Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and Cunard's Former Queen Mary Meet in Long Beach California

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and Cunard's Former Queen Mary Meet in Long Beach California

 

For the first time since 1967 a Cunard Queen Elizabeth met with the long-retired Queen Mary in Long Beach on March 12, 2013 - an event celebrated with an exchange of whistle salutes, fireworks and fanfare.

 

In addition, a narrative of the ships’ histories was simulcast by Everette Hoard, speaking from the Bridge of Queen Elizabeth which was also heard by guests on Queen Mary.  

The last meeting of an Elizabeth and Mary took place when both ships passed each other mid-Atlantic on 25 September 1967 with Queen Mary on her final Atlantic crossing. 

 About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary’s signature restaurants include the award-winning Sir Winston’s and Chelsea Chowder House & Bar as well as a weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch served in the ship’s Grand Salon. History buffs enjoy the ship’s museum and Glory Days tour, guests of all ages love the Ghosts and Legends show, and the ship is currently featuring the renowned Diana: Legacy of a Princess exhibit and Tea Room. The Queen Mary features 80,000 square feet of event space in 17 remarkable Art Deco salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 314 staterooms including nine full suites. For more information or for reservations, visit: www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach, CA.

About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840.  Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travellers who seek a civilized adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment.  Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.

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Princess Cruises Bases Ship in San Francisco Year-Round

Princess Cruises announced today that for the first time it will base a ship in San Francisco year round, beginning in May 2013. The extensively renovated Grand Princess will first offer a series of Alaska cruises during the summer months from the “City by the Bay,” followed by a schedule of Hawaiian Islands, Mexico and the California Coast sailings during the fall 2013 to spring 2014 season.

Last year the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess underwent the largest drydock in Princess Cruises history, adding a host of new features so that passengers will enjoy the same onboard experience as offered by the line’s other newer ships.

“Princess has been cruising from San Francisco nearly as long as our company has been in operation, so we have a rich history with the city, and we are the leading cruise line homeporting there,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Our Bay Area passengers and travel agents have long been asking for more cruise options from San Francisco and our new year-round schedule with Grand Princess will now give them a great selection of itinerary choices, plus the benefit of sailing on a ship that offers our signature features and amenities.”

"Princess ships have been cruising from San Francisco for more than 40 years, and we greatly appreciate the company's longstanding partnership with our city," said Monique Moyer, executive director of the Port of San Francisco. “We are delighted to now have our first year-round ship based here, and it is a natural fit that the vessel is the caliber of Grand Princess. Having this ship sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and berth at the foot of Coit Tower will be spectacular, both for the passengers on board and the people of San Francisco."

During the 2013-14 season Grand Princess will sail roundtrip from San Francisco to:

Alaska – Grand Princess’ first Alaska season features 10-day Inside Passage sailings. The ship will offer 13 voyages featuring the stunning scenery of Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm, with calls at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. Cruises depart between May 10 and September 7, 2013.

Mexico – Grand Princess will offer two sailings on a new 10-day itinerary to Mexico, featuring two new ports for Princess – Loreto and La Paz, both in Baja California. Passengers will also enjoy calls at Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Sailings depart on September 17, 2013 and March 5, 2014.

California Coastal – An increasingly popular Princess itinerary, Grand Princess will take passengers to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles (Long Beach), San Diego, and Ensenada. Four sailings are offered on September 27 and October 19, 2013; plus March 15 and April 6, 2014.

Hawaiian Islands – Passengers can explore each of the main Hawaiian islands on this 15-day voyage to the Big Island (Hilo), Oahu (Honolulu), Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Lahaina), and Ensenada. Grand Princess will offer 12 departures between October 4, 2013 and April 28, 2014.

During last year’s drydock Grand Princess added a variety of passenger amenities, including a completely new Piazza atrium, several new eateries – including Alfredo’s Pizzeria and the Crown Grill – and the line’s first specialty tea lounge called Leaves. Also included in the renovation were a remodeled casino, boutiques and art gallery; enhancements to the Horizon Court, Lotus Spa, and wedding chapel; and the addition of Crooner’s Martini Lounge and a new nightclub, The One5.
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Sapphire Princess Features Pacific Crossings and Hawaii Cruises in 2010

(August 17, 2009) – Princess Cruises has added seven new sailings to its fall 2010 to spring 2011 schedule aboard Sapphire Princess, including two leisurely Pacific crossings between California and Sydney, plus additional Hawaii cruises.

“Due to the enthusiastic response to our 2009 Trans Pacific sailing we wanted to offer additional opportunities to experience this unique itinerary,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “The two new month-long sailings visiting 13 tropical ports of call will give cruisers a true taste of the idyllic South Pacific.”

Swartz added that increased interest in roundtrip Hawaii sailings prompted Princess to add several more of these sailings to its west coast lineup as well.

The new Sapphire Princess voyages include:

2-day Pacific Coastal (Vancouver to San Francisco) – September 20, 2010
30-day Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific (San Francisco to Sydney) – September 22, 2010
29-day Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific (Sydney to Los Angeles) – October 23, 2010
10-day Mexican Riviera (roundtrip out of Los Angeles) – January 5, 2011
14-day Hawaiian Islands (roundtrip out of Los Angeles) – January 29, 2011
14-day Hawaiian Islands (roundtrip out of Los Angeles) – February 26, 2011
14-day Hawaiian Islands (roundtrip out of Los Angeles) – March 26, 2011

The new sailings are currently open for sale, with fares starting at $199 per person for the new two-day coastal cruise. Hawaiian Islands sailings begin at $1,995 per person, and Pacific crossings begin at $4,195 per person.

To accommodate the new cruises, which were added as a result of shifting demand in the west coast cruise market, Princess has cancelled 15 previously scheduled Mexican Riviera sailings. An additional 17 Mexican Riviera sailings are still available during this time period.

Carnival Splendor Begins Cruises From Long Beach California

(April 6, 2009) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor – the line’s newest and largest ship offering a host of innovations – embarked yesterday on its inaugural seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach, Calif., building upon the company’s distinction as California’s number one cruise operator.

On its new schedule, Carnival Splendor departs the Long Beach Cruise Terminal every Sunday on weeklong voyages to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Including Carnival Splendor, the company operates four ships from the West Coast which collectively will carry a record 620,000 guests annually from California ports – more than any other cruise line.

In anticipation of the Carnival Splendor’s arrival, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, owned and operated by Carnival’s parent company Carnival Corporation & plc since 2003, has undergone an $8 million upgrade.

Based on information collected by the Office of Economic Research at California State University, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Long Beach operations have a significant impact on the local economy, with $82.4 million in direct expenditures generating an employment impact of 525 jobs with an annual payroll of $18.2 million. The arrival of Carnival Splendor is expected to generate an additional $14 million in direct annual expenditures – this impact will be immediate.

“Carnival has earned its distinction as the West Coast’s number one cruise operator by offering fun, affordable vacations from two convenient homeports and Carnival Splendor – with its many innovations and features – provides guests with yet another exciting choice for Southern California cruising,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. “We are also very pleased with the renovations to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, which provides our guests with a comfortable, state-of-the-art venue for embarking and debarking on their cruise,” he added.

Steve Goodling, president & CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “The size, capacity and appeal of the Carnival Splendor will give us the opportunity to showcase the revitalization of Long Beach and our beautiful skyline to the many thousands of passengers who will set sail on this incredible ship. We believe that this experience will generate repeat visits by many of these passengers.”

A new class of vessel for the line, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor offers a wide range of on-board facilities and features, highlighted by a two-level 21,000-square foot health spa – the largest in the fleet – featuring a thalassotherapy pool, an elaborate thermal suite and 17 private treatment rooms. Adjacent to the facility are 68 spa staterooms and suites – a first for Carnival.

Carnival Splendor also offers the most elaborate children’s facilities of any “Fun Ship,” including a 5,500-square-foot children’s play area – the largest in the fleet – along with a water spray park and dedicated facilities for ’tweens and teens. Also featured on Lido Deck is Carnival’s Seaside Theatre, a massive 270-square-foot LED screen displaying movies, concerts, and other programming.

Dining options include four restaurants – two two-level main dining rooms, a 1,400-seat casual poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only restaurant. Rounding out the Carnival Splendor’s many diverse features are 22 lounges and bars, a duty-free shopping mall, full casino gambling, and ship-wide Internet access and cell phone service. Reservations are currently being accepted for all of Carnival Cruise Lines’ West Coast departures.

Cunard Announces 2010-2011 Cruises

Queen Mary 2 Offers Expanded Transatlantic Crossings and Europe Voyages

Queen Victoria Spends Winter 2011 on US West Coast Calling on LosAngeles, Panama and Hawaii

31 March 2009 – Building on the exciting announcement of Cunard Line’s inaugural season for Queen Elizabeth, Cunard is pleased to announce the newly published Europe, Transatlantics and Americas 2010-2011 programme for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. 2010 will herald another important milestone for Cunard: not only will three Queens once again sail under the line’s banner, they will also comprise the youngest, most modern luxury fleet in the world. In addition, the expansion of the Cunard fleet in 2010 allows the company to offer a wider range of worldwide itineraries with Queen Elizabeth’s maiden season and the voyages of Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria which are available for sale on 17 April 2009.

Guests will experience a new Golden Age of Ocean Travel in contemporary surroundings while being offered the classic traditions and legendary White Star Service for which Cunard is renowned. All of this, together with one of the most generous Groups Programmes in the industry means there has never been a better time to experience Cunard and “the most famous ocean liners in the World”.

As one of the youngest fleets in the industry, these award-winning vessels will take Cunard’s 170 years of history, heritage, impeccable service and tradition far into the 21st Century – a legacy recognized by Cunard guests, with up to 97% saying they will recommend Cunard to a friend and 98% saying they will return.

Cunard President Carol Marlow said, “2010 will see Cunard again operating three Queens as Queen Elizabeth joins her sister ship Queen Victoria and our flagship, Queen Mary 2. While Queen Elizabeth sails her maiden season, Queen Mary 2 will, for the first time, offer the choice of six-day Transatlantic Crossings as well as seven-night eastbound Transatlantic Crossings, while Queen Victoria will offer a mixture of voyages originating from both the UK and Mediterranean before she sails her first Americas season for winter / spring 2011.”

Queen Mary 2
The grandest ocean liner in the world, Queen Mary 2, will continue her reign on the Atlantic in 2010 with 24 Transatlantic Crossings including an extra day on Eastbound Transatlantic voyages between New York and Southampton. Now guests will have the choice of 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-day Crossings between New York and Southampton, Cherbourg or Hamburg providing them more time to experience the multitude of onboard activities such as enjoying a lecture through the Cunard Insights programme, checking out one of the 8,000 volumes in the Library, nightly dancing to an orchestra in the Queens Room, viewing all of the cosmic journey offerings in the only planetarium at sea and honing their dramatic arts skills in a RADA workshop, to name a few.

There will also be more “Grand” voyages roundtrip from New York whereby guests can combine two Transatlantic Crossings with a Mediterranean, Northern Europe and for the first time, a short Getaway voyage in Europe. In the summer of 2010, Queen Mary 2 will also offer five voyages to Northern Europe from Southampton and Hamburg including maiden calls to the North Cape and Tromso in Norway. After her short Getaway for the July 4th Holiday, she returns to New York in fall 2010 for a season of voyages in the Americas including two explorations of Canada & New England and five Caribbean voyages departing roundtrip from New York.

Fares for the following itineraries start from:

Transatlantic Crossings $1,295 (6 days)

“Grand” Voyages (roundtrip from NY) $3,585 (17 days)

Northern Europe $1,895 (7 days)

Fourth of July Getaway voyage $1,295 (5 days)

Canada/New England $1,395 (7 days)

Caribbean $1,695 (10 days)

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria begins her 2010 season in Southampton for a series of voyages to Iberia, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in addition to her first sailing around the British Isles. After repositioning to Venice, she will begin a series of “open jaw” sailings between this jewel of the Adriatic and Rome or Barcelona. Many of these sailings will feature overnight stays in popular destinations like Venice, Istanbul and Barcelona.

The ship then returns to Southampton and across the Atlantic to start a new Americas season in 2011. Queen Victoria’s American journey begins with a 17-day voyage from New York to Los Angeles through the magnificent Panama Canal. From the City of Angels, she will embark on two 14-day voyages to Hawaii, including a maiden call at Nawiliwili (Kauai), and her first west coast 4-day Getaway voyage to Mexico. After another full transit of the Canal from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale,Queen Victoria will offer an 11-day Panama Canal voyage roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale before heading back across the Atlantic on a 16-day voyage that will take in the US east coast, Lisbon and Dublin.

Fares for the following itineraries start from:

Mediterranean $1,195 (7 days)

Northern Europe $1,895 (7 days)

Atlantic Isles & Canary Islands $1,295 (7days)

Hawaii $2,495 (14 days)

Panama Canal $1,995 (11 days)

Mexico Getaway voyage $995 (4 days)

All referenced fares are per person, based on double occupancy.

Reservations for Cunard’s 2010 and 2011 itineraries will be open for booking on April 17. For more information, please contact your travel professional.