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Since 1840 Cunard Line has been sailing seven seas, and for past six decades there has been a Queen amongst its fleet plying open ocean.

A New Queen Is About To Be Crowned.

The Cunard fleet has a classic British heritage and includes Queen Elizabeth 2 and Caronia. In December 2003 line welcomes Queen Mary 2, destined to recapture glamour of original Queen Mary, currently a hotel and attraction in Long Beach, California. Another new, as of yet unnamed, ship is expected to come online for Cunard in 2005.

The keel for new Queen Mary 2 was laid in Saint Nazaire, France on July 4, 2002, a commemorative day celebrating 162nd anniversary of maiden voyage of first Cunard ship - Britannia, sailing from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston.

The new $800-million Cunard flagship is expected to enter service in January 2004 and she will be largest, longest, and tallest and most expensive passenger ship ever built.

Stylistically, QM2 will recall grand ocean liners, with sweeping staircases, towering domed public rooms, five swimming pools, a grand ballroom and a 360-degree promenade deck. Yet she will be technologically advanced, with a four-pod propulsion system, sophisticated multi-media, conference and classroom facilities, and even world's first shipboard planetarium.

The first liner to be built since line's Queen Elizabeth 2 entered service in 1969, QM2 is first ship for Cunard by renowned French shipyard Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique, one of world's most technically advanced shipbuilders who have built such famous luxury liners as Normandie, France, and Ile de France.

Cunard officials marked keel-laying occasion by placing of coins under first section of keel. A commemorative £5 Queen's Golden Jubilee coin symbolizing Great Britain and a silver French Franc was chosen to represent France, country of her birth. The ceremonial gesture, believed to have originated in ancient Greece, is said to bring good luck to a ship.

In spirit of her predecessors, QM2 will be resplendent with grandeur and elegance, while at same time featuring contemporary style amenities and latest technological innovations. She will feature classic Cunard hallmarks such as sweeping staircases, expansive promenades, stylish restaurants and public rooms of an imposing scale. The sheer size of vessel, 150,000 tonnes, has enabled line to create a space ratio per passenger of 57.25, making her among grandest of world's larger passenger ships.

In A Royal League Of Her Own!

The 2,620-passenger QM2 is a prototype of unique design: multi-million-dollar project employs teams of naval architects, engineers and maritime experts, including marine interior design firms of SMC-Tillberg and "designteam", both based in London.

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"Carnival has fun" reads exterior banner stretching across side of Carnival's cruise ship Ecstasy. It's first week-end in December, when one would think most folks are home preparing for holidays, but this half-a-cruise down Mexican Riviera from Long Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico, is sold out.

At Queen Mary pier in Long Beach, we board ship on a crisp, foggy Friday afternoon. Carnival handles all formalities of boarding inside huge dome previously housing Spruce Goose. On a colorful Mexican set we pause for boarding souvenir photos. Soon settled into a cabin on Riviera deck, we check out activity sheet for things to do.

For first-time cruiser, Carnival's Ecstasy provides a full-scale introduction to cruise vacation lifestyle so popular with travelers. From quizzes, game shows, bingo, casino gambling, musical dance shows, art auctions, ship tours, slot tournaments, spa services, fitness classes, disco dancing, karaoke, pub crawl and other events, there's non-stop entertainment. I decide I want a massage on Sunday, our day at sea. Good thing I checked it out before ship sailed; Sunday massage time is nearly sold out, so I book for 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

Ecstasy sails promptly at 5:30 p.m., after which all passengers gather in blocky orange life vests at our respective "muster stations" for mandatory life boat drill. This is a serious, U.S. Coast Guard-managed event, at conclusion of which Cruise Director Dana Hodson announces, "You are now officially on vacation."

Midship two glass elevators carry guests from Empress deck skyward, where this beautiful open area is capped by an enormous glass dome. (Opening photo.) Exploring deck levels, we check out spa and gymnasium, so we'll know where to go to when we're ready to work out. Meanwhile we miss shore excursion talk but not to worry—it's broadcast later in our cabin on ship TV. Our shore excursion choices are horseback riding, a visit to La Bufadora (one of three blow-holes in world), or a visit to Mexico's oldest winery, founded by Dominicans in 1888.

At our late seating in Wind Star Dining Room, we meet our tablemates, a combination of couples and singles from Southern California. After dinner we check out Casino Royale, where there is plenty of action at slot machines, video poker machines, and live table games.