United States/England
Churchill’s Finest Hour: A Transatlantic Voyage on QM2
Program No. 23191RJ
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Churchill’s Finest Hour: A Transatlantic Voyage on QM2
Churchill’s Finest Hour: A Transatlantic Voyage on QM2
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Participant Reviews
Based on 24 Reviews
SHOWING
Our Churchill's Finest Hour was a excellent Trip and the Road Scholar Team that lead our tour, lectured, and guided in London where outstanding and couldn't have done more for us if they tried! Thanks and looking forward to our next Voyage in 2027 with Road Scholar to tour and learn about the British Isles.
— Review left January 10, 2026
It was fabulous! The ship was amazing, the guides and experts were so informative. I would only suggest that you pack some nice cloths for dinner in the formal dinning room. Wonderful adventure for the solo traveler. I needed this trip.
— Review left November 1, 2025
An outstanding, enjoyable, and easily understood introduction to a great person in Western culture and history. As the world seems on the verge of repeating many of the patterns seen in Churchill's last decades, it is important to recognize how he handled them and succeeded in wrenching us away from disater.
— Review left October 29, 2025
This is one of Road Scholar’s finest offerings. The combination of Cunard’s hospitality with Road Scholar’s educational expertise created a truly transformative experience I will treasure for years. The program’s structure honoring Churchill’s complete life story was masterfully conceived. Road Scholar created an experience that paid fitting tribute not only to Churchill himself, but to the broader struggle to preserve democracy during WWII.
— Review left September 21, 2025
Outstanding program on Churchill. Spencer Jones delivered exceptional lectures and visuals. Spencer was always available for questions and conversations. The QM2 adventure was terrific. Good food and good service. Ruth Polling presented Churchill for 4 days in London. She is so full of knowledge and presents it in a way that is so relatable. Nikki Gilbert kept everything running on time and ensuring that we had everything we needed.
— Review left September 11, 2025
Churchill's Finest Hour is a delicious blend of a Transatlantic voyage on a classic ocean liner combined with fabulous lectures on-board and site visits once we reached England. There was never a dull moment, but we didn't feel rushed.
— Review left August 29, 2025
"Churchill's Finest Hour" aboard the Queen May 2 is yet another outstanding Road Scholar program!
— Review left August 26, 2025
A truly outstanding adult education experience! I (thought I) was quite faniliar with Winston Churchill's life and accomplishments, and was impressed by how much more I learned as a result of this program.
— Review left August 21, 2025
This is the perfect program for those with an interest in history and a curiosity about Winston Churchill. Even the well versed participants learned so much and came away with a new understanding of the man himself.
Brilliant lectures and wonderful field trips. I would highly recommend this program.
— Review left August 21, 2025
The content of this trip was excellent. Dr. Spencer Jones is knowledgeable and engaging. The London guide, Ruth Poling, is very knowledgeable and passionate about her subject. I admired how she was always upbeat. Nikki Gilbert, our group leader, was helpful and attentive. Road Scholar has done an excellent job putting together this program and I highly commend them for it. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the QM2. The boarding was tedious and inefficient, as we waited (in Disneyworld wraparound lines) for 2 hours. The dis-embarkation was just as cumbersome as we waited for 2 hours while someone could be found to attach the gangway. Don't believe the marketing hype on their website. We have been experienced cruisers over the last 20 years, sailing many times with multiple lines (HAL, Princess, RC, Oceania, Viking, Norwegian, including a transatlantic repositioning cruise). Cunard doesn't compare in accommodations, public venues, and service. I thoroughly researched the Cunard site before packing for this trip. The marketing materials say, "dress to impress". RS had its own main dining room section. We could see other guests from our loft area, and people were not dressed "impressively". Guests were neat but certainly didn't match the hype even for the Gala nights. There's one hallway gallery showing large photo posters of movie stars from the 40s/ 50's. This is the anachronistic public image QM2 is trying to perpetuate. Sorry, Cunard, that ship has sailed.
— Review left July 24, 2025
This program on Churchill's life and role during World War II was outstanding. We need to learn from history so as not to repeat the same mistakes now that were made then. You cannot appease a tyrant, rather it is Hitler or Putin.
— Review left December 26, 2024
I heard about the Churchill lecture tour from good friends who went a couple of years ago, and I can't imagine a more informatiove lecturer than Dr. Spencer Jones. He was interesting, fun, had great anecdotes, and made me wish for more. Everyone in our 18 member group wished for more from him.
— Review left December 26, 2024
Outstanding. The lectures were wonderful. I couldn’t wait for the following day to come so I could learn more.
Fellow travelers were friendly and interesting and interested. Everyone was supportive of each other. Dave was so warm and welcoming and cared for each traveler.
— Review left August 18, 2024
The Queen Mary 2/ Churchill program was excellent! A transatlantic voyage was on my bucket list. This program allowed me to achieve a dream coupled with engaging learning about Churchill, quality shows and lectures aboard ship, interesting travelers, and highest quality instruction and field trips in London.
— Review left August 11, 2024
This program was very enjoyable to anyone interested in Winston Churchill. An added bonus was to attend lectures while sailing to London onboard a luxury liner. The lecturer, Spencer Jones was beyond outstanding and made the program even more than I had anticipated. I will most definitely sign up for another.
— Review left August 10, 2024
This was a wonderful trip !The QueenMaryIIwas a wonderful boat ! The best cruise ship I have ever been on . I loved my stateroom, my balcony, all the actvities, the people on the trip , the meals were superb, the staff top notch . I will never travel with any other company but Road Scholar !! Both my whale watch trip and the Churchill trip were my two favorite trips . I have traveled extensively , but Road Scholar is top notch . The guides. lectures and facilities were world class , and so were the fellow travelors. I did not know anyone before either trip , but I loved everything about them on both trips.
The trips could not possibly have been any better !!!
I am looking forward to going on an Alaska trip next !!
I would recommend them to any traveler novice or expert.
In fact I have a friend here in Tuscaloosa , Alabama who has been on 84 Road Scholar trips !!!!!
— Review left December 9, 2023
We have no regrets. This was a wonderful program and we only wish we had more time in London. The group leader did a superb job, our lecturer onboard QM2 left us wanting more after each daily session. And our guide in London and the countryside was amazing.
— Review left October 30, 2023
The Churchill Transatlantic Program was the perfect tour. A variety of experiences and activities that were educational, fun, and easy - the Road Scholar team of Stuart, Spencer, and Ruth did all the work. We just showed up and enjoyed. The lectures were exceptional and taught by a true professional. The Queen Mary 2 experience was always first class. The shore excursions were a perfect culmination of the cruise, seeing Chruchill's environment after learning so much about his life and times. We could not have had a better time.
— Review left October 26, 2023
The Churchill program was outstanding. Wonderful speakers and guides. Well planned field trips to very special sites
— Review left September 2, 2023
First the excellent to very good:
1. Spencer Jones, our lecturer on the QM2, was outstanding - educational, entertaining, and excellent.
2. The QM2 was fabulous. The entire experience, the cabins, the on-board activities, and the food were great. I really enjoyed my time on board - everything from the dressy "gala" nights to the many options for entertainment on board.
3. Kevin, our group leader, did a good job in a challenging environment. There were two RS groups on board during the QM2 crossing (the other was the theater program). Due to some unforeseen circumstances, he was acting as group leader for both groups.
Unfortunately, the portion of the program in London was not as good:
1. The visits to both Blenheim Palace and Chartwell, along with some other minor sites were cancelled. Although this was not RS's fault, what was very disappointing was RS responses to these issues. Actually, this was more of a lack of response. For example, when Chartwell was cancelled (due to snow), all that was done was to bus us back to the hotel for a long lunch. That day was mostly a waste.
2. The London portion, particularly the local guide, could have focused more on Churchill, rather than a general overview of London and England. For example, during the wait to enter the Houses of Parliament, she talked about Henry VIII's six wives, instead of Churchill's speeches in the House of Commons, etc. Since most (maybe all) had visited London before, this portion of the trip needed more focus on the Churchill era.
I was particularly frustrated with RS that when I completed the survey, normally there is an option to provide a public review at the end of the survey. Because I had negative comments, RS did not automatically provide the review option. If you ever wonder why there are few (if any) negative comments or low star ratings on this site, now you know why.
I have done over 50 programs; this is only the 2nd to not live up to expectations.
— Review left January 13, 2023
Absolutely fabulous trip! The QM 2 is such a unique experience, nothing can compare. I travelled with Road Scholar on the QM 2 before the pandemic and expected this crossing to be as good. It was even better than I remembered.
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As nice as the QM 2 is, it is the people that made the trip so special.
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Dr. Spencer Jones’ lectures on the QM 2 were amazing. I was a little skeptical about 3 hour morning lectures but after the first hour, I knew I wouldn’t miss a single minute. Spencer’s depth of knowledge and ability to deliver it in the most engaging and interesting manner is amazing. Sign me up for any future trips he is doing.
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Ruth Polling took over on the land portion of the trip and she was amazing as well. She provided information and color at the sites we visited that added so much more to each experience.
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Adam Edwards, our group leader, was exceptional. He made sure that everything went smoothly and was a wonderful travel companion as well. He was always accessible, kind, helpful and funny - the best group leader of all my trips.
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The very best thing about this trip were my fellow travelers. I had the pleasure to meet some of the most interesting, funny, and friendly people. It has always me how wonderful the Road Scholar travelers are but this group takes first prize! As a single traveler, I can’t thank them all enough for making me feel so comfortable and welcome. If not for all of them, this trip may have been good but they made it GREAT!
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Where do I sign up to do it again?!
— Review left November 12, 2022
Just when you knew everything about Sir Winston Churchill, this program exposes the history of an iconic man who showed leadership, conflict, stubbornness, courage and passion. This program is worth enrolling.
— Review left November 8, 2022
This was definitely the best RS program I've been on so far. QM2 is gorgeous and being on board was relaxing with great lectures about Churchill himself. In London, we had more great lectures, highly competent leadership, entertaining, educational tours, personable, very knowledgeable guides, just the whole package. Not enough time to fully explore each place we went, but definitely gives a taste and desire to learn more. Do be prepared for a lot of walking and standing but well worth it. Particular kudos to Rod, David and Ruth for all the info and hard work.
— Review left June 13, 2019
This program exceeded my expectations. The tour guide and study leader were true experts in their fields and provided so much more information and opened opportunities than I ever could have gained on my own.
— Review left June 8, 2019