CUNARD 2003 CRUISES FROM SOUTHAMPTON

Huge increase in UK cruise departures for QE2 and Caronia

Cunard Line’s commitment to the UK cruise market will be further strengthened in 2003 when both Queen Elizabeth 2 and Caronia offer a total of 31 cruise departures from Southampton - a record for the 162-year old line. Caronia will be building on the success of her 2002 ex-UK cruise series, which starts today. Next year, Cunard’s flagship, QE2, will offer more cruise departures to and from Southampton than ever before.

Additionally, Cunard has also confirmed that QE2, the world’s most famous ship, will be deployed permanently on Southampton-based cruises from April 2004 – her current role as transatlantic carrier being taken over by Queen Mary 2 which enters service in January that year. QE2 will continue to offer Cunard’s World Cruise from January to April each year.

As the world’s most distinctive liners, Queen Elizabeth 2 and classic Caronia both offer the ‘best of British’ cruising on traditional liners built for long voyages. Both are registered in Britain, have British officers and were the last passenger ships to be built in Britain - QE2 on the Clyde and Caronia on the Tyne.

New cruises for 2003 include a Liner Voyage to South America on QE2 and ‘Sampler Cruises’ on Caronia.

Cunard’s ‘Sailaway Savings’ offer discounts of 25 per cent on brochure fares on all sailings and in all cabin categories. ‘Sailaway Savings’ have no pre-set expiry date but two months’ notice will be given if these fares have been withdrawn.

Past passengers who book before 30 September 2002 will have their on board gratuities included. Regional flights from only £85 for selected airports on selected sailings are also available for bookings made before 30 September 2002.

Pamela Conover, Cunard’s President and Chief Operating Officer, says: “We made a firm commitment last September to increase our presence in the ex-UK cruise market by redeploying Caronia to Southampton starting today. Her programme has been a huge success vindicating that decision. Now we are taking the next steps to ensure that we build on this success and expand it further with the placement of QE2 in the market. And in early 2005 we will add an 85,000 newbuild, currently referred to as ‘The New Cunarder’, purpose built for the UK market. Within three years, we will have three great ships providing the finest cruise holidays for the British cruise passenger”.

Below is an overview of the 2003 programme.

OVERVIEW OF CUNARD ex-UK CRUISES 2003

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

In 2003, QE2 will offer eight Southampton – Southampton cruises of between three and to ten-nights to traditional destinations such as the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. ‘Sailaway Fares’ start from £499 per person,

In addition, new for 2003 is a 31-night cruise to South America and the Falklands and a 20-night Caribbean Cruise. The South America and Falklands cruise departs 25 October and calls at Tenerife, Salvador de Bahia, an overnight call at Montevideo, Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), an overnight call at Rio de Janeiro, Las Palmas and Funchal before arriving home to Southampton on 25 November. ‘Sailaway Fares’ start from £2,999 per person. QE2’s 20-night Caribbean Cruise departs from Southampton on 25 November and calls at Tenerife, St Maarten, Martinique, Barbados, Dominica and Funchal, Madeira arriving at Southampton on 18 December. ‘Sailaway Fares’ start from £1,999 per person.

In between cruises, QE2 will continue her role as transatlantic liner with 16 six-day crossings between Southampton and New York.