Valencia, CA  - Cunard announces the 2009 World Cruise itineraries for flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria, where combining the legendary Cunard liner experience of tradition, elegance and grandeur with the adventure of circumnavigating the globe remains a time-honored tradition.  When Cunard set out to chart its world cruise destinations, it drew upon an 85-year tradition dating back to 1922, when it first pioneered the concept of world cruising.

In 2009 both liners will undertake their second world cruise and offer a multitude of voyage options packaged with a variety of early booking incentives, additional savings bonuses and amenities for independent and group guests.  Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will explore the globe during voyages of 90 and 99 days, meeting in Ft. Lauderdale for a Cunard Royal Rendezvous^TM on January 13, 2009.

Queen Mary 2 adds eight days and eight more ports for her 90-day Epic Expedition from Ft. Lauderdale to New York, stopping on four continents.  Queen Victoria will sail a 99-day Exploration of Distant Horizons, departing from New York to Southampton with stops in 37 ports across five continents.

"Cunard ships are legendary," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line, "and when combined with a circumnavigation of the globe calling on some of the world's most exotic and intriguing ports, the experience becomes an unparalleled adventure.  When we set out to create a world cruise itinerary, we seek to introduce our guests, many of whom are regular Cunard world cruisers, to fascinating new destinations that offer enchanted experiences.  These 2009 itineraries are no exception."
     
Queen Victoria:  Distant Horizons
Heralding her second year of service, Queen Victoria will traverse the globe in a westbound direction, transiting the Panama Canal and Suez Canal with calls in some of the world's most captivating ports, including Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Shanghai, Chica; Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and Rabual, Papua New Guinea, as well as an overnight call in Sydney Australia.  Queen Victoria will also call on the port city of Mormugao in Goa, on the west coast of India, which is known for its pristine beaches and Portuguese architecture; and the charming port city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia's second oldest city.
 
Maiden calls offer an added bonus of excitement and fanfare and in addition to those ports mentioned above Queen Victoria will be a cause for celebration when she visits 18 ports for the first-time,including; Apia, Western Samoa, Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Cairns (Yorkey's - for the Great Barrier Reef), Australia, Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand, Nagasaki, Japan, Nha Trang, Vietnam, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Phuket, Thailand, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Pusan, South Korea, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, Willemstad, Curaçao.
  
The journey culminates in Southampton on April 20, 2009.  Guests who wish to return to New York may then transfer to Queen Mary 2 for one of her legendary six-day transatlantic crossings for a 105-day Full World Cruise.
 
Early Booking Fares for Queen Victoria's 99-day Exploration of Distant Horizons world cruise start from $20,955 per person, double occupancy.
 
Shorter Liner voyages are available and include the 50-day Los Angeles to Singapore voyage, with Early Booking Fares starting from $11,540 per person, double occupancy and the 59 day Sydney to Southampton voyage, with Early Booking fares starting from $12,920.

Queen Mary 2:  Epic Expedition
Departing from Ft. Lauderdale, simultaneously with her sister ship Queen Victoria, on January 13, 2009, Queen Mary 2 will set sail on a 90-day Epic Expedition to 26 ports on five continents.  Included is a port call to Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza) affording visits to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx.  Maiden calls include Lima, Peru; Osaka, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; and Salalah, Oman.
     
The ship will journey in a westward direction, sailing around South America to Los Angeles, across the Pacific to Honolulu, Hawaii.  From there, stops include Pago Pago, American Samoa; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  The voyage culminates in New York on April 14, 2009.
 
Early Booking Fares for Queen Mary 2's 90-day Epic Expedition world cruise start from $20,745, per person, double occupancy.
 
Liner and Segment Voyages are available and include the 66-day Ft. Lauderdale to Dubai voyage, with Early Booking Fares starting from $15,898 per person, double occupancy, and the 15-day Los Angeles to Sydney voyage, with Early Booking Fares starting from $4,415 per person, double occupancy.
 
Incentives For Early Booking
Early Booking Fares for the Full World Cruise represents a 25 percent savings per person off brochure rates.  As an extra incentive, guests will save an additional five percent when bookings are made by January 31, 2008.  Onboard credits are offered for early booking on Full World Cruises and Liner Voyages up to $2,000 per couple.  Full World Cruise guests receive an invitation to the legendary President's World Cruise Dinner along with a special amenity package.  Grill guests who book early will also have the opportunity to attend exclusive shore events.
     
For more information and to book 2009 World Cruises on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, consult your The Cruiseman, call toll-free 1-800-889-7683