Queen Mary 2 on schedule to Ushuaia/Punta Arenas
Queen Mary 2 on schedule to Ushuaia/Punta Arenas
The cruise liner Queen Mary 2 with its 2.600 passengers is currently sailing for Ushuaia and Punta Arenas after having spent thirteen hours in Montevideo where Cunard Lines put on a big public relations operation.
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| Queen Mary 2 at Montevideo Port |
The world's largest, longest, tallest, grandest ocean liner ever was received last Sunday in Montevideo by the Uruguayan Minister of Tourism Hector Lescano and a display of typical River Plate music and dance groups.
At mid day Captain Ronald Warwick held a reception on board for Uruguayan officials, special guests and the local press that was given a treat of Cunard hospitality plus a tour of the impressive 345 metres long and 14 stories tall vessel.
Although it was a particularly hot and damp day, many passengers visited the old city and port market of Montevideo, while other took special tours to resorts and ranches with all the South American cattle breeding show.
Queen Mary actually suffered two days delay when it had to return with a damaged propeller to Fort Lauderdale for repairs January 17.
However in spite of the good public relations this cruise has proved particularly troublesome with some passengers having threatened to sue Cunard because of last minute schedule changes including cancelling calls in St. Kitts, Barbados and Salvador.
Queen Mary actually suffered two days delay when it had to return with a damaged propeller to Fort Lauderdale for repairs January 17.
However when the company promised a full refund, including flight transfers, if passengers decided to disembark in Rio do Janeiro (Friday January 27) tempers cooled and the vessel was back on schedule.
"Passengers are delighted that they have at last been dealt with reasonably and have been compensated fairly for their loss. Capital Law can confirm that in these circumstances it will discontinue its class action against Cunard, said the legal firms release
.
In Montevideo a couple of British travellers quoted by the local press said that only a few passengers were involved in the protest since they considered the half refund originally offered by Cunard was insufficient.
It is part of the American culture of protesting: give me back my money or Ill sue you: that was their attitude. The cruise has been wonderful and were looking forward to the Cape Horn crossing and Tierra del Fuego channels.
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The ship, based in Southampton, started its planned 38-day cruise around Latin America from New York.
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Queen Mary is scheduled to call again in Montevideo next March.
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Sunday, January 29, 2006
Chilling exhibit aboard the Queen Mary turns visitors into passengers
| Posted by Kate McLaughlin on Jan 27,2006 | ||||||
There may be no better place to view "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit" than where it is now - below decks, amid the passageways and holds of the stately Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Over the past decade, more than 15 million people worldwide have seen versions of this exhibit, including a show in 2003 at Los Angeles' California Science Center, but the Queen Mary is a particularly inspired venue, a setting that turns visitors into passengers and, for a brief time, the Queen Mary into the Titanic. Visitors to the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 4, are plunged below deck, where they wind along narrow passageways that are illumined by pools of ice-blue light and lined with photos, documents and relics that retell, in chilling detail, the story of the ill-fated luxury liner. And make no mistake: The exhibit is literally chilling. The temperature cools noticeably as visitors re-trace the Titanic's tragic course - from its construction in a Belfast shipyard to its sinking in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912, en route to New York. The chill is all part of the show, the cold air piped in to enhance the dramatic impact of the large, man-made iceberg that awaits visitors at the end of their tour.
The glistening slab of ice is there to be touched, so that visitors might know the intense pain of the passengers who were left to die in the icy cold waters. It also serves as a miniature reminder of the massive iceberg that doomed both passengers and ship. But it's the passengers and crew, not the faux iceberg, that constitute the heart of this exhibit. More than 1,500 people died in the disaster. "The Titanic was one of the first big transit tragedies, like the first plane crash or train wreck," says David Galusha, an artifact conservationist who has worked on Titanic items for years. "These were civilians, a cross-section of regular people in society going from point A to point B. We're just like them, so all their personal stories are fascinating to us, even now." The exhibit tells their stories effectively, showing their faces in grainy photographs and film clips, posting their words on the walls and displaying their personal belongings and numerous other artifacts - more than 270 in all - recovered from the floor of the North Atlantic decades after the sinking. Period music sets the tone as visitors move through the displays. Bright, light-hearted fiddle music fills the air in a re-created waterfront area, with wood plank floors and piles of suitcases stacked and ready for travel. Historic film footage captures the throngs of well-wishers and passengers waving and celebrating as the Titanic heads out to sea on its maiden voyage. Headlines from vintage newspapers proclaim the great confidence early 20th century society placed in passenger liners as luxurious, speedy and safe modes of public transit, declaring the ship "practically unsinkable." In the exhibit's re-creation of the forward grand staircase area, visitors are serenaded with a stately Viennese waltz. The black-and-white floor tiles, oak-paneled walls and authentic cherub statuette provide a glimpse of the ship's opulence and architectural grandeur. A plaque on the wall quotes passenger Lady Lucille Duff-Gordon: "Why, you would think you were at the Ritz." She and her fellow first-class passengers certainly paid for such elegance. The average price for a first-class berth on the Titanic was $4,500 - almost $79,000 in today's dollars. Whatever class they were traveling in, passengers aboard Titanic fared better than was typical on an ocean liner. Supplies on board included 75,000 pounds of meat, 6,000 pounds of fresh butter, 1,500 bottles of wine, 20,000 bottles of beer and 10,000 pounds of sugar. But the Queen Mary's aft steering room offers no hint of the Titanic's opulence. The steering room sits at the end of a low-ceilinged, all-metal passageway that runs along the ship's angled hull. Here, amid coils, pipes, giant hydraulic cylinders and other heavy machinery, visitors learn a bit about the inner workings of the Titanic, such as its massive fuel consumption: 1 pound of coal for every foot traveled. They also learn about the ship's crew. Beneath the grainy photograph of a stern-looking Frederick Fleet, the lookout who was on iceberg watch that fateful night, a brief caption tells his sad story. An orphan who never knew his father, Fleet was abandoned by his mother and sent off to work at sea when he was just 12. Beyond the steering room is the propeller box, the exhibit's turning point. Inside the small, dark enclosure visitors can look over a rail into the illuminated water at one of the Queen Mary's huge propellers, similar in size to those on the Titanic. There is no music here; only an occasional drip of water, echoing eerily. On the wall, Fleet's ominous words are lit by a single circle of cool, blue light: "Iceberg right ahead." From this point the exhibit takes a somber turn. The hallways become darker, the air colder. The lively music has been replaced by haunting, otherworldly sounds evocative of whale songs. Passenger quotes mounted on the walls reflect growing desperation, none more dramatically than Capt. John Smith's infamous advice: "Every man for himself." True to maritime code, Smith went down with his ship. So, too, did all eight members of the ship's band. Gallantly refusing to leave their posts, they played "Nearer My God to Thee" as the ship went down. Many passengers, the exhibit reveals, behaved just as nobly. "We are dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen," Benjamin Guggenheim is quoted as saying. He did not survive. Neither did Ida Strauss. "I will not be parted from my husband," she said. "As we have lived so will we die. Together." The quotes are poignant and powerful. So, too, are the many recovered artifacts that connect viewers and victims: a white steward's jacket, its owner's name still legible on the collar; a deeply crested Trilby hat, band and bow intact, sitting stiff and crisp next to combs, toothbrushes and playing cards; a pair of velvet-trimmed sealskin slippers that still retain the shape of their owner's feet. These are the stark reminders of lost lives: luggage tags, currency (coins and bills), a perfume dealer's sample bag with vials and scents still intact, china, silverware, a full champagne bottle still corked, jugs and bottles encrusted with fragments of deep-sea creatures, a plate littered with the pits of olives eaten 93 years ago. Working on such artifacts can be "pretty eerie at times," Galusha, the conservationist, says. "Sometimes when I'm in my lab late at night working on this stuff by myself, I get goose bumps. The pieces are amazingly well-preserved for having been underwater for more than 90 years, notes Galusha, who specializes in the preservation of textiles and leathers. "Believe it or not, the site, which is more than 2 miles down, is a pristine environment," he says. "There is no light or oxygen down that far and it's extremely cold. Corrosion doesn't occur until the items are retrieved and exposed to the air." At that point, Galusha says, conservation begins immediately, including desalinization and immersion baths in deionized water. Several of the items on display at the Queen Mary exhibit have local significance. They once belonged to former area residents who found their fates intertwined with that of the Titanic. One such item is a letter addressed to Mr. Howard Irwin at 1055 S. Hope St., Los Angeles. Irwin had booked passage on the ship, but never made it aboard. En route to the Titanic, he was shanghaied and forced into labor on a steamer bound for the East. He eventually escaped his captors and made his way back home, but his friend, Henry Sutehall, didn't fare so well. Sutehall went to the Titanic to bid Irwin bon voyage, saw that his friend's baggage was loaded aboard and waited for him to arrive. When Irwin never showed, Sutehall boarded the ship in his place. Sutehall didn't survive the tragedy, but some of his belongings - a few woodworking tools, a leather belt and some playing cards - did, and are now on display. Los Angeles businessman Walter Clark, who founded the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the Los Alamitos Sugar Factory and Citizens National Bank, was also a passenger on the ship. He did not survive, and his mother memorialized him by donating the money to build Long Beach's Walter Miller Clark Memorial Church, now the Lakewood Village Community Church. Also on board was George Brereton, a notorious Los Angeles card shark whose gambler's luck held out, to his lasting discredit. He was rescued aboard lifeboat 15 and forever branded part of a cowardly lot: 50 of the 65 survivors in his lifeboat were men. A room toward the end of the exhibit lists the names of all passengers and crew members, the rescued and lost. Among the surviving passengers was Jack Thayer, whose words, quoted earlier in the exhibit, provide an eloquent, if ironic, comment on the Titanic's tragic last night. "There was no moon," Thayer said, "and I have never seen the stars shine brighter; they appeared to stand out of the sky sparkling like diamonds. ... It was the kind of night that made one feel glad to be alive." |
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Cunard foils QM2 mutiny with full refund offer
By Andrew Downe in Rio de Janeiro and Amy Iggulden
(Filed: 28/01/2006)
(Filed: 28/01/2006)
Passengers on the cruise liner Queen Mary 2 who missed out on scheduled stops because of damage to the ship have called off their threatened sit-in protest after the owner Cunard agreed to give them a full refund.
The 2,620 passengers on board the world's largest and most expensive cruise liner have spent six days as "virtual hostages" at sea after the ship suffered damage to one of its propeller pods and cancelled three port stops in the Caribbean and Brazil.
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Many of the passengers launched a group legal action and said they would refuse to leave the ship when it docked in Rio de Janeiro after Cunard offered them a 50 per cent refund on the 12-day leg of the 38-day cruise, which cost up to £17,000.
Yesterday Cunard's president, Carol Marlow, said the passengers would now receive either a full refund or half of their money back plus a voucher for another cruise worth 75 per cent of their outlay.
"We've made this offer because we've seen our guests were not happy" said Miss Marlow, who flew to Rio to meet disgruntled passengers. "This wasn't a true Cunard voyage and we wanted to put that right."
The damage to the ship occurred two days after leaving New York when it hit the edge of the shipping channel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It meant the ship had to wait for two days to leave the port and then travel at a slower speed, causing it to miss scheduled stops in St Kitts, Barbados and Salvador, in north-east Brazil.
"We were very disappointed that we didn't get to see all the stops," said Philip Franks, a Lincolnshire farmer who took the 12-day cruise with his wife. "We had never been to the Caribbean and we paid to see it. We were prisoners on a luxury ship. People were very upset."
Mr Franks said anger had boiled over during meetings with the ship's commodore. Irate passengers had shouted at officials, launched legal action and threatened to lock themselves in their cabins during the ship's abbreviated stop in Rio.
A spokesman for Cunard said it had originally been hoped that passengers would find "plenty to enjoy" on board, even if the vessel did not make any of its scheduled stops before Rio.
Its late offer, on the eve of the arrival in Brazil, diffused most of the anger.
"They came up with the full refund and we don't think we can get any more than that," said Neville Smith, a retired electrical engineer from Essex.
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Friday, January 27, 2006
QM2 passengers to get full refund
 QM2 passengers have threatened a sit-in protest |
Some passengers on the cruise liner Queen Mary 2 are to get a full refund after damage forced the ship to miss ports-of-call, the operating firm says.
Cunard, which had earlier offered a 50% refund, said all those disembarking at Rio de Janeiro would get the money.
The ship - based in Southampton, Hants - has missed three scheduled port stops, following a propeller accident, since leaving the US on 19 January.
Some passengers had been threatening a sit-in protest at the 50% offer.
 |  1. Ship departs New York 15 Jan 2. Unscheduled stop at Ft Lauderdale 17 Jan - departs then returns to port after accident - finally leaves 19 Jan 3. St Kitts: dropped from itinerary 4. Barbados: dropped from itinerary 5. Salvador: dropped from itinerary 6. Due to arrive Rio de Janeiro 27 Jan |
They said this was inadequate and initiated a group lawsuit against Cunard.
The ship, which is on a 38-day cruise around Latin America, is expected to arrive at Rio on Friday - a day behind schedule.
About 1,000 people are waiting to board, but some of those already on the ship had threatened to lock themselves in their cabins in protest to prevent the vessel continuing its journey.
Caribbean islands
The QM2 had to cancel stops at the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Barbados and Salvador in Brazil after damaging a propeller pod when it set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 17 January.
It spent two unscheduled days at the port as divers inspected the ship, before continuing on reduced power.
Passengers say Cunard told them the cruise would no longer be calling at the destinations only once they were out at sea.
The Cunard spokesman said it had originally been hoped passengers would find "plenty to enjoy" on board, even if the vessel did not stop as scheduled at the three ports.
"We're sorry that despite the best efforts of officers and crew this has not proved to be the case for a significant number of people," he said.
"We realise that the mood on board might have further contributed to this."
He added that Cunard's managing director was travelling to Rio and would be "personally meeting" passengers as they disembarked.
'Still angry'
Cunard is owned by Carnival Corporation, and David Dingle, managing director of Carnival UK, said the first 12 days of the cruise had been affected and passengers disembarking in Rio would get a full refund.
"Those sailing all the way to Los Angeles will receive a partial refund, acknowledging the fact that first 12 days of their cruise has been affected in this way," he said.
David Ashton, whose parents Sarah and Peter Ashton, from Coventry, are on the cruise, said the refund was welcome but it would not make up for everything that had happened.
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For years you've been dreaming of a luxury cruise. Exotic locales, balmy sea breezes, tropical drinks with umbrellas in them.
You've read about some of the problems with Carnival and other cruise lines, so you opt to go first class. You book a cruise on the Queen Mary 2, a Cunard ship. A top-shelf experience awaits, and for what it costs, you have every right to expect nothing but the best.
But your cruise ship hits the side of a shipping channel in Florida, damaging one of its four propulsion motors. As a result, Cunard cancels three of your planned ports of call. But this is Cunard, an organization that protects its reputation, so you expect you'll be taken care of. What action might you expect from Cunard, the company that owns the ship that was not damaged by weather or another act of God, but through its own crew's actions? A full refund and a coupon good for another cruise would do it. The PR value of such a move would far outweigh the cost!
Alas, Cunard is offering only a 50% refund to its customers. Here's what the company's spokesman had to say:
The story has already caused irreparable harm to the venerable cruise line, with items appearing in places like the BBC News website quoting passengers like Alan Berg who said, "We have been lied to and misled...Many guests are on once-in-a-lifetime holidays and I have seen several in tears."
There was even talk of a passenger mutiny with passengers refusing to leave when the ship arrived at its next port of call. Whoever said there's no such thing as bad publicity hadn't read this story.
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"Obviously there's been a lot stress. They're not happy with the situation full stop.
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"I think now Cunard are not going to have any mad protest, but people are still angry."
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Thursday, January 26, 2006
QM2 tourists may miss flights home
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Carnival's Cunard faces class action suit from Queen Mary 2 passengers
LONDON (AFX) - Cunard Line Ltd, a unit of Carnival Corp, is facing a class action lawsuit from passengers on board its luxury liner Queen Mary 2 after the liner was forced to cancel three stops when one of its propellers was damaged on leaving Florida, the British Broadcasting Corp said.
More than 200 passengers are so far involved in the group litigation and more are joining, Cardiff-based Capital Law said, according to the BBC's website.
Cunard offered a 50-pct refund to about 1,000 passengers on the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship. However, passengers rejected the offer, with some threatening to refuse to disembark when the ship reaches Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Friday.
Holidaymakers said the refund applies only to the cost of the cruise and does not address the cost of flights or hotels at the aborted destinations, which they say form a significant part of their total holiday cost.
Cunard President Carol Marlow said the firm sympathised with the passengers, but felt the compensation offer was generous.
The QM2 is sailing two days behind schedule and has abandoned stops in the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Barbados, and Salvador in Brazil. It is scheduled to complete its journey in Los Angeles on Feb 22.
More than 200 passengers are so far involved in the group litigation and more are joining, Cardiff-based Capital Law said, according to the BBC's website.
Cunard offered a 50-pct refund to about 1,000 passengers on the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship. However, passengers rejected the offer, with some threatening to refuse to disembark when the ship reaches Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Friday.
Holidaymakers said the refund applies only to the cost of the cruise and does not address the cost of flights or hotels at the aborted destinations, which they say form a significant part of their total holiday cost.
Cunard President Carol Marlow said the firm sympathised with the passengers, but felt the compensation offer was generous.
The QM2 is sailing two days behind schedule and has abandoned stops in the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Barbados, and Salvador in Brazil. It is scheduled to complete its journey in Los Angeles on Feb 22.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2006
First-rate Cruise Line Practices Third-Rate PR
First-rate Cruise Line Practices Third-Rate PR
 Shel HoltzExpert Author Published: 2006-01-24
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For years you've been dreaming of a luxury cruise. Exotic locales, balmy sea breezes, tropical drinks with umbrellas in them.
You've read about some of the problems with Carnival and other cruise lines, so you opt to go first class. You book a cruise on the Queen Mary 2, a Cunard ship. A top-shelf experience awaits, and for what it costs, you have every right to expect nothing but the best.
But your cruise ship hits the side of a shipping channel in Florida, damaging one of its four propulsion motors. As a result, Cunard cancels three of your planned ports of call. But this is Cunard, an organization that protects its reputation, so you expect you'll be taken care of. What action might you expect from Cunard, the company that owns the ship that was not damaged by weather or another act of God, but through its own crew's actions? A full refund and a coupon good for another cruise would do it. The PR value of such a move would far outweigh the cost!
Alas, Cunard is offering only a 50% refund to its customers. Here's what the company's spokesman had to say:
Cunard takes the view that they are on board, they're enjoying all the facilities of the QM2, all the food, the entertainment and so on, so while we very much regret they're missing the ports, we feel the 50% compensates for that.Will it compensate Cunard for all the potential customers who will now take their business to competitors? For the hit to its reputation when the passengers of this cruise tell their friends how they had to forgo the stop in Barbados which was the centerpiece of the vacation they'd been planning for five years?
The story has already caused irreparable harm to the venerable cruise line, with items appearing in places like the BBC News website quoting passengers like Alan Berg who said, "We have been lied to and misled...Many guests are on once-in-a-lifetime holidays and I have seen several in tears."
There was even talk of a passenger mutiny with passengers refusing to leave when the ship arrived at its next port of call. Whoever said there's no such thing as bad publicity hadn't read this story.
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Mutiny on the Queen Mary 2
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QM2 POD DAMAGE.. MORE NEWS...
Queen Mary 2 Damages Pod, Some Passengers Unhappy
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 sustained unspecified damage to one of her four
propulsion pods departing from Ft. Lauderdale last week at the start of
a 38-day voyage around South America. After the damage was discovered,
the liner returned to port where the pod was examined and a
determination was eventually made to continue the journey albeit at a reduced
speed.
The combination of two-day delay, and reduced cruising speed, means
that the scheduled stops at Barbados, St. Kitts and Salvador, Brazil will
be skipped and the call in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be shortened.
Following the Rio call, Cunard said that it anticipates being able to
visit all of the originally published ports of call, however with
shortened stays in Montevideo and in Acapulco. To compensate passengers for the
missed stops, Cunard said that it was offering the 1,000 or so
passengers scheduled to disembark in Rio de Janeiro on January 26th a 50%
refund.
Unfortunately for Cunard, some passengers did not think that was enough
and a few have notified the press saying that they are unhappy with the
compensation and complaining that they should have been given a full
refund or allowed to get off the ship in Ft. Lauderdale when she returned
after the damage was discovered. A small number of passengers are now
saying that they are so unhappy that they will not disembark in Rio to
make room for the new passengers waiting to board.
Cunard said that it believes the compensation if fair and that it could
not determine which ports would be missed until after the ship departed
and the impact of her reduced speed on the journey could be determined
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 sustained unspecified damage to one of her four
propulsion pods departing from Ft. Lauderdale last week at the start of
a 38-day voyage around South America. After the damage was discovered,
the liner returned to port where the pod was examined and a
determination was eventually made to continue the journey albeit at a reduced
speed.
The combination of two-day delay, and reduced cruising speed, means
that the scheduled stops at Barbados, St. Kitts and Salvador, Brazil will
be skipped and the call in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be shortened.
Following the Rio call, Cunard said that it anticipates being able to
visit all of the originally published ports of call, however with
shortened stays in Montevideo and in Acapulco. To compensate passengers for the
missed stops, Cunard said that it was offering the 1,000 or so
passengers scheduled to disembark in Rio de Janeiro on January 26th a 50%
refund.
Unfortunately for Cunard, some passengers did not think that was enough
and a few have notified the press saying that they are unhappy with the
compensation and complaining that they should have been given a full
refund or allowed to get off the ship in Ft. Lauderdale when she returned
after the damage was discovered. A small number of passengers are now
saying that they are so unhappy that they will not disembark in Rio to
make room for the new passengers waiting to board.
Cunard said that it believes the compensation if fair and that it could
not determine which ports would be missed until after the ship departed
and the impact of her reduced speed on the journey could be determined
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Sunday, January 22, 2006
QM2 passengers make mutiny threat
Passengers on the luxury Queen Mary 2 cruise ship are threatening to mutiny after the ship set sail from Florida with a damaged propeller.
They have said they will refuse to disembark when the ship reaches Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next week, to prevent it from continuing its journey.
It has dropped three ports of call because it is running at reduced speed after the accident.
Cunard Lines, which operates the ship, says it has offered compensation.
On tow
The world's largest liner is on a 38-day trip around South America.
However it is running two days behind schedule, with one of its four propulsion pods out of commission.
The British-registered ship had to be towed back to Fort Lauderdale in Florida on 17 January after one of its motors hit an underwater channel.
Passengers have reacted angrily to the change of plans, saying they were only told scheduled stops - at the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Barbados, and Salvador in Brazil - were cancelled once the ship set sail from Fort Lauderdale.
| The mood among passengers is extremely angry and becoming more so Passenger Alan Berg |
Many passengers planned to meet relatives at the aborted destinations and have paid for hotels and sight-seeing trips.
"We have been lied to and misled," passenger Alan Berg, 63, from Manchester, UK, told the BBC News website.
"We should have been allowed the option of getting off at Fort Lauderdale and not taking the cruise at all. It is not in fact a cruise now but a rather a voyage by sea to Rio. Many guests are on once-in-a-lifetime holidays and I have seen several in tears.
'Held hostage'
"The mood among passengers is extremely angry and becoming more so."
Mr Berg said many of the 2,500 passengers are demanding a full refund and are threatening to refuse to disembark at Rio de Janeiro or pay for anything on board.
He says passengers have held several angry meetings with the Queen Mary's captain, Commodore Ronald Warwick, but have not yet reached a satisfactory outcome.
| Passengers who are travelling to Rio will be given a 50% refund Cunard Lines spokesman |
One passenger described the situation as "being held hostage by Cunard and he felt like a prisoner", Mr Berg said.
A spokesman from Cunard said: "The ship is proceeding on three engines and therefore is moving slightly slower than it would on four engines.
"We have 1,000 passengers that are being picked up at Rio, and it's essential it arrive in Rio on time.
"Passengers who are travelling to Rio will be given a 50% refund of the fare that they have paid."
Latest mishap
He said the company would not offer passengers a bigger discount than the 50% already made. He added that Cunard would have to react to the threat of a sit-in "when the time comes".
The ship is scheduled to complete its full journey in Los Angeles on 22 February.
The QM2 is the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship. It weighs 150,000 tonnes and is 345 metres (1,132ft) long and 41 metres (135ft) high.
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File photo of the Queen Mary II docked at Port Zante, St Kitts.
Photo by Erasmus Williams
This latest mishap is not the first time the liner has known trouble.
Fifteen people were killed when a gangway collapsed while the ship was in dry dock at St Nazaire, France, in 2003.
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In 2004, she arrived back home from her maiden voyage late after bow doors covering propellers failed to shut in Portugal.
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Friday, January 20, 2006
Titanic Aborad the Queen Mary
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| The most technologically advanced ship of its time, the RMS Titanic was described to be practically unsinkable by The Shipbuilder Magazine in 1911. At 882.9 feet long, the Titanic was not only the largest ship of the early 20th century, but also the largest moving object built by man before 1912. With a double-bottom hull and a system of 16 water-tight compartments supporting the ship, even if four compartments were compromised, the Titanic was also purported to be the safest ship ever built. It took two years to build and 10 months to decorate, but on April 14, 1912, only two hours and 40 minutes for the 46,328-ton, 2,440-passenger ship to sink two-and-a-half miles below the Atlantic Ocean. There was no moon, and I have never seen the stars shine brighter; they appeared to stand out of the sky, sparkling like diamonds. It was the kind of night that made one feel glad to be alive, said Jack Thayer, 1st-class passenger. More than 270 recovered artifacts from the legendary sinking of the Titanic have been collected and are on display at the Queen Marys Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which welcomes passengers until Sept. 4. Aboard the Queen Mary, a ship eclipsing the Titanic in length by more than 100 feet, the exhibition has the singular and intriguing appeal of boarding one historic passenger ship and simultaneously experiencing the tragic fate of another. Before entering the exhibit and escaping the 21st century, a 1:48-scale model of the Titanic reveals the insides of the ship and encourages a glimpse into the dramatically different accommodation levels among first-, second- and third- class rooms. Placed just a turn of a head away from the full-size third-class room replica was a bedroom from a first-class luxury suite. Although the basic first-class room, offered at $43,860 today, was comprised of four or more rooms, the quick life-size comparison of the luxurious private bedroom with the shared plain box of a third-class room proved fascinating and made immediately clear why the top-of-the-line first-class suite, with a private bathroom, running water and a private promenade, was offered at $78,950. The juxtaposition of the two rooms is one of the highlights of the exhibit, which lasts one to two hours, depending on how absorbed one becomes in the history and the meticulously prepared displays. Most of us remember James Camerons stark portrayal of a third-class room in the most recent movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Indeed, Titanic the movie and the exhibit both picture a nearly identical room, the latter featuring a full-scale replica. Compared to other passenger ships of the time, the noisy and cramped (think two-thirds the size of a two-person dorm room with four people) rooms were actually as good if not better than the second-class accommodations on other ships of that era. Similarly, according to the exhibit, the Titanic second-class rooms rivaled the first-class accommodations of most contemporary liners. Even third-class passengers paid dearly for their spartan rooms, which, at $620 today, were often shared with other strangers. By comparison, a modern flight on British Airways from Southampton, England to New York, N.Y. (the same route taken by the Titanic) in economy class costs about $2,500 and a seat in first-class sets one back a fraction of a first-class suite on the Titanic, at just $7,500 today. With the average American man in 1912 making $4,000 a year, passengers paid greatly for their place on the moving piece of history. According to The Shipbuilder Magazine, Everything [was] done in regards to the furniture and fittings to make the first-class accommodations more than equal to that provided in the finest hotel on shore. The core attraction of this exhibit lies in the close personal connection one feels with the passengers of the Titanic. With the multitude of paraphernalia and everyday items displayed, the exhibit excels at drawing the guest into the lives of Titanic passengers and into the world of 1912. After the wreckage of the Titanic was located in 1985, extensive recovery and conservation efforts began to save everything from soup spoons, olive pits, tattered clothing, travel souvenirs, fine jewelry and much more. Amazingly, even a sealed bottle of champagne was recovered and is on display in the exhibit. Besides the display of everyday items, firsthand accounts from those onboard the ship provide an excellent mix of content and conciseness, furthering the connection between guest and Titanic passenger. Guests are also given a boarding pass with the name of an actual passenger of the Titanic. Following the end of the exhibit, guests can find out whether the person on the boarding pass survived or went down with the ship. Once a guest learns about the lives and thankless jobs of those who worked to power the ship, an icicle emerges and he or she can read quotes from those who chose to remain aboard the Titanic as it sunk and view a computerized video showing how exactly the ship sunk after it hit an iceberg. Fascinating, detailed information and quotes are scattered throughout the exhibit, providing reason enough for those interested in history to come visit the Titanic aboard the Queen Mary. Even some of those who ordinarily stay away from museums may enjoy this historical exhibit. Old myths are debunked, obscure stories substantiated and the legend of the Titanic elaborated with this Queen Mary hosted historical exhibit. Until guests rise from the Titanic back into 2006 and remember the $26.95 total cost ($16.95 adult admission and $10 parking), cost of gas and time it took to drive to the Queen Mary, they will be fully satisfied and entertained both by the exhibits thoroughness and knowledgeable staff. But then reality sets in, as well as the knowledge that you just spent more than an hour and over $30 including gas to visit the two ships. A student discount of some kind would probably attract more students from UC Irvine and other schools in the area. I will not be parted from my husband. As we have lived so will we die. Together. Mrs. Ida Straus, first-class passenger. |
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Queen Mary 2 departs after Coast Guard gives the OK
Queen Mary 2 departs after Coast Guard gives the OK
By Angela Tablac
atablac@MiamiHerald.com
The world's largest cruise ship was finally allowed to leave the port early this morning, two days after a hitting a sea wall and damaging part of the propulsion system, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Queen Mary 2 planned to sail last night at dinner time, and then by midnight, after crews inspected the damaged system and concluded the ship could sail.
But those plans were on hold until the ship's damaged motor propellor could be removed, Coast Guard Petty Officer Dana Warr said Thursday. Steps to put the motor out-of-service were completed ''sometime early this morning,'' Warr added, and the ship left around 6 or 7 a.m.
Even while the ship is at sea, the Coast Guard continues to examine how the luxury liner hit an underwater channel as it tried to leave Port Everglades Tuesday afternoon.
''We have determined the vessel is safe for voyage and for the passengers, but the cause and the reason and who's at fault is still under investigation,'' Warr said.
On Wednesday night, passengers partied, ate and relaxed, but instead of taking in the views of South America, they saw views of the Fort Lauderdale area.
Divers inspected the systems Wednesday and confirmed that one of the ship's four propulsion motors had been damaged from hitting the channel wall.
While one of the four motors will be inoperable because of the damage, Cunard Line, the ship's owner, said the ship can operate without a problem on the three remaining engines, and cleared the ship to resume a 38-day voyage around South America, ending in Los Angeles on Feb. 22.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, the ship was just a few miles offshore when the captain noticed a problem with one of the ship's engines. A light on the cruise's instrument panel indicated the problem to the captain.
Cunard said the ship stopped offshore and performed engine checks for a few hours, but engineers decided the ship could not continue, so the decision was made to return the Queen Mary 2 to its berth at Port Everglades.
Cunard is owned by Miami-based
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Queen Mary 2 sets sail again after repairs
MIAMI, FL, United States (UPI) -- Queen Mary 2, the world`s largest cruise ship, left Miami Thursday, two days after hitting a sea wall and damaging part of its propulsion system.
Operating well on three its four engines, the ship was cleared to resume its 38-day voyage around South America, scheduled to end Feb. 22 in Los Angeles.
Even while the ship is at sea, the Coast Guard will continue to examine how the luxury liner hit an underwater channel as it tried to leave Port Everglades Tuesday afternoon.
'We have determined the vessel is safe for voyage and for the passengers, but the cause and the reason and who`s at fault is still under investigation,' a spokesman told the Miami Herald.
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Port mishap causes Queen Mary II to cancel calls to Barbados and St Kitts
File photo of the Queen Mary II docked at Port Zante, St Kitts.
Photo by Erasmus Williams
Friday, January 20, 2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA (AFP): The Queen Mary II, the world's largest cruise ship, set sail again Thursday two days after being forced to return to port near Miami when one of its motors hit an underwater channel, resulting in the cancellation of scheduled calls at Barbados and St Kitts.
"Queen Mary 2 departed Port Everglades at 6:00am (1100 GMT) this morning and is now underway following technical work to decommission one of the ship's four propulsion pods," Cunard Lines, which operates the ship, said in a statement.
The company said the ship's speed was affected by the fact it was cruising with only three of its four motors.
"Because of the delayed departure from Florida, and the ship's reduced speed caused by one inoperable pod, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the port calls at St. Kitts, Barbados and Salvador, and proceed directly to Rio de Janeiro," Cunard said.
The ship sailed from New York on January 15, and was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles on February 22 after a voyage along the South American coast.
The Queen Mary 2 will meet its legendary predecessor, the Queen Mary, as planned despite its recent mechanical problems.
The world's most expensive cruise liner encountered problems only hours into its 38-day voyage around South America when a propulsion motor hit the side of a shipping channel.
It is scheduled to meet the Queen Mary, which is permanently berthed in Long Beach, California, on February 22nd 2006.
There was concern that damage to one of the ship's four propulsion motors would cause its itinerary to be disrupted, but Cunard confirmed that there were no plans to alter any of the events planned for Long Beach and that the ship would make up lost time.
The $800 million ship with 2,500 passengers on board returned to Port Everglades for an inspection on Tuesday, but set sail again on Thursday morning using its three operational propulsion motors.
The two Queen Marys are due to meet twice on February 22nd at 0700 local time and 1700 as the Queen Mary 2 sails through outer Long Beach harbour, sounding a special greeting using one of her namesake's original whistles.
"Through Cunard's storied history, we can recall few occasions that have inspired so much anticipation," said president and managing director Carol Marlow.
"The meeting of the Queen Marys is a rare opportunity to witness the convergence of Cunard's illustrious past with the line's 21st century future."
The original Queen Mary, which first set sail in 1936 and retired in 1967, is dwarfed by her successor which is nearly twice the size in terms of gross tonnage.
But the Queen Mary 2 is set to lose its title as the world's largest cruise ship when Royal Caribbean International launches the Freedom of the Seas in May.
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The Queen Mary 2 returned to Port Everglades under tow shortly after setting off Tuesday, when the crew noticed an unusual vibration in the engine room.
An assessment of the ship showed one of the propulsion pods had hit an underwater channel upon departure.
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About 2,500 passengers are traveling on the luxurious cruise ship.
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QM2 to meet QM as planned (despite the "accident")
The Queen Mary 2 will meet its legendary predecessor, the Queen Mary, as planned despite its recent mechanical problems.
The world's most expensive cruise liner encountered problems only hours into its 38-day voyage around South America when a propulsion motor hit the side of a shipping channel.
It is scheduled to meet the Queen Mary, which is permanently berthed in Long Beach, California, on February 22nd 2006.
There was concern that damage to one of the ship's four propulsion motors would cause its itinerary to be disrupted, but Cunard confirmed that there were no plans to alter any of the events planned for Long Beach and that the ship would make up lost time.
The $800 million ship with 2,500 passengers on board returned to Port Everglades for an inspection on Tuesday, but set sail again on Thursday morning using its three operational propulsion motors.
The two Queen Marys are due to meet twice on February 22nd at 0700 local time and 1700 as the Queen Mary 2 sails through outer Long Beach harbour, sounding a special greeting using one of her namesake's original whistles.
"Through Cunard's storied history, we can recall few occasions that have inspired so much anticipation," said president and managing director Carol Marlow.
"The meeting of the Queen Marys is a rare opportunity to witness the convergence of Cunard's illustrious past with the line's 21st century future."
The original Queen Mary, which first set sail in 1936 and retired in 1967, is dwarfed by her successor which is nearly twice the size in terms of gross tonnage.
But the Queen Mary 2 is set to lose its title as the world's largest cruise ship when Royal Caribbean International launches the Freedom of the Seas in May.
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A Royal Occasion: Queen Mary 2 Meets Namesake Queen Mary on February 22, Marking a Cunard Milestone
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2006/11/c1379.html
Queen Mary 2 to Sail by Queen Mary for Historic Morning and Afternoon Greeting
VALENCIA, Calif., Jan. 11 /CNW/ -- Since Queen Mary 2's dazzling debut in 2004, Cunard enthusiasts have wondered if the grand ocean liner would ever meet her legendary predecessor, the Queen Mary. On February 22, 2006, that question will be answered when Queen Mary 2 makes her maiden call to Los Angeles and unites for the first time with her namesake, the Queen Mary, in nearby Long Beach.
Retired from maritime service for nearly 40 years, the Queen Mary, which sailed from 1936 through 1967, is now permanently berthed in Long Beach and is one of the city's most well-known attractions.
"Through Cunard's storied history, we can recall few occasions that have inspired so much anticipation," said Carol Marlow, president and managing director for Cunard Line. "The meeting of the Queen Marys is a rare opportunity to witness the convergence of Cunard's illustrious past with the line's 21st century future."
The historic meeting of the two Queen Marys will take place twice on Wednesday, February 22 -- at both 7:00 am and again at 5:00 pm. -- as Queen Mary 2 sails through outer Long Beach harbor, sounding a special greeting to the Queen Mary. The first-time salutation will take on even more meaning as Queen Mary 2 carries one of her namesake's original whistles, the tone of whose deep bass A note can be heard up to ten miles away.
Queen Mary 2, which will have just completed her 38-day South America Odyssey, will make her historic Los Angeles debut in the Port of Los Angeles where she will be berthed for a series of inaugural voyages sailing on February 22, February 25 and March 8. Details regarding related festivities and specific viewing areas for the public will be announced soon.
Though longer, taller and nearly twice as large as the Queen Mary, Queen Mary 2 shares a number of venerable "family" traditions with her namesake, including worldwide fame, royal launching ceremonies, spectacular maiden calls and a lineage of hosting noted society figures, celebrities and other luminaries of the day.
The two Queen Marys are also linked by Cunard's history of legendary voyages. Interestingly, the Queen Mary charted her one and only journey to South America on her "Last Great Cruise" in October 1967, and Queen Mary 2 will have just returned from her maiden foray into the region, becoming the largest passenger vessel ever to round the famed waters of Cape Horn.
The Queen Mary first set sail in May 1936, and was named for and launched
by Her Majesty Queen Mary amidst great fanfare and celebration. During her more than 30 years at sea, the most celebrated liner of its time hosted A-list celebrities and society figures, sailed more than 1,000 transatlantic crossings and played a pivotal military role between 1940-1946, when she was commissioned to transport military troops during World War II. After carrying more than 765,000 service personnel throughout the conflict, Prime Minister Winston Churchill credited Queen Mary (as well as sister ship Queen Elizabeth)with ending the war one year earlier than estimated. Today, the Queen Mary is one of Southern California's most recognizable icons and continues to educate and entertain visitors from all around the world, offering tours, exceptional exhibitions, a calendar of festivals and numerous social and special events year-round.
Both considered the very finest ocean liners of their day, the two ships offer a range of fascinating similarities and differences. For example, length-wise Queen Mary 2 is just 113 feet longer than the Queen Mary, but in terms of gross tonnage, she is nearly twice the size of her predecessor. In days gone by, salt cod and kippers were menu highlights -- today, caviar and lobster top the bill of fare. In addition, the Queen Mary has a dozen decks, but QM2 has 17. Finally, Queen Mary 2 can carry nearly 600 more passengers than her namesake.
Some things never change, however. Champagne, for example, remains the beverage of choice for generations of travelers, impeccable White Star Service(SM) remains a Cunard hallmark, renowned enrichment programs and leisure offerings are still the primary onboard pursuits and, whatever the decade, Cunard ocean liners attract the world's most famous celebrities, including entertainers ranging from Duke Ellington to Carly Simon.
During the Golden Age of Ocean Travel, the Queen Mary welcomed such famous
personalities as Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Clark Gable. Continuing Cunard's illustrious heritage of hosting royalty, society luminaries and famed entertainers, Queen Mary 2 has hosted a variety of notable guests such as Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, John Cleese, Tina Brown and Sir Harold Evans, Donald Trump, and Dame Shirley Bassey. Eminent visitors have included Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, Former President George Bush, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Hillary Clinton.
Queen Mary 2 is the grandest ocean liner ever built. There are 1,310 suites and cabins available in degrees of style and comfort ranging from pampered elegance to almost unimaginable luxury in the ship's famed Grill-level accommodations. Queen Mary 2 brings together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(SM), fine dining, sophisticated adventure and legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
For more information about Cunard, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com. For more information about the Queen Mary, call 1-562-499-1620 or visit www.queenmary.com.
Cunard Line has operated the most famous ocean liners in the world since 1840. Cunard vessels have a classic British heritage and include the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in 2007.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Queen Mary 2 to Sail by Queen Mary for Historic Morning and Afternoon Greeting
VALENCIA, Calif., Jan. 11 /CNW/ -- Since Queen Mary 2's dazzling debut in 2004, Cunard enthusiasts have wondered if the grand ocean liner would ever meet her legendary predecessor, the Queen Mary. On February 22, 2006, that question will be answered when Queen Mary 2 makes her maiden call to Los Angeles and unites for the first time with her namesake, the Queen Mary, in nearby Long Beach.
Retired from maritime service for nearly 40 years, the Queen Mary, which sailed from 1936 through 1967, is now permanently berthed in Long Beach and is one of the city's most well-known attractions.
"Through Cunard's storied history, we can recall few occasions that have inspired so much anticipation," said Carol Marlow, president and managing director for Cunard Line. "The meeting of the Queen Marys is a rare opportunity to witness the convergence of Cunard's illustrious past with the line's 21st century future."
The historic meeting of the two Queen Marys will take place twice on Wednesday, February 22 -- at both 7:00 am and again at 5:00 pm. -- as Queen Mary 2 sails through outer Long Beach harbor, sounding a special greeting to the Queen Mary. The first-time salutation will take on even more meaning as Queen Mary 2 carries one of her namesake's original whistles, the tone of whose deep bass A note can be heard up to ten miles away.
Queen Mary 2, which will have just completed her 38-day South America Odyssey, will make her historic Los Angeles debut in the Port of Los Angeles where she will be berthed for a series of inaugural voyages sailing on February 22, February 25 and March 8. Details regarding related festivities and specific viewing areas for the public will be announced soon.
Though longer, taller and nearly twice as large as the Queen Mary, Queen Mary 2 shares a number of venerable "family" traditions with her namesake, including worldwide fame, royal launching ceremonies, spectacular maiden calls and a lineage of hosting noted society figures, celebrities and other luminaries of the day.
The two Queen Marys are also linked by Cunard's history of legendary voyages. Interestingly, the Queen Mary charted her one and only journey to South America on her "Last Great Cruise" in October 1967, and Queen Mary 2 will have just returned from her maiden foray into the region, becoming the largest passenger vessel ever to round the famed waters of Cape Horn.
The Queen Mary first set sail in May 1936, and was named for and launched
by Her Majesty Queen Mary amidst great fanfare and celebration. During her more than 30 years at sea, the most celebrated liner of its time hosted A-list celebrities and society figures, sailed more than 1,000 transatlantic crossings and played a pivotal military role between 1940-1946, when she was commissioned to transport military troops during World War II. After carrying more than 765,000 service personnel throughout the conflict, Prime Minister Winston Churchill credited Queen Mary (as well as sister ship Queen Elizabeth)with ending the war one year earlier than estimated. Today, the Queen Mary is one of Southern California's most recognizable icons and continues to educate and entertain visitors from all around the world, offering tours, exceptional exhibitions, a calendar of festivals and numerous social and special events year-round.
Both considered the very finest ocean liners of their day, the two ships offer a range of fascinating similarities and differences. For example, length-wise Queen Mary 2 is just 113 feet longer than the Queen Mary, but in terms of gross tonnage, she is nearly twice the size of her predecessor. In days gone by, salt cod and kippers were menu highlights -- today, caviar and lobster top the bill of fare. In addition, the Queen Mary has a dozen decks, but QM2 has 17. Finally, Queen Mary 2 can carry nearly 600 more passengers than her namesake.
Some things never change, however. Champagne, for example, remains the beverage of choice for generations of travelers, impeccable White Star Service(SM) remains a Cunard hallmark, renowned enrichment programs and leisure offerings are still the primary onboard pursuits and, whatever the decade, Cunard ocean liners attract the world's most famous celebrities, including entertainers ranging from Duke Ellington to Carly Simon.
During the Golden Age of Ocean Travel, the Queen Mary welcomed such famous
personalities as Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Clark Gable. Continuing Cunard's illustrious heritage of hosting royalty, society luminaries and famed entertainers, Queen Mary 2 has hosted a variety of notable guests such as Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, John Cleese, Tina Brown and Sir Harold Evans, Donald Trump, and Dame Shirley Bassey. Eminent visitors have included Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, Former President George Bush, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Hillary Clinton.
Queen Mary 2 is the grandest ocean liner ever built. There are 1,310 suites and cabins available in degrees of style and comfort ranging from pampered elegance to almost unimaginable luxury in the ship's famed Grill-level accommodations. Queen Mary 2 brings together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(SM), fine dining, sophisticated adventure and legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
For more information about Cunard, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com. For more information about the Queen Mary, call 1-562-499-1620 or visit www.queenmary.com.
Cunard Line has operated the most famous ocean liners in the world since 1840. Cunard vessels have a classic British heritage and include the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in 2007.
Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Happy Birthday Queen Mary 2 - British flagship celebrates second year of service
| Happy Birthday Queen Mary 2 - British flagship celebrates second year of service |
| LONDON, ENGLAND--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 11, 2006) - Queen Mary 2 celebrates her second birthday tomorrow, having entered service and making worldwide headlines on 12 January 2004. The first transatlantic liner to be built since QE2, Queen Mary 2 is still the biggest (151,400-tons), the longest (1,132 feet / 342 metres), the tallest (236 feet / 72 metres) the widest (135 feet / 41 metres) passenger liner ever and, at a cost of GBP 540 million, the most expensive passenger ship in history. Ever since she entered service Queen Mary 2 has been making headlines. Her first two years have seen her complete 39 Atlantic crossings, sail 276,000 nautical miles, visit 67 different ports in 27 countries and carry almost 230,000 passengers of over 70 nationalities. She has been a crowd-puller at every port she has visited for the first time; almost three million turned out when she sailed up the east coast of England at close range, followed by half a million in Hamburg in August 2005. Reaction to Queen Mary 2 has been overwhelming with passengers rating the ship highly especially when it comes to dining, service and on board facilities - which have no equal at sea today. Queen Mary 2 has entertained a range of celebrities including Antonio Banderas, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Hurley, Esther Rantzen, Sir Jimmy Savile and The Muppets. Her Royal Court Theatre has been the venue for shows from Dame Shirley Bassey. Jon Bon Jovi, Harry Connick Jnr and Beyonce Knowles while eminent visitors have included Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, the Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg, Senator Hilary Clinton, the Prime Ministers of St Lucia and St Vincent and HRH The Sultan of Kelabtan. She was the flagship vessel at the Athens Olympics where she played host to Queen Sophia of Spain, former President George Bush and Olympic athlete royalty including Great Britain's gold medal winner Ben Ainslie. She's now so famous, in fact, that already six books have been published about her! Queen Mary 2's primary role is transatlantic liner - the route Cunard has operated since 1840 and she has taken over from QE2 in plying that legendary route. In addition Queen Mary 2 offers a variety of voyages to Northern Europe, the Mediterreanan and the Caribbean. She is about to break more records, for she departed New York on 9 January heading for Los Angeles and so will become the largest passenger ship ever to circumnavigate South America and visit the US West Coast and Hawaii. Queen Mary 2 has also proved herself to be the destination in her own right. Everything about this ship is superlative and she offers a whole host of 'firsts' and exclusives. 79% of cabins feature private balconies. There is over GBP 3.5 million of artwork on board. The world's first floating Planetarium offers virtual reality rides through the galaxies. A cultural academy is operated by the University of Oxford. She has the first suites with private lift access, the first Canyon Ranch Spa at sea, the first Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar at sea, the largest Library at sea (with 8,000 hardbacks, 500 paperbacks, 200 audio books and 100 CD ROMs) and the largest ballroom with the biggest dancefloor at sea. Workshops and master classes are performed by RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts). She also boasts the longest jogging track at sea, the largest and most extensive wine cellar at sea - and, if that's not enough, the 'Queen Mary 2' signs near the funnel are the largest illuminated ship's name signs in maritime history! |
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Thursday, January 05, 2006
French shipyards that built Queen Mary II sold to Aker
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Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Cunard Line Receives Top Travel Industry Honors on Both Sides of the Atlantic
Cunard Line and its flagship Queen Mary 2 were recently awarded top travel industry accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. U.S. publication Travel Weekly announced its annual Reader's Choice Awards, naming Queen Mary 2 as "Best Luxury Cruise Ship" for the second consecutive year. In the U.K. earlier in the fall, Travel Trade Gazette's British Travel Awards named Cunard as "Best Luxury Cruise Line" and "Cruise Line of the Year."
Both highly-coveted awards result from travel agent polls and are widely recognized as a symbol of excellence in the travel industry.
"It is truly an honor to receive these very meaningful accolades from our valued travel industry partners," says Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Line. "Their sentiments are a testament to the distinctive experience that only Cunard is able to offer - blending unique onboard elements with historic itineraries and our renowned White Star ServiceSM ."
Cunard liners are known for sailing legendary voyages around the globe, with such signature routes as the company's iconic transatlantic crossings and renowned world cruises. Continuing Cunard's 165-year heritage of transatlantic service, Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner with regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton.
Cunard Line caters to sophisticated travelers who enjoy the classic ocean liner experience combined with 21st century luxuries and amenities. Aboard the famous ships, like-minded travelers will enjoy the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceSM, fine dining, sumptuous surroundings and civilized adventure.
For more information about Cunard Line or Queen Mary 2, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit www.cunard.com
"It is truly an honor to receive these very meaningful accolades from our valued travel industry partners," says Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Line. "Their sentiments are a testament to the distinctive experience that only Cunard is able to offer - blending unique onboard elements with historic itineraries and our renowned White Star ServiceSM ."
Cunard liners are known for sailing legendary voyages around the globe, with such signature routes as the company's iconic transatlantic crossings and renowned world cruises. Continuing Cunard's 165-year heritage of transatlantic service, Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner with regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton.
Cunard Line caters to sophisticated travelers who enjoy the classic ocean liner experience combined with 21st century luxuries and amenities. Aboard the famous ships, like-minded travelers will enjoy the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceSM, fine dining, sumptuous surroundings and civilized adventure.
For more information about Cunard Line or Queen Mary 2, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit www.cunard.com
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About
Addicted to cruising? Interested in cruising? This blog tells the story of the planning and what I have learnt about cruising (mostly from Cunard and P&O ships that I have or am booked to travel on. It covers the learning, links and other stuff of interest that I think may help anyone who like me got hooked and wanted to find out more. This will help you find your way around based on my experiences.
About Me
-
- Name:Gary Bembridge
- Location:London, England, United Kingdom
I have a global marketing job. Which I love. It means that I get to travel a lot for work - up to two weeks a month. Luckily - my one BIG hobby and passion is travelling, and my partner and I try and go on as many exciting holidays a year as we can squeeze into our holiday days.
Cruises Done/ Booked
2004: P&O Aurora 4 Night (Aug) - QE2 Transatlantic (Dec) * 2005: P&O Arcadia Med (Jul)
Previous
- 'I Dos' won't be don'ts aboard Queen Mary - Some couples fear ship won't be around for their weddings.
- Queen Victoria finally makes it into Cunard fleet
- Cunard's Commodore Warwick to Host Final Voyage After 36 Years of Service
- Dubai bid to save historic cruise liner
- First All-Gay QM2 Atlantic Crossing
- PODCAST # 23 : DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA
- A blast from the past
- Keel Laying Ceremony Held for New Cunard Ship Queen Victoria
- Work begins on 'new QE2' vessel
- CUNARD LINE ANNOUNCES:QUEEN VICTORIAS MAIDEN WORLD CRUISEAND QE2S SOUTH AMERICA, PACIFIC AND ORIENT ODYSSEY
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