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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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Queen names luxury ocean liner
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