Hello Helsinki.
Cool, slick and cosmopolitan, the intriguing capital of Finland is a Cunard favorite that’s well worth discovering.
In light of the Covid-19 situation, the recommendations and activities mentioned in this article are for the purpose of possible future cruise vacations. Please always refer to local government health advisories for travel.
“There is a magic about sailing into Sydney that can’t be matched,” says Inger Klein Thorhauge, captain of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship. “The ship brings our guests straight to the heart of the city, berthing between two Australian icons: the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.”
Waking up in a different port each or every other day is a highlight of any cruise, and perhaps especially so on Cunard, where tradition and theater lie at the heart of the cruise experience. Even within Australia and New Zealand, there is always something new to discover.
Cunard traces its history back to 1840, when Samuel Cunard’s Britannia ship made its first Transatlantic Crossing, and that sense of heritage very much endures. The drama builds with a signature welcome where guests enter the ship’s soaring Grand Lobby to the strains of live classical music and enjoy a glass of bubbles. Most voyages begin with a sail-away party on leaving port, which gives passengers a chance to drink, dance, meet new friends, and watch a familiar city slide away and new horizons open up. “As we leave port, guests really feel that this is where their holiday starts,” Thorhauge says.
From crossing the equator to Easter and Christmas, occasions are marked with style and ceremony. “Christmas is a very special time on board and — despite being away from our families — we still make it a family celebration,” Thorhauge says. “On Christmas Eve, all the officers sing for our guests in the Grand Lobby, and the captain reads ’Twas the Night Before Christmas for all the children on board.”
The Queens Room, an expansive art deco ballroom, is central to onboard celebrations, from dancing to afternoon tea to gala evenings. Special events may echo the landscapes around them: on Alaskan cruises, Glacier Bay National Park inspires a decadent Ice White Ball, while fine dining celebrates the state’s rich seafood bounty.
This article was produced for Cunard by BBC StoryWorks, the commercial content division of BBC Global News.
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