Cruise Buzz

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will both depart on World Cruises in January 2010.

Queen Mary 2’s “Royal Route of Exploration” will operate a 101-day itinerary featuring 19 maiden calls, three overnight stays (in Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town) and an inaugural visit to South Africa. Queen Victoria’s 99-day “Voyage of Discovery” circumnavigation includes 11 maiden ports of call, three overnights (in Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai) and three U.S. embarkation gateways: New York, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco. Guests who book by Feb. 28 will receive an additional 10 percent off early-booking fares. “On this pair of epic voyages, Cunard continues a storied tradition that began nearly 90 years ago,” said Cunard President Carol Marlow. “In 2010, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will visit a combined 31 countries, 57 ports and 30 maiden calls, continuing our legacy of impeccable White Star Service, fine dining and unrivaled accommodations.” In addition to full World Cruises, the ships offer a range of shorter segments, which are now open for booking.

The QM2 will sail a new itinerary, departing New York on Jan. 4, 2010, and heading east through the Mediterranean to India, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand before returning to New York westbound via South Africa, South America and North America. Queen Mary 2 will visit 35 ports, more than ever before on a single voyage, including Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Yokohama), Auckland, Sydney and Perth (Fremantle). In addition, it will make 19 maiden calls, including Durban and Cape Town, South Africa; Phuket, Thailand; Vung Tau, Vietnam; Guam; Rabaul, the Whitsundays Islands; and Mauritius. Fares start at $21,666 per person for the 101-day full World Cruise. In addition, Queen Mary 2 will offer 12 Liner Voyages of 35 to 80 days, including the 63-day New York-to-Sydney voyage, priced from $13,716, and the 57-day Dubai-to-Cape Town voyage, priced from $12,379. Five shorter Segment Voyages of 17 to 23 days include the 23-day New York-to-Dubai voyage, priced from $5,276, and the 17-day Dubai-to-Hong Kong voyage, priced from $4,000 per person.

The Queen Victoria will operate a traditional 99-day westbound circumnavigation of the globe from New York to Southampton. The ship sails from New York on Jan. 12, 2010, embarking guests in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 15 and San Francisco on Jan. 27. The ship will traverse the Panama and Suez canals, visiting 41 ports including Acapulco, Melbourne, Shanghai, San Francisco, Cartagena, Phuket and Sharm El Sheikh. Guests can add on a seven-day transatlantic extension from Southampton to New York aboard Queen Mary 2, for a full 106-day circumnavigation. Fares start at $21,276 per person for the 99-day full World Cruise. In addition, the ship will offer 11 Liner Voyages of 32 to 82 days, including the 52-day San Francisco-to-Bangkok voyage, priced from $11,026, and the 67-day New York-to-Bangkok voyage, priced from $14,250. Five shorter Segment Voyages of 15 to 29 days include the 23-day San Francisco-to-Sydney voyage, priced from $5,192. Segment Voyage fares start as low as $3,451 per person.

Cunard’s early-booking fares represent a per-person savings of up to 10 percent when booked by Feb. 28, 2009. In addition, onboard credits of up to $2,000 per stateroom are available when booked by this date. Full World Cruise guests who book by Feb. 28 receive benefits including complimentary hotel and dining charges, commemorative gifts, welcome aboard reception, senior officer dinner and three World Cruise cocktail parties. All guests who book the full World Cruise can attend a gala World Cruise dinner. Grill accommodation guests also enjoy up to five exclusive, complimentary events ashore. Both ships feature three Overland Tours, which allow guests to leave the ship in one port for a multi-day tour (including all transfers and accommodations) and rejoin the voyage later. Aboard Queen Mary 2, Overland Tours explores Egypt, India and Africa, while Queen Victoria’s Overland Tours highlight Indochina, China and Australia.