Cunard Celebrates World Space Week with a Celestial Voyage

VALENCIA, Calif., Oct. 4, 2016 /CNW/ -- Cunard today announced its flagship liner, Queen Mary 2, will offer an extraordinary Transatlantic Crossing to coincide with International World Space Week in October 2017.

To celebrate this international event, Cunard has curated a bespoke voyage which will take guests on an exceptional journey across the Atlantic, featuring a range of space themed experiences including talks from renowned space exploration experts including:

• Dr Jeffrey Hoffman, NASA Astronaut, Scientist and former Shuttle Pilot
• Charles Barclay from the Royal Astronomical Society
• Stephen Attenborough, Commercial Director of Virgin Galactic
• Ken MacTaggart, NASA Historian

"Throughout history, the Cunard brand has been synonymous with exporation and adventure," said Richard Meadows, President, Cunard North America. "We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to understand, explore and delight in the universe as Queen Mary 2 sails across the Atlantic, giving guests a unique vantage point to discover land, sea and space."

Taking place every year on October 4-10 since its United Nations declaration in 1999, World Space Week has grown into the largest public space event on Earth. More than 1,800 events in 73 countries celebrated the wonders of space exploration in 2015.

Following a recent remastering in the region of $132 million, Queen Mary 2 will become part of this global celebration of space in 2017. As well as the featured speakers, guests will be able to visit the world's only Planetarium at sea, a spectacular venue with an impressive dome that takes guests on virtual journeys into the stars as they recline and enjoy the magnificent three dimensional shows.

The sheer size and expanse of Queen Mary 2's outside deck space also affords guests the opportunity to take a look for themselves and star gaze from the unique vantage point of the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

To enhance this unique at sea experience, Cunard is also offering Queen Mary 2's guests a VIP pre-voyage tour of the Hayden Planetarium and the Rose Center for Space at the American Museum of Natural History followed by a VIP tour of the Intrepid Museum of Air, Sea and Space in New York. Upon arrival into the UK, there is a tailor-made package available including a two-night stay and a tour of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

For more information about Queen Mary 2, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard Line toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.

Notes to editors:

• Cunard's Space Week Cruise: M737 / 6-13 October 2017 / 7 nights / Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing (New York – Southampton)

On board speakers

Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, Astronaut, Scientist and former Shuttle Pilot
As a NASA astronaut, Dr. Hoffman made five space flights, becoming the first astronaut to log 1,000 hours of flight time aboard the Space Shuttle. He is now Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Hoffman was Payload Commander of STS-46, the first flight of the US-Italian Tethered Satellite System. He has performed four spacewalks, including the first unplanned, contingency spacewalk in NASA's history (STS 51D; April, 1985) and the initial repair/rescue mission for the Hubble Space Telescope (STS 61; December, 1993). He is director of the Massachusetts Space Grant Alliance, responsible for statewide space-related educational activities to increase public understanding of space and attract students into aerospace careers. NASA recently selected Dr. Hoffman as the Deputy Principal Investigator for the first experiment that will produce oxygen directly out of the atmosphere of Mars. In 2007, Dr. Hoffman was elected to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Charles Barclay, Royal Astronomical Society
Currently Director of the Blackett Observatory at Marlborough College in the UK, Charles Barclay is at the forefront of astronomy education in UK schools. He is Chair of Examiners for the Astronomy GCSE qualification and a Principal Moderator for the Extended Project post-16 initiative. He runs outreach programmes for school pupils, teachers and members of the public, accessing large telescopes in Marlborough and Oxford. He is an Associate Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford, and is involved in raising awareness of the historical importance of the Radcliffe Observatory there. He is a

Council member of the Royal Astronomical Society and chair of their Education and Outreach Committee, a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, manufacturers and commerce and is a member of the International Astronomical Union, Commission 46. Lecturing on diverse topics ranging across the whole remit of Astrophysics and Astronomy, he writes for popular astronomy magazines and regularly contributes to local BBC radio broadcasts.

Stephen Attenborough - Commercial Director, Virgin Galactic
Providing a fascinating insight into commercial space flight. Stephen Attenborough is at the forefront of space tourism. He is the Commercial Director for Virgin Galactic, a company wholly owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group which is on track to become the world's first passenger carrying commercial spaceline. Stephen joined Virgin Galactic as the company's first full time employee in 2004 he now leads a team in London that covers sales, marketing, customer care, PR and communications for the space tourism business which has attracted over 380 future astronauts and more than $50m in deposits.

Ken MacTaggart, NASA Historian
Dr Ken MacTaggart is a technology consultant in astronautics, the space sector and the history of space exploration. He has worked for 20 years with NASA's History Office to help preserve the record of the Moon missions in the 1960s and 1970s. He is co-editor of NASA's Apollo 11 Flight Journal, and has worked with many American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. Ken has written for magazines, books, TV and films on spaceflight. He was technical adviser to "Moonshot", the drama about the first moon landing which appeared on ITV, Discovery Channel and other US and European TV channels to mark the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. Ken is a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society.

About Queen Mary 2
Christened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 defines luxury travel for the 21st Century and continues a 176-year legacy of transatlantic travel. Queen Mary 2 achieved her 200th transatlantic crossing in July 2013. Iconic luminaries, political figures and celebrities from the Golden Age of Ocean Travel to the present day have sailed with Cunard and aboard Queen Mary 2.

About Cunard
Defining true excellence at sea with 176 years of legendary voyages, Cunard is the operator of luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth that are renowned for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Cunard has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840.Today Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.

World's Leading Cruise Lines Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Seabourn and fathom. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

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For additional information about Cunard, contact:
Jackie Chase, Cunard Line, 661-753-1035, [email protected]
Maria Andriano, MGA Media Group, 212-251-1015, [email protected]

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SOURCE Cunard Line