And you thought no on was traveling!

Queen Elizabeth Maiden Voyage Sells Out in 29 Minutes


Cunard Line announced that the October 2010 maiden voyage for the new Queen Elizabeth sold out in 29 minutes on April 1, easily making it the fastest-selling voyage in Cunard’s 170-year history. The voyage sold out faster and involved more guests than QE2’s final voyage, which sold out in 36 minutes in June 2007. More than half of Queen Elizabeth’s remaining maiden season, comprising six voyages from October to December 2010, was sold within the first two hours. “This is an impressive record set by what will be an impressive ship and speaks volumes about the Cunard brand as well as for the resilience of the cruise sector as a whole in these challenging times,” said Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard. “It is also very encouraging to see the level of interest in Queen Elizabeth coming from all our international markets, with bookings in the U.K., U.S. and Germany particularly strong.”


Queen Elizabeth’s maiden 2010 season will consist of six voyages calling on 32 ports in 18 countries. The maiden voyage will depart from Southampton on Oct. 12, 2010, en route to the Atlantic Isles. The ship will then embark on five celebratory inaugural voyages, for which space is still available but selling fast. The 14-day “Mediterranean Premiere” departs Southampton on Oct. 25, 2010, and calls at Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Cartagena and Gibraltar. Fares start at $2,795 per person. The 18-day “Aegean Introduction” departs Southampton on Nov. 8, 2010, to Malaga, Malta, Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi, Athens and Alicante. Fares start at $3,295 per person. The five-day “Gallic Debut” departs Southampton on Nov. 26, 2010, and calls at Rotterdam, Brussels/Bruges and Cherbourg; fares begin at $1,195 per person. The 13-day “Iberian Discovery” departs Southampton on Dec. 1, 2010, and calls at Vigo, Lisbon, Seville, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira. Fares start at $2,395 per person. The 22-day “Festive Debut” departs Southampton on Dec. 14, 2010, and visits Madeira, Tortola, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Azores Islands. Fares start at $4,795 per person.