Cunard reduces single supplement charges

Solo passengers on Queen Mary 2 will see a reduction in the single supplement for sole occupancy of cabins from 100% to 75% on sailings taken next year.

Some voyages (during April and on May 2 and 8) will also be available with a lower 50% sole occupancy supplement, subject to availability.

Next year marks the 170^th anniversary of the company’s founding and will see its two ships offer a total of 61 voyages throughout Europe, the Caribbean and across the Atlantic.

In addition to an extended season of 25 transatlantic crossings, Queen Mary 2 will offer two Mediterranean voyages, a round British Isles voyage, two Northern European voyages and two Canada and New England trips before completing the year sailing in the Caribbean from New York.

Cunard’s newest ocean liner, Queen Victoria, will offer a range of four- to 16-night voyages from Southampton.

Queen Victoria will offer four, four-night voyages perfect for those seeking a taste of the Cunard ocean liner lifestyle. All will call at Cherbourg, Rotterdam (for visits to Amsterdam) and Zeebrugge (for visits to Bruge). Departures are on May 2, August 29, October 22 and December 5.

A total of eight voyages to the Mediterranean will be offered in 2009 ranging from 12- to 16-nights.

Queen Victoria will continue trips to the fjords. On Baltic itineraries, the ship is able to call at ports such as St Petersburg, something denied to QE2.

A highlight for Queen Victoria will be a 24-night inaugural voyage to Canada and New England. The fact that the original Cunard paddlesteamers sailed from Liverpool to Boston via Halifax makes Queen Victoria’s first call at these two ports even more special.

Queen Mary 2’s round British Isles trip departs from Southampton on October 15, 2009, calling at South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Greenock, Liverpool, Cobh and Cherbourg.

The ship’s expanded transatlantic programme features 25 six-day crossings and includes seven no-fly roundtrip voyages, a new range of New York hotels, new North American escorted tours and new ‘As You Like It’ programme featuring 11 US gateways airport connections. The new American tours programme combines Atlantic crossings and places such as New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Toronto, Niagara, Atlanta, Calgary, San Francisco, Charleston and Los Angeles.

Queen Mary 2 will also run its first transatlantic crossing from Boston to Southampton, via New York.

Interspersed with the Atlantic programme are two voyages from Southampton to the Mediterranean and two to Northern Europe.

Queen Mary 2 continues to offer Canada and New England with two voyages taking in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St John and Halifax.

The ship ends 2009 with a programme of five Caribbean voyages from New York of 10- to 15-nights including a Christmas voyage featuring Grand Turk, Tortola, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Castries, Dominica, Basseterre and Charlotte Amalie.

Cunard president and managing director Carol Marlow said: “The world’s grandest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, will offer an extended season of 25 transatlantic crossings, and each crossing can be linked to a series of fascinating American tours and city stays.

“She will also undertake her maiden British Isles circumnavigation, in this her fifth anniversary year.

“And, Queen Victoria, our newest Cunard Queen, after listening to the wishes of our guests, we have positioned in Southampton for the full summer and autumn seasons. This allows her to assume QE2’s mantle of ex-UK voyages to the Mediterranean, the fjords and the Atlantic Isles and she continues her popular Baltic voyages.”

She added: “2008 is turning out to be record year for Cunard Line as the brand has uniquely benefited from strong demand for a return to the days of the Golden Age of ocean liner travel.

“As we see QE2 leave the fleet at the end of 2008, and prepare for the delivery of Queen Elizabeth in 2010, we will have lower capacity in 2009 which will result in a very high level of demand for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria right around the world, as soon as the programme goes on sale.”

by Phil Davies