Queen Elizabeth: The maiden season

Passengers on the maiden voyage of Cunard’s new £365 million Queen Victoria will be stepping ashore in Cadiz, south-west Spain this morning.
That’s if they are not still unpacking – one couple who stayed at a 4-star hotel in Hampshire en route to the ship needed two taxis for the 45-minute journey to the ship – one just for their luggage.
Some may be heading off to explore Seville; others will be sampling sherry in Jerez; while there will be a few who, having paid anything from £1,489 to £15,799 for the privilege of being the first to sail on the new vessel, will be staying on board to make the most of the spa, the sun decks and the restaurants.
The 13-night voyage, which left Southampton on Tuesday – just 24 hours after the vessel was named by Her Majesty the Queen – sold out in less than 30 minutes when it went on sale in April last year.
On October 25 Queen Elizabeth makes her 14-night maiden Mediterranean voyage, and on November 8 sets out on a 19-night cruise to the Aegean.
After a couple more European itineraries, the ship sets out from Southampton on December 14 for Christmas in the Caribbean. Fares for the 22-night trip start at £2,999 for an inside cabin – £136 a night.
The 2,000-passenger ship embarks on her maiden world voyage on January 5, and will call at 38 ports in 23 countries over a period of 103 days. Among the highlights will be a meeting of all three Cunard Queens in New York harbour on January 13, transits of both the Panama and Suez canals, and visits to Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Passengers travelling on the whole voyage will be paying up to £116,499 for the most luxurious suites – that’s £1,131 per night EACH.
For details of these and the ship’s other 22 voyages during 2011, go to www.cunard.co.uk.
TO DISCOVER more about cruising from expert advisors such as the Berlitz Guide’s Douglas Ward and Cruise Critic’s Carolyn Spencer Brown, and to pick up a bargain deal or an extra discount, visit The CRUISE Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham this weekend.