A Different Way to Travel
We dipped our toes cautiously into the waters of cruising
about five years ago and ever since that short trip around the Med. Angela
and I have been hooked by the sheer pleasure and relaxation it provided.
So, as we both tentatively approached our respective 60th birthdays we
decided that we really should celebrate this anniversary by doing something
different. Ironically through the letterbox dropped a leaflet on the brand
new Cunard Queen Mary 2 and the rest is now history.
I thought that members might like to know a little more about this great
ship and even more about our six day voyage across the Atlantic from
Southampton to New York in April this year. Where do you begin to list the
superlatives that make up this state of the art greatest ocean liner of all
time? Let me first of all put this all into proportion.
Fact: At a height of 236ft, she is taller than the
Statue of Liberty, the Tower of London and the Coliseum in Rome. At 1,132
feet long, this magnificent ocean liner stretches further than three and a
half football pitches, forty-one London buses laid end to end or four New
York City blocks. She is simply..............enormous!!
Fact: She boasts 14 Bars, 10 Dining areas, 5 swimming pools and the first
Planetarium at sea.
The QM2 was built specifically to take over the
mantle of responsibility for the transatlantic crossings between Southampton
and New York from the existing Queen Elizabeth 2 and we were privileged to
be able to join the 2,620 passengers and the 1,253 crew on the inaugural
transatlantic voyage to New York which departed Southampton on 16 April
2004.
On
6 November 2000 a formal contract was signed between the Cunard Line and the
French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Nantes and the building of the
largest passenger ship (to date) began. After extensive sea trials the QM2
was officially accepted by Cunard Line on the 22 December 2003 and
officially named by Her Majesty the Queen in Southampton on 8 January 2004.
So, on 16 April 2004 Angela and I stepped into the unknown on our own little
adventure aboard the biggest ocean ship afloat and heading westward towards
New York.
Everything about the QM2 is vast, big, enormous and beautiful. Very soon the
figure of £550 million begins to make some sense because every detail has
been painlessly thought about and, without a doubt, one of the first
observations that becomes very apparent is the tireless service offered by
every member of crew. In other words, you want for nothing.
Fact: During the design stages of the QM2, Cunard found it necessary to
apply to Trinity House for permission to raise the height of all lifeboats
by one deck.
Apparently, it was the experience of the QE2 that, due entirely to the
unpredictability of the North Atlantic weather, lifeboats had become damaged
due to severe weather conditions. Trinity House duly permitted the design
change and as a consequence the lifeboats on the QM2 are situated one deck
higher than those on the QE2.
Our voyage across to New York was fabulous. It was such a pity that the
weather conditions did not play ball and for most of the six days we were
tormented and punished by one severe storm after another. At the height of
one storm in mid-Atlantic the ship had to endure a gale force 10 with 12ft
waves. At times it was a little uncomfortable, especially at night, but
because the QM2 boasts of six enormous stabilizers, all individually
computer controlled, the rocking and rolling was kept to a minimum.
Fact: The six stabilisers located along the side of the ship are extremely
sensitive and are constantly measuring the pitch and roll of the ship. When
necessary the stabilisers can be automatically engaged within 90 seconds to
assist in stabilising the whole ship.
During sea trials in mid-Atlantic during January 2004 the ship suffered the
loss of one of the door covers for one of the six stabilisers and limped
back to Nantes for repairs. Unfortunately, the Polish steelworks who
manufactured the heavy steel covers were unable to set aside time to
manufacture another, so the shipyard set to and manufactured the door cover
themselves. (Probably at enormous cost to Cunard!)
We
were spoiled rotten for the whole voyage to New York and the pounds just
kept on piling on and the pounds kept on being spent.
Fact: Most of the QM2 crew were trained by Cunard on the QE2 and there is
therefore much experience on board.
QM2 boasts a larger than normal square footage per cabin and without a doubt
we were blessed with sufficient room with no complaints. During the
structure and building of the ship all cabins were constructed off-site and
then transported to Nantes for immediate installation. The engineers
on-board were engaged in linking up the electrics and the plumbing. Job
done. During the evening before our arrival in New York every cabin was
provided with flags and plenty of streamers and it was obvious to us all
that we would witness one hell of a party the following morning in New York.
Our arrival in New York was spectacular and long before we were due in dock
we were met and boarded by the New York Customs officers and before long the
whole ship was surrounded by a multitude of small craft, some on official
business and some not! It was breakfast time and joining in the celebrations
was a huge number of media helicopters some recording the event "live" for
American breakfast TV. As we slowly edged our way into the mouth of the
Hudson River the fabulous sight of Manhattan came into view with an air of
mist slowly being eaten alive by a rapidly rising sun. The Statue of Liberty
seemed somewhat tiny as we sailed by. And the closer we approached the
Verrazano Bridge a strange hush came over the ship. "Would we hit the
Bridge?"
Fact: During the design of the QM2, many aspects had to be considered. Size
in this case WAS important
There
was no point in designing a Transatlantic Ship to replace the QE2 if it
became impossible to sail under the Verrazano Bridge up the Hudson River.
Every calculation was considered during the design and eventually 10 metres
was allowed as adequate clearance in all circumstances. As we slowly
approached our Berth at Dock 90 it became very apparent that New York was
preparing for a rapturous welcome and soon we were able to see for ourselves
marching bands on the quay and the preparation of an official welcoming
party headed by the Mayor of New York. Most of the passengers as
sembled
on the port side of the ship as she eventually tied up alongside and I am
sure there was a slight list
to port for a short time. While all of the luggage was being unloaded into
the arrival hall the Mayor of New York and Commodore Warwick made speeches,
most of which we were unable to hear and eventually the arrival procedure
was finished and we were able to prepare ourselves
for New York proper. Neither Angela or I regret one moment of our little
adventure and we have some stunning photographs and memories that will stay
with us both for a very long time. A very memorable and different way to
travel to New York and one that I would highly recommend to you all.
John Wallington
