All About Cunard: Andy Fitzsimmons: A passenger's view of Cunard's 3 Queens Diamond Jubilee Event

June 14, 2012

Andy Fitzsimmons: A passenger's view of Cunard's 3 Queens Diamond Jubilee Event

Photo by: Andy Fitzsimmons

I have posted a number of articles about Cunard's Diamond Jubilee event in Southampton. I add to this series with a perspective by Andy Fitzsimmons who was on the Queen Victoria coming back from a cruise into Southampton on the day of the event.

In his Flickr Account he has shared a perspective and many amazing photos. Some of them are below, but also visit Andy Fitzsimmons 3 Queens Jubilee Celebration Photo Set for many more, and his full review and comment.

Some key points he talks about are:

Not the first time that 3 Queens had been together in their home port, the first occasion being on 22 April 2008 when Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria met up with Queen Elizabeth 2 for the final time, this was the first time the current Cunard fleet had arrived together.
Queen Mary 2 arrived from New York, Queen Victoria from Bergen and Queen Elizabeth from Barcelona
He was up on deck from 3.30am! Even by 4am crowds were lining Town Quay and Mayflower Park, while helicopters hovered overhead filming the event.
On Queen Mary 2 a group was dressed in period costume waiving union flags, and atop the mast, the Royal Mail pennant could be spotted flying proudly alongside the red ensign and Cunard house flag, together with what appeared to be the ship’s callsign (ZCEF6), spelt out in signal flags while further aft, a giant banner in the style of a union flag and bearing the legend ‘Congratulations Ma’am’, could be seen covering the name board.
The celebrations were hampered by the weather: Red Arrows display was cancelled, and fireworks for the departure were very obscured by low cloud
The 3 ships departed again later that evening. Queen Mary 2 for Rotterdam, Queen Victoria for La Corũna and Queen Elizabeth to Hamburg.
Despite all the fuss: He spoke to a guest at breakfast who asked wheat all the fuss had been about earlier. They seem to have missed all the announcements and materials put in the cabins...