Reasons to Cruise

Taking a cruise is not just a way to take time off work or to spend your vacation.  There are all sorts of reasons why people take cruises, and Princess Cruises has recently published several more such reasons on their blog at http://inspiredtocruise.com/.

One good reason is to grant someone a last wish, as was the case of John Hedley of North Carolina who traveled to Alaska with one of his former comrades-in-arms on a final cruise before his friend succumbed to cancer.

Another great reason is to bond with your family, as Bob Taylor of Ohio did to know the sisters he’d only recently met when they spent time together on a Caribbean cruise, and as Naomi Cornelius of Texas did when after a lifetime of distance from her father, she reconnected with him on a Panama Canal cruise .

Still more reasons exist such as Jessie Work and her husband of Connecticut,  used their time at sea to revive their floundering marriage, and Sheryl Tarkoff of Chicago who connected with nephews, cousins, siblings and her children during her cruise up the Eastern Seaboard.

Princess Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines, an exclusive alliance that also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and Seabourn.

Cruise Weddings

A lot of people have discovered the romance of having their wedding on a cruise. And why not - what could be more romantic than exchanging vows at sea!

Most cruise lines offer highly flexible wedding packages that feature a memorable way to wed or renew vows which include perks like candlelit wedding chapels, photographers, bridal bouquets, wedding cake, champagne toasts with keepsake flutes and much more.

For the latest news in wedding at sea take a look at the last two news announcements at Prow's Edge.



Maine Windjammer Cruises and their special weddings at sea

Cunard Line wedding cruises for weddings at sea

Cunard Line Insights Program

Politicians, entertainers, best-selling authors, a CNN correspondent turned novelist, and a revered astronaut are among the eclectic variety of speakers in the award-winning Cunard guest enrichment program.



Guests are able to learn more about politics, entertainment, literature, science and history through renowned speakers from former vice president and editor-in-chief of Daily Variety Peter Bart, legendary British crime novelists P.D. James and Baroness Ruth Rendell CBE, to The Byrds musician Roger McGuinn and debut novelist Kitty Pilgrim, a former CNN correspondent turned novelist who features Cunard’s Queen Victoria in her debut thriller.

“This year’s speaker line-up certainly will appeal to a broad range of interests, giving guests a chance to update on favorite subjects as well as learn about something new,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “”

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. 

Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.

For full details of the Cunard Line Insights Program visit the Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine news item at 

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-news-cunard-line-guest-speakers-0515.html

For more information about Cunard Line Insights Program, please visit http://www.cunard.com/

For a brief over view of Cunard Line take a look at the Prow’s Edge Cruise Line Magazine profile of Cunard Line


New Commodore of the Cunard Line fleet

Captain Christopher Rynd has been appointed Commodore of the Cunard Line fleet – Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria – the youngest fleet in the industry and The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World. Captain Rynd assumes the title held by Commodore Bernard Warner who retired from the company on 19 April 2011.

Captain Rynd joined Cunard in 2005 when he took command of Queen Elizabeth 2. While on QE2, he came to appreciate Cunard’s distinctive product and traditions. Since then, he has commanded both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. He took Queen Mary 2 on her Maiden World Voyage and attended the Queen Victoria during her construction and sea trials and later proudly served as her master.

“I am delighted with the appointment of Captain Rynd as Commodore of Cunard Line and am sure that many of our regular guests will be as pleased as I and will join me in congratulating him on this notable achievement,” Shanks said.

Captain Rynd was born in New Zealand and grew up in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and in the islands of Fiji and Samoa of the tropical South Pacific. He began his sea career in 1970 at the age of 17 in New Zealand. The influence of his father and upbringing helped in this choice.

After completing his cadetship, Captain Rynd joined his first passenger liner, P&O’s Oronsay. His early sea days were in P&O vessels on routes between Australia and the UK, which also included cruising. Since then, most of his career has been in passenger cruise ships on worldwide itineraries. Additionally, he expanded his experience with eight years as a reserve officer in the British Royal Navy. He gained his qualification as Master in London in 1979. During his time with P&O and Princess Cruises, he commanded Royal Princess, Regal Princess, the first and second Pacific Princess, Pacific Sky and Sapphire Princess.

In 2008, Captain Rynd was elected a Fellow of the Nautical Institute, the international professional body for maritime professionals, and he took time out in 2009 / 2010 to work as a coach under the auspices of the Company’s training facility, ‘CSmart,’ in the Netherlands. This was an opportunity to travel in ships across the corporate fleets and be involved in the introduction of new procedures that enhance the safe operations in navigating ships.

Captain Rynd and his Australian wife Julie have three children who are now young adults, which allows Julie to accompany her husband at sea most of the time. When not at sea, they spend time in both Britain and Australia but visit New Zealand each year to hike and fish trout.

For more information about Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, and to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.

Click here for or an overview of Cunard Line

Cunard Line’s First Female Captain

Danish-born Inger Olsen made history on 1 December 2010 by becoming Cunard Line’s first female Captain in its 171-year history of sailing luxury cruise vacations. Yesterday, she continued her historic maiden sailings as Captain of Queen Victoria, as she brought the ship back to the Port of Los Angeles.

Captain Olsen and Queen Victoria are coming off the heels of the momentous Cunard Royal Rendezvous in New York City on 13 January, where all three of Cunard’s Queens met for a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Statue of Liberty before departing on their respective voyages.

Olsen joined Queen Victoria just prior to the commencement of the ship’s debut Americas season, departing from New York and sailing to Los Angeles. During this first 17-day voyage, the ship called on Ft. Lauderdale and Bonaire, traversed the Panama Canal, and visited three ports in Mexico – Huatulco, Acapulco and Manzanillo – before arriving into Los Angeles yesterday.

Queen Victoria's Americas season continues until 18 March, and features additional transits through the Panama Canal, four total calls to Los Angeles, two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and one Getaway voyage to Mexico.

Forty-three-year-old Captain Olsen was raised in the Faroe Islands, which accounts for her maritime abilities, and she joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Caronia. In 2001 she transferred to sister-brand Seabourn. She sailed on Seabourn Sun and Seabourn Spirit before being promoted to the rank of Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003.

Following some years with other companies within the Carnival Corporation family, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August this year as Deputy Captain of Queen Victoria. When not at the helm of the majestic Cunard ocean liner, Captain Olsen lives in Denmark.

For an overview of Cunard Line visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine Cruise Lines profile of Cunard Line

For more information about Queen Victoria and to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com

Following our last blog item - and beginning her inaugural Maiden World Voyage, Cunard Line’s newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, made her premier visit to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday alongside her sister ship, Queen Victoria.

The two luxury cruise liners, who sailed in tandem from New York, are coming off the heels of the historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous that occurred there just three days earlier, when all three of Cunard’s Queens met in New York for only the second time in the Line’s 171-year history. Welcoming Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria to this popular maritime port was the honourable Mayor John P. "Jack" Seiler, along with travel agents, media and local dignitaries.

Upon departing Fort Lauderdale, Queen Elizabeth continues her Maiden World Voyage on to Aruba and then will traverse the Panama Canal to Mexico and ultimately call on the Port of Los Angeles on 29 January. Following this voyage, Queen Elizabeth will spend the remainder of the year in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, calling on exotic and unique ports such as the Norwegian Fjords, St. Petersburg, the Holy Land and Canary Islands.

Queen Victoria will continue on her debut Americas season, traversing between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts via the Panama Canal, and calling on Los Angeles four times between January and March (30 January, 13 February, 17 February and 3 March). She will sail two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and sail a brief Getaway voyage to Mexico.

For more information about Cunard and to book a voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria, consult your travel agent, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.

For an overview of Cunard Line take a look at PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE- PROFILE - CUNARD LINE

Cunard Float Wins Queen's Trophy at Roses Parade

Cunard Line made its inaugural debut on the streets of Pasadena, California today at the 122nd Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda, winning the prestigious Queen’s Trophy for best use of roses.

Cunard’s float, themed “A Grand Celebration at Sea,” depicted the Cunard fleet of three Queens – flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth – and illustrated the ultimate sense of occasion experienced on a luxury cruise vacation aboard Cunard, including Veuve Clicquot champagne toasts, the Royal Court Theatre, ballroom dancing and big band music.

In floral and architectural celebration of Cunard’s rich tradition of elegance and grandeur, the float stood at 24 feet high, 18 feet wide and 55 feet long as it made its way down the parade route. A big band orchestra and ballroom dancers animated the Line’s famed Royal Nights Themed Balls. Representing Cunard’s hallmark brand of service, eight White Star Bellmen walked alongside the floral liner. A whistle sound from the new Queen Elizabeth, who will make her maiden call in Los Angeles on 29 January, completed the Cunard float.

Black Magic roses, purple phalaenopsis orchid sprays, green cymbidium orchids and hypericum, and white Casablanca lilies bordered the float, while more than 45,000 red Opium roses carpeted the steps and floors. Layers of black onion seed and crisp white sweet rice accented the distinctive shape of Cunard’s elongated bow, while shimmering deep brown flax seed replicated the rich texture of hand-polished mahogany woods throughout the architectural features. White roses, dendrobium orchids and phalaenopsis orchids swept over oceans of light and dark blue iris, delphinium and hydrangea blossoms to create the water waves of the high seas.

For more information and to book a voyage aboard a Cunard ocean liner, contact your travel agent, call toll free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.

For an overview of Cunard Line take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE CRUISE LINE PROFILE FOR CUNARD LINE or see what it was like across the Atlantic with Cunard in CROSSING THE POND.

Cunard Makes History with First Female Captain

When Inger Klein Olsen assumed command of Cunard Line's Queen Victoria on Wednesday, 1 December 2010, she made history by becoming the venerable shipping line's first female captain.

Captain Olsen’s first task at the helm of Queen Victoria was to take the ship, without passengers, to drydock in Hamburg for its planned refit. Next Wednesday, 15 December, she will be on the bridge as the ship sets sail with a full complement of guests.

Forty-three-year-old Captain Olsen was born and raised in the Faroe Islands, which accounts for her maritime abilities, and she joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Caronia. In 2001 she transferred to the Seabourn fleet, which at that time was part of Cunard. She sailed on Seabourn Sun and Seabourn Spirit before being promoted to the rank of Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003.

Following some years with other companies within the Carnival Corporation group, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August this year as Deputy Captain of Queen Victoria.

“While we are far from being the first shipping company to have a female captain, it is nonetheless noteworthy when such a long-established British institution as Cunard makes a break with its captaincy tradition,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard. “But as Mark Twain drily observed, 'the folks at Cunard wouldn't appoint Noah himself as captain until he had worked his way up through the ranks.’ Inger has certainly done that,” Shanks continued, “and we are delighted to welcome her as our first woman driver.”

Olsen will helm Queen Victoria during the ship's debut Americas season, commencing from New York to Los Angeles on 13 January. During the first 17-day voyage, the ship will call on Ft. Lauderdale and Bonaire, transit the Panama Canal, and visit three ports in Mexico - Huatulco, Acapulco and Manzanillo - before arriving into Los Angeles on 30 January. Captain Olsen will take her leave on 13 February.

Queen Victoria's Americas season continues until 18 March, and features several transits through the Panama Canal, four calls to Los Angeles, two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and one Getaway voyage to Mexico.

Captain Olsen lives in Denmark.

For more information about Queen Victoria and to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to www.cunard.com.

Cunard Line Joins the Parade

For the first time, Cunard Line is set to take part in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade® with a float designed by renowned artist and float designer Raul Rodriguez.


“We are delighted to be part of such a celebrated event like the Rose Parade,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “This year’s Rose Parade theme of building dreams, friendships and memories, ties perfectly with our legacy and heritage. For more than 170 years sailing the seven seas, the Cunard name has been synonymous with fulfilling aspirations, fostering life-long friendships, and creating memorable experiences for all of our guests.”

Fiesta Parade Floats based in Irwindale, California, is the leading, award-winning float-builder in the Tournament of Roses Parade, having designed and built 17 consecutive Sweepstakes Trophy winners. Fiesta is also considered the leader in both floral technology and floral application throughout the float and floral industries - led by Jim Hynd, vice president and floral director - surpassing all other builders in the field of computerized and hydraulic animation.

For more details about the float, visit the latest news page Cunard Line reveals their float for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses at Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade taking place Saturday, 1 January 2011, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands.

Her Majesty the Queen to Name Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England on Monday, 11 October 2010.

The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest.

“The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, Queen Mary 2, in 2004. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner, Queen Elizabeth,” added Shanks.

Her Majesty was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on 27 September 1938 when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch.

The Naming Ceremony will take place in Southampton on Monday, 11 October and Queen Elizabeth will set sail on her Maiden Voyage the following day.

Other historic namings of Cunard ships by British royalty over the Line’s 170-year history include the following:

Her Majesty The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, launched Caronia, the ‘Green Goddess,’ in 1947.

Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first British Monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. His Majesty King George V accompanied his wife.

The late Queen Mother, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, launched Queen Elizabeth in 1938. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret accompanied their mother.

HRH The Princess Margaret launched Carinthia in 1955.

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall named Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007. HRH The Prince of Wales was also in attendance.

For more information and to book a voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth, consult your Travel Agent, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to http://queenelizabeth.cunard.com/.

Cunard - 170 years and still going strong

History was made in Liverpool recently when Her Royal Highness, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall graced the decks of Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria as the ship made her maiden call in Liverpool. The day marked The Duchess’ second visit to the ship - her first was for the ship’s naming ceremony in December 2007 when she christened the liner.

Not only did The Duchess reacquaint herself with “her” ship and crew, but she also helped Cunard commemorate the 170th anniversary of the company’s first ship, the Britannia, which set sail from Liverpool in July 1840.

In January 2011, Queen Victoria will begin her first Americas season, traversing the Panama Canal on more than one voyage and making two rare roundtrip sailings from Los Angeles to Hawaii, plus debuting her maiden Mexico Getaway voyage.

Prior to embarking on her maiden Americas season, Queen Victoria will meet Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth in New York Harbour for another spectacular Cunard Royal Rendezvous on 13 January 2011, exactly three years to the day that she met Queen Mary 2 and QE2 in New York for the first meeting of the three Queens. For more information, visit www.cunard.com/rendezvous.

For more information about Queen Victoria or to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD, or go to www.cunard.com.

Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company

A brand new idea for entertainment at sea - the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company is set to debut in October on the brand new Queen Elizabeth from Cunard Line.

Performing in the new ship’s majestic Royal Court Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company will present a variety of musical productions and abridged versions of popular plays such as a Neil Simon triple bill and Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

Video blogs about the new entertainment programme have been posted on the WeAreCunard YouTube.com channel, and Prow's Edge Blog brings you a taste of what it to be offered below with Queen Elizabeth's on-board Entertainment Director Alistair Greener chatting with Cunard President Peter Shanks (Part One) and Martin Lilly, director of entertainment (Part Two).








For more information about the original line up of entertainment, take a look at the latest news page about the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Cunard Line Unveils David Linley Artwork for the New Queen Elizabeth

The original Queen Elizabeth liner, an Art Deco icon, is making a nostalgic return as a stunning centerpiece for the Grand Lobby of the Line’s newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, debuting this fall 2010.

Cunard Line specially commissioned the artwork to David Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret and the internationally famous photographer Lord Snowdon – and Her Majesty The Queen's only nephew – whose company specializes in the design and creation of fine furniture and marquetry.

Work is already underway, and the completed 18 and a half foot panel will be shipped this summer to the Fincantieri shipyard at Monfalcone, Italy, where it will be installed over a four-day period to take pride of place at the heart of the ship just before she enters service in October.

Linley’s magnificent work shows the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth seen dramatically from sea level, and is intricately executed using the technique of marquetry inlay with nine individual panels made of various types of wood veneers seamlessly jointed to lightweight board.

Designers for the new Queen Elizabeth’s interiors considered the best way to treat the Grand Lobby’s soaring central arched space on the sweeping staircase leading up from the main deck, as it is the first area to greet embarking guests.

Queen Elizabeth will be the second largest Cunarder ever built and will join her sisters, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, as part of the youngest fleet in the world. The first Queen Elizabeth was one of Cunard’s greatest ships, and the new Queen Elizabeth will reflect her predecessor in interior grandeur, décor and style, but with a modern twist.

Queen Elizabeth will depart on her Maiden Voyage on Tuesday 12 October 2010. This 13-night celebration will leave from the company’s home port, Southampton, and will call at Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (overnight call) and Funchal. She will then embark on five celebratory maiden voyages to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean.

CRUISE CUISINE MONTH CONTINUES WITH A NEW RECIPE FROM CHEF JEAN-MARIE ZIMMERMANN

CRUISE CUISINE MONTH at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine continues with a new cruise recipe for our fellow passengers from Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann (for Cunard Line) for Crab Brioche Thermidor.

Executive Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann is the Global Culinary Ambassador of Cunard Line, operator of the most famous ocean liners in the world—including flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth which enters service in Fall 2010.

Along with more than 24 other renowned and celebrity chefs working with the cruise lines, Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann offers another recipe to the more than 30 already existing and favorite recipes presented for you at the Captain's Table pages.

There is no other cruise magazine on line that offers you what is, in effect, a cookery book with recipes from the stars of culinary world.

Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann's tantalizing recipe (including his recipe for a brioche loaf) guides you step by step through his exotic dish.

There is also a detailed biography of the renowned Chef Zimmermann.

Chef Zimmermann’s favourite quote explains his culinary philosophy: “A part of my heart has always been a reflection of my passion for fine cuisine, creating food for the pleasure of giving, providing a gastronomic experience to be long remembered.”

His recipe here makes sure that you too can remember the dish, and the experience too!

Enjoy!