<p>SOUTHAMPTON, England, Aug. 14 &mdash; Today&rsquo;s unfavorable exchange rate is making the quest to travel and see the world more challenging than ever but experienced travelers know that, right now, those same currency fluctuations are making one of travel&rsquo;s ultimate &ldquo;trophy trips&rdquo; more affordable than ever. Priced in US dollars and immune to exchange rate variations, Cunard&rsquo;s World Cruises aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria, as well as a host of shorter segment voyages that bear all the hallmarks of a classic Cunard World Cruise, combine the tradition, elegance and glamour of the Golden Age of Ocean Travel with compelling itineraries to some of the world&rsquo;s most storied and celebrated ports of call.</p><p>Available fares make Cunard&rsquo;s legendary World Cruises more sensible than comparable five-star travel experiences on land since, at sea, meals and entertainment are included. For travelers without the luxury of time to sail a full World Cruise, both ships offer shorter segment voyages ranging from 15-30 days. Space is still available on some of the most popular segments including Queen Mary 2&rsquo;s 28-day Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles segment; 15-day Los Angeles to Sydney segment; and 31-day Singapore to New York segment.</p><p>&ldquo;More than ever, today&rsquo;s luxury travelers seek experiences that bring both value and meaning to their lives,&rdquo; says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. &ldquo;Across all levels of accommodation, a Cunard voyage is a pinnacle travel experience which continues to include all gourmet meals, entertainment and enrichment programs.&rdquo;</p><p>Whether guests are onboard for the full World Cruise or a shorter segment voyage, they&rsquo;ll have the opportunity to experience the Line&rsquo;s award-winning Cunard Insights Enrichment Program. Among the speakers scheduled to appear are oceanographer-meteorologist Joe Bishop, astronaut Walter Cunningham, ocean liner authority and color commentator William Miller and adventurer Harvey Mann.</p><p>Queen Mary 2 </p><p>Departing from Ft. Lauderdale simultaneously with her sister ship Queen Victoria on January 13, 2009, Queen Mary 2&rsquo;s Epic Expedition features 26 port calls on five continents. Included is a port call to Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza) affording visits to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. Maiden calls include Lima, Peru; Osaka, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; and Salalah, Oman.</p><p>The ship will journey in a westward direction, sailing around South America to Los Angeles, then across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu, Hawaii. From there, stops include Pago Pago, American Samoa; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The voyage culminates in New York on April 14, 2009.</p><p>Queen Victoria</p><p>Eighteen exciting maiden calls are highlights of Queen Victoria&rsquo;s westbound circumnavigation. Her first-time visits include Apia, Western Samoa; Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Cairns (Yorkey&rsquo;s for the Great Barrier Reef), Australia; Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand; Nagasaki, Japan; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Nuku&rsquo;alofa, Tonga; Phuket, Thailand; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Pusan, South Korea; Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; and Willemstad, Cura&ccedil;ao.</p><p>The ship will transit the Panama Canal and Suez Canal and visit some of the world&rsquo;s most captivating ports, including Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Shanghai, China; and Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, as well as an overnight call in Sydney, Australia. Queen Victoria will also call on the port city of Mormugao in Goa, on the west coast of India, which is known for its pristine beaches and Portuguese architecture; and the charming port city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia&rsquo;s second oldest city. Her journey concludes in Southampton on April 20, 2009, where guests may opt to continue their voyage with a legendary six-day transatlantic crossing to New York aboard Queen Mary 2.</p>