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Muppeteers entertain on transatlantic cruise this July

Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Martin Baker, and Jane Gootnick will perform and interact with guests

Courtesy of Cunard Line
July 9, 2003

Cunard’s world famous Queen Elizabeth 2 will welcome puppet performers and a producer from the Emmy Award-winning television series The Muppet Show during its July 16-22, 2003, transatlantic crossing from Southampton, England, to New York.

Among the featured Muppets will be The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Kermit’s nephew Robin, Zoot and Floyd Pepper from the Electric Mayhem Band, Beauregard, Lew Zealand and Dr. Julius Strangepork.

“The Muppets may not be the most famous guests to have cruised on QE2, but they’ll certainly be the most fun,” said Deborah Natansohn, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Cunard Line. “We’ve seen multiple generations of families book this voyage, including parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.”

The 6-night voyage – which is nearly sold-out – was marketed to families and offered rates starting from $1,799 per person, double, including one-way air to London.

In addition to being entertained by principal Muppet Performers Dave Goelz and Jerry Nelson, Martin Baker, a producer for The Jim Henson Company, will talk about his experience working on The Muppet Show and introduce a documentary on Jim Henson. Designer/Builder Jane Gootnick, who will talk about how the puppets are initially designed, created and ultimately brought to life, will join them.

Oscar-winning creators of Chicken Run also aboard

As an extra bonus, Peter Lord, co-founder of Ardman Animation, creators of the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit animated short films, will be on board for the crossing. In addition to introducing their box office smash Chicken Run, they will showcase some of the miniature sets with which they work and demonstrate how claymation is done.

Passengers who are not fans of puppets and animated films or who are not travelling with their children need not worry; additional “grown up” entertainers and guest lecturers will be on board to ensure that passengers of all ages enjoy their QE2 voyage.