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Queen Elizabeth 2 world cruise sets new course for 2005

Cunard Line is going around the world, again. The venerable shipping line that hosted the first-ever World Cruise back in 1922 has released details of its 2005 itinerary…

Cunard Line is going around the world, again. The venerable shipping line that hosted the first-ever World Cruise back in 1922 has released details of its 2005 itinerary. Guests will explore 38 ports in 24 countries aboard the feted Queen Elizabeth 2, a very different vessel than Laconia, which pioneered around-the-world voyages.

The new 108-day “Voyage of Discovery” – the ultimate itinerary in Cunard’s annual cruise collection – departs January 3, 2005, on a journey west from New York to Los Angeles, across to the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, through the Far East to India, Arabia and Europe. The final leg of this unbelievable voyage, from Southampton, England, to New York will be a transatlantic crossing on board the line’s new flagship Queen Mary 2.



Prices for the World Cruise begin at $30,999 per person, double, for an inside stateroom; Grand Suites are $399,799 per person, double. For travellers not prepared to spend nearly four months at sea, segments ranging from 12 to 106 days, start from just $1,999 per person, double.



Discover the world aboard Queen Elizabeth 2



Renowned for its award-winning and stimulating on-board enrichment programmes, Cunard will once again feature a stellar line-up of lecturers and celebrity guests from journalism, film, literature, music, history, politics and the culinary arts to further enhance the QE2 World Cruise experience. Entertainment is also specially selected for variety, and local talent complements the top-name comedians, singers and musicians who make guest appearances.



Make no mistake; the luminaries on board pale in comparison to QE2, itself, which is the star attraction in virtually every port along her route. Be prepared for fanfare as the arrival of the legendary liner will undoubtedly be heralded the world over. Since her 1969 launch, QE2 has called at 275 ports, carried some three million guests and sailed over five million nautical miles.



“Cunard’s World Cruise has been a famous annual affair since we introduced the very first World Cruise 83 years ago,” said David Gevanthor, the line’s vice president, yield management and marketing. “The black-tie galas, themed balls and speciality parties aboard QE2 make it one of the best known, most coveted and longest-running soirees of the social season.”



Cunard’s 2005 “Voyage of Discovery” blends a mix of previous ports with five maiden calls (denoted with an asterisk). The epic itinerary visits: For Lauderdale; Curacao; Fuerte Amador, Panama; Acapulco; Los Angeles; Honolulu and Kona, Hawaii; Papeete and Moorea, Tahiti; Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand; Sydney, Phillip Island, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Exmouth, Australia; Bali; Manila; Nagasaki and Osaka, Japan; Keelung, Taiwan; Hong Kong; Bangkok; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Bombay; Dubai; Muscat and Salalah, Oman; Aqaba, Jordan; Sokhna, Egypt; Marmaris, Turkey; Naples; Barcelona and Malaga, Spain; and Southampton, and returns to New York.



Optional sightseeing excursions and escorted land tours to inland attractions are hallmarks of the World Cruise. From Fremantle, passengers can explore the vibrant city of Perth. Keelung is the gateway to bustling Taiwan. The ancient city of Petra is visited from Aqaba. Sokhna serves as the jumping off point for Cairo and the pyramids of Giza. Escorted land tours to the Australian Outback, India’s Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China are among the overnight sightseeing highlights comprising Cunard’s Connoisseur CollectionSM.



Complimentary airfare and all shipboard gratuities



Fares for the 2005 World Cruise include round-trip Economy Class air transportation from 102 North American cities, including airport-pier ground transfers. Business Class upgrades are offered based on the segment and stateroom category selected. All guests sailing for 88 days or longer fly in First Class and receive complimentary gratuities. Past Cunard World Cruise guests, members of the line’s past-passenger club and past guests of any of the various World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance qualify for discounts.



Relish Cunard’s White Star ServiceSM



QE2 has long been called a City at SeaSM. Indeed, Cunard’s majestic liner has all the five-star comforts and conveniences requisite for an extended ocean voyage, including formal dining rooms, a casual alternative venue, several elegant bars and lounges, European-style spa, casino, grand ballroom, cinema, computer centre with Internet and e-mail access, well-stocked library, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, exercise room and duty-free boutiques.



Shipboard facilities also include a beauty salon, medical centre, golf driving range and putting green, formal wear shop (rentals available), florist, synagogue and the Heritage Trail –

a permanent, museum-quality exhibit that uniquely retraces Cunard’s history through artworks and other memorabilia. For women travelling singly or with companions that don’t dance, a brigade of gallant gentlemen social hosts assures that they will not miss out on the festivities.



Cuisine and service on board QE2 pay homage to the company’s proud 164-year British tradition. To that end, menus are carefully planned to provide variety throughout the three-month-plus voyage and Cunard’s White Star Service assures gracious and efficient care while away from home. In fact, the ship’s five-star Grill accommodations have repeatedly won the maritime Oscar from the respected Berlitz cruise guide. According to the author Douglas Ward, “If you occupy one of the top-level suites, with butler service and all the trimmings of finery, your experience should be nothing short of superb.”

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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