Cunard Unveils QM2 Itineraries
In what perhaps will become one of the most ambitious and widely publicized ship launching this Century, Cunard Line announced the itineraries for Queen Mary 2's maiden voyage at a press conference held in New York this morning. The vessel, which is expected to be the largest ocean liner ever constructed, will include a traditional six-day transatlantic crossing, Caribbean voyages from New York, Rio de Janeiro sailings at Carnival time and journeys to Europe and the Americas are just a small sampling of what the 1,132-ft. (345-m) vessel will offer. With its keel to be laid on July 4, QM2, has already picked up myriad of interest, according to Deborah Natansohn, senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Cunard Line.
Cunard Reports Strong Advance Bookings For QM2
Cunard has announced that initial sales for its new Queen Mary 2 have exceeded all expectations. Only one day after bookings officially opened on August 1, the line's capacity-controlled early booking discounts have been removed for the January 12, 2004, maiden voyage, which is nearly sold out. The highly anticipated, $800-million ship is the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most luxurious ocean liner ever constructed. "It's obvious that people consider the maiden voyage of Queen Mary 2 an historic occasion that they want to be a part of," said Deborah Natansohn, Cunard's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "What has been more surprising is the strength of bookings for sailings through-out the inaugural year.
U.S. Navy Boards Ship After Pirate Attack
CNN has reported that passengers were allowed off the Seabourn Cruise Lines' Spirit and went back to scheduled events with a sightseeing tour of the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. The 150 passengers had been on board when pirates in two boats armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked the Spirit on Saturday, Deborah Natansohn, president of the cruise line, told CNNRadio. Members of a Navy explosives ordnance disposal team led by Lt. John Stewart inspected some unexploded munitions and saw where a rocket-propelled grenade round had struck. The Navy team removed the remains of the ordnance from the ship. On Thursday, the U.N. World Food Program warned that hijackings off Somalia were restricting the delivery of food assistance to the country.
QM2 Selected For 2004 Olympics
Cunard Line and Athens 2004, the organizing committee for the 2004 Olympic Games, today signed a memorandum of understanding to position Cunard's $800-million Queen Mary 2 in the Greek port of Piraeus to serve as a floating hotel during the Games. remain docked through August 30. "Cunard Line is delighted to be a part of this historic event in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games," said Deborah Natansohn, the line's senior vice president, sales and marketing. According to Spyros Capralos, executive director, Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC), "Queen Mary 2 will be the centrepiece in an 11-ship flotilla that will host up to 13,280 visitors.
