Cunard's New Queen Elizabeth to Have a Fortnum & Mason Onboard

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Sep 2nd 2010 at 3:02PM

Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth luxury liner (above), successor of the QE2, will have a branch of London's famed food emporium Fortnum & Mason, holder of a Royal Warrant, onboard when it sets sail in October. The move marks the first time ever in Fortnum & Mason's 300-year history that its luxurious products have been available to purchase at sea. The shipboard Fortnum's will join a host of other British brands setting up shop on the Queen Elizabeth, including men's style mecca Hackett of London, Scotland's famed Harris Tweed, fashion designer Anya Hindmarch and famed fragrance merchant Penhaligons. Several brands have also announced special items produced exclusively for the ship which will only be available onboard. The Queen Elizabeth can accommodate over 2,000 passengers in its luxe Art Deco-style interior.

Tags: Anya Hindmarch, Art Deco, boutiques, cruise ship, Cunard, Fortnum and Mason, Fortnum Mason, Hackett, Harris Tweed, London, QE2, Royal Warrant, UK

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Shopping

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jon Sep 6th 2010 7:33PM

Please tell us what will happen to the QE2 now? Will she be cut up for scrap, or sold under a new name?

G. Lester Wilson Sep 7th 2010 3:12AM

Jon, I have been told by any number of persons who claim to "be in the know" that the QE2 is going to become a Floating Hotel/Casino in DUBAI. Gordon

Trish elkins Sep 6th 2010 9:03PM

Who needs all this ? I would rather see moderately priced fun type merchandise

supervixen1108 Sep 6th 2010 10:56PM

On a cruise ship where normal hard working people go on vacation, the moderately priced fun trinkets and stuff would be the better option. You would be absolutely right. However I've been on the QE2 and Queen Victoria with my parents and Cunard doesn't cater to the Carnival or Royal Caribbean crowds. They cater to the upper echelon and a good portion of their passengers would think the label stuff is a bit gauche or distateful. So, with that in mind it does make more sense to put in high end stores with merchanise their passengers might want.

I remember when I was 13 and sailing on the QE2 with my family, some other passenger thought I was some sort of cretin because I was walking around in jeans, a nirvana tee shirt, flannel shirt and Doc Marten's combat boots (which were $150 shoes at the time). All of this was in style at the time amongst my age group and on another line I would have never gotten a second glance or thought from someone but Cunard just deals with a different class than the majority of us. That said, it is by far the most wonderful trip and worth every hard earned penny!

Steve Sep 7th 2010 12:01AM

Sounds good to me!

I'm not going to live or die over decisions made on cruise ships.

MIKE Sep 7th 2010 12:25AM

I just missed a 5 day cruise to the Cariibbean because of all things to happen, I developed a bad case of shingles allover my face. Reserved 2 months ago, looking forward to and this has to happen, what luck besides losing my fare.
My grown family was going with me but I refused to make them miss on the enjoyment so I sent them along. I stayed home to nurse my blisters and pain. Next time I hope.

G. Lester Wilson Sep 7th 2010 3:37AM

I disagree completely about what Cunard does now. We sailed on CUNARD when
it was BRITISH CUNARD and it was marvelous - high end and very customer conscieous. Service was the BEST! We went on the Queen Mary2, because we'd been on the QE2 and Queen Mary and never regretted spending a dime of the cost. What a disappointment! We have been on 18 cruises and the QM2 ranks as # 17 & 18. Why? #18 was so bad, that Carnival GAVE us a free cruise on the QM2 when it sailed out of Los Angeles. That one I ranked only as Next to worst. Carnival is "dumbing" down CUNARD, as my friends are telling me they are
doing on Princess, Holland America, Costa, and all the other lines that were once very "high end" and customer friendly. I'm tempted to book a cruise on the New Queen Elizabeth, but since it is owned by Carnival I have to abide by, "once burned, twice learned." I'm not part of the PARTY CROWD any longer!
Gordon