Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach

After the Royal Rendezvous of the reigning three Cunard Queens in New York on January 11, maritime history will be made once again in Long Beach Harbour today when Queen Victoria and Queen Mary meet for the first time.

“Queen Victoria meet Queen Mary”: That’s pretty much how the introduction would go if these two ships could speak.

Queen Victoria is expected to sail into Long Beach Harbor between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. and rendezvous with its sister ship between 6:15 and 6:45 p.m. The two ships will exchange whistle salutes amidst a sparkling fireworks display.

Queen Victoria just docked in the Port of San Pedro, Los Angeles.

It is the 4th and last visit to the port as part of her Americas Season, which features several transits through the Panama Canal, two roundtrip voyages to Hawaii, and one Getaway voyage to Mexico last month. Tomorrow she will continue to Mexico, Guatemala and Panama before she will head to Fort Lauderdale via the Netherlands Antilles. She will return to the West Coast again in early 2012.

The best place to see the action is aboard the Queen Mary’s Promenade Deck in the back of the ship, Cunard said in a news release. Admission to the Queen Mary, is usually $24.95 plus tax for adults; however today it will be free to mark the special event.

 

If you cannot be in Long Beach today, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the action on the Long Beach Webcam

Read Full Post »

Watching the 3 Queens in New York on January 13

For all those ship lovers who cannot be in New York on the 13th and for any potential snow storm victims, here are a few links to webcams that will allow you to watch the ships.

According to QV cruise director message this P.M, the arrival schedule is as follows, but all subject to change.

0230: Ambrose
0255: Enter Ambrose Channel
0345: Verrazano
0425: Statue of Liberty
0440: Lower Manhattan
0515: USS Intrepid
Pier 90: 0600

All 3 Cunard bridge webcams on one screen:
http://www.kroooz-cams.com/cunard-fleet.php

Manhattan Pier where QE and QV will dock.

http://wirednewyork.com/webcam3/

 

Brooklyn, Red Hook where QM2 will dock. QM2 should be at left end, left of the H base crane.

http://oxblue.com/pro/open/RAL/OneBrooklynBridgePark

 

When QE comes in range look for Itinerary on left., above History to see the current track coming into harbor.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=232089000

 

MAP showing NY harbor. Widen a little, then look to bottom for VZ Bridge = I-278. Should show the ships as they come along.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?centerx=-74.0829&centery=40.6759&zoom=14

Read Full Post »

Cunard Staff Retirements in 2010

It looks like 2010 will be a retirement year for Cunard!

Just learned from a well informed source (thank you Paul) that Captain Nick Bates, Queen Mary 2 and Paul Wright, Master of Queen Victoria are going to retire in May 2010.

Also retiring in May is John Duffy, Hotel Manager on Queen Mary 2. He told me so in June last year, so this is not really news.

With Captain Ian McNaught now at Seabourn, who is left from the pre-Carnival days? Just Chris Wells? They can certainly take some of the credit for bringing the ‘old Cunard spirit’ onboard the newer ships and for sure they will all be terribly missed by the Cunard community.

If anyone has more/additional information, please leave a comment on the post.

Read Full Post »

Cunard Promo Video: Legendary Queen Mary 2 and Legendary Queen Victoria

The latest video added to the Flagship Video collection is a Cunard promotional video about the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. It’s 6 mins long and you can view it on the Cunard Queens Website . Follow the link on the Home Page (link available until Jan 9, 2010) or click on Flagship Video.

We are still looking for some of the older Cunard promotional videos for any of their ships. If you happen to have any in your possession which you may be able to share with us, please contact 3queensgirl@gmail.com. Thank you.

Read Full Post »

‘We are Cunard’ on Queen Victoria – New Video

A new video has been added to the CUNARD QUEENS Website: The ‘We are Cunard’ video which was filmed on Queen Victoria for the official Cunard blog by Alistair Greener.

The video  portrays crew and staff on QV. Perhaps you or someone you know is in the film? We’d like to put same names to faces.  If you do, please leave a comment.

Read Full Post »

Queen Victoria – Maiden Voyage December 2007

The MS Queen Victoria  (also called QV) undertook her maiden voyage, a 10 day cruise to northern Europe, on 11 December 2007.  The embedded video contains very well edited footage from the cruise.

Originally destined to be an addition to the Holland America Line fleet, the order for a Vista class vessel put into Fincantieri was soon transferred by Carnival Corporation (parent company to Holland America, Cunard, and P&O) to Cunard with the intent that the vessel would become the MS Queen Victoria.

 

The Queen Vicotira is of the same basic design as other Vista class passenger vessels, though slightly longer and more in keeping with Cunard’s interior style. At 90,000 gross tons, she is the second largest Cunard ship ever built, after the RMS Queen Mary 2. The QV’s facilities include seven restaurants, thirteen bars, three swimming pools, a ballroom and a theatre.

 

Unlike many previous Cunard Queens, however, she is not an ocean liner, but rather a cruise ship. Nor will she carry mail and thus will not receive Royal Mail Ship (RMS) status.

Read Full Post »

QE2 and QM2 in Hamburg – A Photo Gallery

While googling information about the QM2 visit in Hamburg this month I came across the Royal Ocean Liner Photography website which is a collection of  8 photo galleries capturing ocean liners during their visits to the city of Hamburg.  Turn your sound on before entering the website here.

It is a fantastic collection of  exquisite photos of the QE2, QM2, Queen Victoria as well as cruise ships AidaDiva and Golden Princess. I love them,  I think they brilliantly capture the grandeur of these ships. It always makes me very happy when I find something like this by chance.  The Internet is full of surprises! I noticed all photos have been watermarked for copyright protection. Photos apparently can be purchased, you have to use the Kaufen form (order form).

The website and descriptions are all in German, so I am summarizing the important pieces of information.

Information-Über mich:  Information – About me
Dirk Rothermundt is a freelance photographer, web designer and software developer. The Royal Ocean Liner Photography website is dedicated to ships visiting the port of Hamburg, mainly QE2 and QM2.

Galerien – Galleries
There are 8 galleries documenting Hamburg visits of the ships mentioned above. My favourite galleries are obviously those of my 2 favourite liners, QE2 and QM2, so I take the liberty to describe the albums in more detail.

1. Queen Victoria, Dec 18, 2007
   Inside QV: 74 photos witnessing pure luxury
                                                                                                                                
2. AIDADiva Christening, Apr 20, 2007
                                   
3. QM2 in Voss & Blohm dry dock, Nov 8-19, 2005                        
   • QM2 reception on river Elbe, arrival at Cruise Terminal
     The night shots are exceptional! One can tell by the quality that these are Dirk Rothermundt’s speciality.
   • QM2 in Dock 17, view from Landungsbrücken
   • QM2 departure from Dock 17
     Great close up shots . I am always in awe of this impressive hull!
     
4. A Day on QM2, Aug 1, 2005
   • Arrival at Cruise Terminal
   • On the decks
   • Inside QM2
   • Hamburg as seen from QM2
   • The Bridge
     It is not often that photographers are allowed on the bridge. 41 close up photos. I guess those are rare.
     
5. A Day on QE2, Jul 8, 2005
   My favourite gallery of course. Fantastic shots both outside and inside. The albums from left to right are
   • The arrival
   • Docking at Cruise Terminal
   • The decks (outside)
   • Hamburg from the QE2
   • QE2 Interiors
     41 great photos that catapult me right back aboard. 
   • Departure
                              
6. Golden Princess, Jun 7, 2005
                                  
7. QE2 in Hamburg, May 30, 2005
   • QE2 at Cruise Terminal
   • QE2 at night
     Brilliant night shots
     
8. QM2 in Hamburg, Jul 19, 2004
   • Arrival
   • A day and night in Hamburg
   • The fireworks
     When the QM2 visits Hamburg, it is party time and the Queen is honoured with a splendid fireworks display. These photos show that the city does not spare any efforts to welcome her!

I hope you  are enjoying the photos as much as I do. Great memories come back while clicking through the albums. I wish I could return for another Transatlantic voyage.

Read Full Post »