Cunard Line has added Ft. Lauderdale embarkation and disembarkation points – January 17 and April 13, 2006 – to Queen Mary 2`s much-anticipated Path of Magellan South America Liner Voyages in 2006…
Cunard Line has added Ft. Lauderdale embarkation and disembarkation points – January 17 and April 13, 2006 – to Queen Mary 2`s much-anticipated Path of Magellan South America Liner Voyages in 2006. Travellers can now choose from two South American Odysseys in the grand Cunard tradition: the 38-day westbound voyage embarking from New York on January 15, or the 36-day voyage departing from Ft. Lauderdale on January 17, taking guests around Cape Horn via the Drake Passage, Beagle Channel and the Straits of Magellan. The eastbound journey reverses the itinerary and concludes in Ft. Lauderdale on April 13 and New York on April 15.
Adding Ft. Lauderdale to the Path of Magellan itineraries allows our Southern-based guests a convenient departing and returning point to experience the adventure of Queen Mary 2`s maiden passage around South America, says Jan Swartz, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Cunard Line. Guests will relive the adventures of such legendary explorers as Magellan and Willem Shouten – the first man to make the journey through the Drake Channel at the very tip of South America – all while sailing in the sumptuous surroundings of this grand ocean liner.
When Queen Mary 2 embarks on her journey, she will be the largest passenger vessel ever to navigate the storied waters around Cape Horn. The historic voyage will visit vibrant South American capitals, world-class resorts, remote settlements, wildlife sanctuaries and treasures of civilisation. Prices start from $8,499 per person, double occupancy.
From January through April 2006, Queen Mary 2 will chart a memorable course through the West Indies and along the Atlantic seaboard of South America, around Tierra del Fuego to Chile and the Pacific Coast, then on to the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and the United States. For those with wanderlust, but not unlimited vacation time, it is possible to choose from five shorter itineraries, which range from 10 to 14 days long. Air add-on fares are available from 161 North American cities in connection with the South America programme.
Route to Rio will see the triumphant return of Queen Mary 2 to Rio de Janeiro after a one-year hiatus – her inaugural visit in February 2004 to celebrate Carnival was heralded throughout Brazil and neighbouring nations. A southbound voyage departs New York for Rio January 15, 2006, calling at St. Kitts, Barbados and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, en route. The reverse itinerary departs Rio on April 3, 2006. Prices for the 12-day cruise start from $2,799 per person, double. For those wishing to depart from Ft. Lauderdale, the 10-day Route to Rio cruise leaves Ft. Lauderdale on January 17.
Cape Horn & Chilean Fjords is a 12-day navigation of Patagonia. The Rio to Valparaiso (Santiago) voyage – departing January 27, 2006 – visits Montevideo, Uruguay; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt in Chile. The reverse itinerary departs March 22, 2006. Scenic wonders abound including the Straits of Magellan, Chilean fjords and Lake District, Tierra del Fuego and even a flight-seeing excursion to Antarctica. Prices start from $2,999 per person, double.
Andes & the Americas – between Valparaiso and Los Angeles – is a two-week cruise to ports in seven countries. Queen Mary 2 will call at Callao, Peru (gateway to Lima); Esmeraldas, Ecuador (for Quito); Fuerte Amador, Panama; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; and Acapulco. From Fuerte Amador passengers can join an excursion to the Panama Canal Zone. The Valparaiso to Los Angeles itinerary departs February 8, 2006, and operates in the reverse direction March 8. Prices start at $3,299 per person, double.
Queen Mary 2 is the largest (151,400 tons), longest (1,132 feet), tallest (236 feet), widest (135 feet) and most expensive ($800 million) passenger vessel ever built. There are 1,310 suites and cabins available in degrees of style and comfort ranging from pampered elegance to almost unimaginable luxury in the ship`s famed Grill-level accommodations. Queen Mary 2 brings together like-minded travellers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, fine dining, sophisticated adventure and legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
Among the many notable facilities on board Queen Mary 2 are 10 dining venues, including a Mediterranean speciality restaurant run by star chef Todd English, the only spa at sea operated by Canyon Ranch health resorts, the largest ballroom at sea, the largest library at sea, the largest wine collection at sea, a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, a two-story theatre, a casino, five indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs and children`s facilities with British nannies.
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