The Queen Mary II – YouTube Superstar

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:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AX4OJZdiBY
The liner Queen Mary 2 slips under the Golden Gate Bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cmejmGKQDA
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:

(Photos by Telstar Logistics)
(If you’re using Internet Explorer TRY THIS)

Interesting Facts from the New York Times:

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.

Links:

• Telstar Logistics – QM2 Arrives
• QM2 Virtual Tour
• QM2 Official Website
• When Artists Attack
• More QM2 Photo Slideshows
• The QM2’s Live Bridge Cam
• QM2’s IT Infrastructure
  
• QM2’s Dynamic Positioning System
• King’s Point Grad’s View From the Bridge