Did you book a cruise holiday over the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, perhaps in advance and therefore forgetting about the festivities? Or maybe you planned on taking advantage of the extra bank holiday by spending the exciting day onboard a cruise ship?
Whatever your reasons for cruising over the Jubilee weekend, with thanks to CruiseCritic.co.uk we’ve got a short round-up of how our favourite cruise lines are marking this momentous occasion. We’ll take a closer look at the planned celebrations for four of the cruise lines we offer on this website:
June 2 − 5th – The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Cunard’s Jubilee Cruises:
Cunard will be putting on quite the display over the forthcoming weekend! Their three ships will be docked in Southampton where guests can enjoy a display by the Red Arrows and witness the fireworks spectacular as the ships depart. There will be talks from guests with royal connections onboard the ships, plus a display of royal art for guests to peruse: paintings from HRH The Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria will be among those displayed in the galleries.
Cunard guests will have to get their glad rags on for the special Grand Ball held on June 6th which follows the line’s special Commemorative Dinner.
All TV coverage of the royal procession will be screened onboard Cunard ships on June 5th.
P&O’s Royal Gala:
Those onboard P&O ships can expect to enjoy the royal gala dinner planned by the line, with a toast to the Queen. There will be a rendition of the national anthem after evening performances in the theatre, as well as royal themed movies and live coverage of the June 5th events.
Each ship will also hold a “street party” and a tea dance (with champagne!) There will be special jubilee cakes on display and kids can decorate bunting in the children’s club.
Princess Cruises’ British Invasion:
Princess will have British comedians and singers onboard their Grand Princess ship, as well as a British Invasion production show and a host of royal themed movies for holidayers to enjoy. Guests can celebrate the jubilee with the specially designed British-themed pub quizzes and everyone will be issued with union jack flag hats in preparation for a huge party on deck. Strawberries and cream, British pub food, Pimms, cider and British beers are all on the menu too. A giant jubilee cake will also be displayed in the Atrium.
The royal historian Janet Campbell will give lectures and the captain will raise a champagne toast to the Queen.
Royal Caribbean – Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch
On June 3rd Independance of the Seas will host a large “Diamond Jubilee Lunch” for over 3,600 celebrating guests! On the menu are British classics such as prawn cocktail, roast beef, bread and butter pudding, beer-battered fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and Cumberland sausages with mash. Yummy!
Holidayers can expect to see a patriotic Union Jack bunting on the ship’s Royal Prominade. Guests will also be given flags to wave and there’ll be traditional village fair-style stalls and celebratory ice sculptures throughout the ship. On June 4, the Royal Promenade will be the venue for the ‘Rock Britannia’ performance by the onboard team.
