Cunard prepares Farewell Voyages for QE2

Cunard has prepared a series of special ‘Farewell Voyages’ to be undertaken by the QE2, possibly the most famous ship in the world, prior to her departure from the Cunard fleet in November 2008 when she will begin a new life as a first-class hotel, retail and entertainment destination at The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Two voyages already programmed for 2008 have been replaced by a British Isles voyage and two Transatlantic Crossings, while her final voyage to Dubai has also been added. These special voyages offer the perfect opportunity for guests to share in QE2’s farewell to her country and also to experience a farewell tandem crossing of the Atlantic, so she can bid farewell to New York, her second home. They also offer a final chance for those who have always wanted to, to experience a voyage on this iconic Grand Dame of the Seas.

QE2’s ‘Farewell to the British Isles’ voyage will depart Southampton on 30 September and replaces the previously announced ‘Canary Islands Splendour’ voyage. The 10-night voyage will include maiden calls to Dublin and Belfast and an emotional call to the Clyde (Greenock) where the QE2 was built, as well as calls to Cork (Cobh), Liverpool (Cunard’s ancestral home), Edinburgh (South Queensferry) and Newcastle. Fares start from £1,269 for an M7 grade stateroom and rise to £8,649 for a Q1 grade Grand Suite.

On 10 October QE2 will leave Southampton with Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 and both vessels will undertake a final tandem crossing to New York. The six-night ‘Final New York Arrival Crossing’ will arrive in New York on 16 October where QE2 will say farewell to what was her North American home; fares start from £879 for an M7 grade stateroom and rise to £13,799 for a Q1 grade Grand Suite.

Later that day both liners will leave New York as the QE2 begins her ‘Farewell to America Crossing’. This will be QE2’s 806th and final Atlantic crossing and both ships will arrive in Southampton on 22 October; fares start from £879 for an M7 grade stateroom and rise to £13,799 for a Q1 grade Grand Suite.

These two Atlantic voyages have replaced a Mediterranean voyage scheduled to depart on 12 October 2008.

The ‘QE2’s Final Voyage’ will leave Southampton for Dubai on 11 November and will call at Lisbon, Gibraltar, Civitavecchia, Naples, Malta, Alexandria and transit the Suez Canal before arriving on 27 November. Fares start from £2,729 for an M7 grade stateroom and rise to £17,899 for a Q1 grade Grand Suite.

The QE2 is likely to attract huge crowds at each port on each of these special voyages and special onboard programming will be incorporated into these voyages to mark QE2’s leaving the fleet.

Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, said, “These voyages will mark the historic departure of QE2 from the Cunard fleet, in a very special way. QE2 is a much-loved vessel and we wanted to give her many loyal fans a chance to say goodbye, as well as give those who have never had the opportunity to sail aboard her the chance to do just that in her last season with Cunard.”

Guests booked on affected sailings will be given the opportunity to rebook on one of the new voyages. If they book one of the new voyages replacing their cancelled voyage in the same grade then their fare will be protected. If the fare on the same grade is lower, then the lower fare will be paid. If the guest decides to book any other 2008 voyage, the applicable fare for that voyage will be paid. Rebooked guests will be offered a $300 on board credit and those who wish to cancel will be refunded.

The new voyages will be open for booking from 27 June 2007, at 1400 hours British Summer Time.

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