Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth sets speed record

Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth may or may not be a contender for the legendary Blue Riband. But the 92,000 grt, 2,092 passenger liner has set one speed record even before ger 2010 delivery from Fincntieri's Monfalcone, Italy, shipyard.

The October 2010 Maiden Voyage for the ship was placed on worldwide sale to past guests at 8:00 a.m. yesterday--and sold out in just 29 minutes, easily making this the fastest selling voyage in Cunard's 170-year history. In fact, this voyage sold out quicker and involved more guests than QE2's Final Voyage that set a previous Cunard sell-out record of 36 minutes in June 2007.

More than half of Queen Elizabeth's remaining maiden season, comprising six voyages from October to December 2010, was sold within the first two hours.