Cunard Line has announced a very special 5-night sailing to mark Queen Elizabeth’s fifth birthday, where guests will be invited to take to the dance floor for a Big Band Ball on her voyage departing Southampton on October 2nd.
Originating from America in the 1920s, the Big Band phenomena took the world by storm, as large band ensembles delighted audiences with electrifying, high energy performances. During Queen Elizabeth’s 5 night cruise to Amsterdam and Bruges (from Zeebrugge) guests will be invited to relive the heyday of Swing and Jazz at the ship’s own Big Band Ball.
On 3 October, the eve of Queen Elizabeth’s 5th birthday, guests on board can look forward to a classic black tie gala dinner with a specially crafted commemorative menu to mark the occasion. Then they will be welcomed to the Queen’s Ballroom by the ship’s 14 piece band, as it strikes up hits from some of the most successful artists of the era including Glenn Miller, Ted Heath, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Vocalists will add material drawn from the back catalogues of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and The Rat Pack as well as more recent performers such as Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum and Harry Connick Jr to create the social ball of the year. Under glittering chandeliers, the band will aim to keep the dance floor filled before guests gather for a midnight countdown to Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday.
During the five night cruise, guests can also enjoy sounds from other eras, including one of the UK’s best tribute 60s acts, The Overtures, noted for performing at Elton John and David Furnish’s civil partnership, who will appear twice. Historian Eric Flounders will bring the history of Cunard to life as part of the Insight Speakers programme, while acclaimed comedian Mike Miller will add touches of humour.
Queen Elizabeth is the newest ship in the Cunard fleet and she is certainly going to celebrate her fifth birthday in style! She will leave Southampton on October 2nd and spend a day at sea before arriving in Amsterdam, where she will spend an evening in port. She will then depart for Zeebrugge before arriving back in Southampton on October 7th.
Fares for this voyage start from £579pp for an IE inside grade cabin per person.
For further information, please call one of our Cruise Experts on 0800 008 6677.
