January 14, 2008
Three Queens Meet in New York
Luxury cruise line Cunard has many ships, but last night was the first time that its Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, and new Queen Victoria ships were in the "same port at the same time." And the port was the NewYork Harbor, under fireworks and gaze of the Statue of Liberty.
Cunard scheduled the three ships' departures to coincide for this one time, an event two years in the planning, requiring logistics planning and even approval from the NYPD, FBI, Coast Guard, and NYC Economic Development Corporation. Cunard president Carol Marlow told the NY Times, "They are not programmed to meet in any other port...It's a spine-tingling time."
The Queen Elizabeth 2 will be retiring later this year (a new Queen Elizabeth is being built and will be delivered in 2010). The Queen Mary 2, whose splashy 2004 debut and enormous size, has made it an attraction. Queen Victoria is the newest ship, and CruiseCritic.com's Carolyn Spencer Brown says she is "more gorgeous than either of its sisters, possessing in some ways the best of QE2 and QM2.''
Photograph of the Queen Mary 2 by matt coats on Flickr
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Queens Mary? I think I knew her in college...
This makes driving on the West Side Highway an absolute fucking nightmare.
I can't wait until these damn boats leave.
"spine-tingling?" Really?
three queens meet for breakfast at local diner every morning... what's the big deal?
I crossed the Atlantic on the QE2 once. It was pretty GD thrilling, I have to say.
I think it was a pretty spine tingling moment too. Anyone who appreciates what it means to see that red funnel sailing into the harbor couldn't help but get chills seeing those three beautiful ships there together.
It was fairly breathtaking.
Three queens met in New York?
Doesn't that happen every day?
I watched the QM2 and the QE2 come down the Hudson together when they were here a few years ago, and while the quotes sound like pure hyperbole, I gotta say it was a pretty amazing sight.
Luxury cruise line Cunard has many ships
Actually they don't. What you saw the other day is their entire fleet.
Cool. Would be nice to get info in advance, rather than after the fact, though.
cunard is wholy owned by carnival, which owns and operates ~80 ships
Whatever blows your dress up...
or maybe ...
Whatever floats your boats!