By Austin Gambino, The Cruise Web, Inc.

As the Olympics press on, we felt it appropriate to discuss another London tradition of success: the Cunard Line.  Cunard has been connected with Great Britain since its inception in 1840, when it was named the British & North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company, which is a bit verbose and may explain the name change.  It is now British-American owned, and operated by Carnival UK. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

Cunard Line, one of the oldest names in passenger shipping operating the youngest fleet at sea, will offer its guests the opportunity to be married on board for the first time in its 171-year history. Beginning Spring 2012, a luxury cruise aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will offer a selection of wedding packages, commencing after the World Voyages have been completed. The Weddings programme will go on sale in December 2011, with expanded details available soon. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

In addition to the compelling series of Cunard Insights speakers and other activities aboard a luxury cruise vacation on Queen Mary 2, the ship’s 2011 Transatlantic Crossings season will feature a robust line-up of some of the world’s most sought-after music performances. Aboard Cunard Line’s flagship, guests will have the rare opportunity to intimately experience the world-class talents of virtuoso violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, musicians from New York’s famed Juilliard School, and London’s in-demand National Symphony Orchestra under Conductor Anthony Inglis.

“At Cunard Line, we pride ourselves on providing glamorous experiences to our guests, whether it is through our formal nights or extensive entertainment options,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The caliber of these accomplished musicians will certainly heighten the grand sense of occasion that our guests enjoy whilst sailing on a Cunard voyage.”

Elizabeth Pitcairn
Having set sail on 17 May from New York, celebrated American virtuoso violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn will perform in partnership with one of the world’s most legendary instruments, the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy Award(r)-winning film “The Red Violin.” Ms. Pitcairn appears in the 10th anniversary Meridian Collection edition of the film in a special feature documentary interview.

Influenced by the musical and comedic genius of legendary Hollywood stars Judy Garland, Jackie Gleason and Victor Borge, as well as the beauty and talent of concert violinists David Oistrakh and Jascha Heifetz, Pitcairn has created her own signature style of performance. During the summer of 2011, she will become the first successive executive director of the Luzerne Music Center and Chamber Music Festival in New York in more than 30 years. An alumna of the intensive summer camp in upstate New York, she was chosen by the founders to carry on the tradition of building young artists and audiences of the future. She is an alumna and former adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and is currently on the faculty of the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Prior to Tuesday’s embarkation, Queen Mary 2′s Entertainment Director Paul O’Loughlin presented Pitcairn and Luzerne board member Michael Conway with a donation from Cunard of $7,500 to support the school’s summer camp performing arts programme for instrumentalists, composers and conductors, ages 10-18.

Juilliard School Jazz Ensemble
As part of Cunard Line’s ongoing partnership with the renowned Juilliard School, jazz musicians from the famed performing arts institution will return for a second year to demonstrate their extraordinary talents on an even greater number of Crossings. With performances scheduled in the Chart Room and the Royal Court Theatre, guests will also have the opportunity to attend fascinating Q&A sessions with the musicians. They will sail aboard these select Transatlantic Crossings: 17 May, 10 June, 20 July, 15 August, 22 August, 5 September, 23 October, 10 November and 12 December.

The National Symphony Orchestra with Conductor Anthony Inglis
Following their spectacular Transatlantic Crossings in 2009 and 2010, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will perform on the 7 October Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing. Once again, guests will be invited to sing with the NSO on the stage of the Royal Court Theatre.

Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to attend rehearsals with NSO Conductor Anthony Inglis, and prepare for Cunard’s Last Night of the Proms to be staged at the end of the Crossing. A Grammy(r)-nominated conductor, Inglis has been featured more times at London’s Royal Albert Hall than anyone else in the iconic venue’s history. He leads a prolific international career, appearing with some of the greatest orchestras in concert halls from Australia to Scotland.

The NSO is one of the busiest freelance orchestras in the United Kingdom, working with Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and many other popular classical artists. Members of the NSO can be heard on many major film soundtracks, and among the luminaries with whom they have appeared include Reba McEntire and Sir Cliff Richard, who was backed by the ladies of the NSO string section at the Royal Albert Hall.

Queen Mary 2′s Transatlantic Crossings reflect the pinnacle of civility and refinement in ocean travel. The only company offering regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service, Cunard is sailing 21 classic Transatlantic voyages between New York and Southampton, with extended Crossings between New York and Hamburg. In addition, “Grand” voyage options are available, roundtrip from New York, combining classic European itineraries with a Transatlantic Crossing on either side.

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Courtesy of Cunard Line.

Danish-born Inger Olsen made history on 1 December 2010 by becoming Cunard Line’s first female Captain in its 171-year history of sailing luxury cruise vacations. Yesterday, she continued her historic maiden sailings as Captain of Queen Victoria, as she brought the ship back to the Port of Los Angeles.

Captain Olsen and Queen Victoria are coming off the heels of the momentous Cunard Royal Rendezvous in New York City on 13 January, where all three of Cunard’s Queens met for a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Statue of Liberty before departing on their respective voyages. Olsen joined Queen Victoria just prior to the commencement of the ship’s debut Americas season, departing from New York and sailing to Los Angeles. During this first 17-day voyage, the ship called on Ft. Lauderdale and Bonaire, traversed the Panama Canal, and visited three ports in Mexico – Huatulco, Acapulco and Manzanillo – before arriving into Los Angeles yesterday. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony in Southampton, England on Monday, 11 October 2010.

The naming is a milestone in British maritime history and is a major event of worldwide interest.

“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,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, Queen Mary 2, in 2004. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner, Queen Elizabeth,” added Shanks.

[Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

In keeping with its longstanding tradition of offering guests award-winning enrichment programmes, Cunard Line announces the Special Relationship speaker series. Guests sailing on select 2010 Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings will have the unique opportunity to attend lectures by ambassadors, statesmen, politicians, journalists, academics and broadcasters with a shared interest between the United States and United Kingdom, an association first referenced as a “special relationship” by Winston Churchill in 1946. The programme was developed in direct response to guests noting their interest in hearing about politics and contemporary issues while onboard. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

Cunard Line, operator of the most famous ocean liners in the world, is pleased to announce a partnership with The Juilliard School that will present stellar jazz performances on select 2010 eastbound Transatlantic Crossings aboard Queen Mary 2. Students and faculty from Juilliard, which has set America’s standard for education in the performing arts, will perform programmes in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre, treating guests to the best in classic and contemporary jazz. These presentations are part of Cunard’s entertainment and award-winning enrichment programme, which showcases a variety of compelling entertainers – from new and emerging world-class talent to today’s most enduring and iconic artists. Last August, Juilliard Jazz scholar Jumaane Smith became the first student from the school to take the stage onboard Queen Mary 2, presenting a trumpet recital that proved to be very popular with the voyage’s guests. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line.

As part of Cunard’s partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival, the iconic ocean liner company is pleased to welcome acclaimed filmmakers Griffin Dunne and Gary Winick on the 11 November Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to New York aboard Queen Mary 2. This year, Cunard was recognized as the Official Cruise Line of the Tribeca Film Festival, of which both film industry insiders have been active participants for a number of years. With this sailing, they join a distinguished list of luminaries and tastemakers that have sailed a legendary voyage with Cunard, operator of The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World. [Read more →]

John Duffy, QE2 Hotel Manager – “Seagoing Employee of the Year 2008″
Seatrade Insider’s “Seatrade Awards 2008″

Cunard Line – “Best Cruise Line”
Australian Gourmet Traveler’s 2008 Travel Awards

Queen Mary 2 – “Best Luxury Cruise Ship”
Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards

Queen Mary 2 – “Top 10 Best Spa on a Cruise Ship”
SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards

Queen Mary 2, Queen’s Grill – 6+ Star Rating
Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation, 2009 Edition

Queen Victoria – “Best Cruise Ship”
Robb Report – Best of the Best

Queen Victoria – “Hot New Hotel” and “Hot New Spa”
Condé Nast Traveler – Annual Hot List (World Category)

Cunard Line – “Best Transatlantic Crossings”
Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards

Cunard Line – “Best World Cruise Itineraries”
Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards

Cunard Line – “#1 – Top Ten Cruise Lines”
2008 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships

Cunard Line – “Best Overall Food” and “Best Overall Service”
2008 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships

Cunard Line revealed itinerary and design plans for its newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, which is scheduled to enter service on 12 October 2010, giving one of the oldest names in shipping the strength of operating the youngest fleet in the industry. Queen Elizabeth will be the third new ocean liner to be introduced by Cunard in six years and the second largest Cunard ship ever built.

Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions linking her with her sisters Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, and their predecessors. She will also debut some exciting features that will give the vessel her own style and personality, plus all the modern day luxuries Cunard’s guests have come to expect. [Read more →]