Queen Elizabeth Going, Going, Gone

The maiden voyage for Cunard's new ship, the Queen Elizabeth, sold out in a record 29 minutes, making it the fastest selling voyage in the cruise line's 170-year history.

Carrying just over 2,000 passengers, the ship will launch on October 12 next year from its home port of Southampton. It will follow the maiden voyage of the QEII, sailing to Lisbon, Cadiz, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira.

Prices for the 13-night cruise started at £1,489 per person, rising to an eye-watering £15,799 for the plushest cabins.

More than half of Queen Elizabeth's remaining maiden season, which consists of 6 celebratory voyages from October to December 2010, sold within the first two hours of going on sale. Some cabins were still available this week, but the cruise line said they were selling fast.

Customers making such a large financial commitment so far in advance of their holiday are reminded to take out travel insurance as soon as they book their trip rather than leaving it to the last minute, so they will have cover for cancellations due to unforeseen events, such as an illness.

Cunard president and managing director Carol Marlow said the ship ? Cunard's second largest ever ? had been designed to 'recreate the golden era of cruising'.

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