Cunard Line Celebrates 170th Year With New Ports and New Iti

　　SOUTHAMPTON, England, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Following simultaneous World Cruises in early 2009, Cunard Line''s flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria will celebrate Cunard''s 170th year in service by embarking on a series of more than 60 departures calling on over 75 ports in 34 countries. Highlights of the 2009 schedule include additional Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings (including options to extend or embark a Crossing via Boston) and 11 new Queen Victoria itineraries featuring 18 maiden calls.

2009 voyages aboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will be available for booking beginning April 17, 2008.

"Among the most discerning travelers, Cunard Line holds a special place," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "It is, without question, the line-of-choice for those who seek a singular blend of elegance and grandeur coupled with a most distinctive history and lineage. Whether they are attracted to the line''s collection of intriguing itineraries, unparalleled onboard enrichment programme, legendary White Star Service(TM) or exceptional cuisine that rivals anything on land, our guests know they will be rewarded with one of life''s most extraordinary travel experiences."

Queen Mary 2 Highlights

Continuing her reign as the world''s grandest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2 will continue to be the line of choice for those travelers who seek the pinnacle in gracious ocean travel and elegant shipboard style. 2009 marks her fifth year of service with a record number of New York departures as well as an extended Transatlantic season with 6-, 8- and 9-day Crossings. In total, she will sail 25 Transatlantic Crossings, including classic six-day voyages between Southampton and New York, two eight-day voyages between Hamburg and New York, one eight-day voyage from Boston via New York to Southampton and one nine-day Crossing from Southampton via New York to Halifax and Boston. Transatlantic fares start from $1,195.

In commemoration of her fifth year in service, Queen Mary 2 will sail her maiden tour of the British Isles with an eight-day Around the British Isles itinerary that will include first-time calls to Liverpool, Glasgow and Cork. Fares for the British Isles voyage start from $1,795.

In addition to the British Isles voyage, Queen Mary 2''s 2009 schedule is also highlighted by her extended European season with voyages in Northern and Southern Europe:

-- Voyage of the Vikings, a seven-day roundtrip voyage departing from Southampton on June 6 with calls to Stavanger, Flaam, Hellesylt, Geiranger and Bergen. -- Northern Splendours, an eight-day roundtrip voyage departing from Hamburg on August 7 with calls to Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Hellesylt, Geiranger, and Alesund. -- Mediterranean Delights, an 11-day roundtrip voyage departing from Southampton on May 14 with calls to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Rome (Civitavecchia), Monte Carlo and Barcelona. -- Mediterranean Highlights, a 12-day roundtrip voyage departing from Southampton on September 14 with calls to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Rome, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Fares for these voyages start from $1,695.

Guests who wish to skip air travel and luxuriate in an all-at-sea travel experience by sailing roundtrip to Europe from New York, can do so with Cunard''s Grand Voyages of 20-24 days. These are available for each of the above itineraries by adding a legendary Transatlantic Crossing to the beginning and end of a voyage, affording guests an extended and more relaxing journey of a lifetime. Fares start from $4,085.

In the fall, Queen Mary 2 returns to the Americas, once again taking in the vivid autumn colours of New England and Canada on two seven-day Splendours of Autumn voyages, scheduled October 2 and October 29. Stops include the quintessential New England and Canadian ports of Boston, MA; Portland, ME; Newport, RI; Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John, New Brunswick. In addition, the ship will offer two Holiday Getaway voyages coinciding with long holiday weekends: the five-day July 1 Fourth of July Getaway with calls in Halifax and Boston, and the four-day September 4 Labor Day Getaway calling on St. John, New Brunswick. Fares start from $895.

In November and December, Queen Mary 2 will once again sail her fall Caribbean season from New York, and is set to visit many popular sun-drenched ports on four voyages of ten- to 15-days from New York:

-- Connoisseur''s Caribbean, two 10-day roundtrip voyages departing from New York on November 30 and December 10 with calls to St. Maarten, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Thomas. -- Caribbean Delights, a 13-day roundtrip voyage departing from New York on November 17 with calls to Cristobal, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Kitts and Tortola. -- Caribbean Celebration, a 15-day roundtrip voyage departing from New York on December 20 with calls to Grand Turk, Tortola, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Fares start from $1,645.

Queen Victoria Highlights

Kicking off her second year at sea, Queen Victoria will offer a wide range of voyages from her home port of Southampton. Her 2009 schedule features 11 new itineraries with 18 maiden calls, including Kristiansand, Norway; Gothenburg, Sweden; Alghero on the Italian Island of Sardinia, and Cephalonia, Greece.

Queen Victoria will sail the sunny Mediterranean on eight voyages of 12- to 16-days. They include: