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Cunard sets Big Band Ball for Queen Elizabeth's 5th birthday

Cunard sets Big Band Ball for Queen Elizabeth's 5th birthday
Cunard will operate a special Big Band Ball sailing to mark Queen Elizabeth's fifth birthday in October. The Oct. 2-7 cruise encompasses the Oct. 4 date five years ago when the line took ownership of its youngest vessel.

The Big Band Ball cruise round-trip from Southampton to Amsterdam and Zeebrugge (for Bruges, an overnight call) will include a classic black tie gala on the night of Oct. 3 with a commemorative menu followed by dancing to the ship's 14-piece band in the Queens Ballroom.

Hits from the era of Glenn Miller, Ted Heath, Count Basie and Duke Ellington will be featured, along with vocalists drawing from the catalogues of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and The Rat Pack as well as more recent performers such as Michael Bublé, Jamie Cullum and Harry Connick, Jr. The evening will be capped with a midnight countdown to Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday.

The five-night cruise will also feature sounds from other eras, including one of the UK’s best 1960s tribute acts, The Overtures, noted for performing at Elton John and David Furnish’s civil partnership, who will appear twice. Historian Eric Flounders will talk about Cunard history as part of the Cunard Insights programme, and comedian Mike Miller is scheduled to perform.