Maiden Voyage 12 - 25 October 2010 - 13 nights - Q019 A sparkling debut amidst Iberian harbours and the Canary Islands
After the excitement of a first departure from her home port of Southampton, Vigo provides your gateway to the splendour of sacred Santiago de Compostela, Lisbon reveals its hilltop Castle of St George, and ancient Cadiz invites you to savour Jerez de la Frontera, Spain’s sherry capital.
Further south you’ll visit Gran Canaria – a continent in miniature – and Tenerife, dubbed the island of eternal spring for its mild year-round climate. Up ahead, admire the antique wooden balconies of Santa Cruz and lush blooms of almost every hue on the garden paradise of Madeira. Perhaps your fondest discovery, however, will be Queen Elizabeth herself during three full days at sea on your leisurely homeward route.
Mediterranean Premiere 25 October - 8 November 2010 - 14 nights - Q020 A showcase of priceless treasures and peerless history
On Queen Elizabeth’s second ever voyage, discover an artist’s gift to his city, the Miró Foundation in Barcelona, filled with examples of his bold Catalan flamboyance. Reds and golds greet you within Monte Carlo’s sensational Opera House, while the famed Duomo of Florence remains a breathtaking symbol of Renaissance ingenuity.
Imagine the clash of gladiatorial swords in Rome’s vast Colosseum, and the clatter of daily life captured in the poignant tableaux of Pompeii. In the natural harbour of Cartagena, delve into the legacy of various residents – including the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors – before one last historic encounter at Gibraltar’s Trafalgar Cemetery.
Aegean Introduction 8 - 26 November 2010 - 18 nights - Q021 Voyage through the centuries, right across this fascinating sea
Malaga entices you to marvel at the Moorish splendour of Granada’s calm courtyards and fountain-filled gardens of the majestic fortified Alhambra, before you survey the wondrous frescoes in Valletta’s Palace of the Grand Masters.
Follow a labyrinth of enchanting canals and bridges in Venice by gondola, wind your way along medieval cobbled alleys in Dubrovnik and tread ancient Roman flagstones in Ephesus as you seek out its 24,000-seat amphitheatre. Soon, you may find yourself gazing over Athens from beside the iconic Parthenon; four days later, following a foray ashore in Alicante, and your final scenic viewpoint is Gibraltar’s mighty rock.
Gallic Debut 26 November - 1 December 2010 - 5 nights - Q022 Three continental gems grace this memorable short break
Explore a trio of captivating calls just beyond the Channel. Take the best vantage point to view Amsterdam’s 6,000 beautiful protected buildings and bridges – on a charming canal boat tour – or simply glide between the artworks in the superb Van Gogh Museum.
In Brussels, see if you share Victor Hugo’s opinion that the eye-catching baroque façades of Grand-Place retains its status as ‘the most beautiful square in Europe’. Take the short trip to marvel at the intricate artistry of the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry or visit fairy-tale Mont Saint-Michel, rising gracefully out of the tidal flats.
Iberian Discovery 1 - 14 December 2010 - 13 nights - Q023 An exciting adventure in the footsteps of great explorers
As you near Vigo, anticipate reaching the end point of many a great pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela, with its awesome twin-spired cathedral. Lisbon is no stranger to famed navigators, nor Cadiz at the heart of ancient and Moorish trade routes.
Further South in Las Palmas, admire the attractive Casa Colón, where Columbus reputedly stayed before reaching the New World in 1492. After pausing to bask on Tenerife’s black sand beaches, imagine Columbus’s historic voyage at the Naval Museum, housed in replica of his legendary ship Santa Maria. Before your return, gaze wistfully west across the Atlantic waves with the explorer’s statue in Funchal’s Santa Catarina Park.
Festive Debut 14 December 2010 - 5 January 2011 - 22 nights - Q101 Join in Queen Elizabeth’s first seasonal celebration
Complete an incredible Atlantic circuit as you first sail south to Madeira, perhaps ascending by cable car to the palace and botanical gardens at Monte, before the Caribbean beckons. From the tiny sailor’s paradise of Tortola, delve into St Lucia’s lush botanical gardens whose greenery is splashed with the vibrant hues of hibiscus, orchids and parrots.
