ONE world cruise on three ships, that is the unique experience being offered by Cunard from Southampton.

In little more than a year’s time, on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, Queen Victoria will set sail on the first leg of these epic voyages from Southampton for a leisurely eightnight transatlantic crossing to New York.

Once in America passengers then have the chance to transfer across to the Cunard flagship, Queen Mary 2, for the 40-night long cruise to Sydney in Australia.

QM2 will set a southerly course to Brazil and Uruguay before heading across the South Atlantic to South Africa and Mauritius before a call in Freemantle, Australia then on to Sydney.

Having arrived in Sydney, guests will then be able to switch to a stateroom on Cunard’s latest ship, Queen Elizabeth, for the voyage back to Southampton, arriving on April 19.

En route, Queen Elizabeth will cruise the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the Arabian and Red Seas, and the Mediterranean.

The other option is for passengers from Queen Victoria to embark on Queen Elizabeth on arrival in New York and then cruise to Sydney via the Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean visiting Samoa, Fiji, and New Zealand.

At Sydney guests can then move across to QM2 for the voyage back to Southampton.

Peter Shanks, Cunard’s president and managing director, in Southampton, said: “To experience the globe from one ship is thrilling, to explore with two is simply unforgettable.

“However, for the ultimate global adventure there is now the chance to savour an unprecedented opportunity with all three Cunard Queens on one, truly, aweinspring voyage.’’