Countdown to Queen Elizabeth – 243 days

 

Thank you again for all your comments, it really is great to hear from readers of the Blog and then to also meet many of you when you come on board. Our crew members on board are also keen followers and in a conversation the other day someone was telling me how impressed they were with the photo of the whale breach in front of Queen Victoria in Maui a couple of weeks ago. However he implied a bit of trick photography might have been used, to which I immediately pointed out that it was a genuine photo taken by our Chief Photographer Marius Botha – so in case you were thinking the same thing – now you know! We are also getting a lot of great feedback from the various video Blogs, and if you missed any of them don’t worry, you can find them easily at You Tube/WeAreCunard or by following this link:

http://www.youtube.com/wearecunard

 

All the videos from the building of Queen Elizabeth to the James Taylor interviews to Queen Victoria’s maiden call to San Francisco are there.

 

Meanwhile this Blog is dedicated to featuring one of our exciting ports of call on Queen Victoria’s 2010 World Voyage. One of the many unique aspects of a World Voyage is that they offer such a wide variety of interesting ports of call as we circumnavigate the globe. Whether it’s a day in an exciting cosmopolitan city such as San Francisco or a day relaxing on a tropical beach, it’s great to be able to do so many different things. And when it comes to relaxing on beaches and enjoying the South Pacific sunshine, it doesn’t get much better than Fiji.

 

I appreciate you might not want to hear about how lovely it all was, when you’re in the colder climates of Europe or North America, but if you ever want to go to a true tropical paradise then Fiji has to be a consideration.

 

It’s not surprising to learn that Fiji, surrounded by cobalt blue sea, has also become the back drop for many films such as Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields, and more recently Castaway, which was filmed on the bigger island in the middle of this picture. As you can see this view sums up the countryside of this beautiful island.

 

 

Two of the 333 islands, called Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, make up more than 80% of the total land mass. Eventually the islands became known to Europeans as Fiji. The story goes that Captain Cook asked the Tongans what the name of the islands to their west was. He heard ‘Feegee’, the Tongan pronunciation of Viti: so the name ‘Fiji’ came from an Englishman’s mishearing of a Tongan’s mispronunciation!

 

Queen Victoria visited the port of Lautoka, which is the second biggest city, after the capital, Suva. Mind you it is still a small city of just a little over 50,000 inhabitants, which is also known as the Sugar City because of the many acres of sugar cane in the surrounding areas. Although sugar cane provides more employment than any other industry on the island, they also export a lot of timber and of course tourism is a growing part of their economy, with many hotel resorts around the island.

 

As we all disembarked we were greeted by a very friendly welcome or Bula, meaning hello, and this continued throughout the day wherever you went on the island. Many of our guests and crew took a fifteen minute taxi ride to the nearest beach resort called First Landing. So called, as legend has it, because a canoe called Kaunitoni landed here bringing the first Fijians centuries ago, hence the rather interesting manmade island off the beach!

 

 

On the island itself, and looking back at the resort, you can see it really was a true paradise.

 

 

And as for lunch, the menu was wonderful but the views – just fantastic.

 

 

The island is incredibly lush and everywhere we went we saw trees like this in full blossom.

 

 

Now that’s what I call an island home! The tree is called the Fire Tree and we were lucky to be here on one of the two times they blossom a year.

 

If you thought these pictures were impressive, the views most of us enjoyed were nothing compared to sixteen of our crew who had something a little more adventurous planned. Needless to say what they had arranged was not on our regular shore excursion programme, because they went skydiving!

 

Yes, you are probably thinking the same as me, but as Helen Eatough, one of our Entertainment Staff told me, it was a day she’ll never forget and I have to say this is a very impressive backdrop, if you are prepared to jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet!

 

 

I asked Helen about the day: –

 

“When one of the Cunard Royal Spa’s fitness instructors, Chrissy, told me they were planning a Skydive, I didn’t have to think about it for long, because I thought this would be the best way to see Fiji – literally! We arrived at the aerodrome and I must admit the butterflies started while I waited for my turn, but the excitement grew as I got in the plane. As the plane climbed higher and higher, and thinking we were almost there, I asked the pilot, “How high are we?” to which she said “4,000 feet – you’ve got another 10,000 to go!” This did make me a little nervous, but ten minutes later I was sat in the doorway of the plane with my legs dangling out, whilst strapped to my instructor Steve. He pulled my head back to his shoulders and counted down from three to one and then pushed me out of the plane! You can’t think of anything or even see that much for a while because you are literally plummeting to the ground for the first full minute. I only really started to enjoy the scenery when the parachute opened and I thought how gorgeous everything looked over all the islands. This took about five minutes before we landed on the beach – smoothly I might add and standing up. You probably want to know if I would do it all again – I would say without hesitation, absolutely”

 

I must admit I’m still not convinced, but they all came back from what they described as a thrilling day. As Queen Victoria prepared to sail that evening our guests and crew were entertained by a fantastic Police Band on the quayside which was a truly wonderful send off.

 

 

From there it was on to the city of sails, Auckland, New Zealand. That’s where we leave it for this post but on Thursday we’ll be looking at some of the exciting events that have recently been celebrated on board Queen Victoria. Coming soon will be some more news about Queen Elizabeth, with less than eight months to go before she enters service as well as an update from Queen Mary 2’s World Voyage. Cheers for now, Alastair

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:

 

5 February 1840	Samuel Cunard’s first ship, the 1,154-ton paddle steamer Britannia, is launched at Robert Duncan’s ship yard.
6 February 1924	Aurania III is launched in Newcastle and enters service as the second set of triplets of the A Class liner
6 February 1951	Caronia makes her maiden call to Auckland, New Zealand
7 February 1925	Alaunia II (14,040 Tons) is launched at John Brown’s, Clydbank and enters service on the Canada route
10 February 1977	QE2 makes her maiden call at Nagasaki, Japan
11 February 2008	Queen Victoria makes maiden crossing of the international Dateline

 

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

As Queen Victoria heads down to the sun in the Canary Islands, today’s Blog is about the stunning port of Quebec where the ship visited last week. What a stunning port it was and one I would thoroughly recommend to anyone. Before we get to that – this week has marked yet another major milestone as Queen Elizabeth is now less than one year away from her maiden voyage, so the official countdown enters the next phase with just 362 days to go. I’ll hopefully have some more news from the shipyard soon, along with some more announcements in due course which will answer many of your questions. Thank you again for all your comments and it’s been great to meet so many of you on board, around the ship and at the Bloggers get-togethers.

 

Now for this week in Cunard’s history for the week of 16^th to the 22^nd of October: –

 

October 16 2008

QE2 makes her final Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton

 

October 17 1843

Hibernia comes in to service

 

October 20 1910

The Olympic is launched for White Star Line at Harland & Wolf in Belfast. She becomes part of Cunard Line on the 1st of January 1934

 

October 20 1986

QE2 makes her last Transatlantic voyage under steam power

 

October 21 1922

Franconia II is launched at John Brown’s Yard, Clydebank

 

October 22 1997

QE2 makes her maiden Call Port Delgada, Azores

 

A fantastic part of life at sea is to have the opportunity to visit favourite ports and to discover new ones. That’s the same for guests and crew, and I believe I have just added another favourite to my list. Last week Queen Victoria visited Quebec for the first time and it really is a beautiful city. Walking off the ship everyone was greeted by this magnificent view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The city of Quebec has always been important as a strategic port, lying where the St Charles River meets the St Lawrence River, and Queen Victoria was able to dock right by the centre of the old town. The walled city is the only one remaining in the United States and Canada, and as you walk through the streets you feel a real sense of history with a truly European style. Dominating the city on the top of Cap Diamant is the iconic Chateau Frontenac, whose first wing was constructed in December 1893. This is known as the River Wing and is the one in the foreground of the picture. Expansion was swift and soon other wings were built over the years, bringing the hotel to its current capacity of 605 rooms.  The hotel has played host to numerous stars, world leaders and even aristocracy with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting the hotel in 1939.

 

 

 

 

Much of the city’s past is still visible and its many churches, old stone houses and narrow streets make it an architectural gem. As the oldest city in North America, it boasts many of Canada’s best museums making Québec City a year-round tourist mecca, welcoming some four million visitors each year.  The hills are quite steep, (although you can cheat a bit by using the funicular), but being quite compact the old streets are well worth walking.

 

 

 

 

 

In this one you can see Queen Victoria in between the autumn colours. There are so many stunning buildings that you find yourself taking another photo every few minutes. This is the beautiful “Hotel De Ville” or Town Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

Also worth a look is the very impressive Citadel, a fort and famous landmark, which overlooks the city from its lofty perch on the highest point of Cap Diamant. These fortifications, dating back to the inauguration of the city, were once a key to protecting Quebec, but since 1920 it has been the home of the Royal 22^nd Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many reminders of the city’s French heritage and not just in the style of the buildings but also the names such as the “Notre Dame” cathedral in the middle of the old city.

 

 

 

 

 

With all that walking you certainly work up an appetite and the food in Quebec is wonderful and there are so many interesting and picturesque restaurants to choose from. We found what claims to be the oldest in the city, and is called “Aux Ancient Canadiens” named after the book by Philippe-Aubert de Gaspe who lived there from 1815 to 1824.

 

 

 

 

 

It was full of locals as well as tourists so I think we were lucky to get in, but I was glad we did. With the main part of the building dating back to 1677, it has a great atmosphere with staff dressed in traditional Quebecois period clothes serving local specialties. Whenever I see local specialty advertised I am drawn to it like a magnet (just like the lobster ice cream last week!), so I had to order some Poutine. Speaking some French I had an idea what I was in for and it wasn’t too shocking.

 

 

 

 

 

Although it’s not exactly gourmet food, it was apparently first seen in Quebec in the 1950’s and is now a firm favourite. It’s basically chips with brown gravy and fresh cheese curds on top, which is a bit odd unless you are really in to soggy chips! Nevermind the Toutiere, (a mixed meat pie) was great, athough I still haven’t worked out exactly which meat was in it!

 

We were very lucky to spend a night in Quebec as well, and it has quite a night life – apparently! But while many of our guests, and even more of our crew, were enjoying the Quebecois hospitality our Chief Photographer on board, Marius Botha, took a ferry ride across the river to the town of Lévis (pronounced not like the jeans but as ‘lev-ee’) to take this superb photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Great job Marius – thanks. We had a fantastic two days and I look forward to going back there; hopefully soon. Queen Victoria is now heading for the sun on a ten day voyage to the Canary Islands while Queen Mary 2 is about to embark on her round Britain voyage with many celebrations planned along the way. Our President and Managing Director, Peter Shanks, is on board and has promised me some news and pictures of the voyage over the next week, so keep logging on to find out more. I’ve also got some other special Blogs on the way as well including (in case you thought I had forgotten), the video Blog of my interview with Sir Terry Wogan. We are really looking forward to welcoming Sir Terry and his TOGS on board next May, and I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to it too as Great Britain prepares for the BBC charity event of the year, “Children In Need”, in a few weeks time. That’s all to come so I’ll be back soon. Cheers for now, Alastair