Tandem WB Crossing QE2 and QV

[ocngypz]

Tandem transatlantic crossing planned for Queen Victoria and QE2

15/5/2006

Cunard's new liner Queen Victoria, delivering next December, will embark on her 106-night maiden World Cruise out of Southampton on the same day in January 2008 as QE2 leaves for a 103-night 'South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey' voyage.

Both ships will leave Southampton on Sunday January 6, 2008, but follow very different routes. The two will head for New York on the first-ever tandem westbound Transatlantic crossing. QE2, making her 804th Atlantic crossing, will escort Queen Victoria, making her first, with both arriving in New York a week later. They then continue together, reaching Fort Lauderdale two days later. From there the ships will take different courses before a further 'Meeting of the Queens' in Sydney on February 24.

 

Queen Victoria will circumnavigate the globe in a westbound direction and, after calling at New York, will transit the Panama Canal before making maiden calls at some of the world's most famous cities including Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Dubai, Athens and Barcelona. Queen Victoria will also transit the Suez Canal, before returning to her homeport of Southampton on April 22.

 

For the first time in over a decade, QE2 will concentrate on South America and the Pacific in a 103-night voyage in winter 2008 that will call at 30 places in 17 countries. After leaving New York QE2 will head around South America calling at Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, the Falkland Islands and Valparaiso. Cruising into the Pacific she will then circle the world's largest ocean before arriving at Los Angeles on 30 March. After transiting the Panama Canal QE2 will return home to Southampton on April 18.

 

The voyages go on sale from June 5, 2006 and savings of up to 50% (QE2) and up to 45% (Queen Victoria) are available for bookings made by end January 2007, subject to availability. Some selected shorter liner sailings (from 35 nights to 64 nights) are available on both vessels' itineraries.

[KenC]

Hi ocngypz

 

You just beat me to the punch !!!! great news - at least they are planning some exciting itineraries from the start with QV. Surprising that QE2 is relinquishing the full world cruise so soon????

 

Regards

 

Ken

[guernseyguy]

Surprising that QE2 is relinquishing the full world cruise so soon????

 

Isn't the real question 'what's the QM2 doing?' - not South America again, it would appear....after this year's unqualified success!;)

 

Peter

[pepperrn]

great news - at least they are planning some exciting itineraries from the start with QV.

 

Ken

 

Very confident and ambitious I'd say, new ship, a couple of shake down cruises and then off around the world! Given the teething problems that usually affect ships at first, very confident indeed!

 

Then again, when the design of your new ship has been around as long as this one has, and this is just the latest one off the conveyor belt ("paint this one with a dark grey hull instead of white will you, oh, and a red funnel this time, thanks"), you can be confident all will be alright on the night.

[KenC]

Very confident and ambitious I'd say, new ship, a couple of shake down cruises and then off around the world! Given the teething problems that usually affect ships at first, very confident indeed!

 

Then again, when the design of your new ship has been around as long as this one has, and this is just the latest one off the conveyor belt ("paint this one with a dark grey hull instead of white will you, oh, and a red funnel this time, thanks"), you can be confident all will be alright on the night.

 

 

... and with Princess training the crew this time (lets face it Cunard made a right botch of training the original QM2 crew!!!)...... sounds like they might pull it off - you don't hear many complaints about new Princess ships with teething problems???

 

Mind you .... perhaps there is something we don't know about this Vista Sista - you don't see many HAL Vistas doing January transatlantics with fare paying passengers do you???

[guernseyguy]

you don't hear many complaints about new Princess ships with teething problems???

 

....talking of which, Ken, how was your trip on ARCADIA?

 

Peter

[KenC]

....talking of which, Ken, how was your trip on ARCADIA?

 

Peter

 

 

Very, very, very bland and too, too, too British (or P&O's concept of British). Shows were the worst seen at sea and they served carrots (silver service mind you) as a vegetable 9 days out of 10. A huge missed opportunity for P&O, a huge reprieve for Cunard - apart from that, the itinerary was great and we got an amazing send off from QM2 at Curacao.....would love to do another Panama transit - maybe on QV, who knows.

 

Ken

[guernseyguy]

Very, very, very bland and too, too, too British (or P&O's concept of British). Shows were the worst seen at sea ..... A huge missed opportunity for P&O, a huge reprieve for Cunard

 

Well, lets see what Cunard's version of British turns out like.....looking pretty twee so far....but time will tell.......I'm impressed that the shows were worse than the QE2's - that must take some doing........

 

Peter

[ocngypz]

Isn't the real question 'what's the QM2 doing?' - not South America again, it would appear....after this year's unqualified success!;)

 

Peter

 

 

Hmm.. my thoughts exactly. Perhaps the old line runs down to Capetown in the winter... or perish the thought.. the 7 night Caribbean cruncher from FLL or...... longer Caribbean sailings from NYC.

 

It'll be interesting to see what develops! But hey, as long as there is a winter and spring transat on the QE2, I am happy!!

[guernseyguy]

...... longer Caribbean sailings from NYC.

 

QM2 is already wall-to-wall NY 11 night Caribbeans from the end of October 2007....I doubt they can leave her doing that for 6 months.....hhmmmm.....

 

Peter

[KenC]

Well, lets see what Cunard's version of British turns out like.....looking pretty twee so far....but time will tell.......I'm impressed that the shows were worse than the QE2's - that must take some doing........

 

Originally Posted by guernseyguy

Isn't the real question 'what's the QM2 doing?' - not South America again, it would appear....after this year's unqualified success!

 

 

It wasn't so much the decor it was more the big brother mind set of 'we have done this or that because we know what the UK market wants'!!!! The decor was 'understated' to appeal to the UK market - are we too innocent or prudish to appreciate some glamour or excitement???? The illustrations of QV's interior may look a bit twee but I will bet they turn out to be far better in the flesh. ....... QE2's shows are a bit of a non event because of the poor show facilities, but Arcadia has state of the art equipment and some of the shows were so bad that you had to laugh. We are talking Church Hall Pantomime standards here!

 

As I said elsewhere, we don't know what QM2 is doing in 2008 yet, but she is doing South America again in 2007 as part of her maiden WC. .... Do we know it was unsuccessful (apart from the pod incident which can hardly be blamed on the ship)?? My sister did Rio to NYC and had a wonderful time....

 

ocngypz - line voyages to Cape Town (and maybe beyond???) ... now that's a wonderful idea. Wonder why no one else is doing it these days???

 

Ken

[guernseyguy]

QM2 is doing ...South America again in 2007 as part of her maiden WC. ....

 

As the blessed Margaret would have said...There Is No Alternative!

 

Peter

[KenC]

As the blessed Margaret would have said...There Is No Alternative!

 

Peter

 

Que ?????

[guernseyguy]

Que ?????

 

Mrs Thatcher - you remember her - and her daughter TINA - anyway - the ONLY way the QM2 can do a global circumnavigation is by going round South America - no Panama Canal for her - so I would not necessarily read a repeat of South America as a wish to revisit this year's triumph!

 

Peter

[ocngypz]

ocngypz - line voyages to Cape Town (and maybe beyond???) ... now that's a wonderful idea. Wonder why no one else is doing it these days???

 

Ken

 

 

Cunard used to do them. Guess they should put them back!

[LunchCompanion]

I was on a vista class ship two months ago and the cabin seemed terribly small. The verandah was the biggest I had a ship. I better cross the Victoria off my list!

[Mustangs]

Hello,

 

If the QE2 is due back in Southampton April 18, 2008, can we assume that she will be in New York city April 13?

 

I would be very willing to book this crossing!

 

Alan

[dougnewmanatsea]

All I can say is that it will be interesting to see how the new hotel-on-a-barge QUEEN VICTORIA handles the North Atlantic in mid-January.

 

I hope Mother Nature decides to stir up a bit of nice Winter North Atlantic weather for her. After all, she's supposedly a "liner" so she should be able to handle it.

 

I have my doubts, though!

 

I plan to be watching from QE2, even though VICTORIA's passengers will certainly have a better view!

 

As for itineraries, I must wonder if 2007 will be the last world cruise for QE2 and (as well as her first) QM2?

 

I have a feeling that most of QE2's traditional world cruise passengers will riot at the thought that they will have no choice for a Cunard world cruise other than QUEEN VICTORIA. I guess this is Cunard's version of shock therapy - "you know, QE2 will not be around forever, so you'd better get used to this new, ahem, 'liner' of ours..."

 

It is a pity they did not decide to put QUEEN VICTORIA on those 11-day New York roundtrips rather than QM2. I rather think that the overwrought and fictionalized version of "British" reflected in her interiors would resonate quite well with a certain segment of the American market, who actually think that Britain looks like that.

[KenC]

All I can say is that it will be interesting to see how the new hotel-on-a-barge QUEEN VICTORIA handles the North Atlantic in mid-January.

 

I hope Mother Nature decides to stir up a bit of nice Winter North Atlantic weather for her. After all, she's supposedly a "liner" so she should be able to handle it.

 

I have my doubts, though!

 

I plan to be watching from QE2, even though VICTORIA's passengers will certainly have a better view!

 

As for itineraries, I must wonder if 2007 will be the last world cruise for QE2 and (as well as her first) QM2?

 

I have a feeling that most of QE2's traditional world cruise passengers will riot at the thought that they will have no choice for a Cunard world cruise other than QUEEN VICTORIA. I guess this is Cunard's version of shock therapy - "you know, QE2 will not be around forever, so you'd better get used to this new, ahem, 'liner' of ours..."

 

It is a pity they did not decide to put QUEEN VICTORIA on those 11-day New York roundtrips rather than QM2. I rather think that the overwrought and fictionalized version of "British" reflected in her interiors would resonate quite well with a certain segment of the American market, who actually think that Britain looks like that.

 

Oh dear, Doug ...... something amiss??? Sounds like you have started saving up for your .......... QE2 scrap paperweight already???

[rjms74]

Just commenting on KenC's Arcadia comments I have just returned from a 7 night Med cruise and found the shows excellent far better than I have seen on QE2, QM2 & Celebrity's Summit. The food was also very good to excellent with service to match - in comparison to my mainly QE2 cruises that I have taken to date I usually travel Queens Grill grade so to say it compared favourably surprised even myself as I always thought Cunard had a slight edge over P & O & was very surprised at the quality of the cruise overall - I will be returning in May 07 - but back to QE2 first this September!!!

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

[KenC]

Just commenting on KenC's Arcadia comments I have just returned from a 7 night Med cruise and found the shows excellent far better than I have seen on QE2, QM2 & Celebrity's Summit. The food was also very good to excellent with service to match - in comparison to my mainly QE2 cruises that I have taken to date I usually travel Queens Grill grade so to say it compared favourably surprised even myself as I always thought Cunard had a slight edge over P & O & was very surprised at the quality of the cruise overall - I will be returning in May 07 - but back to QE2 first this September!!!

 

Kind Regards,

 

RJMS74

 

Really glad to hear Arcadia may have got her act together. I should have given the service credit for being excellent - the food was a disappointment for me. Is there still a problem with more people wanting 2nd dinner sitting than space available. It was a huge problem on our cruise and a few before - we're talking maybe 30% or more of first dinner sitting trying to get on 2nd, with huge queue's for the Maitre d' !!!! If you enjoyed the shows as much as you say then they must have improved considerably - I love production shows, but the ones I saw were embarrassingly poor.

 

Have to say that having sampled the 'Grill Class' dining room, bar and sun deck as built on Arcadia (as the Orchid) but intended for QV, that Cunard will have a winner - they are in a superb location and very private. Unfortunately when we were on Arcadia they seemed to be very unutilised.

 

Ken

[dougnewmanatsea]

Oh dear, Doug ...... something amiss??? Sounds like you have started saving up for your .......... QE2 scrap paperweight already???

That's not funny :( .

 

Quite frankly, I am very surprised that Cunard will be:

 

1. Sending this ship across the Atlantic in January (not designed for it)

2. Sending this ship on a World Cruise (not designed for that, either)

3. Putting a three-week-old ship on a World Cruise (that's just silly)

 

They should know better.