Elizabeth - General Discussion

[Twynkle]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5939547.ece?openComment=true


An interesting slant?!

[KEV]

I too waited with baited breath for the glossy to fall through the door and I have to say the computer simulations don't do any favours for me so far. QE2 was unique,refreshing and  cutting edge when she was launched and these images are all a bit brown retro and old time music hall to me.Hopefully there's some more individual interior design  stuff in other areas to balance the environment. She's obviously based on similar designs that have been coming out over recent times so will never have the same impact at launch as QE2. Having said that if I had the money I would sail on any of the new Queens and I wish her well.Time will tell how she's loved in her own way

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

Hello again. Oh what a mess! The "new" QE is truly awful - gawdy, bland with absolutely no taste!

Cheers!

[caledonia]

Just out of interest has any body received the publicity material from Cunard re the new QE and has anbody registered their interest in one of the first 6 voyages that have been announced. I have taken the plunge and registered for the 3rd one to the Med etc.
What are your thoughts on her from what has been announced ? - she looks like she is going to be an enlarged QV.

[Twynkle]

Hello!

You'll find out more on about the New QE in the Virtual Chart Room
under Another Queen Elizabeth!

Here's the link!

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,299.0.html

[cunardqueen]

I have registered my interest for one of the voyages for the Queen Elizabeth. In a letter from my travel agent Cunard have moved the goalposts with the bookings and introduced the famous fluid pricing in the maiden sailings. In a nut shell as the bookings fill up the fares will increase in 5% increments upto a miximum of 30% and this they expect to happen every few minutes over the 20 minutes that they estimate the voyages will take to sell out.
 The same pricing policy was in place with the final voyages of QE2.
For some reason lm more interested in this ship than the QM2 or the QV, at the moment l couldnt give two hoots about them.

[highlander0108]

I have registered my interest for one of the voyages for the Queen Elizabeth. In a letter from my travel agent Cunard have moved the goalposts with the bookings and introduced the famous fluid pricing in the maiden sailings. In a nut shell as the bookings fill up the fares will increase in 5% increments upto a miximum of 30% and this they expect to happen every few minutes over the 20 minutes that they estimate the voyages will take to sell out.
 The same pricing policy was in place with the final voyages of QE2.
For some reason lm more interested in this ship than the QM2 or the QV, at the moment l couldnt give two hoots about them.

I am shocked.   Must be smitten with the name Myles.  I would be interested in the maiden transatlantic crossing, whenever that will be, but I am not sure which ship I'd rather be on.  My sneaking suspicion is that there will be a tandem crossing with QM2 in the schedule for Cunard to maximize exposure with the press.  Somehow seeing two nearly identical ships crossing together, if they go with QV, is not appealing at all to me.  For that matter, why don't they have all three cross together for another first......

[Mauretania1907]

I must admit I laughed at the Times writer saying he'd rather swim behind the ship than travel in her. And If I'm FORCED to go Carnicunard, I'd pick the Mary. As Rob has said she IS an Atlantic liner, not a Vista-class wannabe.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Could this be an April Fool story?

Apr 01, 2009 11:54 ET
Fastest Selling Voyage in Cunard History
Queen Elizabeth Maiden Voyage sells out faster than QE2 Final Voyage

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - April 1, 2009) - The October 2010 Maiden Voyage for Cunard's new ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, which was placed on worldwide sale to past guests at 1300 hours BST today, Wednesday 1 April, sold out in an amazing 29 minutes 14 seconds - easily making this the fastest selling voyage in Cunard's 170-year history. In fact this voyage sold out quicker, and involved more guests, than QE2's Final Voyage when it went on sale in June 2007 setting a record then of 36 minutes.

Something less than generous in me hopes that it is...       More here :

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Cunard-Line-Limited-969235.html

[Scott Ebersold]

I heard a rumor from a travel agent friend of mine (after being on hold with Cunard for an hour and getting no tickets for his clients) that it may be a marketing ploy.  And then, magicallly all the waitlisted folks will suddenly get rooms.

[Scott Ebersold]

And then he sent me this ....   

http://content.cunard.com/announce/?mMBR0EbTJcNKZuYdZ-3bmbAvzqGcSLRvm


N E W S


Queen Elizabeth Maiden Voyage Sells Out Faster than QE2 Final Voyage

Fastest Selling Voyage in Cunard Line History

April 1, 2009 -- The October 2010 Maiden Voyage for Cunard’s new ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, which was placed on worldwide sale to past guests at 8:00 a.m. today, sold out in a record 29 minutes – easily making this the fastest selling voyage in Cunard’s 170-year history. In fact, this voyage sold out quicker involving more guests than QE2’s Final Voyage when it set a previous Cunard sell-out record of 36 minutes in June 2007.

More than half of Queen Elizabeth’s remaining Maiden Season, comprising six voyages from October to December 2010, was sold within the first two hours.

“This is an impressive record set by what will be an impressive ship and speaks volumes about the Cunard brand as well as for the resilience of the cruise sector as a whole in these challenging times,” said Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Line. “It is also very encouraging to see the level of interest in Queen Elizabeth coming from all our international markets, with bookings in the UK, US and Germany particularly strong. I urge our travel partners and those guests who have not yet booked to move fast in order to secure their place in history on Queen Elizabeth during her maiden season,” added Marlow.

One of the youngest fleets in the industry, Cunard’s famous state-of-the-art award-winning vessels Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will be joined by Queen Elizabeth, and all three will take Cunard’s 170 years of history, heritage, impeccable service and tradition far into the 21st Century. This is a legacy recognized by Cunard guests, with up to 97% saying they will recommend Cunard to a friend and 98% saying they will return.

Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions linking her with her sisters Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria and their predecessors, along with 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.

Named after the first Queen Elizabeth, one of Cunard’s greatest ships, the new Queen Elizabeth will reflect her predecessor in interior grandeur, décor and style, but with a modern twist. From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at an experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a modern-day cruise ship. This will be most evident in the ship’s adherence to liner traditions, with elegant double and triple height public rooms on a grand scale, luxuriously endowed with rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics, gleaming chandeliers and cool marbles. Art Deco features will pay homage to the original Queen Elizabeth and will allow the new ship to reflect a more civilized era of travel.

Queen Elizabeth’s maiden 2010 season will consist of six voyages, calling on 32 distinct ports in 18 countries. Her Maiden Voyage, now sold out, will depart from Cunard’s homeport of Southampton on October 12, 2010, en route to the Atlantic Isles.

The ship will then embark on five celebratory inaugural voyages, for which space is still available but selling fast:

Mediterranean Premiere – A 14-day voyage departing Southampton on 25 October 2010 with maiden calls to Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Cartagena and Gibraltar. Fares start from $2,795 per person.

Aegean Introduction – An 18-day voyage departing Southampton on 8 November 2010 calling on Malaga (for Granada), Malta (Valletta), Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Athens (Piraeus) and Alicante. Fares from $3,295 per person.

Gallic Debut – A five-day voyage departing Southampton on 26 November 2010 with maiden calls to Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Brussels/Bruges (for Zeebrugge) and Cherbourg. Fares start from $1,195 per person.

Iberian Discovery – A 13-day voyage departing Southampton on 1 December 2010 with calls to Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Seville (Cadiz), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) and Madeira. Fares start from $2,395 per person.

Festive Debut – A 22-day holiday voyage departing Southampton on 14 December 2010 with calls in the Caribbean, including Madeira (Funchal), Tortola, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada). Fares start from $4,795 per person.

For more information and to book a voyage, consult your Travel Professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.

[Twynkle]

Scott - what a long list! -

Yet... no mention of a Maiden tour around Great Britain !

Says it all!!!

(Sorry for the mildly veiled rude-to-QE3 approach here, it's a question of everlasting affection for the QE2!
btw - does anyone know when, who by  and where the QE3 launch will take place?!!)

[Andy F]

does anyone know when, who by  and where the QE3 launch will take place?!!)

Nothing confirmed as yet nor likely to be for some time but fair to assume she will be named in Southampton by a 'Royal' as per the norm.  Purely speculative but my bet would be on HM doing the honours once again (as with QE2 and QM2), especially given this is QE.  As for the date, probably (but not necessarily), the day she embarks on her maiden cruise. 


As for the maiden, it was always going to sell out fast and before going on public release but who as for Cunard's claim of selling out faster than QE2's final, 'interesting'.

[Chris]

It looks to me, from the deck plans, that the new QE will have the newly restructured (as seen on Arcadia & other Vista's) totally square back with aft facing accommodation. Has anyone seen any artists impressions of her side elevation or aft views so we can see how this will look?

[Chris]

As for the maiden, it was always going to sell out fast and before going on public release but who as for Cunard's claim of selling out faster than QE2's final, 'interesting'.

When QE2's farewell sailings went to market everyone was in a state of shock / depression - hence it took a bit longer to dial the numbers to make the bookings!!