OREANDA-NEWS. August 31, 2015. Today Cunard released its 2017 Exotic Cruises & Full World Voyages Programme, inviting travellers to embrace exciting new frontiers in magnificent Cunard style. On sale beginning September 10, 2015 (September 9 for Cunard World Club guests), the programme will offer three World and Exotic Cruises (with options ranging from three to 132 nights) and will feature 80 unique ports in 42 countries and 15 ship maiden calls – five of which are new to the fleet.

"Since Cunard inaugurated the first world cruise in 1922, our company has carried more guests and made more trips around the world than any other cruise line," said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard, North America. "This year, Cunard's Full World Voyage Programme brings unique experiences to our guests, whether it be an in-depth exploration of Asia or a trip up the Amazon river, there is an itinerary for both returning world cruisers and for those new to Cunard who wish to revel in Cunard's legendary grand luxury."

The 2017 programme will also be the first Full World Voyage Queen Mary 2 undertakes following an extensive 25-day dry dock refurbishment at the Blohm+Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. Cunard guests will enjoy new designs and experiences that reflect the changing needs of today's passengers, including 15 Single Staterooms, 30 additional Britannia Club Balcony Staterooms, an expansion to the ship's dedicated kennels, and a host of additional innovations to be announced in the coming months.

Queen Mary 2: To sail a unique set of roundtrip voyages including full world-round trip New York as well as Hong Kong and Shanghai sailings
In addition to a new look, Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, will also offer for the first time ever a 132-night round trip New York voyage as part of its 2017 Full World Voyage Programme. In its entirety, Queen Mary 2 will travel over 37,000 nautical miles and feature 40 ports in 23 countries, 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, nine maiden calls, three overnight stays, and 11 late evening departures.

This East-West voyage, departing New York on January 3, 2017, will travel to Southampton, then on to South Africa, before revealing Australia's dramatic scenery during an extensive route that will feature 14 calls, including two stops in Sydney and two in Melbourne. Queen Mary 2 will then operate round trip Hong Kong and Shanghai sailings before embarking towards the ancient lands across Arabia and Europe, sailing via the Suez Canal, and heading back to Southampton and New York. Overnight stays will include Cape Town, Singapore and Dubai.

Maiden calls will include: Le Port, R?union; Kangaroo Island, Australia; Hobart, Australia; Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; Keelung, Taiwan; Jeju Island, South Korea; Busan, South Korea; and two firsts for the fleet – Busselton and Port Arthur, Australia.

This voyage will also offer travellers the opportunity to enjoy late evening departures in: Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Melbourne, Australia; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong, China; Keelung, Taiwan; Jeju Island, South Korea; Shanghai, China; Safaga, Egypt; and Aqaba, Jordan.

Queen Mary 2's Full World Voyages in 2017 include:

Queen Victoria: To Further Explore South America and visit the Amazon for the first time
Queen Victoria's South America and Australia bound 120-night Full World Voyage will travel more than 41,000 nautical miles and will feature 32 different ports in 17 countries, 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, two maiden calls, three overnight stays and four late evening departures.

Queen Victoria will visit South America, venturing through the Strait of Magellan and deep into Chilean fjords, and continuing on the Amazon River. This five-night exploration will not only be a first for the current Cunard fleet, but will also break the record for the largest cruise ship ever to transit the Amazon. Other firsts for the brand will be Queen Victoria's maiden calls to Manaus and Santarem in Brazil.

Following South America, Queen Victoria will cross the South Pacific Ocean, sailing past Easter Island and Pitcairn Island before visiting Polynesia en route to New Zealand and Australia. Guests cruising on Queen Victoria's return journey will transit through the Panama Canal up to Aruba, Florida, Bermuda and then back to the UK.

Other highlights of this voyage include overnight stays in Fort Lauderdale, USA; Sydney, Australia; and San Francisco, USA; as well as late evening departures in Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Auckland and Charleston.

Queen Victoria's Full World Voyages in 2017 include:

Queen Elizabeth: The Cunard Classic World Voyage
Queen Elizabeth will offer guests the chance to experience the classic world voyage: a 120-night westbound circumnavigation of the globe featuring a transit of the Panama Canal. This voyage will deliver some of the world's most iconic cityscapes, including breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Sydney Opera House as seen from the water. Queen Elizabeth will sail over 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 39 different ports in 25 different countries, 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, four overnight stays, 9 late evening departures, and four maiden calls.

Guests travelling on Queen Elizabeth will have the opportunity to choose among New York, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco as a US departure, and will also have the choice of adding on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing for a return to New York.

Queen Elizabeth's maiden calls will feature: Huatulco, Mexico; Port Victoria, Seychelles; St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands; and Alotau, Papua New Guinea – a first for the fleet.

Additional highlights of this Full World Voyage include scenic cruising through the Kanmon Straits and Inland Sea of Japan, and overnight stays in New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Cape Town. Late night departures are scheduled for Honolulu, USA; Auckland, New Zealand; Busan, South Korea; Hiroshima, Japan; Kobe, Japan; Shanghai, China; Port Victoria, Seychelles; Port Louis, Mauritius; and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.