NEW YORK -- With the return to service of British Airways'
Concorde, Cunard Line once again will offer its passengers the
chance to cross the Atlantic aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 in one
direction and aboard the supersonic jet in the other.
Prior to the aircraft's grounding last year, Cunard marketed the
combination packages successfully.
Cunard purchases the most Concorde seats from British Airways,
said Deborah Natansohn, Cunard's senior vice president of worldwide
sales and marketing.
"What could be better than cruising to Europe at a leisurely
pace in one direction and then returning by supersonic jet?" said
Natansohn.
A six-day, transatlantic QE2 voyage between New York and
Southampton, England, starts at $1,349 per person, with business
class air on British Airways included for upper-category
staterooms.
Under Cunard's new offer, all passengers can upgrade to Concorde
service for an additional $1,995.
As part of the program, vacationers can schedule their Concorde
flight on any day they choose (subject to space and availability).
This enables passengers to fly from New York to London, spend a few
days sightseeing and shopping, then return to New York aboard the
QE2.
Passengers also can board the ship in New York, cruise to
Southampton, spend time in London and then fly back to New York
aboard the Concorde.
Under Cunard's Spotlight series, every transatlantic crossing
offers special-interest workshops, special events and autograph
signings. In-cabin television programming also will be related to
the Spotlight program.
Also, Cunard's Illuminations enrichment program offers speakers
from the fields of journalism, literature, academia and the U.S.
military and diplomatic corps.