MEDIA RELEASE January 31, 2011

New Queen Heads to New Zealand

Cunard's newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, has begun her maiden crossing of the Pacific Ocean, bound for New Zealand.

Carrying around 2000 passengers and almost 1000 crew members, Queen Elizabeth left Los Angeles on the weekend (Jan 29, LA time) after making her inaugural visit to the US West Coast city during her first world voyage.

>From the US, the 90,900-tonne liner will sail to Hawaii, Western Samoa, American Samoa and Fiji, before debuting in New Zealand when she visits Bay of Islands on Wednesday February 16.

Queen Elizabeth will then make her maiden visit to Auckland on February 17 and Wellington on February 19 before departing for Australia.

Stretching 294 metres in length and sporting Cunard's distinctive signature red and black livery, the four-month old Queen Elizabeth is expected to attract hundreds of sightseers to the foreshore of all three cities when she calls.

Launched in the United Kingdom by Her Majesty The Queen in October last year, Queen Elizabeth pays homage to Cunard's original Queen Elizabeth, with many famous Cunard hallmarks plus some new features.

Guests can enjoy more than 700 private balcony cabins, more than 10 restaurants and cafes and a Games Deck including paddle tennis, croquet and bowls.

Queen Elizabeth also offers a two-storey library complete with leaded glass ceiling and a globe from the original Queen Elizabeth, while her six main suites are named after the six Cunard Commodores that have been knighted.

Following her New Zealand visit, Queen Elizabeth will sail to Sydney for a dazzling Royal Rendezvous with her larger sister, Queen Mary 2, as the two ships arrive together on Sydney Harbour on February 22.

After calling at Melbourne (Feb 25) and Fremantle (Mar 1), Queen Elizabeth will return to Southampton via Africa and the Americas.

ENDS

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