As Cunard Line’s celebrated Queen Victoria sails into the Port of San Francisco on March 31, 2014, ten representatives from the Bay Area and Seattle offices of Cruise Specialists – America’s leading world cruise travel agency – will be provided a rare tour of the ship to conduct inspections of the luxury suites where their most discerning clients frequently stay. Additionally, Cruise Specialists is using the opportunity to welcome 50 clients who have been sailing on the Queen Victoria either as part of a full world cruise or who are completing an exclusive “Boomerang Voyage” that the agency arranged for passengers who boarded in Australia.

The Ship Inspections

Inspecting the majestic ship is of utmost importance to Cruise Specialists. Some of our clients regularly opt for the most lavish and expansive suites available on any given ship. On the Queen Victoria, it is The Aquitania Suite in the Queens Grill – one of four Grand Suites on the ship, boasting more than 2,000 square feet, marble bathrooms with a whirlpool, butler and concierge service, reserved dining in the single-seating Queens Grill restaurant, and many other luxurious amenities. “The service, the dining, and the accommodations in Cunard’s Queens Grill are unrivaled,” said one Cruise Specialists cruise consultant. “Our clients expect to be treated like royalty, and by conducting this ship inspection, I can see for myself that they will truly experience some of life’s greatest pleasures – whether relaxing in their suite, enjoying a glass of champagne in The Courtyard, or choosing almost anything their heart desires from the à la carte menu in the Queens Grill dining room.”

For the seasoned luxury cruise consultants with Cruise Specialists, the inspection is one key to ensuring their unsurpassed knowledge of luxury ships, which can sometimes be more difficult to access due to their limited time in U.S. ports. This in-depth industry knowledge is critical to serving their ultra-luxury clientele. “As the nation’s premier world cruise agency, it is a requirement for our cruise consultants to see and experience luxury cruise ships in person. This enables them to match their clients – some of whom have spent hundreds and hundreds of days at sea – with the right cruise ship for their home away from home,” said Annie Scrivanich, Senior Vice President, Cruise Specialists.

The Boomerang Cruise

Approximately 20 of Cruise Specialists’ clients are returning from Australia via an innovative and exclusive experience known as a Boomerang Voyage. While the Queen Victoria’s published voyage enabled guests to cruise around the world, roundtrip, beginning in either Fort Lauderdale or Southampton (London) for 94 to 116 days respectively, this subset of passengers actually began their voyage on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth in San Francisco on February 6, 2014.

“Due to the increasing demand for even more creative vacation experiences, we were thrilled to partner with Cunard Line in delivering a truly ingenious cruise experience for our guests who are looking for something new and different,” said Scrivanich. “We are in the midst of putting the final touches on our 2015 Boomerang Voyage, which will also involve sailing from the West Coast to Australia and back, with an alluring land vacation anchoring the experience Down Under.”

Highlights of the current Boomerang Voyage included:

• Departure from San Francisco aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth on February 6, 2014.
• A 3-night luxury hotel package in Sydney, Australia (March 2-5, 2014), at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, including a Sydney Sights and Opera House Tour, a Hunter Valley Wine Region Full Day Tour, and all transfers via a 5-star private coach or private vehicle.
• Return to San Francisco aboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria on March 31, 2014, with a final night aboard the ship, disembarking on April 1, 2014.

As a part of this package, Cruise Specialists also provided onboard hosts, complimentary shore tours, and up to $400 shipboard credit per couple.

Cruise Specialists expects to release more details about the 2015 Boomerang Voyage within the next several weeks.