After 40 year’s in service, the famed Q.E. 2 arrived at Pier 90 early this morning for its 710th and final visit to New York. The New York Times tells us of her arrival:
With shrill blasts from its three Tyfon whistles and a 39-foot-long red paying-off pennant streaming from the mast — a foot for each year at sea — that traditionally marks the end of a ship’s commission, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (only the actual monarchs warrant Roman numerals, not the ships named for royalty) split the predawn darkness to begin a day of festivities and souvenir photos by the Statue of Liberty and berthed at Pier 90 at West 50th Street on the Hudson River, tying up around 6 a.m.
As she entered the harbor, she was trailed by the grander Queen Mary 2. The two queens paraded to the Statue of Liberty before the Queen Mary 2 split off to return to its dockage at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
The Q.E. 2, which was sold last year for eventual use as a floating hotel in Dubai, will be retired from active service later this year following her final voyage from her home in Southhampton, England to Dubai. The Queen Elizabeth 2, along with its two sister ships Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, is operated by the British shipping company Cunard Lines, one of the oldest transatlantic shipping companies in the world.
September 18th, 2007 · CommentsThe+Queen+Mary+II+-+YouTube+Superstar2007-09-18+14%3A10%3A53John
The most elegant ship built in decades has caught the inspiration of artists, photographers and amateur ship spotters worldwide. She is elegant, record breaking and capable. She’s also a YouTube Star! Here are two videos of the Queen Mary II that have reached over 25,000 viewers and for good reason. Take a look:
The liner Queen Mary 2 slips under the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Queen Mary 2 departing New York Harbor.
Like most celebrities she is also photogenic. The best series of photographs are by San Francisco Photo Blogger Todd Lapin and his team over at Telstar Logistics. Here is a slideshow of his photographs:
The QM2 is more precisely referred to as an ocean liner, rather than a cruise ship; with its sleeker hull and more powerful engines, it was designed to cross oceans. Cruise ships, which typically sail closer to shore, have a more squarish profile for larger passenger loads.
Like the QE2, the QM2 is named after a ship, not a monarch. Eric Flounders, a Cunard spokesman in London, said that the original Queen Mary was the first vessel built after Cunard and White Star created one company. Before that, Cunard’s ship names typically ended in ia (Caronia, for example), White Star’s in ic (Titanic). Middle ground was sought (sorry, Queen Victoria). The liner, named after George V’s wife, sailed from 1936 to 1967.
