QE2 1990's Itineraries for Cruises and World Cruises

[Lynda Bradford]

Source: Extract from QE2 World Cruise information produced by Michael Gallagher, Cunard Historian


1990’s

QE2 did not undertake a World Cruise due to the 180-day (28 December 1989 – 19 June 1990) Japanese charter. An extended cruise returning her to Southampton was undertaken at the end of the charter.


19 June to 12 July 1990:  Extended Cruise 24 days, 8 ports

5 January to 9 April 1991: “Five Continents World Cruise” 94 days 33 ports
Note: First traditional circumnavigation in five years.

5 January to 14 April 1992: “Grand Exhibition” World Cruise 100 days, 39 ports

3 January to 11 May 1993: Extended Cruises” 128 days and 46 ports. 56,268 miles. Individual cruise details as follows:

3 January to 7 February 1993: “South American Odyssey” 35 days, 13 ports

7 February to 4 April 1993: “Pacific and Orient Odyssey’‘ 65 days, 19 ports

4 April to 11 May 1993: “Tropical and Mediterranean Odyssey 37 days, 14 ports

3 January to 15 April 1994: ‘Six Continent Circumnavigation’ World Cruise.  100 days, 30 ports.

6 January to 18 April 1995: “Golden Route” World Cruise 102 days, 38 ports

4 January to 8 April 1996: Voyage to Distant Empires” World Cruise. 95 days, 32 ports

4 January to 17 April 1997: “A Bridge Across the Oceans” World Cruise. 103 days 37 ports
Note: Hong Kong was QE2’s last call there before mainland China took over the British colony. 16 Government officials and 17 descendants boarded QE2 to return to the UK.

6 January to 21 April 1998: “Grand Passage to Distant Lands” World Cruise. 104 days and 37 ports

Note: South African President, Nelson Mandela, and his companion Mrs Graca Machel sailed between Durban and Cape Town (29 – 31 March). They stayed in the Midships Suite on Two Deck. Shortly after the President’s arrival on board, he and Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, were interviewed by Sir David Frost. The interview was beamed live from South Africa to the UK and shown on BBC’s Breakfast with Frost programme. In Cape Town QE2 was the venue for a charity dinner and auction sale to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
 Nelson Mandela wrote: “Travelling on QE2 was an unforgettable honour and pleasure.”

5 January to 20 April 1999: Great Tides of Civilisation” World Cruise. 104 days, 38 ports. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

We have received a request from Barbara Bingley, which reads as follows :

World cruise Jan 5 - April 11, 1991

Hello
My parents loved the QE2 and enjoyed many cruises on the ship.
They gave me a souvenir plate of the above but I remember that either the cruise did not take place or that some destinations were omitted due to some reason. Conflict? Are you able to enlighten me?

Yours hopefully
Barbara Bingley

Can we help her? Looking at the dates in the first post above, I do not see a problem, but I am sure we shall find out more .

[Michael Gallagher]

The 1991 World Cruise was originally scheduled to pass through the Suez Canal and return to New York via the Mediterranean but the First Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991) meant increased security concerns in the Middle East as well as a downturn in the number of tourists / cruise passengers wishing to visit the region. QE2 was originally scheduled to travel through the region in March 1991 but in January 1991 Cunard re-routed the ship to avoid the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. Instead QE2 would proceed around Africa and still arrive in Southampton as scheduled on 3 April – a great testament to QE2’s speed. QE2 would then undertake her scheduled transatlantic crossing to New York via Cherbourg (4 – 9 April).

P&O’s Canberra was also re-routed and would return home via South Africa rather than proceed through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.

   ORIGINAL                     REVISED
14 March   Mombasa             Mombasa
15 March   At Sea             At Sea
16 March   At Sea             At Sea
17 March   At Sea             Durban
18 March   Suez                     Durban
19 March   Suez Canal / Port Said   Cape Town
20 March   Port Said             Cape Town
21 March   Haifa                 At Sea
22 March   Haifa                     Walvis Bay
23 March   Rhodes             At Sea
24 March   Istanbul             At Sea
25 March   Istanbul             At Sea
26 March   Athens             Freetown
27 March   Messina             Dakar
28 March   Naples             At Sea
29 March   Monte Carlo     Tenerife
30 March   Monte Carlo     At Sea
31 March   Malaga             Gibraltar
1 April   Lisbon             Lisbon
2 April   At Sea             At Sea
3 April   Southampton     Southampton

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you so much, Michael!

What an interesting story this question brought to light, and marvellous how quickly (withing less than an hour!) you are able to bring the facts to us here .

I wonder how many maiden calls to African ports resulted from this change of plan?

And of course, I am also full of admiration for the home based staff who were able to  organise this new itinerary with far less preparation time than would normally be available...

[Chris Thompson]

I was onboard for that cruise, we were the largest cruise ship and one of the few to visit Walvis Bay.
One of the tour options was a trip to see the world's tallest sand dune!
It was also a transfer port for pax joining and leaving so a chartered 747 was flown into the local airport.
Apparently this was the first 747 to visit and the runway had to be cleared of any loose debris that could cause engine damage. I remember that the crew were treated like celebrities, even getting asked for autographs.
Don't know what Cunard were thinking going to Freetown and Dakar, a lot of pax would not even get off of the ship, very rough places both of them.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I was onboard for that cruise, we were the largest cruise ship and one of the few to visit Walvis Bay.
One of the tour options was a trip to see the world's tallest sand dune!
It was also a transfer port for pax joining and leaving so a chartered 747 was flown into the local airport.
Apparently this was the first 747 to visit and the runway had to be cleared of any loose debris that could cause engine damage. I remember that the crew were treated like celebrities, even getting asked for autographs.
Don't know what Cunard were thinking going to Freetown and Dakar, a lot of pax would not even get off of the ship, very rough places both of them.

Fabulous memories, Chris, thanks for sharing them with us!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Does anyone know why the plate said 11 April as the end of the world cruise, whereas it was definitely over, as scheduled, on 9 April 1991?

[June Ingram]

Many thanks, Michael and Chris.  As Isabelle has said, the change in itinerary would have involved quick work on the part of many people. 

[Chris Thompson]

World Cruise 1991

Was trying to find some of my old itineraries and found this excellent article about the 1991 World cruise.
It's a long read but very detailed especially regarding the route change.

[S Randles]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum so please forgive me if the answer to my question is easily found elsewhere.  I’m still finding my around.   My wife worked for about a year as a Public Room Stewardess aboard the QE2 in 1991 and 1992.  She has many fond memories of life aboard the ship and can remember many of the interesting places she visited.  However, she has no detailed recollection of what voyages she was aboard for.  She can remember that her first voyage was Southampton to New York and that she had to leave the ship in Hong Kong half way around a World cruise for family reasons in 1992.   I would really like to find the information for her.  Is there anywhere I can find the QE2’s itineraries for 1991 and 1992?

Many thanks.
Stephen Randles

[Lynda Bradford]

Welcome to the forum Stephen and thanks for posting your questions about QE2's itineraries. 

As a starter, ave a look at the topic 1990's Dates of World and extended Cruises

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7504.msg83367#msg83367

On that topic, Michael Gallagher had previously given some information that may be of interest.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7504.msg107054#msg107054

There may be more information on the forum and if any members have QE2 brochures for 1991 1992 they may be able to help. 

[S Randles]

Thank you, Lynda

Unfortunately, my wife did not join the QE2 until after the 1991 World tour had returned.  She was aboard for about half of the 1992 tour before she had to return to the UK.  I was hoping to find similar information for the 92 tour as is shown for the previous one.  I would also be really interested in what voyages the ship made between those 2 World tours.

Many thanks

Steve Randles

[Chris Thompson]

I have been trying to re-construct my travels on QE2 and other Cunard ships. I was recently searching Ebay for relevant cruise brochures, saw the Sagafjord itinerary I needed among the included photos on the listing..
Of course there were always last minute changes to consider.
Still looking for QE2 May 1988 to Sept 1988, QE2 Jul 89 to Oct 89......Anyone?

[Lynda Bradford]

Thank you, Lynda

Unfortunately, my wife did not join the QE2 until after the 1991 World tour had returned.  She was aboard for about half of the 1992 tour before she had to return to the UK.  I was hoping to find similar information for the 92 tour as is shown for the previous one.  I would also be really interested in what voyages the ship made between those 2 World tours.

Many thanks

Steve Randles

Steve this is the itinerary for QE2's 1992 Grand Exhibition World Cruise 5 January to 14 April 1992 from Southampton to Southampton.  I hope this helps with the information you were looking for.  We would love to hear some of your wife's memories of working on QE2, if she would like to share these with us.

This images shows the brochure itinerary and the actual itinerary on right hand side.


Extract from Michael Gallagher's QE2 World Cruises document

The price for a suite on this World Cruise was £14,650 to £122,340

Hopefully our members can find information on itineraries from after the 1991 World Cruise to January 1992 to fill in the gaps of the places your wife visited. 

I have merged the discussions on the itineraries and dates for QE2's World cruises, to ensure we do not have two discussion on a similar subject. 

[Lynda Bradford]

Thank you, Lynda

........ I would also be really interested in what voyages the ship made between those 2 World tours.

Many thanks

Steve Randles

Steve I have found an itinerary for a Mediterranean Cruise in October 1991 that your wife may remember.

11 October 1991 Southampton
12 October and 13 October 1991 at sea
14 October 1991 Palma de Mallorca
15 October 1991 Cagliari
16 October 1991 Naples
17 October 1991 at Sea
18 October 1991 Malaga
19 October 1991 Lisbon