As vacation options go, few things can compare to a cruise. Cruise passengers board a floating city, leave every care back on shore and let the captain and crew tend to their every need. The dining and entertainment options on a cruise ship are the equal of any land-based vacation resort, and the ship makes port at some of the most exciting destinations in the world.
Founded in Southhampton, England, Cunard Line has been in the cruise ship business longer than the Stones have been rolling. More than a century and a half of experience on the seas serves the ships of Cunard well, and those ships ply the waters of the world's most popular ports.
All aboard. The Queens have granted you an audience.
Cruise Ships of Cunard Line
Beginning in 1936 with the wooden ship Unicorn, nearly a hundred ships have flown the Cunard flag. Currently, the Cunard fleet consists of three ships, and they are among the most famous vessels afloat.
- Queen Mary 2 – The senior member of the fleet, the QM2 was launched in 2003, and was the longest, tallest and widest cruise ship ever built. (The current record holder is a Royal Caribbean cruise ship) Queen Mary 2 was designed primarily for transatlantic crossings, and is classified as an ocean liner, not a cruise ship. By any designation, QM2 is among the most beloved ships in any fleet. More than 4300 passengers and crew can spread out on her 17 decks and 1100+ feet of length. It should be noted that on this most regal of ships, some passengers enjoy perks that are unavailable to others. Guests who book an exclusive Queens Grill Suite receive priority check-in, a bottle of French champagne (with sugar-iced strawberries, of course), and reserved seating for dining in the Queens Grill Restaurant, among other frilly things. Opulence has it's rewards.
- Queen Victoria – This Queen made her Maiden voyage in 2007, and is the smallest ship in the Cunard fleet. QV got off to an auspicious beginning. Christened on December 10, 2007, the bottle of champagne didn't break! A second bottle did, and it has been smooth cruising ever since. One distinctive feature of the QV can be found in the Royal Court Theatre. The three-story facility is equipped with private viewing boxes-a first for a cruise ship. Along with Queen Mary 2, the QV is the only ship with a restaurant headed by celebrity chef Todd (what else?) English.
- Queen Elizabeth – New for 2010, Queen Elizabeth is similar in size to the QV. This ship features art-deco interior appointments that recall the earlier days of Cunard. Queen Elizabeth is so lavish, even a less than top notch suite provides priority embarkation, wine and strawberries, a private balcony and personalised stationery.
Cruising on Cunard Line
Cunard offers cruises that can take as little as two days, and World Cruises on Cunard will last for months. Regardless of the cruise length or destination, Cunard ships have an atmosphere of formal elegance. Ballroom dancing, spotless staterooms, crystal stemware and flawless service are hallmarks of Cunard Line.
When booking a cruise on Cunard, one phone call can make all the arrangements. One payment handles everything from airfare to afternoon tea.
So, choose your ship, pick a destination and get fitted for that tux. The oldest name in the cruise ship business will provide a high-seas vacation experience that will become the standard by which all other cruises will be measured.
Dave Lovejoy - Dave is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He is involved in farming and has a custom made furniture business that has customers ...
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