United States/England
Spies & Secrets: A Transatlantic Voyage on Queen Mary 2
Program No. 25366RJ
Explore the thrills and dangers of espionage — and the roles of spies throughout history — in the heart of London before embarking on a transatlantic voyage aboard the Queen Mary 2.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
14 days
13 nights
31 meals
12B 9L 10D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Churchill War Rooms
London
8
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
9
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
10
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
11
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
12
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
13
Lecture, Free Time
At Sea
14
Arrive New York, City, Disembark, Program Concludes
New York City
At a Glance
Are you fascinated by espionage? Step foot inside this mysterious world while also learning about the role of spies throughout history, including during World War II and the Cold War. Spend five nights in London as you explore key sites in spying, including the St. Ermin’s Hotel — the base of the Special Operations Executive during World War II — and the Churchill War Rooms. Hear the stories of spies and take a closer look at their artifacts, such as coded messages and field equipment. From there, embark on a transatlantic voyage on the renowned Queen Mary 2 and continue your learning journey with onboard lectures. Enjoy an unforgettable experience on the high seas while delving into espionage alongside other Road Scholars who are just as fascinated as you are!
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking 2-3 miles daily on field trips; paved streets with some cobblestones, gravel paths and grass. Extent of walking and other activities aboard ship according to personal preference.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore Bletchley Park, where code breakers like Alan Turing decoded secret messages that may have contributed to shortening World War II by two years.
- Indulge in high tea at the St. Ermin’s Hotel, a hub for spies and leaders during World War II, including Winston Churchill.
- Learn from your dedicated expert on board Queen Mary 2 as they share their insight into the history of espionage and its role in popular culture.
Suggested Reading List
(15 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Spies & Secrets: A Transatlantic Voyage on Queen Mary 2
Program Number: 25366
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy
Mark M. Lowenthal’s trusted guide is the go-to resource for understanding how the intelligence community’s history, structure, procedures, and functions affect policy decisions. In the fully updated Eighth Edition of Intelligence, the author addresses cyber security and cyber intelligence throughout, expands the coverage of collection, comprehensively updates the chapters on nation-state issues and transnational issues, and looks at foreign intelligence services, both large and small.
180 Years of Cunard
Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, set sail across the Atlantic on 4 July 1840, inaugurating a service that has endured for 175 years. Cunard’s success is in part due to its continuous technological advances; from the early years of wooden paddle steamers to steel-hulled leviathans, electric lighting to steam turbine engines. But it is the ships themselves, the shipbuilders, managers, crew and guests that have had the greatest impact on the success of the line, creating unique environments full of personality. This book uses stunning photographs and personal stories to explore the history of these magnificent ships.
D-Day June 6, 1944, The Climactic Battle of World War II
Written by the best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose, this well researched book draws together interviews and government documents to tell the gripping tale of D-Day. This comprehensive account contains 32 pages of photos and eight maps.
The Enemy Within: A History of Spies, Spymasters and Espionage
Separating myth from reality, The Enemy Within traces the history of espionage from its development in ancient times through to the end of the Cold War and beyond, shedding light on the clandestine activities that have so often tipped the balance in times of war. This detailed account delves into the murky depths of the realm of spymasters and their spies, revealing many amazing and often bizarre stories along the way. From the monkey hanged as a spy during the Napoleonic wars to the British Double Cross Committee in World War II, this journey through the history of espionage shows us that no two spies are alike and their fascinating stories are fraught with danger and intrigue.
The London Spymaker: A Riveting WW2 Historical Saga of Espionage, Love & Betrayal. (A Resistance Girl Novel)
Inspired by a true story and featuring the last “resistance girl from the Swiss finishing school”, ‘The London Spymaker’ weaves together espionage, betrayal, and passion against the backdrop of World War II, delivering a gripping tale of resilience and secrets.
House of Spies: St Ermin's Hotel, the London Base of British Espionage
St Ermin’s Hotel has been at the centre of British intelligence since the 1930s, when it was known to MI6 as ‘The Works Canteen’. In this paperback edition of the first book on St Ermin’s, Peter Matthews, a witness to the intelligence battle for supremacy between MI5, MI6 and the KGB, explores this remarkable true history that is more riveting than any spy novel.
The Art of Betrayal: The Secret History of MI6: Life and Death in the British Secret Service
MI6 has been cloaked in secrecy and shrouded in myth since it was created a hundred years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of Ian Fleming and John le Carré. Gordon Corera provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction.
D-Day Through German Eyes: The Hidden Story of June 6, 1944
Almost all accounts of D Day are told from the Allied perspective. But what was it like to be a German soldier in the bunkers of the Normandy coast, facing the onslaught of the mightiest invasion in history? What motivated the German defenders, what were their thought processes - and how did they fight from one strong point to another, among the dunes and fields, on that first cataclysmic day? This book sheds fascinating light on these questions, bringing together statements made by German survivors after the war, when time had allowed them to reflect on their state of mind, their actions and their choices of June 6th.
The Secret World: A History of Intelligence
In this book, the first global history of espionage ever written, distinguished historian Christopher Andrew recovers much of the lost intelligence history of the past three millennia—and shows us its relevance.
Spy Book: The Encyclopedia of Espionage
This intriguing book covers intelligence agencies, espionage code names, terms, countries, literature, equipment, and more. Spy Book will captivate and enthrall anyone curious about espionage. Contains over 2,000 entries and references and photos and illustrations of famous spies, codes, hardware and more.
Everything We Have; D-Day 6.6."44
June 6, 1944—D-Day—is a date that will live forever in history. More than 150,000 troops landed on five beaches, with over 20,000 reported casualties on both sides. Rather than looking at the big picture, recounted so often, Everything We Have: D-Day 6.6.'44 tells the personal stories of the people involved, in their own words. Rare documents, artifacts, and firsthand accounts from The National WWII Museum’s official archives provide rare and poignant insight into the thoughts and feelings of those soldiers who fought on the beaches of Normandy.
Bletchley Park and D-Day: The Untold Story of How the Battle for Normandy Was Won
Espionage: A Concise History
This book pulls the veil back on the real world of espionage, revealing how spying actually works. In a refreshingly clear, concise manner, Kristie Macrakis guides readers through the shadowy world of espionage, from the language and practice of spycraft to its role in international politics, its bureaucratic underpinnings, and its transformation in light of modern technology.
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
The acclaimed author of Troublesome Young Men reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how the United States forged its wartime alliance with Britain, told from the perspective of three key American players in London: Edward R. Murrow, the handsome, chain-smoking head of CBS News in Europe; Averell Harriman, the hard-driving millionaire who ran FDR’s Lend-Lease program in London; and John Gilbert Winant, the shy, idealistic U.S. ambassador to Britain.
Five Days in London, May 1940
The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940, altered the course of the history of the twentieth century, as the members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with Hitler or to continue what became known as the Second World War. The decisive importance of these five days is the focus of John Lukacs’s magisterial new book.
