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A packed audience sits in the red velvet seats of an ornate London theatre featuring grand tiered balconies and intricate golden architecture.
United States/England

Best of London Theatre on Queen Mary 2

Program No. 11996RJ
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Itinerary
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All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
31 meals ( 12B, 8L, 11D )
9 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
New York, New York
Best of London Theatre on Queen Mary 2
Oct 29 - Nov 10, 2026
Program Number 11996
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Orientation & Welcome Reception: 5:00 p.m. We will gather for Orientation followed by a Welcome Reception. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops are subject to change as weather and ocean conditions could affect the progress of the vessel. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time in each port is set by the cruise line. The cruise line reserves the right to change the itinerary without prior notice. This program is staffed with both a Instructor who will lecture, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics, and one Group Leader who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics. Aboard the Queen Mary 2, breakfast and lunch are in the venue of your choosing. Afternoon tea is served in the Queens Room. Road Scholars are invited to have dinner together in the Britannia Restaurant. Snacks, juice, tea, coffee, water are available 24 hours a day in the buffet restaurants and there is 24-hour room service (note room service is an additional charge). Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and embarkation tomorrow.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. We will board our motorcoach and ride to the pier in the early afternoon, complete embarkation procedures, and board the Queen Mary 2.
Lunch:
Aboard the Queen Mary 2.
Afternoon:
After getting our cabins, we will take some time to settle in and begin to familiarize ourselves with the ship. We will participate with everyone on board in the ship’s mandatory muster/safety drill when announced.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The Queen Mary 2 is a floating city. The options for activities and entertainment are many and varied. You might like to see a show in the Royal Court Theatre, go dancing, listen to music, watch a movie in Illuminations Theatre, have a beverage and a chat with new Road Scholar friends in one of the bars, or wander through the library — one of the best shipboard libraries anywhere — to find a book and curl up in that perfect reading chair.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
To set the stage for our theatre experience in London, Instructor Giles Ramsay will present the first of a series of dynamic and informative lectures. Over the next week, we’ll discuss the origins of theatre, Elizabethan plays and playhouses, and how to direct a play. We’ll also learn about contemporary British theatre, the life and verse of Shakespeare, and even debate what constitutes theatre in the modern day. Under Giles’s expert stewardship, we’ll be more than prepared by the time we dock in Southampton.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. The ship offers a variety of enrichment activities. You might attend a presentation by a guest speaker, attend a class such as watercolor painting or ballroom dancing, take a dip in one of the swimming pools, or any of the many other choices.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Choose from a variety of activities on board, from movies to shows or simply enjoying the ambience of the different themed bars.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will learn more about fascinating aspects of the theatre world with Giles Ramsay.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Weather permitting, you might like to take a leisurely stroll around the Promenade Deck and take in the fresh sea air.
Dinner:
Aboard the ship.
Evening:
At leisure. You may choose to enjoy a show in the Royal Court Theatre, practice your dance steps in the ballroom, or simply return to your stateroom and enjoy one of the movies screened on the ship’s TV.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We’ll settle in with our Instructor for another illuminating lecture on things theatrical.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take advantage of the many educational, social, and physical activities available, or simply relax in a deck chair with a view of the glistening Atlantic.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to visit the Royal Court Theatre, home to nightly productions.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will learn more about fascinating aspects of the London theatre world with our Instructor, Giles Ramsay.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. A perfect opportunity to visit the spellbinding planetarium show in Illuminations Theatre, polish your bridge skills during a tournament, or perhaps retreat to the spa for a massage.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy one of the many activities the Queen Mary 2 has to offer.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Our Instructor continues to pull back the curtain on the fascinating world of theatre.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. Enjoy one of the many activities the Queen Mary 2 has to offer, form walking the Promenade Deck, attending a Cunard lecture, going to trivia, learning how to play bridge, there is no shortage of activities onboard the ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy some of the many activities the ship has to offer.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Giles Ramsay will deliver his final on-board lecture and prepare us for the sights and sounds of London.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time. You might like to explore the history of the Cunard Line at a unique exhibition running through the halls of the ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer to London in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 85 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will complete disembarkation procedures in Southampton and board a motorcoach for our transfer to London. We’ll arrive at the hotel in the early afternoon.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is free time to explore the local area independently or just relax.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will take a short walk to the Theatre Royal Haymarket and attend a performance of The Standard of Living. Directed by multi award-winner Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys, One Man, Two Guvnors, Giant) and starring Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear (Skyfall, The Diplomat) and Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova in her West End debut, this blazing new play tells the story of rebel economist and member of the Bloomsbury Group, John Maynard Keynes. Alive with music, dance, desire and debate, The Standard of Living is a thrilling, funny and deeply moving portrait of a man who dared to imagine something better.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, walking about 1/2 mile; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we'll have an interactive acting workshop.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
This afternoon,we’ll gather for a captivating interactive discussion of current affairs with one of the UK’s leading political journalists. Examining the headlines of the day, this session will put past and present political issues into startling focus.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We'll take a coach to the Noel Coward Theatre and attend a performance of Into the Woods. Once upon a time, The Baker and his wife. A Witch with a curse. A boy and his cow. A girl in a red cloak. A maiden with long flowing hair. A servant covered in cinders. All journey deep into the dark woods. As the adventure unfolds and paths entwine, wishes are made, slippers are lost, beanstalks take flight and new friendships are forged - revealing that life beyond ‘Happily ever after’ can still be full of magic, even when there’s darkness.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Explore London! A free morning in this city can feel like stepping into a living postcard — history, charm, and quiet beauty before the city fully wakes up. You may want to visit one of London’s many free museums including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, British Museum, or the Natural History Museum.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
We will board our coach to the Gielgud Theatre and attend a performance of Oliver! This show is a joyful, high-energy revival that captures everything people love about classic musical theatre. From the moment the curtain rises, it sweeps you into Charles Dickens’ world with warmth, humor, and just the right touch of grit. Visually, the production is rich and immersive, with detailed sets and costumes that create a convincing and magical atmosphere. Overall, it’s a feel-good, crowd-pleasing musical that reminds you why Oliver! remains such a beloved classic.
Dinner:
We will take a short walk where we will have dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Long corridors and many stairs at the Opera House, walking distances and periods of standing for the duration of the field trip; paved streets, stairs in some historic theatres, no elevators.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will visit the Royal Opera House for a backstage tour where an expert guide will help us gain a unique insight into the many secrets and spaces of the Royal Opera House. Take a look in the areas that are normally off-limits to the public, including rehearsal studios, costumes and production workshops. Delve deep into our history, learning about how this came to be the third theatre on our site and witness first-hand the inner workings of one of the world's most renowned theatres. After the Royal Opera House visit Free Time to explore the Covent Garden area of London. There is no coach back to the hotel, participants will need to make their own way back to the hotel.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We’ll be joined by one of London’s leading theatre critics at the hotel for an in-depth discussion of the shows we have seen.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We will take a short walk to Soho Place and attend a performance of Who's Afraid or Virginia Woolf. Set in the round and directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Angels in America, Company), this new production draws every spectator into the eye of the storm. In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor Nick and his wife Honey to their home for some after-party drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!