Cunard has unveiled a refreshed lineup of special events for 2017 and 2018, expanding its acclaimed enrichment program that brings experts and celebrity speakers onboard to inform and entertain guests.
Across Cunard’s three ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth — passengers will encounter a range of speakers and activities, from fashion icons and authors to astronauts and scientists. These curated programs blend destination-focused experiences with onboard talks, workshops and themed dinners. Highlighted upcoming events include:
- Festival of Flowers (June 8): The Queen Victoria sailing from June 8–22 visits the Canary Islands and includes guided shore excursions to renowned gardens and local flower markets. The itinerary features an overnight stay in Madeira, with a special evening dinner at Quinta Jardins do Lago botanical garden hotel and hands-on workshops designed to deepen appreciation for floral arts.
- Arts and Literary Tour (July 1): On a British Isles voyage, Queen Elizabeth will call at ports such as Rotterdam, Newhaven and Liverpool while hosting cultural figures including actor Robert Powell and Louise West, Trustee of the Charles Dickens Museum and former curator of the Jane Austen House. The program offers talks and events exploring the lives and works of celebrated writers like Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Victor Hugo.
- Transatlantic Fashion Week (Aug. 31): The second-annual Transatlantic Fashion Week aboard Queen Mary 2 will feature fashion icon Iris Apfel. The event includes runway shows, curated exhibitions, lectures and hosted dinners celebrating personal style and design.
- World Space Week (Oct. 6): In observance of the United Nations’ World Space Week, Queen Mary 2 will present a program of space-themed activities with appearances by leading space experts, scientists and astronauts to discuss discoveries, missions and the future of space exploration.
- Voyage Du Vin (June 1, 2018): The Queen Victoria wine-focused voyage calls at top European wine and port destinations such as Oporto, Lisbon and Vigo. Guests can enjoy guided tastings drawn from Cunard’s cellar, which features more than 400 wines sourced from 23 countries.
These special event cruises combine immersive shore excursions with expert-led onboard content, offering passengers a richer travel experience that highlights culture, cuisine, science and the arts across varied itineraries and destinations.
