Choosing Cruising Blog

Cunard will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

In step with the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth on 5th June 2012, all three Cunard ships will unite in Southampton on that day.

(more…)

Cunard will send all three of its ships on epic voyages in 2013 from direct demand for longer cruises. (more…)

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth meet in New York

On the evening of 14th 2011 Jan in New York as all three of the historic Cunard Line’s current ocean liners met up for the first time. (more…)

Check out the pre lauch crew video from staff onboard Queen Elizabeth.

The naming ceremony for Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will occur on 11th October 2010 at Southampton by her majesty.

Peter Shanks, president and managing director of Cunard said

The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner.

Queen Elizabeth

The ship will feature various English’ for international clientele such as an outpost of Fortnum & Mason, the quintessential English store found at the heart of London’s Piccadilly stocking preserves, biscuits and other gifts. There will alsob be men’s designer clothing by Hackett of London and hand-woven Scottish woollen products from Harris Tweed.

Here is a preview of the wooden artwork to be featured in the Grand Lobby of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, whose maiden voyage is in October 2010.

Queen Elizabeth Art Deco

(more…)

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth floated out on 5th January 2010 in at at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste. Three specially-selected coins were welded under the ship’s mast for good luck and then blessed by a bottle of Italian Prosecco.

View Larger Map
The innaugral cruise leaves on 12th October 2010. See the itinerary here

Here is a summary of the latest competitions run by cruise companies:

P&O Cruises is holding a running contest to find dancing stars to perform on it’s newest ship Azura during the VIP naming ceremony on 10th April 2010

For 3 years Thomson has been “Get Up and Dance” which starts again in January 2010 onboard Island Escape.

If you are a keen photographer, submit your photo of a Fred Olsen Ship/destination to www.fredolsenphotocompetition.co.uk with a camera as first prize, a watch as second and £75 onboard spending credit as third.

Are you a sculptor? Cunard is looking for a five-metre-tall sculpture to adorn the Royal Arcade shopping area of their lastest ship Queen Elizabeth. Judging will be decided in January 2010 by a panel including Charles Saumarez Smith, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Opera singers have the chance to vie for €15,000 and a performance at the Vienna Opera house in the Hapag-Lloyd “X Factor” style competition