The Queen Victoria on its maiden voyage docked in Circular Quay Sydney
August 30, 2008
MS Queen Victoria in Sydney
This stunning picture of the Queen Victoria in Sydney Australia is off Flickr. To see more photos by the person who took it, click the link to their name or on the photo
August 29, 2008
The Masters of the QE2 address her regular passengers
This is from Rob Lighbody on Flickr, who has many great Cunard pics
"Dear Guest,
Welcome aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, in all likelihood for the final time before she departs for Dubai to be admired by future generations. Being two of her very fortunate captains, we have grown immensely fond of this iconic liner who has served the fleet so impeccably over 39 years. We are also incredibly proud of our own hugely enjoyable service on arguably the most famous shipin recent maritime history.
For us, one of the greatest pleasures of every Cunard voyage has been meeting up with old friends and making new ones, as QE2 has always been an especially sociable ship and there is a wonderful feel of community woven into her elegant public rooms. Indeed, you often tell us that seeing all the friendly faces among the ship's company and your fellow guests is a huge part of QE2's immense character.
But as this Cunard chapter closes, an exciting new era beckons. In Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, you will discover two of the most luxurious ships on the seas today. Many of you have already sampled their unique pleasures; for others this will be a new experience - albeit a familiar one. Like QE2, each magnificently upholds our proud traditions as lavish public rooms host glittering formal nights, elegant ballroom dancing, time-honoured afternoon tea and impeccable dining all presented with the famed hospitality opf our White Star Service. Through our extended Cunard Insights programme, you can share the wit and wisdom of many noted luminaries - and you may even encounter a few other familiar faces among the crew and your fellow guests.
We hope you have the opportunity to experience Queen Victoria or Queen Mary 2 very soon and further more, book your next voyage on board and you'll receive extra benefits as detailed on the back cover.
Best wishws and enjoy your voyage on QE2
Captain Ian McNaught & Captain David Perkins "
August 28, 2008
Spectacular final send-off for the QE2 from Scotland
An article appeared on "The Herald" website about the last visit of the QE2 to Scotland.
The opening of the article comments:
"The QE2 has been promised a "spectacular and fitting" send-off for her final voyage in Scottish waters.
The liner will make her last voyage in Scotland on October 7 and large crowds are expected to gather on either side of the Firth of Forth to wave her off.
The send-off will include a fly-past by jets from RAF Leuchars, tugs, a water display and a flotilla of yachts."
To read the full article:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2434545.0.Spectacular_final_sendoff_for_the_QE2.php
August 26, 2008
QE2 NEW HOME ANNOUNCED
An article appeared in this week's cruisepages.com (http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/cruiselines/index.asp) about the new home for the QE2 and some worrying news for people hoping the integrity of the ship will be maintained....
This is what it said:
"According to Nakheel, the real estate company in charge of building the development in Dubai where QE2 will end up in November, the former ocean liner will serve as the anchor of a luxury marina development on the eastern trunk side of Palm Jumeirah.
Purchased last year by Nakheel's parent organization Dubai World, QE2 will embark on her ultimate journey from Southampton, England to Dubai in November. Nakheel will commence construction on her eventual home in September.
Plans for the QE2 include its transformation into an ultra-luxury floating hotel, featuring public promenades, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, as well as a heritage museum displaying artifacts from the QE2 and maritime history.
It will be interesting to see how much of the current QE2 survives the conversion into a "ultra-luxury floating hotel". While ship enthusiasts were hopeful following the initial announcement that stated the project would "...aim to recreate QE2's original interior décor and fittings..." it is unlikely that this can be done while at the same time creating a luxury hotel. One clue as to QE2's future appearance might be found in the initial renderings released by Nakheel, where the converted QE2 bears a striking resemblance to Cunard's Queen Mary 2, with at least three decks of new balconies.
"The arrival of QE2 is one of the most anticipated events of the year and Nakheel is proud to be the custodian of such a historic treasure. The world's most famous ocean liner will form the focal point of an exciting new development that will be a must-see attraction on Palm Jumeirah," said Johann Schumacher, Director of Palm Jumeirah.
QE2 is one of the world's most famous ships. She has circumnavigated the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers including kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, astronauts and The Beatles. She survived a 95 ft wave during Hurricane Luis, carried 3,000 troops to the Falklands War and helped evacuate 500 passengers from a burning ship.
Reclamation for the pier is expected to finish by the end of 2008, with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2011."
Links
Sign up for the cruiseclub.com newsletters:
http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/deals/cruise_club_form.asp
August 22, 2008
Life at sea: 9 year cruise ship resident looking for a new home
A blog posting with this as the title was posted today on the gadling.com site
It talks about Beatrice Muller who has been living full time on the QE2 for many years since her husband died while on the ship. She now has to decide what to do when the QE2 retires to Dubai later this year.
An extract form the posting reads:
"Some people seek out golf courses and gated communities for their retirement; others choose the ocean. That's exactly what Beatrice Muller, an 89 year-old widow from New Jersey, did. She's spent the last nine years living the life on the high seas, cruising around the world on the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. Muller finds this much more pleasant than any old retirement home and she plans to keep up her worldly accommodations, except for one problem: the 41 year old QE2 is retiring in November. What is an old, sea-loving woman to do? Find another ship of course"
Read full blog posting at:
http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/20/life-at-sea-9-year-cruise-ship-resident-looking-for-a-new-home/
CUNARD COMING HOME TO SOUTHAMPTON
There is an article on the Daily Echo today about how Cunard is going back to Southampton to run the company from there after many year gap.
Here is a brief segment from the full article:
"CUNARD, one of the most prestigious names in British shipping, is sailing back home to Southampton after a gap of ten years when its ships were controlled from America.
The company's famous golden lion flag will fly over Southampton once more as Cunard brings together all of its many different departments and operations under one roof.
Although the move creates only a handful of jobs, the return of one of the city's proudest business names is an historic moment.
One of the first major undertakings to be managed by Cunard in Southampton will be the construction of its brand new vessel, Queen Elizabeth, which will enter service in the port during the autumn of 2010."
The full article is at:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/latest/display.var.2424834.0.cunard_to_come_home_to_city_port.php
August 20, 2008
CUNARD 2009 WORLD CRUISES
This article appeared in the latest Cruiseclub.com newsletter about the Cunard 2009 World Cruises:
Cunard's 2009 World Cruise Segments More Affordable Than Ever
"Today's unfavorable exchange rate is making the quest to travel and see the world more challenging than ever but experienced travelers know that, right now, those same currency fluctuations are making one of travel's ultimate "trophy trips" more affordable than ever. Priced in US dollars and immune to exchange rate variations, Cunard's World Cruises aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria -- as well as a host of shorter segment voyages that bear all the hallmarks of a classic Cunard World Cruise -- combine the tradition, elegance and glamour of the Golden Age of Ocean Travel with compelling itineraries to some of the world's most storied and celebrated ports of call.
Available fares make Cunard's legendary World Cruises more sensible than comparable five-star travel experiences on land since, at sea, meals and entertainment are included. For travelers without the luxury of time to sail a full World Cruise, both ships offer shorter segment voyages ranging from 15-30 days with fares starting at $122 per day, per person.
Space is still available on some of the most popular segments including Queen Mary 2's 28-day Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles segment with fares starting from $122 per day, per person; 15-day Los Angeles to Sydney segment with fares starting from $160 per day, per person; and 31-day Singapore to New York segment with fares starting from $171 per day, per person.
Queen Victoria's 17-day New York to Los Angeles segment offers fares from $200 per day, per person; the 23-day Los Angeles to Sydney segment offers fares $209 per day, per person; 27-day Sydney to Singapore segment offers fares from $237 per day, per person; and 32-day Singapore to Southampton voyage offers fares from $215 per day, per person.
"More than ever, today's luxury travelers seek experiences that bring both value and meaning to their lives," says Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "Across all levels of accommodation, a Cunard voyage is a pinnacle travel experience which continues to include all gourmet meals, entertainment and enrichment programmes."
Whether guests are onboard for the full World Cruise or a shorter segment voyage, they'll have the opportunity to experience the Line's award-winning Cunard Insights Enrichment Programme. Among the speakers scheduled to appear are oceanographer-meteorologist Joe Bishop, astronaut Walter Cunningham, ocean liner authority and color commentator William Miller and adventurer Harvey Mann. "
Links: http://www.travelpage.com/
August 19, 2008
August 13, 2008
August 12, 2008
Water fit for a Queen
Advert from QE2's 1986/7 rebuild about her ability to produce 100,000 gallonds of drinking water daily from the ocean.
"Every day aboard the QE2 100,000 gallons of drinking water, (thats about 1,200,000 glasses) is produced from seawater at a quality better than the world health organisation standard.
The plant required to provide this pure water has been designed and manufactured by Reverse Osmosis Systems Limited, whose installation includes pre-filtration equipment and high rejection membranes rejecting viruses bacteria and pyrogrss, producing high quality drinking water.
The desalination equipment is microprocessor equipped with 8 selectable programmes, the quality, quantity, pressure and recovery rate of the water is continuously monitored by a main control panel, backed by a remote panel in the control room which provides a continual indication of the status of the plant
The ROS design incorporates a modularises system to fit into compact areas aboard the QE2 with the pumps and motors situated in the engine room two decks below the filtration, membranes and control consoles.
The result is clear - water fit for a Queen".
August 7, 2008
Queen Elizabeth 2 Approaching the 25 de Abril bridge, Lisbon 2September 2007
Approaching the 25 de Abril bridge, Lisbon 2 September 2007
August 6, 2008
August 2, 2008
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