Cunard Line

24303 Town Center Drive
Suite 200
Valencia, CA 91355
(800) 7-CUNARD
Cruise Line Web Site 

Company Overview

It’s appropriate that Cunard Line’s two ships—Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria—will sail in and out of New York in 2009.  This city has been part of the company’s history for over a century.  Today, Cunard’s ship sail in and out of the city from Red Hook, Brooklyn. 

While the name Cunard name evokes the nostalgia of glamorous transatlantic crossings, the company was floundering with one ship, QE 2.  Founded in 1840 by Samuel Cunard, the company owned some of the world’s greatest liners ruled the north Atlantic route between Southampton, U.K. and New York.  But the decline of transatlantic travel resulted in Cunard’s decline. Of course the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was still famous, but she was aging.

In 1998, however, the wealthy Carnival Corporation purchased Cunard Line and today the company is part of Princess Cruises. Carnival had big plans to revive the Cunard name and announced it would build a new flagship, Queen Mary 2, the largest ship ever constructed.   The Queen of England christened 150,000-ton liner in January, 2004. At 1,132 feet long she is also the longest passenger ship ever built. Despite her size, QM 2 carries only 2,620 passengers and a crew of 1,300.

A second ship, the much smaller Queen Victoria (90,000 tons) entered service in December, 2007.  And, Queen Elizabeth 2, which entered service in 1968, retired in 2008 and will be a floating hotel in Dubai.

The Cunard Experience
Aboard Cunard’s liners you’ll find a style or travel reminiscent of the past. While Queen Mary 2 was designed for transatlantic crossings, she is also a cruise ship, although much too large for most ports in the world. Queen Victoria will operate as a conventional cruise ship, beginning her life on a 100+ day world cruise. 

Both ships have separate dining rooms, the Brittania Restaurant for the majority of passengers and the Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill, for those paying the highest fares.  The main dining rooms are beautifully decorated and designed so everyone should feel first class.  Aboard these ships you’ll find ballroom dancing to a live orchestra and evenings when the recommended attire is formal. 

Past Passenger Program
Cunard’s “World Club” has points accrued depending on the number of voyages taken. Club benefits include onboard credits and social events for repeaters; 25% savings off brochure rates.

Taking The Kids
Children’s Programs: Queen Victoria and QM2 boast a full nursery with British nannies, children’s activities with counselors and baby sitting services.

Tipping
Gratuities are automatically charged to your shipboard account for dining room waiter, cabin steward and other personnel. The per person (including children) per day rates is $13 aboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.  

For bar and salon services onboard QM2, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to your bill. Other gratuities are at the passenger’s discretion.

CUNARD LINE ITINERARIES

Queen Mary 2

Transatlantic Crossings. Westbound (Southampton to Brooklyn) Six nights.
2009 Departure Dates:   April 20;  May 2, 25; June 13, 25; July 24; Aug. 17, 29; Sept. 26; Oct. 23; Nov. 11

Eastbound (Brooklyn to Southampton), Six nights.
2009 Departure Dates:  April 14, 26; May 8, 31; June 19, 6; July 6, 30; Aug. 23; Sept. 8; Oct. 9; Nov. 5

Brooklyn to Hamburg, Germany (eight days).
Departure Dates: July 30, 2009

Hamburg to Brooklyn (eight days).
Departure Dates:  Aug. 15, 2009 

23-day Grand Mediterranean Explorer. Round-trip from Brooklyn. Ports of Call:  Southampton, U.K.; Lisbon; Gibraltar; Civitavecchia (port of Rome); Barcelona; Southampton; New York.  Departure Date:  May 8, 2009

19 Day Grand Voyage of the Vikings.  Round-trip New York visiting Southampton, UK; Stavanger; Flaam Hellesylt; Geiranger; Bergen.  Departure Date: May 31, 2009

23-day Grand Mediterranean Delights. Round-trip from Brooklyn. Ports of Call:  Southampton, U.K., Vigo, Spain; Barcelona, Monte Carlo; Rome, Gibraltar, Lisbon,
Departure Date: May 9, 2009.

20-day Grand Around the British Isles.  Round-trip New York visiting Rosyth; Greenock; Liverpool; Cork; Cherbourg  Departure Date:  Oct. 9, 2009

13-day Caribbean Delights. Round-trip New York calling in Cristobal; Curacao; Grenada; Barbados; St. Kitts; Tortola.  Departure Date:  Nov. 17, 2009

Fourth of July Getaway (Five nights).   Round-trip Brooklyn visiting Halifax and Boston.  Departure: July 1, 2009

Labor Day Getaway (Four nights).   Round-trip Brooklyn visiting St. John (N.B.) Departure: Sept. 4, 2009

105-day World Cruise.   Round-trip from Brooklyn. 

Departure Date:  January 4, 2010. Copyright Anne Campbell, 2009