[Singel]

Queen Mary 2 to Make History-Making Visit to NZ

Cunard Line has announced that the world’s largest ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2, will visit New Zealand for the first time in 2007.
The massive 151,400-ton QM2 will smash the record as the biggest ship of any type ever to visit New Zealand when she docks in Auckland on Saturday February 17, 2007. Longer than and almost as tall as Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, the NZ$1.1 billion QM2 will eclipse the previous biggest cruise ship to visit NZ, the 116,000-ton Princess Cruises ship Sapphire Princess, which sailed to NZ last summer.

More info : http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/cunardliners_NZvisit.html?PTPFrom=%2Findex%2FCommu nity.html




This QM2 visit has whet our appetite to do the Mediterranean cruise in October next year.

Yipeeee.................. :clap :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

[StevieD]

Oooooh wish I was there to see that! I worked on the QE2 for a while, didn't get chance to see the original QM in Long Beach, but my grandfather worked on her as well as the original Queen Elizabeth amongst others. It is a huge vessel, and it dwarfs the QE2 by some 80,000+ tons. Quite frightening when you think of it that way.

Get out you Auckland crowd and give her a welcome, it is a sight that is sure to make you wonder at the sheer scale of the vessel. I'm just a tad disappointed that I won't be there to see it myself.

[Mr TW]

Wow, the QM2 and the QE2 visiting within a week of each other!

I wish I was there - can anyone get pics of the visits?

[StevieD]

Wow, just read the article and the QE2 is visiting too! Now I am jealous. Although as Smiler will tell you, I have a rather tasty souvenir of my time on the QE2, one which makes her a bit green with envy :laugh, my beloved morse key from the radio room.

[Bruckner]

Oooooh wish I was there to see that!

Greg got to see her sail down the Hudson River and out into New York Harbor. We wanted to do a transatlantic crossing but looks like we'll have to skip it.

Emily

[Smiler]

Wow, just read the article and the QE2 is visiting too! Now I am jealous. Although as Smiler will tell you, I have a rather tasty souvenir of my time on the QE2, one which makes her a bit green with envy, my beloved morse key from the radio room.

Green eyed Smiler, that me. :D

And what day am I in Christchurch? Bottoms. :mad:

If anyone does wander past it and has their camera handy, would you take 'ole ship anorak Smiler a piccie, pretty please? :cheers

[Marie P]

We will take a photo or two for you my dear......

Marie x

[Singel]

We will be going to see the QM2 and hope to snap some photos.

Keep fingers crossed for good weather :nice1 :nice1

[Singel]

Today's NZ Herald about QM2 ........................

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/Singel8/QM2.png

[Smiler]

Thanks girls, I appreciate that. :nice1

:exit21 metres :uhoh

[Carol]

my beloved morse key from the radio room.


Wasn't he on TV?

;)

[Smiler]

:eek:














:laugh :laugh

[Moorf]

You guys really must go on the TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown :D you'd be in boaty heaven! My Dad was! (secretly so was I!!)...

[StevieD]

Morsekey is his Russian cousin Carol :laugh

But I was on the TV when I worked on the QE2 though ;) NHK Tokyo and on a video for Inmarsat in US/Canada LOL.


Looking at that margin of error of 21m for a 150000 tonne ship is not a lot when you consider the sheer size of the beast. But it is like the QE2 when she enters New York, she only clears the bridge (never remember the name of it - help Emily?!!) by 6ft/2m or thereabouts. We used to get up early just to watch the funnel go under the bridge. I have a photo somewhere and when I find it I'll scan it in and post it.

Just hope the ship comes to make a regular visit on her itinerary because I would love to see that. Don't think the ol' QE2 has much time left though, although she seems in pretty good condition when you see her up close. And it is 15 years since I was last on her.

[Singel]

You guys really must go on the TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown :D you'd be in boaty heaven! My Dad was! (secretly so was I!!)...
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/Singel8/20051222-152220.jpg

[Bruckner]

Looking at that margin of error of 21m for a 150000 tonne ship is not a lot when you consider the sheer size of the beast. But it is like the QE2 when she enters New York, she only clears the bridge (never remember the name of it - help Emily?!!) by 6ft/2m or thereabouts.

The Verrazano-Narrows or just the Verrazano as it's called around here. It's the same bridge Bobby C. falls from in Saturday Night Fever. Just a bit of trivia.

Emily

[StevieD]

That's the one, thanks Emily!! :)

[StevieD]

Sorry meant to say, found the photo of the QE2 about to pass under the Verrazano bridge, apparently she clears it by only 6ft or thereabouts. Took this on a crisp New York winter's morning in 1988, the early sun just rising over Manhattan. Sorry about the scan quality, but it gives you the right idea. My cabin was directly ahead through the doors, along the corridor just before the penthouse suites. Unfortunately the real lamp post that is fixed on the upper deck where the dogs are walked is just masked by the funnel uptake. People think you joke when you tell them this, but it is true!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/bluekiwi100/verrazano.jpg

[Singel]

Queen Mary 2 is already here .............. :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana
http://www.cunard.com/bridgecam/qm2_cam1.asp


Today...........
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10424453

Yesterday..............
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10424244








WAHOOOOOOO............... I'm going :exit

[Moorf]

Did anyone go and see the QE2 when she was in Lyttleton this week?

[K&CS]

Didn't realise it was there until Craig mentioned it yesterday! I saw a massive cruise ship out of my window when I was making brekky the other morning - don't know what it was but it was pretty impressive.

How much do you suppose an average cruise costs then? Don't know if I'd fancy it or not actually - I get seasick!!

[Marie P]

We went over the Bridge today and we saw The Queen Mary 2.....she is huge .
This evening we drove into the city for a closer look. It was a shame as this was all we could see through the railings.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c379/wilson1964/DSC_0018-1.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c379/wilson1964/DSC_0016-2.jpg

[StevieD]

Wow, looks good. But it is often the larger cruise ship's lot to be shoved in to container berths because the passenger terminals don't keep up with their progress in size. Nice to see she's kept some of the looks of the original Queen. That bridge frontage is impressive, wonder if she rolls as much as the original though? My grandfather always said she rolled like a pig, and he much preferred the Queen Elizabeth. Just a shame ships like this can't be built in Britain any longer. Thanks for the pics Marie - any more anybody??

[Milliemoo]

Here's some pics of her arriving:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Milliemoo75/new%20zealand/qm2a.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Milliemoo75/new%20zealand/qm2b.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Milliemoo75/new%20zealand/qm2c.jpg





Milliemoo ;)

[Milliemoo]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Milliemoo75/new%20zealand/qm2d.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/Milliemoo75/new%20zealand/qm2f.jpg

Milliemoo ;)

[StevieD]

Thanks for sharing those Milliemoo - wow she looks nice...... to coin a phrase loved by so many - she is AWESOME! And I mean that in the true sense of the word.

I always remember seeing the QE2 for the first time as I walked up to her in Southampton. I just stood there and took in her beauty. Yes, I'm afraid beautiful ships do that to me, and I would class the QM2 in a similar vein.

[Marie P]

Fantastic pics Millie moo ...........we regret not getting up early to see her arrive .

I think she is coming again next year.

Marie x

PS Where did you take the photos from ?

[Milliemoo]

Hi,

I walked along to North Head at 6am, but she was a bit late in arriving so the the sunrise pic wasn't as good as it could have been. After I snapped some with Rangi in the background, I ran down the hill and followed her along King Edwards Parade to the wharf.

Half of the North Shore has decended on Devonport today. It's been the wine festival all afternoon and loads of people stayed to watch her leave and the fireworks. The cars are still blocking up the roads trying to get out.

Milliemoo

[xanctus]

Marie, what time did u go there? I have a similar picture of QM2. I bet, we actuallty stood in a very same ground hahaha.
Anyone watch the farewell of QM2? it was quite fantastic view with the fireworks along with her departure...(from downtown I meant)

[urban78]

Marie, what time did u go there? I have a similar picture of QM2. I bet, we actuallty stood in a very same ground hahaha.
Anyone watch the farewell of QM2? it was quite fantastic view with the fireworks along with her departure...(from downtown I meant)

My partner and I went to the farewell, I think she started leaving her berth at around 10.15pm...we then rushed to the ferry terminal for the fireworks and got there just in time :nice1 QM2 turned around for her passengers to have a great view on the fireworks and then left towards Rangitoto Island.

The fireworks were great, heaps better than the ones for New Years :)

Jen

[Singel]

View from our friend's place ................ :nice1 :raebanana


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/Singel8/20070217-182630.jpg




http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/Singel8/20070217-182702.jpg

[jubjub]

Ivy, those are two great pics, you really get a sense of how big she is, set against the rest of the harbour!

We missed it, but after reading about the traffic chaos, may be we were better off in Rotovegas!

[Singel]

Ivy, those are two great pics, you really get a sense of how big she is, set against the rest of the harbour!

We missed it, but after reading about the traffic chaos, may be we were better off in Rotovegas!

We park our car away from the harbourfront, avoid all the traffic and have a nice stroll there. :nice1

[miep]

Ok so we didn't have the Mary here in Welly, but we did have the QE II pass by our window:cool: