Countdown to Queen Elizabeth - 254 days

As Queen Mary 2 made her maiden call to Cochin in India and headed to Phuket in Thailand, her sister, Queen Victoria had crossed the Pacific to make her maiden call to the port of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It was the ship’s first visit to the island and what a welcome we received, and certainly beyond our expectations. On the same day a couple from Toronto, Canada had decided to make this an extra special day as well. More of that after our regular feature, Cunard’s history, for the week 5 to 11 February:

Queen Victoria anchored off the island of Maui at about 8am last Monday, and everyone soon flocked to the open decks to see the most incredible welcome from the marine life of the bay. There were North Pacific Humpback Whales everywhere around the ship with approximately twenty of them on view comprising families with their calves.

We found out that this was no coincidence, as the Whales choose the Maui area and specifically the bay around Lahaina as it is a perfect area for them to spend their winters. Hawaiian water temperatures average around 75 degrees, which is an ideal environment for the newborn calves. The islands shelter and protect the waters and form a shallow basin, as compared to the deep surrounding Pacific Ocean waters with depths of up to three miles. The average depth in the area off Lahaina is only about 300 feet which is perfect for the Humpback Whale. Another reason they come to Maui is that Hawaiian waters are virtually predator free for the Humpback Whales. Their only other predators, besides humans, are Orcas, the Killer Whale, but they are rarely seen in Hawaii as they prefer colder waters. The Humpbacks encounter Orcas on a regular basis when they migrate to the feeding grounds of Alaska in the summer, and as such, about a fifth of Humpback Whales bear scars from Orca attacks. The marine life remained visible throughout the day; it was almost like some of the calves wanted Queen Victoria to join in the fun! Our guests and crew were able to take some fantastic photos from the ship and the tenders which took them ashore; mind you it takes a professional like our Chief Photographer, Marius Botha to get a shot like this.

The name La haina means “cruel sun” in the Hawaiian language, describing the sunny dry climate enjoyed most of the year. It’s a small town compared with the very busy and cosmopolitan Honolulu, with the focus of activity along Front Street, which dates back to the 1820s and today is lined with stores and restaurants. Banyan Tree Square features an exceptionally large Banyan tree planted in 1873 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the missionaries. It has grown by dropping roots from its branches that then become additional trunks, allowing it to cover two-thirds of an acre.

It’s amazing to think that this is just one tree! It now has twelve major trunks and the symmetry of the tree is apparently maintained by volunteers.

While most of our guests were enjoying island tours, two guests from Toronto, Canada were preparing for a day they would never forget, because this was the day they had chosen for their Hawaiian wedding. Corey who recently retired from the Canadian Military, and Amy, who works in finance, met in a nightclub in Toronto just over a year ago. As Amy was already booked on part of Queen Victoria’s World Voyage, the idea of a Hawaiian wedding seemed perfect. Amy’s parents are staying on for the whole World Voyage so they also attended the ceremony on an exclusive beach within a short walk of Lahaina. Amy’s sister and her partner flew to the island for a week’s holiday, so they could also be part of the special day. The setting was idyllic with their honeymoon destination, (Queen Victoria) in the background.

They said that once they had decided on a Hawaiian wedding, the process was actually quite simple and not too complicated. They managed to arrange everything over the internet and all they had to do on the day was arrive at Amy’s sister’s hotel to change, and then walk down to the beach to meet the minister who had arranged their traditional Hawaiian wedding, which they told me involved lots of kissing throughout the ceremony along with exchanges of leis and vows.

After the ceremony they wanted to do something quite different so they hired a paddleboard before returning to the ship later that afternoon. They had a lot of fun on the tender back as they heard guests saying, “Did you see the wedding on the beach – how lovely”. “Little did they know, that it was us” said Amy. Back on board their room steward Rosie had made a special decoration of kissing swans made out of towels, so I am guessing the word was out!

While Amy’s parents continue with their World Voyage after Sydney, the now Amy and Corey McKee-Beglin, will be making plans to move in to their new condominium in September when it is finished. This was Corey’s first voyage and they hope their anniversaries will be back on board; what a great idea! Thanks Corey and Amy for sharing your story with us and we wish you every happiness in your married life.

The following day we were back in Honolulu and now Queen Victoria is heading towards the Southern Hemisphere. I’ll be back on Monday and I have a great Blog for you with video from our day in San Francisco. Cheers for now, Alastair

 Countdown to Queen Elizabeth - 267 days

As Queen Mary 2 prepares to make her maiden southbound transit of the Suez Canal, Queen Victoria has also found the warmth of the Caribbean having made her maiden call to Grand Cayman yesterday. We anchored just off Georgetown, very close to a new pier:

We were lucky to be the only ship in, so we had the island to ourselves, where we could enjoy the delights of snorkeling, seven mile beach, Tortuga Rum Cake and an opportunity to go to Hell. No I am not being rude, there really is a place called Hell and it’s a group of short, black, limestone formations in the northwest of the island roughly the size of a football pitch. There are numerous explanations of how Hell received its name, but they are generally variations on what locals perceive Hell would look like. Whatever the origins of the name, many of our guests and crew go there, just so they have this claim to fame and post their cards from this spot with a special stamp.

Thank you again for all the comments about the previous Queen Elizabeth “Float Out Ceremony” Blogs. We will of course keep you updated with all the news as it happens. In this Blog and third video, we have a special interview with Queen Elizabeth’s Madrina, Dennie Farmer and also the ship yard director Paolo Capobianco.

Once the ceremony had been completed by the dry dock, which was now filling with water, we were treated to a wonderful reception and lunch in the Fincantieri offices at the Monfalcone ship yard. We were first given a very special souvenir programme of the day:

Inside the programme was a fitting tribute to our new Queen and Cunard’s proud and rich history, which included this great picture comparing Cunard’s latest liner with the very first ship, Britannia, which began Samuel Cunard’s company in 1840

There was some fantastic memorabilia around the room from the private collection of Maurizio Eliseo and Paolo Piccione, which celebrated many of the Cunard Liners of the past, including the previous ships bearing the name Elizabeth:

In this next Video Blog you’ll see that while we were at the reception I managed to have a chat with both Dennie Farmer and Paolo Capobianco, before heading back to Queen Elizabeth to have a look at the progress of the inside of the ship.

You’ll be able to see the next Video Blog in the series on Thursday, when I’ll be guiding you through the interior of Queen Elizabeth and there’ll also be an exclusive interview with Cunard’s President and Managing Director Peter Shanks. Thank you to both Dennie Farmer and Paolo Capobianco for their time and again to our cameraman Andrew, as well as everyone else at the Fincantieri ship yard for all their help on that day.

Meanwhile I’ll be back tomorrow with a special Blog from Queen Mary 2. Although the festive celebrations of Christmas and New Year may see a long time ago, we thought you’d still like to see how our flagship celebrated the season with a Guest Blog from Freda Singleton, Queen Mary 2’s Social Hostess.

Thank you again for logging on and please keep those comments and questions coming in. Cheers for now, Alastair

Countdown to Queen Elizabeth – 433 days

This is a very important week for Cunard. Firstly we celebrate the anniversary of the maiden sailing of our first ship, Britannia. Also 7 years and one day after Queen Mary 2’s keel was laid, Queen Elizabeth’s keel will be laid in a special ceremony in Italy. In fact as you read this I will be in Monfalcone, to join the celebrations marking this important stage of Cunard’s latest liner’s construction and look forward to sharing the pictures and news with you on Monday. Firstly though, as usual, here’s “This week in Cunard’s History” for the week, 3^rd to the 9^th July:

July 3 1951

Caronia II leaves New York for her first voyage to Norway’s North Cape and the Land of the Midnight Sun.

July 4 1840

The Britannia leaves Coburg Dock in Liverpool to cross the Atlantic at a speed of 9 knots, completing the journey in 14 days and 8 hours.

July 4 1986

QE2 participates in the Statue Of Liberty centennial celebrations in New York Harbour.

July 4 2002

The keel is laid for Queen Mary 2 and the first of 94 blocks that make up her hull is lowered in to the dry dock. The first block (numbered 502) weighed 600 tons. At this time Commodore Warwick was appointed Master Designate.

Many of you will recognize Chris’ name for his regular comments on this blog. Chris’ interest in Ocean Liners began at the age of 11 when he first set eyes on QE2 in Auckland Harbour. Since that day he has travelled extensively aboard the Cunarders. In 2008 he co-authored QE2: A Photographic Journey, a 120 page colour photographic tribute to the QE2, and lectured aboard QE2 during her farewell season. He has since lectured aboard Queen Mary 2 and in October 2009 his two new books will be released – QM2: A Photographic Journey and The QE2 Story. Chris maintains an independent Cunard website which can be found at www.chriscunard.com. Chris wrote to me a few weeks ago to remind me about the special anniversary Cunard will be celebrating on the 4^th of July, and I was delighted to take up his offer to write a guest Blog to mark the occasion.

Guest Blog – Chris Frame– Cunard Author and Lecturer

As you’re undoubtedly aware, 4 July, 2009 marks the anniversary of what is arguably one of the most important voyages of all time. On 4 July, 1840 Sir Samuel Cunard’s flagship Britannia embarked on her maiden crossing. This began the regular trans-Atlantic passenger service, a move that would forever change world politics, demographics and economies.

When thinking of Cunard Line’s history it is staggering to realise just how different the world was back then. Today we take global travel and communication for granted, however when Cunard begun operations, their paddle steamers offered the first reliable link between the old world and the new.

Cunard Line has been a household name for 169 years! When Cunard Line was founded there was no Coca Cola, no Ford and McDonalds was still 100 years away! There was no Microsoft, no Dell and no Google. If that’s not enough of an eye opener, when Cunard Line was founded, the Statue of Liberty was 46 years away and HM Queen Victoria had only been on the throne for three years!

The foundations were set for Cunard Line in 1839, when Sir Samuel Cunard set sail from his native Halifax, destined for England. He did so to answer the British Government’s call for tenders to operate the first regular trans-Atlantic mail service.

Cunard had long been a savvy businessman and respected entrepreneur in Nova Scotia. In fact, his strong commercial mind was evident early in his life, when at age 17 he bought and managed the Halifax General Store.

As he matured, Cunard became a prominent figure within the greater community and a key decision maker in Halifax. He joined his father’s business and expanded its interests into coal mining as well as steam shipping, which provided invaluable experience for the life that awaited him in England. Cunard saw the potential for steam powered vessels and their ability to offer a faster and more reliable service than traditional sail.

It was therefore the combination of Cunard’s exceptional mind, a sound business case and his belief in steam technology that provided the perfect ingredients to tender for the trans-Atlantic mail service. Cunard won the tender and formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which quickly became known as “Cunard’s Line”.

The British contract instructed the new company to build a fleet of at least four ships capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 9 knots (as a comparison, the Queen Mary 2 can achieve 29.5 knots), in order to offer a weekly mail service.

Cunard formed a relationship with noted maritime architect Robert Napier who designed his fleet starting with Britannia. Despite the mail contract being the driving force behind the design of the new Cunarders, Sir Samuel saw an opportunity to carry fare-paying passengers aboard his ships and thus, the age of the trans-Atlantic passenger crossing was born.

Britannia was a far cry from the current fleet. At 207 feet long she was a sizeable vessel for her day, however compared to the likes of Queen Mary 2 (1,132 feet) and Queen Victoria (964 feet) she was tiny. There was no Royal Court Theatre, no ballroom and no swimming pool. Accommodation was sparse, built into any available space not taken up by the mail service. Food was sourced from livestock carried aboard and the fare was far from gourmet. However, despite these hardships, the new company flourished and built a solid reputation for safe crossings that arrived and departed on time.

Cunard selected Boston as the American port for his service, a decision that was met with elation from the citizens of the U.S. City. In fact upon arriving in Boston aboard Britannia, Sir Samuel was welcomed with well over 1,000 invitations to dinner parties. Queen Mary 2 guests would find it interesting to note that the Boston Cup, located just aft of the Chart Room (having been transferred aboard from the magnificent QE2 in April 2004), was commissioned by the citizens of Boston to commemorate Britannia’s maiden arrival.

Britannia’s arrival in Boston inaugurated what has become the greatest shipping company of all time. Cunard Line has endured from the early days of steam to the modern age of the jet. Cunarders such as Lusitania, Mauretania and Aquitania carried countless thousands to a new life in America, while the original Queens were instrumental in the allied successes during World War II. Cunard has become part of our history, not simply by offering enjoyable voyages for their passengers, but also for their role in helping to shape nations.

The experiences that guests enjoy aboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria are timeless, arcing back to a day when a passenger ship was the only way to travel. Indeed the Cunard marketing statement of the late 1940’s – “Getting there is half the fun” – is as true today as it was when written. Travel aboard an Ocean Liner offers passengers the precious gift of time, something wonderfully rare in today’s fast paced world.

Alastair, I hope that this very short snippet of Cunard history assists in reinforcing the magnificence of the Cunard heritage. I strongly believe that if Sir Samuel Cunard knew his legacy would continue with such strength, attracting such a loyal following of passengers 169 years after he first set sail on Britannia, he would be immensely proud.

Thank you Chris; this is a great and fitting tribute to this important anniversary. I agree that this history is what makes us who we are today and one of the many reasons why “We Are Cunard”. I’ll be back on Monday with a special report from the Keel Laying ceremony of Queen Elizabeth – with hopefully lots of pictures and may be some video! Cheers Alastair