(Image Courtesy of New York Times) 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 … [Read more...]
How To Break A Bottle.. for good luck
BBC reports on a long standing maritime tradition: Last year the Duchess of Cornwall failed to smash a bottle on the side of cruise liner Queen Victoria; later scores of passengers were taken ill with a contagious stomach bug. To avoid this ill omen, the shipping industry has many tricks to ensure the bubbly breaks. Champagne bottles are extremely tough, having … [Read more...]
Notable Captains: Paul Wright, Master Of Cunard’s Queen Victoria
Captain Paul Wright, a Cornishman, is a kind of latter day Henry VIII - a master and commander who moves from one queen to the next in quick succession. He is the first person to command all three Queens in the Cunard fleet - Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2 and their "younger sister" Queen Victoria. His first appointment with Cunard was to Cunard Countess, since when he … [Read more...]
Cunard’s Three Queens Visit The Big Apple
Photo by AurelioZen NewYorkology tells us of the first / last ever meeting of its three grand ships; Cunard's one-time-only royal rendezvous of its three queens -- the QE2, QM2 and recently christened Queen Victoria -- will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on January 13 with a harbor fireworks show as the three grand cruise liners meet near the Statue of Liberty. The QE2 and … [Read more...]