QM2's Transatlantic Landmark

Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 will be marking a major milestone on her July 6 voyage from New York to Southampton – it will be her 200th Atlantic crossing, with special speakers and performers on board to add to the celebratory mood.

Stephen Payne, OBE, who was largely responsible for the overall design of QM2, will present a fascinating insight into the construction of the world’s grandest ocean liner as part of Cunard’s speaker progamme. Stephen will be guest of honour at a gala evening on board which will include a commemorative dinner with a special menu. In addition, BBC newsreader and Classic FM presenter Nick Owen will lecture on board.

Also getting into the swing of things will be 16 musicians, plus a band leader and vocalist from the world-renowned Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music. The group will perform as a jazz orchestra providing a selection of Big Band, Swing and Glen Miller style music and smaller ensemble pieces.

They will play at an evening event in the Royal Court Theatre with full orchestra and vocalist, an afternoon tea dance, lunchtime jam sessions featuring an ensemble in the Chart Room, and a late evening ensemble in Illuminations as well as giving two jazz masterclass talks and a Q&A with the bandleader and members of the orchestra.

Queen Mary 2 is still the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive liner ever built. Today, she is the only true ocean liner left in service and is the fastest passenger ship in the world.

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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P&O's 2013 Wave Promotion

P&O Cruises is offering exceptional value cruises during the traditional "wave" peak booking period from December to February, with its best-ever value holidays from only £599 per person for a seven-night Vantage Fare, to include a Price Promise protection and a low deposit of 10% for bookings until February 28. Designed to give added peace of mind to holidaymakers, especially to those booking early to secure the cruise of their choice, Vantage Fares have a range of benefits, including choice of cabin, flexibility to make amendments to or even change the cruise or cabin up to 90 days prior to departure, and one of the following; onboard spending money, free car parking in Southampton or return coach travel to Southampton. The Price Promise protection ensures that, should the price of a cruise reduce, passengers will be awarded the difference in price with onboard spending money or a cabin upgrade. If, however, the price of a cruise should rise after the booking has been made, passengers are assured they have received excellent value by booking early. A low deposit offer of 10%, down from the usual 15%, also applies to Vantage Fare bookings made by February 28. These offers include: Best value cruise: A seven-night European cruise break on Oriana departing April 14. Vantage Fares from £599 per person. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call are Vigo, Lisbon, Oporto and La Coruna. NEW Classic FM music-themed cruise: A 14-night Iceland cruise with Classic FM on Aurora departing June 4. Vantage Fares from £1,499 per person. A repertoire of opera, operetta and recitals will be hosted by acclaimed Classic FM presenters, and passengers can enjoy interviews and musical quizzes, along with the usual high-quality mix of entertainment. NEW food and wine themed cruise: A 28-night Caribbean cruise with Marco Pierre White (pictured, above) and Eric Lanlard on Adonia departing November 22. Vantage Fares from £2,439 per person. This brand new food-and-wine-themed cruise will be joined by celebrity chef  White and master pâtissier and 'Cake Boy' legend Lanlard. Together they will offer their expertise and provide on board demonstrations, private master-classes, hosted dinners, book signings and Q&A sessions in the theatre. They will also host a range of shore excursions to restaurants and markets. As ever, for bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.