Cunard Cruise Line: Luxury Beyond Compare
The Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Mary II Still Reign on the High Seas
All Cunard Line ships impose an on board class system by assigning dining room admittance according to stateroom category. Highest stateroom categories also include butler service and priority embarkation and debarkation lines. All the ships have world-class health spas on board and the Royal Court Theatres in both the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Victoria offer private boxes and are designed on two-tiers to maximize unobstructed viewing. The ships offer Enrichment Programmes, which include guest lecturers, musical performances, and book clubs on select sailing.
Although there are many similarities between the ocean liners, each has distinct amenities and offerings.
Queen Mary II
The flagship of the Cunard Line, the Queen Mary II, is the oldest of the trio but is also the widest, longest, tallest, most expensive ocean liner ever constructed. The Queen Mary II houses the only planetarium at sea. On select voyages the Royal Astronomical Society hosts stargazing sessions. The ship's spa services are provided by the award-winning Canyon Ranch.
Queen Elizabeth
The newest of the sailing Cunard vessels, the Queen Elizabeth embarked on its 103-day maiden voyage around the world on January 5, 2011. The Cunarders' Gallery features portraits of the famous passengers that have graced Cunard Line decks. Spin the roulette wheel or play the slots in the Empire Casino. Order a martini in the Commodore Club, the ship's observation lounge offering panoramic views off the bow. Day and evening activities accommodate every taste.
Queen Victoria
Launched in December 2007, the Queen Victoria is the smallest of the Cunard ships and, due to her construction, is not truly classified as an ocean liner. Still, her 16 decks hold a museum, the Royal Arcade (a wrought iron and green marble embellished shopping area), and the Queens Room ballroom, creating vacation experiences that rival any produced by her larger sister ships. A special treat for those passengers who enjoy a good book while sailing the ocean blue: a two-story mahogany paneled library housing 6,000 titles. At the time of her naming, by Prince Charles' wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the BBC declared the Queen Victoria to be the most luxurious of the Cunard ships.
Royal Rendezvous
In January 2011, making a tandem crossing of the Atlantic, the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth joined the Queen Mary II at the Statue of Liberty. On June 5, 2012, another Royal Rendezvous will take place when all three ships converge on the port at Southampton, England, for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
Sources: Cruise Industry News
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Published by Martha Fry - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance
Martha Fry works as a freelance writer and editor. An accountant who worked at Peat, Marwick & Mitchell and Price Waterhouse, she also does financial consulting and often writes on business and personal fina... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentGreat article. I have written about the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary II when they arrived together in Sydney Harbour, Australia. This line knows how to impress.
good report, Martha!
Wow, how lovely!
Sounds like a great adventure this would be.
Awesome writing - thanks for sharing:)
I too would love to take a cruise and not just cruzin' for a bruisin from my wife! LOL
I want a cruise someday too
This must have been an assignment - it's the second Cunard article I've read :) Okay, you both convinced me - one day when the bills are paid, the kids have gone on to live their own lives - we'll take this cruise :) cheers