Britain’s Brilliant Art and Architecture: A Queen Mary 2 Voyage

13 days
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Large Ship Cruise
Join Dr. Steven Parissien, director of the award-winning Compton Verney museum, visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, author and television contributor, for a voyage into the history and grandeur of England’s architecture and art. Delve into fascinating topics during your crossing on the magnificent Queen Mary 2 then spend four nights in Oxford to expe...
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Overview

Trip type
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Amid the opulent surroundings of the Queen Mary 2, delve into topics like the Georgian and Victorian periods and the influence of art-loving British monarchs.
    • Discover the diverse architectural styles of Oxford, “The City of Dreaming Spires,” on expert-led walking excursions.
    • Take a field trip to the National Trust's Upton Park, the home of Lord and Lady Bearsted in the 1930s.

What's this trip about?

    Join Dr. Steven Parissien, director of the award-winning Compton Verney museum, visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, author and television contributor, for a voyage into the history and grandeur of England’s architecture and art. Delve into fascinating topics during your crossing on the magnificent Queen Mary 2 then spend four nights in Oxford to experience country manors, eccentric royal residences, outstanding museums and the architecture of the “City of Dreaming Spires.”

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityNew York
End CityOxford

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Education / Learning
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • North America
  • Europe
  • England

Attractions

  • London
  • New York
  • Southampton

Activities

  • Educational/ learning
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • 12 nights of accommodations
    • 7 expert-led lectures
    • 8 expert-led field trips
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrival Day, New York City

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: New York Marriott Downtown

Afternoon: Arrivals continue, with free time for those who have already arrived. At 6pm we will have an Orientation in the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. This pr...

Day 2: The Frick Collection & The Queen Mary 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. A breakfast buffet with a range of hot and cold items, as well as coffee, tea, water and fruit juices.

Morning: We begin our explorations of Brit...

Day 3: The Georgian Revolution

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing. Select one of the King’s Court dining options on Deck 7, go down to the Britannia Restaurant or relax with breakfast in your roo...

Day 4: The Golden Age of British Painting

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Settle in with your Study Leader as we discuss Neoclassicism and the Golden Age of British Painting. Between the...

Day 5: King George IV: Patron of the Arts

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: This morning we look at the fascinating figure of George IV. George was often regarded as the finest patron of t...

Day 6: The Gothic Revival & The Pre-Raphaelites

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Today we’ll examine a period of innovation, reflection and turbulence in early Victorian Britain as the Gothic R...

Day 7: Victoria & Albert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Discover just how important Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were in shaping the cultural heritage of Britain, f...

Day 8: The Country House in Modern Times

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Mary II.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: Your Study Leader will lead a final session as you prepare to disembark and begin learning about the art and arc...

Day 9: Disembarkation & Transfer to Oxford: Basildon Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

Breakfast: Early breakfast on board in the venue of your choosing.

Morning: We depart the Queen Mary 2 and make our way to the motor coach for our transfer to Oxfor...

Day 10: Georgian Oxford & The Ashmolean Museum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to three hours on paved streets. Rest stops available.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Today we explore Oxford, the “city of drea...

Day 11: Compton Verney & Upton House

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we board the motor coach and make our way to Compton Verney, a former Georgian mansion turned national art gallery. The build...

Day 12: Victorian Oxford

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to three hours.

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Free time.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: For our l...

Day 13: Program Concludes, Oxford

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: In the hotel. Some participants may depart prior to breakfast.

Morning: Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for onward flights. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on i...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,395
Price per day$338
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Queen Mary II: 7 nights  New York   New York Marriott Downtown: 1 night  New York The only Marriott hotel centrally located in Lower Manhattan, New York City's Financial District, and within walking distance to Wall Street and NYSE.   Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel: 4 nights  Oxford. Nestling in 40 acres of magnificent Thames-side parkland, which is home to a horse sanctuary, the hotel has a truly idyllic setting.The historic heart of Oxford is less than half a mile away with a short riverside walk to Oxford’s colleges, museums, shops and theatres.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

12 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-21283RJ

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