United States/England
Best of London Theatre on Queen Mary 2
Program No. 11996RJ
On this theater-themed voyage, enjoy lectures, performances, history and the unique insight of producer/director Giles Ramsay as you sail the Atlantic and see four plays in London.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
31 meals (
12B, 8L, 11D
)
9 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
4 performances
An experienced Group Leader
12 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Arrive New York, Check-in, Orientation
Location:
New York, New York
Stay:
Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Orientation & Welcome Reception: 5:00 p.m. We will gather for Orientation followed by a Welcome Reception. The Group Leaders will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops are subject to change as weather and ocean conditions could affect the progress of the vessel. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time in each port is set by the cruise line. The cruise line reserves the right to change the itinerary without prior notice. This program is staffed with both a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics, and two Group Leaders who will accompany us based on color group throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics. Aboard the Queen Mary 2, breakfast and lunch are in the venue of your choosing. Afternoon tea is served in the Queens Room. Road Scholars are invited to have dinner together in the Britannia Restaurant. Snacks, juice, tea, coffee, water are available 24 hours a day in the buffet restaurants and there is 24-hour room service. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and embarkation tomorrow.
Day
2
Free Time, Embark Queen Mary 2
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. We will board our motorcoach and ride to the pier in the early afternoon, complete embarkation procedures, and board the Queen Mary 2.
Lunch:
Aboard the Queen Mary 2.
Afternoon:
After getting our cabins, we will take some time to settle in and begin to familiarize ourselves with the ship. We will participate with everyone on board in the ship’s mandatory muster/safety drill when announced.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The Queen Mary 2 is a floating city. The options for activities and entertainment are many and varied. You might like to see a show in the ballroom, go dancing, listen to music, watch a movie in the theatre, have a beverage and a chat with new Road Scholar friends in one of the bars, or wander through the library — one of the best shipboard libraries anywhere — to find a book and curl up in that perfect reading chair.
Day
3
Giles Ramsay on Theatre, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
To set the stage for our theatre experience in London, Study Leader Giles Ramsay will present the first of a series of dynamic and informative lectures. Over the next week, we’ll discuss the origins of theatre, Elizabethan plays and playhouses, and how to direct a play. We’ll also learn about contemporary British theatre, the life and verse of Shakespeare, and even debate what constitutes theatre in the modern day. Under Giles’s expert stewardship, we’ll be more than prepared by the time we dock in Southampton.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. The ship offers a variety of enrichment activities. You might attend a presentation by a guest speaker, attend a class such as watercolor painting or ballroom dancing, take a dip in one of the swimming pools, or any of the many other choices.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Choose from a variety of activities on board, from movies to shows or simply enjoying the ambience of the different themed bars.
Day
4
Giles Ramsay on Theatre, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will learn more about fascinating aspects of the theatre world with Giles Ramsay.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Weather permitting, you might like to take a leisurely stroll around the Promenade Deck and take in the fresh sea air.
Dinner:
Aboard the ship.
Evening:
At leisure. You may choose to enjoy a show in the ship’s theatre, practice your dance steps in the ballroom, or simply return to your stateroom and enjoy one of the movies screened on the ship’s TV.
Day
5
Things Theatrical, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We’ll settle in with our Study Leader for another illuminating lecture on things theatrical.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take advantage of the many educational, social, and physical activities available, or simply relax in a deck chair with a view of the glistening Atlantic.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to visit the Queen Mary 2’s beautiful theatre, home to nightly productions with stars of stage and screen alike.
Day
6
More About Theatre, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will learn more about fascinating aspects of the London theatre world with our Study Leader, Giles Ramsay.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. A perfect opportunity to visit the spellbinding planetarium show, polish your bridge skills during a tournament, or perhaps retreat to the spa for a massage.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The Golden Lion, a traditional English pub aboard the QM2, runs a competitive pub quiz — perfect for showing off your newly gained knowledge.
Day
7
Pull Back the Curtain, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Our Study Leader continues to pull back the curtain on the fascinating world of theatre.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. When not performing in the ship’s theatre, members of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art give you the opportunity to flex your acting muscles at daily workshops.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The Queen Mary 2 travels with expert sommeliers, who host nightly wine tasting and appreciation events.
Day
8
Giles Ramsay Wrap-up, Free Time
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Queen Mary 2
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Giles Ramsay will deliver his final on-board lecture and prepare us for the sights and sounds of London.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. You might like to explore the history of the Cunard Line at a unique exhibition running through the halls of the ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer to London in the morning.
Day
9
Disembarkation, Transfer to London, Theatre Performance
Location:
London
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 85 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will complete disembarkation procedures in Southampton and board a motorcoach for our transfer to London. We’ll arrive at the hotel in the early afternoon.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We will check into the hotel. This afternoon we will attend a performance at one of London’s theatres. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted in the Final Mailing.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Current Affairs, Production Workshop , Theatre Performance
Location:
London
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square
Activity Note
Walking about 1/2 mile; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll gather for a captivating interactive discussion of current affairs with one of the UK’s leading political journalists. Examining the headlines of the day, this session will put past and present political issues into startling focus.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we'll have an interactive theatre production/directing workshop where we will learn what it takes to produce a play.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will attend a performance at one of London’s theatres. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted in the Final Mailing.
Day
11
Backstage Discovery of Royal Opera House,Theatre Performance
Location:
London
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Long corridors and many stairs at the Opera House, walking distances and periods of standing for the duration of the field trip; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the Royal Opera House where we will have a backstage exploration with a local expert. We will look behind the scenes at rehearsal spaces, costume and props workshops, and the auditorium.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time. You may want to visit one of London's many free museums including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, British Museum, or the Natural History Museum. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We will attend a performance at one of London’s theatres. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted in the Final Mailing.
Day
12
Meet A Theatre Critic, Final Performance
Location:
London
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Euston Square
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. You may want to visit one of London’s many free museums including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, British Museum, or the Natural History Museum. See the list under Free Time Opportunities for further information.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We’ll be joined by one of London’s leading theatre critics at the hotel for an in-depth discussion of the shows we have seen.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We will attend a performance at one of London’s theatres. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted in the Final Mailing.
Day
13
London, Program Concludes
Location:
London
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
