Thread: Quees Victoria's 2008 Itineraries Announced

From the Cunard Website:

Queen Victoria Sets Sail on Distinctive European Voyages in 2008,
Following her Maiden World Cruise

From the Caribbean, Greek Isles, Scandinavia and Russia, to the Black Sea, Cunard's newest Queen will embark upon captivating maiden voyagesVALENCIA, CA (March 15, 2007) 2008 will mark an exciting year on the Cunard calendar. For the first time in history, three Cunard Queens will be in service simultaneously and the newest, Queen Victoria, will embark on 21 captivating voyages that will include dozens of celebratory maiden calls around the world. Queen Victoria's 2008 programme is highlighted by Cunard's exciting return to Scandinavia and Russia, as well as eight different Mediterranean itineraries affording guests' an in-depth exploration into the renowned cities and ports of the region. The schedule also features visits to Norway, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean on itineraries of four to 22 days.


Among the highlights are three 14-day Russian Rendezvous itineraries circling the Baltic Sea and featuring two full days in St. Petersburg, Russia; a full range of Mediterranean ports featuring Egypt and the Greek Isles, and the best ports of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean including Monte Carlo, Florence and Instanbul; and a 22-day Caribbean Holiday voyage. These voyages follow Queen Victoria's 106-night Maiden World Cruise and will be detailed in Cunard's 2008 Voyages brochure to be published in mid-April.

In her first full year at sea, Queen Victoria's itinerary features a collection of engaging Mediterranean voyages, including:

•Mediterranean Delights - A 14-day voyage, departing roundtrip from Southampton on May 6 with stops in Seville, Corsica, Rome, Naples/Capri, Valletta, La Goulette and Gibraltar. Voyage fares start from $2,975.

•Legends of the Mediterranean - Two 12-day voyages departing Barcelona on Aug. 25 and Oct. 24, with stops in Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa, Naples/Capri, Valletta, Crete, Izmir, Athens, Sicily and Rome. Voyage fares start from $2,395.

•Classical Mediterranean - Two 12-day voyages departing Venice on Aug. 13 and Oct. 12, with stops in Dubrovnik, Katakolon, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Sicily, Rome, Florance/Pisa, Marseille and Barcelona. Both departures feature an overnight stay in Venice. Voyage fares start from $2,445.

•Jewels of the Mediterranean - A 12-day voyage, departing Southampton on Aug. 1 and ending with an overnight stay in Venice, with stops in Gibraltar, Cannes, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Sicily, Corfu and Dubrovnik. Voyage fares start from $2,995.

•Ancient Wonders of the Mediterranean - Two 12-day voyages, departing on Nov. 5 and Nov. 17 from Rome and Athens, respectively, with stops in Naples/Capri, Sicily, Valletta, Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza), Port Said, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Kepez, Volos and Athens. Voyage fares start from $2,295.

•Connoisseur's Mediterranean - A 12-day voyage, departing Rome on Nov. 29 and ending in Southampton, with stops in Naples/Capri, Sicily, Katakolon, Dubrovnik, Valletta, La Goulette and Malaga. Voyage fares start from $2,295.

•Greek Isles and Aegean Shores - Two 12-day voyages, departing Rome on Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, with stops in Naples/Capri, Santorini, Izmir, Istanbul (overnight), Samos, Athens, Zakinthos, Dubrovnik and Venice. Voyage fares start from $2,695.

•Crimean Coasts - A 12-day voyage, departing from Venice on Sept. 18 and ending in Rome, with stops in Kusadasi, Istanbul (overnight), Odessa, Yalta, Athens, Sicily and Rome. Voyage fares start from $2,795.

A Return to the Baltic and Northern Europe

Cunard returns to the Baltic with Queen Victoria's voyages to Scandinavia and Russia during the summer months. The voyages, which circle the Black Sea, include:


•Russian Rendezvous - Three 14-day voyages, departing roundtrip from Southampton on May 27, June 22 and July 18, with stops in Zeebrugge, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg (overnight), Tallinn and Gdansk. Voyage fares start from $3,375.

Norway also figures prominently on Queen Victoria's calendar, with captivating voyages including:

•Norwegian Fjords - A seven-day voyage, departing roundtrip from Southampton on May 20, with stops in Bergen, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Aalesund and Stavanger. Voyage fares start from $1,675.

•Voyage of the Vikings - Two 12-day voyages, departing roundtrip from Southampton on June 10 and July 6, with stops in Bergen, Tromso, Honningsvag (for the North Cape), Trondheim, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Olden and Stavanger. Voyage fares start from $2,895.

Other alluring Queen Victoria voyages in 2008 include:

•Canary Islands Splendour - A ten-day voyage, departing roundtrip from Southampton on April 22, with stops in Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lisbon and Vigo. Voyage fares start from $1,775.

•Spring Getaway - A four-day voyage, departing roundtrip from Southampton on May 2, with stops in Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. Voyage fares start from $995.

•Caribbean Holiday - A 22-day voyage, departing roundtrip from Southampton on Dec. 11 with stops in Ponta Delgada, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Madeira and Vigo. Voyage fares start from $5,695.

The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will not only be a classic ocean liner, offering the very best of Cunard's heritage and traditions, along with all modern day luxuries, but will also feature many exciting innovations. These will include the first traditional West End-style private viewing boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre; the first floating Cunardia museum display, housing Cunard artifacts and memorabilia and the first two-story, 'spiral staircased' library at sea. The ship will also feature the line's celebrated luxury Grills accommodation and dining, further enhanced on Queen Victoria with exclusive deck terraces and an al fresco dining option.

From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at what differentiates a Cunard liner from a standard cruise ship. This will be most evident in the ship's adherence to liner traditions of the past, with elegant double- and triple-height public rooms featuring rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics and gleaming chandeliers. There will also be a grand, colonial-style Winter Garden complete with a retractable glass roof.

As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history. She joins the world's grandest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous ship, QE2.