and exhibits, the ship will recognize the historic links Cunard has enjoyed with Royalty over the years.


The ship’s distinctive public spaces include:


Queens Room - a new take on the traditional Cunard ballroom, with artwork depicting views from royal palaces, and photography of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal family, along with its 1000 square foot dance floor for Grand Balls and Tea Dances at sea.


Garden Lounge - with its magnificent vaulted glass ceiling creating a conservatory feel inspired by the glass houses of Kew Gardens, beneath where guests will enjoy Supper Clubs, and mix dining with dancing under the stars.


Games Deck - Named after the same deck on the original Queen Elizabeth, the Games Deck will offer paddle tennis, croquet and traditional British bowls. (Interestingly, the ship’s home port of Southampton is home to the oldest surviving bowls green in the world, first used in 1299.)


Midships Bar - will pay homage to her namesake liner, the first Queen Elizabeth, with memorabilia displayed from that era.


The ship’s dining venues include:


Queens Grill and Princess Grill - The ship will also feature the line’s celebrated five-star Grills accommodation and dining, with its al fresco dining option on a private deck terrace - first introduced on Queen Victoria - beautiful restaurants, Grills Lounge and sunbathing deck.


The popular Britannia Club, having first debuted aboard Queen Mary 2, features a private dining room with single seating dining for those guests in the top Balcony staterooms.


Britannia Restaurant - Art Deco decorative flourishes create a dramatic backdrop for this two-tiered dining room featuring a sweeping staircase ideal for making a grand entrance.

Queen Elizabeth’s Maiden Voyage Season

Queen Elizabeth’s maiden 2010 season will consist of six voyages, calling on 32 distinct ports in 18 countries. Her Maiden Voyage will depart from Cunard’s homeport of Southampton on 12 October 2010, en route to the Atlantic Isles. The 13-night voyage will call at Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira (Funchal). Fares start from $2,995 per person.


The ship will then embark on five celebratory inaugural voyages:


Mediterranean Premiere – A 14-day voyage departing Southampton on 25 October 2010 with maiden calls to Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Cartagena and Gibraltar. Fares start from $2,795 per person.


Aegean Introduction – An 18-day voyage departing Southampton on 8 November 2010 calling on Malaga (for Granada), Malta (Valletta), Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Athens (Piraeus) and Alicante. Fares from $3,295 per person.


Gallic Debut – A five-day voyage departing Southampton on 26 November 2010 with maiden calls to Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Brussels/Bruges (for Zeebrugge) and Cherbourg. Fares start from $1,195 per person.


Iberian Discovery – A 13-day voyage departing Southampton on 1 December 2010 with calls to Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira. Fares start from $2,395 per person.


Festive Debut – A 22-day holiday voyage departing Southampton on 14 December 2010 with calls in the Caribbean, including Madeira (Funchal), Tortola, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada). Fares start from $4,795 per person.


Reservations for Queen Elizabeth’s maiden voyages and inaugural season will be open for booking on April 2. For more information and to book a voyage, consult your Travel Professional,

PICTURES TO COME

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The Garden Lounge https://i.servimg.com/u/f85/13/25/39/07/garden11.jpg

More News: Cunard commodores honoured on new QE
17/3/2009
Top suites on Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth will each be named after a former commodore of the 170-year old shipping line, it was revealed today.
Throughout its history Cunard has had the distinction of having six of its most senior officers knighted – an honour no other shipping line can claim, president and md Carol Marlow told a briefing in London today.

Each of Queen Elizabeth’s top six suites will be named after one of the honoured commodores.

They were: Commodore Sir James Charles (1865-1928); Commodore Sir Arthur Rostron (1869-1940); Commodore Sir Edgar Britten (1874-1936); Commodore Sir James Bisset (1883-1966); Commodore Sir Cyril Illingworth (1883-1958) and Commodore Sir Ivan Thompson (1894-1970).

The new Cunarder will be the second largest ever built. Keel laying is scheduled for June at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard. Float out will take place in December, and delivery is scheduled for October 2010.

The vessel will leave its home port of Southampton on 12 October 2010 for a 13-night maiden voyage to the Atlantic Isles.

http://www.cruise-community.com/ShowStory.asp?ID=16424

And more news:

New QE liner to set sail in 2010

The new Queen Elizabeth liner boasts 1930s art deco features
The new £365m Queen Elizabeth liner will enter service in October 2010.

The vessel, whose home port will be Southampton, departs on its maiden voyage to the Canary Islands on 12 October, shipping company Cunard said.

It will retrace the route taken by the QE2 - which was removed from service last year - on it first voyage in 1969.

The 92,000-tonne liner, being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, is capable of housing 2,000 passengers and measures 964ft (294 metres)long.

With art deco features similar to those in the original 1930s Queen Elizabeth liner, the new vessel boasts a ballroom with artwork depicting views from royal palaces and photography of the Queen, as well as a garden lounge with a vaulted glass ceiling.

'Proud tradition'

The liner also features a games deck, an Art Deco-style restaurant and a bar displaying 1930s memorabilia.

Fares for the 13 night maiden voyage - including stops at Lisbon, Tenerife and Madeira - will range from £1,489 up to almost £16,000 per person for one of the grand suites.

Travellers on the vessel are expected to drink about 352,000 bottles of wine and champagne a year and consume 1.5 million eggs, along with nearly 13,000lb of smoked salmon, a Cunard spokesman said.

The Queen Elizabeth will effectively be a sister ship to Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.

Cunard president Carol Marlow said: "For over 70 years there has been an Elizabeth in the fleet and this beautiful modern day celebration of our past Elizabeths will ensure this proud tradition will continue far into this century.

"We are quite confident that this ship will be a success."

The vessel will feature the Royal Standard first presented to the first Queen Elizabeth by the late Queen Mother when she launched the ship in 1938.


Link to article & picture: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7948402.stm

Problems posting pictures but they are the same as we saw on the wordpress link in the other thread.

Here is a link to a SeaTrader article with more information: (you may have to register with them to view but it only takes a minute)

http://www.cruise-community.com/ShowStory.asp?ID=16425

There will be a Britannia Club and the Grills dining rooms will be on Deck 11.

85% of the cabins will have oceanviews with most being balconies. Only 162 cabins will be interior cabins.