Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 in Sydney

Amazing footage of the 2 ships in Sydney.....

QUEEN VICTORIA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY: MY REVIEW OF THE BOOK

Cover of Queen Victoria: A Photographic Journey

This book is part of the "a photographic journey" series by the two massive Cunard fans called Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross.

I have previously reviewed other books by these two Cunard fans,  and so was delighted to see that the Queen Victoria is now available as part of the series.

This is a larger sized book than the QM2 book, and so the images of all aspects of the ship can be enjoyed even more. I think the book benefits from the larger size as fans (or the interested) can better study the pictures.

Like with the other books by Chris and Rachelle, most of the pictures are their own and they cover the outside, passenger rooms and then also take us behind the scenes to see some of the areas of the ship that as passengers we never get to see. Due to their connections with Cunard, they are able to share these with us.

It is also evidence of the respect that Cunard has in their ability to cover the ship that Captain Rynd contributes to the book with his perspective. Also Alistair Greener who runs the official Cunard blog and is one of the Entertainment Directors for Cunard, wrote the foreward.

I have been on the ship just the once, and found the book a great reminder of the full scale and the detail of the ship. And realised too that I had actually missed out seeing some of this large and impressive ship. So it serves as both a way of preparing for a trip, or as a reminder afterwards.

There are some 120 pages in this well produced book that is published by The History Press and first appeared in 2010. The book covers the various accomodation, restaurants, bar and lounges, public rooms and behind the scenes. There is a short history of Cunard and then details and commentary on the various sections.

This is like the others in the series a book that shows passion and has a great balance of content and pictures. 

Another great edition to any Cunard and cruise fans collection.

Read my other reviews:

The QM2 Story

BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON:

QM2 in Fremantle - 17 February 2011

Royalty sails into Sydney: Thousands of people have gathered at Sydney Harbour to welcome the ocean liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2.

Cruise ships in Sydney - Queen Elizabeth 22 Feb 2011

RMS Queen Mary 2 and RMS Queen Elizabeth Arrive in Sydney Harbour : 22 F...

CUNARD QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 IN DUBAI. VIDEO TAKEN FEBRUARY 2010 SHOWING SHIP IN GOOD CONDITION

CUNARD QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 IN DUBAI. VIDEO TAKEN FEBRUARY 2010 SHOWING SHIP IN GOOD CONDITION

THE QM2 STORY BY CHRIS FRAME AND RACHELLE CROSS: MY REVIEW AND THOUGHTS

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There are quite a few books covering the Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2. So which one or ones to choose if you looking for one?


For me, I look out for people with real passion versus just an academic interest in Cunard and their ships, and Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross are just this.


Chris has run a popular website about Cunard and their ships for many years, and this is in fact how I first came across him. I was researching my first trip on a Cunard ship (Queen Elizabeth 2) in 2004 and found his insight, information and passion one of the best and clearest I could find. The link to his site is at the end of this posting.


He has written a few books with Rachelle, and this is one of his more recent ones published first in 2010 by The History Press as part of their "The Story" series covering various travel icons. These small hard cover books are around 120 pages, compact in size and in the case of "The QM2 Story" packed full of photographs (many taken by the authors themselves) and then this is a very entertaining and readable history of Cunard, stories about the amazing ship itself. At the end there is a date by date history of the ship, and then facts and figures about the fabulous ship.


Chris and Rachelle are very passionate about Cunard and the ship, and this shows through in the book. This passion and knowledge has also led to Chris being invited to talk on Cunard ships, and so you also know that the company sees the authors as experts. 


I found this book fun, entertaining and very informative. I loved it and recommend it, especially if you are looking for a fairly inexpensive way to find out and get your fix and brief on the ship before you travel on her.


I have put links to amazon.co.uk and amazon.com, but the books are also widly available through other online booksellers.


To visit Chris Frame's Cunard site: http://www.chriscunard.com/index.php




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Cunard's Queen Elizabeth Transits the Panama Canal

QUEEN MARY 2: SOME QUESTIONS I GOT AND MY THOUGHTS

Got this email from a blog fan with a few questions,


Hi Gary,



My husband and I booked a westbound transatlantic cruise from Southhampton to NYC for June 24 on the QM2. I've looked at lots of websites for research and I have to say that the BEST information available is from your website and from your podcasts. We're first time cruisers and we're taking the transatlantic cruise as our trip "home" to the USA after living 6 years in Europe. I found your podcast "First timer cruise tips" extremely helpful and it provided several answers that I could not find from Cruisecritic.co.uk. I also enjoyed your podcast covering your QM2 Eastbound transatlantic cruise and along with your videos, they constitute the Ultimate Guide to the QM2.


I do have a few questions that I'm hoping you can advise me on:


First, what is the passenger 'vibe' on a QM2 transatlantic cruise? In your podcast you mention that many of the passengers on the eastbound journey tend to be American and on the westbound trip, they tend to be British. I would be delighted to meet the most diverse possible group of passengers....of all nationalities and all groups. My hesitation is that the QM2 might have a surplus of passengers in the "over 70" or "over 80" age group. I'm in my early 50s and my husband a few years older, but we're still active in our careers and we are very active travellers. Is it likely that we'll be in a minority of "under 60" travellers on the ship? I have no issues with older folks, but would it be considered rude if we ask to move to a dinner table where the conversation topics do not revolve around medications, ailments or hearing aids? We all love our dear old gran, but most of us wouldn't choose to spend a full seven days with her.

Second, do you have tips on 'secret places' on the QM2 where one can relax without feeling crowded? We will certainly use our cabin for sleep and privacy, but it would be great to know the places on the ship where I can relax reading a book (or my Kindle) without being bothered by hen parties or drunken American rednecks. The library on the QM2 looks fabulous for spending some quiet time reading, but one post on Cruise Critic hinted that you have to wake up at the crack of dawn to get a good seat there. Do you have a favorite place on the ship (other than your Penthouse cabin) that you find particularly appealing for relaxation?

Thanks for your advice and I look forward to your next podcast.

HERE IS MY REPLY AND COMMENTS

Thanks for the email, and the kind comments on the blog and the podcasts! Glad you find them helpful - they are they reason I started doing them and so very pleased to hear they helping..!

On your various questions, here are some thoughts and comments:

What is the passenger 'vibe' on a QM2 transatlantic cruise?


On the crossings, the range of ages is very broad indeed and (if anything) seems to be more the 40s and 50s than the older age groups. There will also be a lot of younger, and if in School Holidays also families with children ages.

The Crossings seem to attract the more adventurous type, and so attitudinally I have found the vibe and the attitude to be more relaxed as well as more excitable - as people feel they are on an adventure. The tone and vibe when doing lots of ports is different, and does seem to be older (or at least less mixed). I love the Crossings for this reason.


Do you have tips on 'secret places' on the QM2 where one can relax without feeling crowded?

A QUIET SPOT,,,, MY TIP

One of the things that people often comment on when seeing the photos and videos I have taken and posted, is how few people seem to be about on the ship! The ship is so vast and pretty much all over you can find a spot which is quiet.


The decks are usually quiet, though as can be windy based on time of year that does not always work – though right at the top of the ship you can find a sheltered area of deck that is great. Inside, during the day the Commodore Club is always very quiet and a great spot to sit and read. This is where we would go, as a few people about at most in the day and great views across the bow.


I am envious of you heading off on a Crossing as I adore them! Have fun!! Hope the above helps

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth: Jan 2011 NY Harbor f...

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