Cunard is revealing details of its next new ship—the Queen Victoria—scheduled to enter service in December 2007. The ship will be a quintessential Cunard liner that includes not only hallmark features associated with the luxury brand, but also exciting innovations including private viewing boxes in the Royal Court Theatre, alfresco dining for Grill guests, a floating museum of Cunard memorabilia, and a two-story library with 6,000 books.

With the addition of this new 90,000-ton vessel, the Cunard liner legacy will be faithfully upheld, as Queen Victoria will offer all the classic characteristics that have become associated with the company’s unique liner heritage.

From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint at the experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a modern-day cruise ship.

This will be most evident in the ship’s homage to the liner traditions of the past with elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale, and all graciously-styled with luxurious finishings.

The public spaces will set the stage for myriad programs and amenities that also distinguish Cunard’s liner persona as guests enjoy entertainment and enrichment options that evoke a more civilized era of travel.

The ship will also feature the line’s celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill stateroom accommodations and private dining rooms, another Cunard exclusive. And, of course, the ship has been constructed with impressive sea-keeping qualities that will enable it to travel easily and efficiently through the Atlantic and other demanding waters around the world.

“Cunard has the unique distinction of having the only true liners in the industry, and we’re proud to be able to expand this heritage with our new Queen Victoria,” said Carol Marlow, Cunard’s president and managing director.

“This vessel will offer our guests the classic Cunard luxury and experience they have come to expect while at the same time providing the most up-to-date amenities and facilities, along with a few impressive innovations.”

Marlow added that the debut of this ship is particularly noteworthy as it will mark the first time that three Cunard Queens (Queen Victoria joins Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2) have been in service together in the company’s 167-year history. In keeping with Cunard’s reputation for intriguing itineraries, Queen Victoria will debut with two special maiden voyages—a Christmas Markets Voyage on December 11 and a Canary Islands Festive Celebration on December 21—incorporating both Christmas and New Year.

These sailings open today for pre-registered bookings, on February 26 for booking by past guests, and on April 3 for all bookings.

A Quintessential Liner

At 90,000-tons Queen Victoria will be the second largest Cunarder ever. She will offer all the classic hallmarks of a true Cunard liner, along with some new innovations.

Highlights of the vessel include:

- The Royal Court Theatre, reminiscent of a grand West End theatre with 800 seats. Classically elegant in style, it features a cruising first - elegant private boxes on the upper level

- A two-story wood-paneled library with a spiral staircase and two full-time librarians overseeing a collection of 6,000 books

- Al fresco dining for the Grill restaurants in an exclusive outdoor patio called “The Courtyard,” reserved exclusively for Grill guests

- Also for Grill guests, an Upper Grills Terrace which serves as a secluded retreat for sunning and relaxing

- A floating museum called “Cunardia” displaying historic nautical memorabilia, with an adjacent Cunardia shop

- A grand conservatory with colonial ambiance called the Winter Garden, featuring a retractable roof which opens to the sky

- The stunning, classically-inspired double height Britannia Restaurant with sweeping staircases

- A three-story Grand Lobby featuring a dramatic staircase and exclusive artworks

- The Royal Shopping Arcade with 4,000 square feet of designer-name shops over two decks, inspired by the Royal and Burlington arcades in London

- A Todd English restaurant serving innovative Mediterranean cuisine that has proven so popular with guests on board Queen Mary 2

- A 270-degree lounge called Hemispheres, the venue for classes, lectures or relaxing before transforming into a stunning nightclub in the evening

- A double height Queens Room with a 1,000 square foot dance floor, for afternoon tea or dancing before dinner

- A traditional London pub

- A large number of private balconies - out of 1,007 guest staterooms, 86 percent will be outside and of these 71 percent will feature a private balcony. Twenty cabins on the ship will be ADA equipped. Maiden Voyages Celebrate the Holidays In keeping with Cunard’s legacy of taking its guests on fascinating journeys to exotic locales, Queen Victoria’s first two cruises will be special voyages, and will incorporate holiday celebrations.

Queen Victoria will depart on her maiden voyage on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 and feature a Christmas markets tour of Northern Europe. The 10-night roundtrip sailing will leave from the company’s home port of Southampton, and will call at Amsterdam, Copenhagen (overnight call), Oslo, Hamburg and Bruges.

Queen Victoria’s first Christmas will be spent in the sunshine of the Canary Islands, Morocco and ports along the Iberian Peninsula. The 16-night voyage will leave Southampton on December 21, 2007 and will call at Vigo, Lisbon, Malaga, Funchal, Las Palmas, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casablanca and Gibraltar. Christmas Day will be spent at sea.
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