Started voyaging onboard QE2 away back in 1986, when we were both teenagers! and came back home well and truly addicted to the cruising life. Have completed a large number of crossing and cruises to various ports. If you have never voyaged before its hard to convey exactly whats makes cruising so special, If you have cruised before then need l say any more than the bygone era of formal dinners, cocktail parties and all that is the best is found onboard this flagship of the worlds fleet,QE2 is the standard by which others are judged.
Alas the Grande Dame of the high seas is entering her 40th and final year (but at 28kts shes still the fastest) To step onboard is to take part in history and to cruise onboard is a whole new world! No rock climbing walls here !!
As expected she couldn't go on forever, But when the news came through that she was to leave the Cunard fleet, It has left her passengers shocked, stunned and devastated. Rather than go to her home port of Southampton or the Clyde as a major tourist attraction she is of to Dubai.
In her farewell year 2008, As expected her voyages sold out,Those of us lucky we were able to celebrate on her "Farewell to the UK" cruise and her "Farewell transatlantic crossings"
New York October 16th Queen Mary 2 & Queen Elizabeth 2 Both ships sailed down the Hudson and in an event filled with sadness RMS QE2 bid her final goodbye to the people of New York & America and sailed in tandem across the Atlantic. Her final transatlantic arrival in Southampton on the 22nd was raw with emotion as passengers disembarked shell shocked to realise that they have just completed an historic event.
The worlds most famous,respected, and best loved ship EVER
She is not just another ship, this is Cunard Lines Queen Elizabeth 2, her name evokes all that is good where ever she goes in the world.
Her farewell year touched with great sadness for those who voyaged aboard and those ashore she has made her farewell voyages round the UK visiting for the last time ports of history. Greenock will live on in history for the outstanding welcome and farewell they gave us, Her birthplace gave us a wake we wont forget. Cobh for the friendly overnight in port, and who can forget the ringing bells in the church as we sailed in, Liverpool for the Cathedral service, Belfast for the biggest non event of the year an utter disgrace, followed closely by South Queesnferry yet again
November 11th as we make our way to Southampton for the end to end all ends QE2 will slip away from the berth at 1915, sail up to Mayflower park where the Captain will give the speech of his life to the masses near and far. As emotion reaches fever pitch QE2 will swing round 180 degrees and engines slow ahead a final blast will ring out. Those of us if we can bear to watch will see Queen Elizabeth 2 leave for the last time and our links firmly cut off, Dubai she is bound for, only the fool hardy will even think to vist, the rest of us need to decide where now !!!
As Carnival count the bloodmoney, perhaps now they might realise that QE2 was more than just an ageing ship in their modern fleet, she was for some a way of life.
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2
1967- 2008
REST IN PEACE |
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