James Taylor to Present Cunard Command Performances Aboard Queen Mary 2

James Taylor to Present Cunard Command Performances Aboard Queen Mary 2

Iconic Singer-Songwriter to set sail from New York June 19 on a legendary Transatlantic Crossing

SOUTHAMPTON, England, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard Line is proud to announce that Grammy(R) Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor and his band will perform during Queen Mary 2's June 19 eastbound Transatlantic Crossing. Sailing from New York to Southampton, England, Taylor will headline two Cunard Command Performances in the ship's Royal Court Theatre during the six-day journey. (Space is still available to book this very special voyage!)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090310/LA82011)

"We are honoured to welcome James Taylor aboard our flagship Queen Mary 2 and into a lineage of luminaries who have sailed with Cunard during our 170-year history," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "Our guests will most certainly enjoy this intimate concert experience with an American music icon."

Over the course of his celebrated career, Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and five Grammy Awards for works ranging from Sweet Baby James in 1970 to Covers, his most recent album featuring his own interpretation of tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s, for which he was nominated for two 2009 Grammy Awards. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Most recently, Taylor was one of a select few music artists who performed for President Barack Obama's inauguration.

"I've always wanted to take an ocean liner back to Europe. It's such a civilized way to go, and the Queen Mary 2 is the last word in first class travel. It was a dream to use the passage to transport and rehearse our summer tour: band, crew and family; kit and caboodle. I'm looking forward to the pair of concerts at the end of the trip and, hallelujah, no jet lag," Taylor said.

Queen Mary 2 offers an array of accommodation combining classic Cunard touches with a stylish, refined elegance. The ship's legendary Queens Grill and Princess Grill Suites afford guests spacious five-star accommodation and dedicated single-seating dining in the famed Grills Restaurants, along with a private sun terrace, cocktail and concierge lounges. Guests sailing in Britannia category accommodation enjoy gourmet dining prepared by world-class chefs in the Britannia Restaurant, the ship's grand three-tier dining venue. As an added bonus, guests can experience the culinary creativity of celebrity chef Todd English in the first restaurant at sea bearing his name.

Nights are filled with themed Royal Balls and Galas where guests can dance the night away to a live orchestra in the Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea. Days are filled with such activities as perusing a vast selection of 8,000 books in the largest library at sea, enjoying traditional afternoon English tea or exploring the Cosmos in the only planetarium at sea.

Queen Mary 2's Transatlantic Crossings reflect the pinnacle of civility in ocean travel and refinement. The only company offering regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service, Cunard offers 25 crossings in 2009, singularly offering the New Golden Age of Ocean Travel through such unique Cunard experiences as Cunard Insights, the line's award-winning enrichment programme. The six-day Crossings afford guests opportunities for leisurely pursuits, ranging from wellness in the only Canyon Ranch SpaClub(R) at sea to wine tastings with a world-class sommelier.

James Taylor will become part of Cunard's illustrious history of hosting famed entertainers with peerless cachet. 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 five years ago, the ship has welcomed musical notables such as Rod Stewart, Shirley Bassey, Harry Connick, Jr. and Lenny Kravitz. In addition, actors Uma Thurman, Angela Bassett, John Cleese, Richard Dreyfuss and Terence Howard have sailed aboard the grand liner.

To book passage on this very special voyage aboard Queen Mary 2, consult your Travel Professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go online to www.cunard.com.

About Cunard Line

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who seek a civilized adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(TM), gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922. A new Queen Elizabeth joins the fleet in October 2010.

Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

Cunard photography is always available online at www.cunardimages.com

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About James Taylor

Over the course of his long career, James Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and 5 Grammy Awards for a catalog running from 1970's Sweet Baby James to his Grammy Award-winning efforts Hourglass (1997) and October Road (2002). Taylor's first Greatest Hits album earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. For his accomplishments, James was honored with the 1998 Century Award, Billboard magazine's highest accolade, bestowed for distinguished creative achievement. The year 2000 saw his induction into both the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter's Hall of Fame. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected James its MUSICARES Person of the Year in 2006 and most recently, James Taylor's One Man Band (2007) was nominated for an Emmy(R) Award for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special," in September 2008. The last two years have seen two remarkable releases; Taylor's One Man Band CD/DVD accompanied by a world tour and his most recent Covers (2008) album which was nominated for two Grammy(R) Awards.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090310/LA82011
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Cunard Line

CONTACT: Jackie Chase of Cunard Line, +1-661-753-1035,
jchase@cunard.com; or Maria Andriano of Redpoint Marketing PR,
+1-212-229-0119, andriano@redpointpr.com, for Cunard Line; or Karen Wells
Verlander, European Press and Media Coordinator, (33) 9.63.55.94.10,
karen.wellsverlander@mac.com, for additional information on James Taylor

Web Site: http://www.cunard.com/

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