SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Luxury cruise brand, Cunard, has unveiled its April to December 2019 programme, which includes the current Cunard fleet's first ever Northern Lights voyage, an exciting 14-night Transatlantic Crossing calling in Iceland and Canada, a Panama Canal transit, and the fleet's first visit in over 20 years to Alaska. Travelling over 167,000 nautical miles, the most famous liners in the world will call at 78 destinations in 25 different countries, with 16 overnight stays in some of the planet's most fascinating destinations.
Committed to listening to our guests from around the world, Cunard is providing ever more variety and options to select the ultimate Cunard experience. Care has been taken to ensure a balance of days at sea for guests to enjoy more time on board and in port. The majority of calls will be between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm or longer, with the average time in port being 10 and a half hours per call.
After Alaska and the Panama Canal, Queen Elizabeth shall operate a series of northern Europe voyages in 2019. Queen Mary 2 will continue with her iconic Transatlantic Crossings, along with an extra autumn Canada/New England sailing, and Queen Victoria will offer a mixture of incredible destinations and itineraries, firstly in northern Europe, then southern Europe later in the season.
Key voyage highlights for 2019 include:
- Cunard's first Northern Lights voyage: In October Queen Elizabeth will operate the current fleet's first ever Northern Lights voyage, offering guests the opportunity to witness this spectacular phenomenon first hand, with featured extended calls to Narvik and Tromso in Norway
- New Transatlantic Crossings: Queen Mary 2 will be sailing on 22 luxurious crossings in the summer 2019 programme, including a 14-night voyage in the peak of summer with captivating calls in Iceland and Canada. Cunard is the only cruise company to offer a regular service of Transatlantic Crossings on the world's only true ocean liner
- Alaska: Queen Elizabeth will undertake her first-ever Alaskan voyage, marking the first time Cunard has crossed Alaskan waters in over 20 years. The ship will cross the North Pacific and Gulf of Alaska en route to Vancouver, giving customers a unique and inspiring experience of breath-taking views
- Panama Canal Transit: Following Alaska Queen Elizabeth will offer a series of compelling voyages including a Panama Canal transit, along with calls in the Caribbean
- 28 Round Trip Southampton Cruises: Wonderfully simple, with a start and finish in the UK, all three Queens will be sailing from/to Southampton during the summer 2019 programme, offering 2 – 19 night cruises to the Mediterranean, Atlantic Islands, Western Europe and Northern Europe
- Royal Rendezvous: It's always an occasion to remember when our queens get together, filled with pomp and pageantry, and in 2019 Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth will meet in Halifax, Canada in July, and all three queens will be in Southampton in August.
Cunard will also be re-introducing a series of ten 'old favourite' destinations that we haven't travelled to in recent years, including Leknes (Lofoten Islands, Norway), Panama City (Panama), Los Angeles (USA) and Basseterre (St Kitts).
Alex White, Vice President Sales, Cunard said: "2019 is set to be a year filled with an incredible variety of sailings and destinations. Guests can choose to spend from two – 36 nights on the luxurious decks of our three queens, and sail from the shores of the UK or opt for a fly cruise. With voyages visiting places around the world, as well as a programme of enhanced cruises to Iceland and Norway, and around the British Isles, Cunard's guests will be spoilt for choice. There's also an array of inspiring destinations to choose from, with a good selection of evenings in port for fully enriching visits ashore. And of course, guests will receive the distinctive on board Cunard experience, which is simply second to none."
