Churchill’s Finest Hour: A Transatlantic Voyage on QM2

Activity note: Hotel check-in available by 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, meet your Road Scholar Group Leader in the lobby to register and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and to learn where the Orientation session will take place at 5:00 p.m. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: 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 program is staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. Dining aboard the Queen Mary 2, breakfast and lunch are in the venue of your choosing. Traditional afternoon tea is served each day in the Queens Room. Road Scholars are invited to have dinner together in the Britannia Restaurant. Snacks along with juice, tea, coffee, water are available 24 hours a day at the buffet restaurants; and there is 24-hour room service. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. 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: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Embarkation expected by approximately 2:00 p.m.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers a variety of hot and cold items such as eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, cereals, toast, pastries, fruit, cold cuts, cheeses, yogurts, juices, tea, coffee, water.

Morning: This morning we will have the opportunity to visit the Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial and Museum, where we will examine authentic artifacts and learn about how people responded in the aftermath of the attack. We will depart for the pier early afternoon, complete embarkation procedures, and board the Queen Mary 2.

Lunch: Aboard the Queen Mary 2, we’ll have a late lunch. Meal Service: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the main restaurants; alternative fine dining options available at additional cost. Water during meals and tea/coffee after meals are complimentary; alcoholic drinks, specialty teas, and coffees available for purchase. Afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes, and pastries served each day. 24 hour room service.

Afternoon: After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and begin to familiarize yourself with the ship. We will participate with the rest of the passengers in the required Safety Drill before departure, so please listen for the announcement.

Dinner: Aboard the ship in the Britannia Restaurant, choose what you like from the menu with choices of appetizers and soups, salads, entrées, and desserts, plus coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to see a show in the ballroom, watch a movie in the theatre, have a beverage and a chat in one of the bars, or find a book in the library — one of the best shipboard libraries available — and curl up in that perfect reading chair. The choice is yours.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: In the venue of your choosing. The Britannia Restaurant offers a variety of plated breakfast entrées, pancakes and waffles, hot and cold cereals, cold cuts and cheese, yogurts, and a variety of baked goods, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. The King’s Court has casual breakfast on Deck 7, or relax with breakfast in your room as you watch the televised descriptions of the day’s on-board activities.

Morning: We’ll gather with our Study Leader in a private meeting room for our first in a series of on-board lectures. Topics covered throughout the program will include Churchill in the Boer War, the tragedy of Gallipoli, Churchill in the trenches, the First Finest Hour, Churchill and his generals, and the Big Three.

Lunch: In the venue of your choosing. The Britannia Restaurant offers appetizers and soups, salads and sandwiches, main dish entrées, and desserts. The Kings Court has buffet dining, while the Boardwalk Café (weather permitting) has light lunch choices.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You’ll have a variety of shipboard enrichment activities from which to choose. You might like to take a class such as watercolor painting or ballroom dancing, enjoy one of the ship's swimming pools, take a brisk walk around the decks, or continue reading that book. The history of the Cunard Line is displayed in an exhibition running through the halls of the ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Our lecture series following a thematic progression will continue with our Study Leader.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the variety of shipboard enrichment activities. Later in the afternoon, we’ll gather for an exclusive Road Scholar cocktail party.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Gathering in our lecture room, we’ll continue to explore the life and times of Winston Churchill.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. You may want to take advantage of the many educational, social, and physical activities available on board, or simply relax in one of the deck chairs with a view of the Atlantic, glistening when the sun shines.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. You may wish to visit the Queen Mary 2’s beautiful theatre, home to nightly productions from stars of stage and screen alike.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We join our Study Leader for today's illuminating lecture.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free Time. You might grab a ticket for the planetarium show, polish your bridge skills during a tournament, or perhaps retreat to the spa for a massage.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. You may wish to visit The Golden Lion, a traditional English pub, as it runs a competitive pub quiz each evening.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Joining our Study Leader, we’ll engage in another lively discussion.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free Time. When not performing, members of the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts host daily acting workshops that give passengers the opportunity to flex their acting muscles.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Full day at sea.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Gathering with our Study Leader, we’ll settle in for the final lecture before we dock at our destination tomorrow.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free Time. You may wish 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. Be sure to prepare for check-out, disembarkation, and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Disembarkation by approximately 9:00 a.m. Getting on/off motorcoach; total driving about 141 miles, approximately 3.5 hours with stops for field trips. Minimal walking for group activities, more dependent on personal interest; some periods of standing; seating available at Blenheim Palace.

Breakfast: Early aboard the ship.

Morning: After completing disembarkation procedures, we’ll make our way onto the motorcoach for transfer onwards to Blenheim Palace, where we’ll enjoy an expert-led field trip through the estate and its remarkable gardens that were designed by the famous landscape gardener, Lancelot “Capability” Brown. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, just outside of Oxford, was initially a gift given to the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill. Queen Anne recognized him thusly for his triumph in battle over French and Bavarian forces in 1704, and the palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Eventually, Blenheim’s recognition grew further when Winston Churchill was born there in 1874.

Lunch: At Blenheim Palace we'll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Following Blenheim Palace, we'll continue the transfer to our London hotel, but not before making a stop at Bladon – the burial place of Winston Churchill. Once off the motorcoach, we’ll have a look around with our Study Leader as they illuminate the significance of the churchyard and surrounding area.

Dinner: In the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served dinner including coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Breakfast: In the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans, cereals, pastries, toast, jams and marmalade, juices, milk, tea, coffee, water.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the Imperial War Museum. The vast museum chronicles Britain’s involvement in wars from 1914 to the present day, keeping a very human perspective on the immense turmoil that both Britain and the wider world as a whole have endured over the last century. Of particular importance are its First World War galleries, and its new Witnesses to War exhibition. Presented in a state-of-the-art atrium, the exhibition includes a Harrier Jet, a Spitfire, and a V2 rocket.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: The afternoon is free for you to explore the delights of London.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; total driving about 86 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking approximately 2 miles total throughout the day; about 6 hours on our feet; paved pathways, some inclines and steps; welcome map shows step-free routes. Wheelchair access only to sitting room, hall, and library; electric wheelchairs not suitable for house.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll begin the morning with some free time, to relax or explore the area near the hotel. Mid-morning, we’ll board a motorcoach and ride to Westerham for our afternoon field trip.

Lunch: At Chartwell we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Chartwell, the adult home of Sir Winston Churchill, is located just outside Westerham. Our Study Leader will lead us on a field trip through its rooms and corridors while explaining the significance of each. On-site volunteers will also be available to answer any questions. Chartwell has been preserved to appear exactly as it would have when Churchill lived there, and houses a great number of his personal effects including paintings, books, honors, and medals. It is also home to some beautifully landscaped gardens, which provided inspiration for many of Churchill’s paintings.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a plated 3-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Please note that access to the Houses of Parliament is subject to availability, as they are a working place of government.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we’ll ride to the Houses of Parliament, the site of some of Churchill's greatest victories. An expert will take us through the corridors of power, including the Queen's Robing Room, the Members' Lobby, Westminster Hall, the Lords' Chamber and the Commons' Chamber.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Following our visit, we'll walk iconic Horseguards Parade before visiting the Churchill War Rooms. It was here that Churchill’s government sheltered during the worst of the bombing, and the conditions of the time are faithfully recreated in this subterranean maze. The facility also houses the Churchill Museum, which brings to life the exciting story of Churchill’s life – from his childhood to his “finest hour”.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served farewell dinner including coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet, depending on departure times. This concludes our program.

Morning: 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!