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Queen names luxury ocean liner



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 8th, 2004, 07:59 PM
Earl Evleth
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Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

I have a hankering to take this ship. It reminds
me of the days when we did not have jet lag in
crossing the Atlantic.

Earl

****




Queen names luxury ocean liner

Thursday, January 8, 2004 Posted: 1:27 PM EST (1827 GMT)


SOUTHAMPTON, England (CNN) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth has named a new $800
million cruise ship, the Queen Mary 2 -- billed by its owner Cunard as the
largest passenger ship of its type ever built.

"I name this ship Queen Mary 2. May God bless her and all who sail in her,"
the British monarch declared in time-honored manner, before a jeroboam of
Veuve Cliquot champagne smashed against the spotlit starboard side of its
black bow.

Ship's horns blew in celebration, and the 2,000 invited guests broke into a
triple chorus of "hip, hip, hurrah!"

The ship is French-built and American-owned but will sail under a British
flag.

Built in France for Cunard, the historic British shipping line now owned by
Carnival Corporation of the United States, the Queen Mary 2 is the first
trans-Atlantic liner to be built in over 30 years.

After the naming, she was being prepared for her 14-day maiden voyage to
Fort Lauderdale in the United States which Cunard say has been fully booked
for weeks.

Thursday's celebrations were partly overshadowed by the deaths of 15 people
in November when a gangway to the QM2 collapsed in the French port of St.
Nazaire, where the ship was built. Most of the dead were ship workers'
relatives invited to visit the vessel, and members of a cleaning crew.

The ship arrived at Southampton, the departure point for the Mayflower and
the Titanic, on December 26. Two women were evacuated from the liner on New
Year's Day after falling and breaking bones during a short cruise off the
south coast of England.

The QM2 will take over the trans-Atlantic duties of the Queen Elizabeth 2
(QE2) ocean liner, which was launched in 1967.

Spectators watch as the Queen Mary 2 arrives at its new home port of
Southampton, England.

Security for Thursday's naming ceremony was tight. Divers examined the
ship's keel for anything suspicious, and police inspected parkland and
buildings near Southampton docks ahead of the royal visit.

The ship is named after the original Queen Mary, a famously luxurious
trans-Atlantic liner that came into service in 1936 and is now retired.

Fares for the fully booked maiden voyage from Southampton to Fort
Lauderdale, starting January 12, begin at 2,449 pounds ($4,408) per person
for 14 nights and rise to 26,839 pounds (U$48,310).

There are 1,310 cabins, including four royal suites and six penthouses. The
standard cabins are 58 square meters (194 square feet), and 955 of the
cabins have balconies.

The QM2 boasts swimming pools, bars and restaurants, as well as an art
gallery, a casino and a cinema that can convert into a planetarium.

The ship is 342 meters (1,138 feet) long and 71 meters (238 feet) high -- as
tall as a 21-story building -- and can accommodate 2,600 passengers.

Though the ship's title as the world's biggest ocean liner is expected to be
short-lived.

Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. recently confirmed an order
with Finland's Kvaerner Masa-Yards for the Ultra Voyager, which will
accommodate 3,600 passengers and be bigger than the QM2. The Ultra Voyager
is expected to enter service in 2006.

Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved. T

  #2  
Old January 9th, 2004, 06:45 AM
randee
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Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

I think it is the Number 10 deck that you want......
FWIW I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Ultra Voyager will be a
cruise ship and not an ocean liner.
--
wf.

Earl Evleth wrote:

I have a hankering to take this ship. It reminds
me of the days when we did not have jet lag in
crossing the Atlantic.

Earl

  #3  
Old January 9th, 2004, 05:39 PM
Olivers
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Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

randee muttered....

I think it is the Number 10 deck that you want......
FWIW I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Ultra Voyager will be a
cruise ship and not an ocean liner.
--
wf.

Earl Evleth wrote:

I have a hankering to take this ship. It reminds
me of the days when we did not have jet lag in
crossing the Atlantic.

Earl


I suspect that both of you will find that the QM2 is a sheep in wolf's
clothing, no "ocean liner" at all but another big cruise ship, not designed
for and incapable (at least comfortably) of the high speed Winter voyages
across the North Atlantic that were required of "liners" in TransAtlantic
service. I suspect she'll "cruise" out of Southhampton with a 14 day
schedule to FLL, until that niche in the market is exhausted and then be
used in the parent line's other cruising services, likely replacing a
present hull. Currently, there's rampant over capacity in the cruising
business (and no cal at all for traditional Transalantic service).

Passenger vessels are not measured by hull displacement (as are naval and
cargo vessels and tankers), but by a formula calculating enclosed space
above the water line, and all that slab sided tophamper of QM2, lightly
framed and constructed by traditional standards, would be likely to make
her both hard to handle and uncomfortable for passengers on a NA sked,
especially in the gale season. Comparing her profile with the old QM, the
OE("1") or the US, she has more sail area than an aircraft carrier and
could be counted on to fall off to Leeward at a good clip. I certainly
wouldn't want to try to dock her on the Hudson on a windy day without all
the tugs in NY harbor on hand (having once conned a carrier docking on the
West Side during a tug strike).

TMO
  #4  
Old January 9th, 2004, 05:53 PM
Keith Willshaw
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Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner


"Olivers" wrote in message
...
randee muttered....


I suspect that both of you will find that the QM2 is a sheep in wolf's
clothing, no "ocean liner" at all but another big cruise ship, not

designed
for and incapable (at least comfortably) of the high speed Winter voyages
across the North Atlantic that were required of "liners" in TransAtlantic
service. I suspect she'll "cruise" out of Southhampton with a 14 day
schedule to FLL, until that niche in the market is exhausted and then be
used in the parent line's other cruising services, likely replacing a
present hull. Currently, there's rampant over capacity in the cruising
business (and no cal at all for traditional Transalantic service).


Spot on

Maiden Voyage - 14-Day Southampton to Fort Lauderdale
Ports of Call: Southampton, Funchal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas,
Bridgetown, Charlotte Amalie, Fort Lauderdale
January 12, 2004

Inaugural Caribbean - 11-Day Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale
Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, Basseterre, Fort de France,
Bridgetown, Castries, Roseau, Charlotte Amalie
January 31, 2004


Passenger vessels are not measured by hull displacement (as are naval and
cargo vessels and tankers), but by a formula calculating enclosed space
above the water line, and all that slab sided tophamper of QM2, lightly
framed and constructed by traditional standards, would be likely to make
her both hard to handle and uncomfortable for passengers on a NA sked,
especially in the gale season. Comparing her profile with the old QM, the
OE("1") or the US, she has more sail area than an aircraft carrier and
could be counted on to fall off to Leeward at a good clip. I certainly
wouldn't want to try to dock her on the Hudson on a windy day without all
the tugs in NY harbor on hand (having once conned a carrier docking on the
West Side during a tug strike).


On the other hand she has 4 21.5 MW propulsion pods two of which are
steerable so that may make he a trifle easier to con.

Keith


  #5  
Old January 9th, 2004, 06:09 PM
Earl Evleth
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Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

On 9/01/04 17:39, in article , "Olivers"
wrote:



I suspect that both of you will find that the QM2 is a sheep in wolf's
clothing, no "ocean liner" at all but another big cruise ship, not designed
for and incapable (at least comfortably) of the high speed Winter voyages
across the North Atlantic that were required of "liners" in TransAtlantic
service.



They claim up 30 knot speeds and a 6 day crossing. That is not much
different than the liners of the past.

Another feature is a kennel! Most cruise boats don`t have pet facilities.
The SS France did, a wonderful one and our first dachs made a number of
crossing with us. He ate wonderfully!

The Elizabeth 2 did too but not so spiffy, we only
made one crossing and even cancelled our return trip because we
were not fully satisfied with the QE 2. Their kennel
facilities were inferior to the France's!

I read that when the SS France was refitted so the top speed was lowered
from 30 to 20, which I say is "dog paddle" speed so a ship can mossy around
the Caribbean.

Next new boat looks like a liner, not some floating Las Vegas whore house!

I must say I still pine for the SS France, the passage was 5 days,
the food great, and it was not expensive. We took it first on the last
passage of the season in November of 1965, the sea was rough and some
passengers spent part of the trip on deck chairs. We had our 5 yr old
daughter and dog with us, coming to France for a year. We had the
cheapest cabins on board, D deck, really in the belly of the ship.
I think we paid around $250 each.

The nice feature was they had separate dining facilities for the kids,
and a nice play room with help. So we`d take our daughter to her dinner
and then to the play area, dropping by after our dinner to pick her
up. All the help for the children was professional, the staff was all
French down to the last person on board. We`d visit our dog when we wished
and would walk him on a special desk area. We took the ship many times
afterwards and it was always the same man who handled the animals and
fed them.

For restaurant personnel, a period on the SS France was considered
a positive in their career, one of the first jobs out of training
schools which exist in France.

I suspect she'll "cruise" out of Southhampton with a 14 day
schedule to FLL, until that niche in the market is exhausted and then be
used in the parent line's other cruising services, likely replacing a
present hull. Currently, there's rampant over capacity in the cruising
business (and no cal at all for traditional Transalantic service).

Passenger vessels are not measured by hull displacement (as are naval and
cargo vessels and tankers), but by a formula calculating enclosed space
above the water line, and all that slab sided tophamper of QM2, lightly
framed and constructed by traditional standards, would be likely to make
her both hard to handle and uncomfortable for passengers on a NA sked,
especially in the gale season. Comparing her profile with the old QM, the
OE("1") or the US, she has more sail area than an aircraft carrier and
could be counted on to fall off to Leeward at a good clip. I certainly
wouldn't want to try to dock her on the Hudson on a windy day without all
the tugs in NY harbor on hand (having once conned a carrier docking on the
West Side during a tug strike).



The 2004 season is


January 12, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Maiden Voyage - Southampton to Fort Lauderdale
*
January 31, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Inaugural Caribbean - Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale
*
February 11, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : South America - Fort Lauderdale to Rio de Janeiro

February 23, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : South America - Rio de Janeiro to Fort Lauderdale

March 16, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale
*

March 26, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Three Continents Transatlantic - Southampton to Fort
Lauderdale
*

April 16, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Inaugural Transatlantic Westbound - Southampton to New York
*

April 25, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Inaugural Transatlantic Eastbound - New York to Southampton
*

May 01, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York

May 07, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Mothers Day Cruise - Roundtrip from New York
*
May 10, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from New York
*

May 18, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton
*

May 24, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Europe - Roundtrip from Southampton
**

June 05, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*

June 11, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from New York
*

June 19, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton
*

June 25, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*

July 01, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Fourth of July Celebration - Roundtrip from New York
*
July 05, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton
*
July 11, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Europe - Roundtrip from Southampton
*
July 25, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*
July 31, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton


August 06, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Europe - Roundtrip from Southampton
*
August 18, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*
August 24, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton

August 30, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Europe - Roundtrip from Southampton
*
September 11, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*
September 17, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : US Canada - Roundtrip from New York

September 29, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : US Canada - Roundtrip from New York
*
October 11, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Eastbound - New York to Southampton
*
October 17, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Europe - Roundtrip from Southampton
*
October 31, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Transatlantic Crossing Westbound - Southampton to New York
*

November 06, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from New York
*
November 16, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from New York
*

November 26, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - Roundtrip from New York
*
December 06, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean - New York to Fort Lauderdale
*
December 20, 2004
Queen Mary 2 : Caribbean Holiday - Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale


  #6  
Old January 9th, 2004, 07:31 PM
Go Fig
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

In article , Keith Willshaw
wrote:

"Olivers" wrote in message
...
randee muttered....


I suspect that both of you will find that the QM2 is a sheep in wolf's
clothing, no "ocean liner" at all but another big cruise ship, not

designed
for and incapable (at least comfortably) of the high speed Winter voyages
across the North Atlantic that were required of "liners" in TransAtlantic
service. I suspect she'll "cruise" out of Southhampton with a 14 day
schedule to FLL, until that niche in the market is exhausted and then be
used in the parent line's other cruising services, likely replacing a
present hull. Currently, there's rampant over capacity in the cruising
business (and no cal at all for traditional Transalantic service).


Spot on

Maiden Voyage - 14-Day Southampton to Fort Lauderdale
Ports of Call: Southampton, Funchal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas,
Bridgetown, Charlotte Amalie, Fort Lauderdale
January 12, 2004

Inaugural Caribbean - 11-Day Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale
Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, Basseterre, Fort de France,
Bridgetown, Castries, Roseau, Charlotte Amalie
January 31, 2004


Passenger vessels are not measured by hull displacement (as are naval and
cargo vessels and tankers), but by a formula calculating enclosed space
above the water line, and all that slab sided tophamper of QM2, lightly
framed and constructed by traditional standards, would be likely to make
her both hard to handle and uncomfortable for passengers on a NA sked,
especially in the gale season. Comparing her profile with the old QM, the
OE("1") or the US, she has more sail area than an aircraft carrier and
could be counted on to fall off to Leeward at a good clip. I certainly
wouldn't want to try to dock her on the Hudson on a windy day without all
the tugs in NY harbor on hand (having once conned a carrier docking on the
West Side during a tug strike).


On the other hand she has 4 21.5 MW propulsion pods two of which are
steerable so that may make he a trifle easier to con.

Keith


Besides the Azipods, Im sure she has hydroaulic thrusters: bow,
midships and stern... she will rarely use tugs, "she" (no longer the
convention, PC run amuck) can rotate on her axis 360 degrees.

jay
Fri Jan 09, 2004



  #7  
Old January 10th, 2004, 02:04 AM
Tim Kroesen
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Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

Was Mrs. Elveth with you when you toured the brothels of Nevada?

Should any European brethren wish to visit the same 'attractions' also
let me relate my experience. Some Twenty years ago on a skiing vacation
to the Lake Tahoe region my curious pals and I drove out into the desert
from Reno into Mustang County, in search of the infamous Mustang Ranch.
We approached the desolate site after an hour, which shone in the
distant night sky like a small city, stopping in front of the
automatic gate...

Twenty or so huge floodlights illuminated the 'compound' from towering
poles. Through the Twenty foot high razor-wire topped chain-link fence
we saw what appeared to be some number of double-wide trailers lashed
together, the 'World Famous brothel itself. It was hard for us to
imagine that the imposing fence was there just to keep the Coyote's
out, as we, disillusioned and disappointed, turned around and drove
back to Reno...

About One Month after out return we saw news reports concerning a new
contagious and little understood disease; epicenter, Nevada Brothels.
Shortly there after it was linked to the then recent phenomena dubbed
'Gay Cancer' in California (Caposi Sarcoma). We now refer to this
disease as AIDS.

That was our 'last hurrah' as a group of single young men, as Three of
our Four where engaged to be married within the coming Year...

Tim K

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...

Next new boat looks like a liner, not some floating Las Vegas whore

house!



  #8  
Old January 10th, 2004, 06:10 AM
randee
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Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

Seems to me I read the S.S. United States could do the crossing in
something like 3.5-4 days; although I assume the new owners will put it
into cruise service.
--
wf.

Earl Evleth wrote:

They claim up 30 knot speeds and a 6 day crossing. That is not much
different than the liners of the past.


  #9  
Old January 10th, 2004, 07:19 AM
Go Fig
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

In article , randee
wrote:

Seems to me I read the S.S. United States could do the crossing in
something like 3.5-4 days; although I assume the new owners will put it
into cruise service.


Yes, at 3.5 days she still holds the record for large ships and is also
still the holder of the Blue Riband Metal.

jay
Fri Jan 09, 2004




--
wf.

Earl Evleth wrote:

They claim up 30 knot speeds and a 6 day crossing. That is not much
different than the liners of the past.


  #10  
Old January 10th, 2004, 11:18 AM
Earl Evleth
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Posts: n/a
Default Queen names luxury ocean liner

On 10/01/04 6:10, in article , "randee"
wrote:

Seems to me I read the S.S. United States could do the crossing in
something like 3.5-4 days; although I assume the new owners will put it
into cruise service.



As I remember it was only marginally faster than the 31 or so knots on
the SS France. The France is a 5 day trip but I think the fuel consumption
was a ton and hour, dropping the speed to 25 reduced the consumption but
that stretched the trip to 6 days.

The economics were poor, the French government subsidized the boat and
the passengers were paying only 50% of the real cost. The boat
was all French by union regulation (CGT) and they would not compromise
on this. On the last crossing in 1974, the union shut down the boat
before docking, I had a friend whose car was stuck aboard for over a
month. The strikers let the people off but not much else.

The new Queen has a British primary crew but most of the help, cabins
and restaurant are Asians. All the cruise ships run this way, economics
dictates it.

I would find it disconcerting not having a French waiter on a French boat!

The SS United States is back in the news:

Earlier this year (April 2003) Norwegian
Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the SS UNITED STATES. From
the NCL 4/14/2003: "Norwegian Cruise Line States, one of the country's
most venerable ships.

NCL "intends to convert the vessel to a state-of-the art, modern
cruise ship and to add her to NCL's planned US flagged
fleet," as stated in the NCL release.

 




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