VANTAGE DELUXE WORLD TRAVEL

Cunard Line

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Welcome Aboard Cunard Line [top]

Cunard Line dates back 160 years to Sir Samuel Cunard, a Canadian businessman from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who pioneered transatlantic mail communication by steamship in the 1830s. Cunard, along with four others, founded the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which later became known as the "Cunard Line."

The Cunard Tradition, which began with steamships and continues with today's elegant cruise ships, has grown over the past century and a half, touching the lives of thousands - from the rich and famous to the common man alike. To sail on a Cunard ship today is to share in the proud heritage that hearkens back to the golden age of ocean travel.

QM2 is the grandest ocean liner ever built, designed to glide effortlessly across the world's seas. QM2 was named "Best Luxury Ship" by readers of Travel magazine in 2005, 2006, and 2007!

Dining Information [top]

All meals are included on board and are served in one of the ship's fine restaurants. Your restaurant is determined by your cabin category. Each choice of accommodation is paired with an elegant sea-view restaurant, where guests dine throughout the voyage.

Dining Aboard the Queen Mary 2

Queens Grill Restaurant & Accommodation
Cabin categories beginning with the letter Q (all duplex apartments, penthouses, royal suites, and suites) will dine in the Queens Grill, a five-star, single-seating restaurant where every meal is an epicurean masterpiece.

Princess Grill Restaurant & Accommodation
Cabin categories beginning with the letter P (all junior suites) will dine in the Princess Grill, a five-star restaurant with single-seating dining.

Britannia Grills & Accommodation
Cabin categories beginning with the letter B-D will dine in the Britannia Restaurant, QM2's main dining room. This dining room offers both early and late seating.

Other dining options aboard the QM2 include a Todd English restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine (available for an additional charge); Kings Court - a casual buffet for breakfast and lunch; an Asian restaurant; Italian trattoria; the Carvery; and the Chef's Galley.

Attire

The daytime atmosphere aboard Cunard is casual. For breakfast and lunch in the dining rooms, casual attire is suggested. Elsewhere on the ship, daytime dress is also casual.

From 6:00 p.m. on, dress suggestions are as follows and continue throughout the entire evening (you will find them listed in the Daily Program):

Formal Evenings - Gentlemen are requested to wear a tuxedo or dark business suit. Ladies' attire may range from evening gowns to cocktail dresses or formal ensembles. Glamorous formal evenings are one of the special joys of cruising with Cunard. Formal wear can be rented from the Royal Promenade shops on board for a nominal daily charge. Generally there will be three to four formal evenings per week.

Informal Evenings - Gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket and tie, and ladies are requested to wear dresses or the appropriate equivalent.

Casual Evenings - For gentlemen, slacks and a sweater or shirt. For women, skirt or slacks worn with a sweater or blouse. Brief shorts or bathing attire are not worn in any of the ships' restaurants or dining rooms. However, casual attire is welcome in the Lido Café.

Cruise Line Special Meal Requests

The ship may be able to accommodate special dietary requirements, provided requests are received at the time of booking. Cunard offers alternative dining menus such as Kosher, gluten free, diabetic, salt free, and fat free. Please confirm any dietary requests with your Vantage Program Manager once on board.

Money Matters On Board Ship [top]

For your convenience, Cunard will request that you pre-register your credit card at embarkation. Bar service, purchases from onboard shops, shore excursions, and other incidental expenses will be automatically assigned to your account. At the end of the voyage, your account may be settled with a credit card, cash, or travellers' checks. American Express, Diner's Club, Visa, and MasterCard are accepted.

Currency Exchange

Aboard ship the Purser's Office is the financial center. The official currency aboard ship is the U.S. dollar. At major ports of call, representatives of a local bank will come aboard to convert U.S. dollars to local currency.

Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in the cruise fares. For your convenience, a per person daily amount ($11 to $13 per day depending on accommodations) will be charged to your shipboard account and distributed to your cabin steward, dining room waiter, and other ship personnel. You will be provided with the opportunity to modify the amount charged to your account before the end of your cruise. In addition, should you wish, gratuities for other special services may be given directly to deserving individuals. For bar and salon services, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to all charges for your convenience.

In addition, the suggested gratuity for your Vantage Program Manager is $3 to $5 per person per day.

General Information About Your Ship [top]

Air Conditioning

All cabins and public rooms on board are fully air-conditioned. Individual cabin temperature can be regulated by passengers.

Electrical Current/Travel Appliances

110/220 volt and 220/240 volt AC are available in all staterooms which permits the use of standard electrical appliances.

Keeping In Touch

Cabin telephones may be used to make or receive satellite calls all over the world. Faxes, cables, and telexes can be sent at established charges while at sea. You will receive telephone and fax numbers for your ship with your cruise tickets. E-mail service is also available. Fees for your use of the Internet and e-mail will be charged to your shipboard account.

Please keep in mind that ship-to-shore communications tend to be rather costly, averaging $12 to $15 per minute. Please refer to the instructions provided in the information packet in your cabin. Passengers may want to contact their long distance telephone service prior to departure to obtain a four-digit access code. The access code will allow you to make calls while in port and have them billed to your home.

Laundry

Laundry, pressing, and dry-cleaning services are available on board. Cabin stewards will collect and return items to passengers. Same-day delivery is available at a 50% surcharge if requested by 10:00 a.m.

Medical Facilities

The ship has basic medical facilities that are equipped to provide care for illness and accidents. Facilities are staffed by a doctor and trained nurses, but are not intended for treatment of pre-existing conditions. If you have a medical condition that may require special accommodations or anticipate the need for medical services on board, advance notification of requirements must be communicated to Cunard in writing.

Special Cabin Requests

Although the special group rate you have taken advantage of on your Vantage cruise does not guarantee specific cabin selection, we will be happy to advise the cruise line of any special requests. We must receive your request at the time of booking. Please note that cabins within your category may be located on several different decks and cabin availability on your deck of choice may be limited.

Periodically, cruise lines will randomly upgrade passengers for space allocation purposes. Please keep in mind that these upgrades are at the discretion of the cruise line and selection of passengers to be upgraded is not in Vantage's control.

Special Occasions At Sea

If you will be celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon during your cruise, the cruise line will be happy to honor the event with a special cake in the dining room. Please advise Vantage of such occasions at time of booking. We will forward the information to the cruise line. Please verify the arrangements with your Vantage Program Manager once you are on board.

Valuables

Items of special value should be stored in the safe provided in every passenger stateroom.

Shore Excursions [top]

Cunard Line's "Shore Excursions" booklet will be provided in a mailing prior to your departure. This booklet will provide detailed descriptions of the excursions offered by the cruise line, including degree of difficulty, meals, and tour highlights. You will have the opportunity to purchase these tours while on board ship. Your Vantage Program Manager will provide tips on shore excursion selection during your initial briefing.

The optional shore excursions that are offered while you are on board ocean cruise ships are offered solely by the cruise line and must be reserved directly through them. Each cruise line determines its own reservation policy.

The Transatlantic Sailing : The Most Exclusive World Afloat

Queen Mary 2: Grandest ocean liner ever built, designed to glide effortlessly across the world's seas. Named "Best Luxury Ship" by readers of Travel Magazine in 2005, 2006, and 2007. A Treasure of hours to spend as you please during your Transatlantic Sailing. Look at all the things you can do...
  • Queen Mary 2 Spa & Fitness Center — array of massages, treatments, Aqua Therapy Centre
  • Library — with 8000 books — largest collection at sea
  • "Cunard Insights" — award-winning enrichment program brings you engaging presentations, world class lecturers and unforgettable classes
  • Martime Quest Exhibit — Engage in all the glamour and drama with "Maritime Quest" — an exhibit found on 10 pathways throughout the ship showing all the History from Victorian age through Jazz age
  • Illuminations — the only Planetarium at sea — you can see special cosmic shows created just for Cunard, plus lecturers and other presentations
  • Daily movies — afternoon and evening
  • Bridge and Boardgames on Deck 2!
  • Ballroom Dance Class — prepare yourself to dance the night away at Cunard's storied Royal Nights formal balls with special classes on salsa or line dancing.
  • Shopping onboard! Mayfair Shops — comparable to the world's finest shopping avenues with collection of boutiques!
  • Special Activities — There's so much to do — art auctions, cooking classes, art gallery of famous masters, lecturers, films, bridge, golf simulator
  • Empire Casino — try your luck!
  • Royal Court Theatre — see musicals
  • Queens Room — largest ballroom at sea
  • Spectacular dining and pubs — Champagne bar, Chart Room, Commodore Club, Golden Lion Pub, Churchill's Cigar Lounge
  • Daily afternoon tea! Indulge in a truly British tradition. White-gloved waiters serve fresh scones with cream, finger sandwiches and premium tea in the Queens Room; you can also enjoy a full tea on our Promenade Deck*, served each afternoon from our classic tea trolley.
Don't forget to take a wonderful walk on the famous decks!