The jewel of the Cunard fleet marked its first ever call to a European port earlier this month. The magnificent Queen Victoria sailed out of Southampton on July 27, calling at Cartagena and Barcelona before anchoring at St Raphael on the Cote d’Azur coast.
The 90,000 ton luxury liner was carrying 2000 passengers as well as a large number of crew members. As Queen Victoria sailed into the picturesque French Riviera port, she captivated the attention of hundreds of locals and tourists who paused to watch the spectacle.
Captain Peter Philpott, the Commander of Queen Victoria, said “’It’s a privilege to bring Queen Victoria into a new port for the first time and to be in command of the first Cunard ship ever to sail into St Raphael makes the call particularly special.”
The stop was Cunard’s maiden call to St Raphael, a commune famous for its stunning Mediterranean coastline, beautiful mountain scenery and rich cultural history. The ship anchored in St Raphael for the day, giving passengers the chance to disembark and explore the charming French town.
Philpott added, “The Cote d’Azur is one of the most beautiful and most celebrated coastlines in the Mediterranean – it’s almost synonymous with summer holidays. I hope that this maiden visit proves to have been a joy for our passengers on board – it feels like we are the biggest yacht in this delightful bay – and for those along the shoreline who watched the ship arrive and set sail.”
Back on-board, passengers enjoy quintessential English elegance and an impressive collection of modern amenities. Grand marble floors, intricate metal work, mahogany furnishings and lavish textiles adorn the interior while a collection of restaurants serve up fine cuisine from across the globe. The impressive three-deck Royal Court Theatre ensures guests are well entertained while the Cunard Health Club and Spa is a fantastic way to relax and unwind after a busy day exploring ports.
As the sun set, Queen Victoria set her sights east towards the enchanting Italian city of Florence. Additional stops on the itinerary included Sardinia’s Alghero and Spain’s Gibraltar and La Coruna. The ship returned to UK waters on August 10 and will continue to spend the rest of the summer treating passengers to unmatched on-board luxury and a fantastic itinerary of port calls.
If you want to experience the splendour of Queen Victoria for yourself, Cruise 1st has some amazing deals on Cunard Cruises. Give the friendly sales team a call now on 0808 2746 777.
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