Cunard's Three Queens Jubilee Celebration

It is now just four days to this summer's BIG cruise event, taking place in Southampton as Cunard stage a special Diamond Jubilee ship parade in the famous south coast port.

The above graphic highlights exactly what will be going on, and when, and should make for a magnificent spectator event on the special Bank Holiday day.

All three Cunard vessels - the flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth - will arrive in The Solent together, for a processional cruise to mark Her Majesty The Queen's 75th anniversary on the throne.

The day's events will continue with a special fly-over by the Red Arrows and conclude with a grand fireworks display and sail-out of the three vessels.

Be sure to look in detail at the graphic to see the best viewing points  as the ships sail in between 3.25am and 6am.

For more information on the Cunard cruise style, and bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Cunard's Diamond Event

Cunard Line will celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a unique Three Queens event in Southampton on June 5, the final day of the extended bank holiday Jubilee celebration. 

Her Majesty has long been associated with Cunard, being the only person to have attended the naming of all three Cunard Elizabeths, beginning in 1938 and this will be the first time the fleet's three ships – the largest Cunarders ever built – will have been seen arriving and departing together in formation at their home port. 

Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 will approach the port soon after first light on Tuesday June 5, sailing in single file up the Solent, with a flotilla of small boats expected to welcome them in.

As Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria tie up at their berths, Queen Mary 2 will follow on, turning in the upper swinging ground and then passing each ship in turn, with crew lining the foredeck of all three vessels, and the ships’ whistles sounding in salute of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. Events will be happening throughout the day, to create both an outstanding passenger experience and a fitting commemoration of The Queen's 60-year reign. 

The celebrations will culminate in an evening spectacular where all three ships will be brought within close proximity and a fusillade of fireworks and special effects will light up the evening sky. Queen Mary 2 will then lead her sisters in single file down the Solent as all three set out on celebratory Diamond Jubilee voyages. Further details of the day’s events will be released in due course.

For booking details on any Cunard voyage, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

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Queen Mary 2 Returns to Service

Cunard's grand Queen Mary 2 has returned to service after her most significant refurbishment in years, which saw every cabin and several public rooms receive a new look. Before she went to sea, a specially-commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen was unveiled. The Queen named the ship in January 2004 and the portrait will hang in the Grand Lobby.

The refurbishment took place at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, from November 24 to December 6, with work undertaken in all staterooms, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants, the Commodore Club, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuel’s Bar and Lounge and children’s Play Zone. The popular Golden Lion Pub was completely redesigned.

Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, said: “Queen Mary 2 is an iconic leader in the world of luxury ocean travel and receives consistently high ratings by guests and the cruise industry. A ship that still turns heads everywhere she goes, she is unquestionably the pride of our fleet. We are committed to maintaining that impeccable reputation, and this significant refurbishment is an important investment on behalf of our guests.”

The 14-day refit required a team of thousands of workers replacing the equivalent of almost ten football fields of carpet and manufacturing about 18 miles of fabric into over 6,000 individual items. Over 1,250 loads were craned on to the ship and 20,000 litres of paint and varnish used.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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.

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Like Your Bed? Now You Can Buy It!

We all know Her Majesty The Queen will be naming Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth liner in Southampton on 11th October in another milestone in British maritime history. The Queen was present at age 12 when her mother launched the first Queen Elizabeth in 1938 and she herself launched the famous, but now retired, QE2 in 1967.

This magnificent new Queen Elizabeth will be the second largest Cunard ship ever built and will enhance the company’s illustrious reputation for exquisite ocean travel redolent of a bygone era. With a wonderful retro design look full of Art Deco, all the décor will pay homage to past Cunard Queens and there will be exhibits, photos and memorabilia connecting the line’s links to royalty and the rich and famous…. but of course, under all this glamour will be the very latest in 21st century technology.

Accommodating just over 2,000 guests in 1,046 staterooms on board, 85% of which are outside and 71% with balconies, luxury is definitely the name of the game and that of course means the very best in 21st century beds. So what are the best beds fit for a Queen? It has to be Sealy - the world’s No 1 bed brand. Their beds are found in the very best places and are slept on by royalty, presidents, celebrities and connoisseurs.

Sealy, world famous for their renowned Posturepedic range, have developed specially designed beds for the new Queen Elizabeth which include the very latest in their sleep technology. They contain zones of the very best pocket springs with layers of upholstery that will support and cushion the body to ensure, say the company, "the very best night’s sleep as guests drift off to the soothing whispers of the waves as the liner silently crosses the oceans of the world. Even if the weather gets rough outside, there will be no tossing and turning for guests cocooned and cosseted in their sumptuous Sealy Posturepedic beds!"

Now these beds, The Sealy “Cunarder” Range, will also be available to buy via the Cunard website, for those guests who want to carry home their wonderful sleep experience and continue to dream of luxury life on the ocean waves!

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.

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