“We are thrilled to welcome George Takei aboard Queen Mary 2 this summer,” said David Dingle, CEO for Cunard Line. “Mr. Takei is considered an icon among Cunard’s guests, and we know they will thoroughly enjoy this unique opportunity to get to know him during the crossing. It’s another example of the exceptional programming we feature in our Insights enrichment programme.”
With a career spanning five decades, Takei is most well known internationally for his founding role in the original Star Trek television and film series, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the starship Enterprise. These days, he bridges multiple generations of fans as one of the most influential personalities on Facebook with more than 6.9 million “Likes” to date. Takei and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga star in the Broadway-bound stage play, Allegiance – A New American Musical, based on the experiences of Takei and his family who, like more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans, were held in internment camps during World War II.
“I am really looking forward to sailing aboard Queen Mary 2 this summer,” Takei said. “This will be my first experience traveling Transatlantic via ocean liner and I’m excited to do it on such an iconic ship.”
Takei is scheduled to give two presentations for Cunard’s Insights programme on board:
“George Takei: Embracing Change” will focus on the many communities that have been central to his life and career: the Japanese-American internment camp of his childhood, the cast and creators of Star Trek, and the Asian-American and LGBT communities for which he has become a leader in the United States.
“George Takei in Hollywood” will be a trip down memory lane with the actor on his 50-plus years in show business, from his first feature film, 1960’s Ice Palace starring Richard Burton, to his many Star Trek memories, to his upcoming Broadway debut in Allegiance.
George Takei is part of Cunard’s illustrious history of hosting famed entertainers with peerless cachet. Legendary notables such as Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant and Clark Gable frequently crossed the Atlantic on Cunard’s earlier Queens, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; and since Queen Mary 2’s debut nearly ten years ago, the ship has welcomed film notables such as George Lucas, Uma Thurman, John Cleese and Angela Bassett. Later this year, Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor, will also join Queen Mary 2 on her 27 August Transatlantic Crossing.
For nearly 175 years, Cunard Line’s Transatlantic Crossing has appealed to a broad range of sophisticated travellers with a love of glamour, elegance and tradition. Each Crossing aboard Queen Mary 2 features a series of Royal Nights themed balls on the largest dance floor at sea in the Queens Room; and the Royal Court Theatre presents West End-style musical revues and guest performers.
Stateroom and Grills Suites are still available for the 28 July 2014 Transatlantic Crossing (voyage #M414A) with fares starting from $1,599 per person.
More information about the voyage is available at www.cunard.com
About Queen Mary 2
Christened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 defines luxury travel for the 21st Century and continues an almost 175-year legacy of Transatlantic travel. Queen Mary 2 is the fastest passenger ship in the world and achieved her 200th Transatlantic Crossing in July 2013. Since becoming Cunard flagship on completion of her maiden Transatlantic Crossing in May 2004, Queen Mary 2 has remained unchallenged as the world’s largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive ocean liner ever built and the most famous and fastest passenger ship in operation today. To celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th Anniversary in 2014, special on board events are planned for her westbound Transatlantic Crossing on 9 May and her eastbound Crossing on 16 May. Famous names who have experienced this iconic voyage since 2004 include President George H.W. Bush, Desmond Tutu, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Uma Thurman, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cleese and Angela Bassett.
Source: Cunard Line
Photo courtesy of Cunard Line
