THE QE2 HERITAGE TRAIL

More pictures from the QE2 Heritage Trail walking tour with Thomas Quinones as the "solo" cicerone.

In the first picture, Quinones is in front of the Mauretania painting that has meanwhile been returned to Newcastle upon Tyne, and will not go to Dubai.

Pictures by Isabelle Prondzynski and Pia Sosua.

QE2 REAL CHARACTERS: THOMAS QUINONES

He leads daily Heritage Trail tours around the QE2.

Almost everybody knows him because the walking tour is very popular.

He speaks several languages and this German based in Costa Rica is the most famous QE2 cicerone.

Quinones is always passionate, dramatic, and eloquent.

And a great dancer as you can see him dancing many nights in the Queen Lounge.

Gary Bembridge said in a 2007 post in the excellent All Aboiut Cunard Blog;

Thomas Quinones is the social host who calls everyone 'darling' and rattles off facts like machine gun fire. He has worked for Cunard for over 20 years and manages the activities in the public rooms; balls, parties, dances, bingo, auctions etc.

The picture of Pia Sosua captures very well his character.

Deborah did the tour and she told me about his best rhetorical moment:

"I will go to Dubai?

I will stay in Dubai?

...I am NOT sure!" said Quinones in a very dramatic way.

THE LAST CROSSING UNDER THE NEW YORK'S VERRAZANO BRIDGE

It was on Thursday October 16, 2008.

The QM2 waited and gave preference to the QE2.

The Grand Dame of the Seas went first.

We were outside and from our cabin balcony we saw how the QE2 funnel passed just a few feet under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge that used to had the world's longest suspension span.

Seasonal contractions and expansions of the steel cables cause the double-decked roadway to be 12 feet lower in the summer than in the winter.

The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazano, who, in 1524, was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor.

A great picture by D.James Gal.

GREAT PICTURES OF THE QE2 ARRIVAL TO SOUTHAMPTON

Andy Fitzsimmons did what good QE2 fans do: wait for her early in the morning and catch the arrival of the Gran Dame of the Seas to Southampton after her Last Atlantic Crossing.

So this Wednesday October 22, he got up at 5am.

I actualy managed, he says, to arrive in good time to await QE2's arrival. With an air temperature of around 4C, it was very cold standing around but worth every minute.

You can see more great pictures in his Flickr gallery.

THE QE2 IS IN BILBAO FOR THE LAST TIME

ANY PICTURES, VIDEOS OR BLOG POSTS ABOUT THE LAST CROSSING?

I am going to start a second round of posts about the QE2 Last Crossing with new pictures, videos and links to other blogs and websites.

If you have found anything interesting please let me know and I will be more than happy to add these new content in the next few days.

I am looking for comments of fellow passengers from the QE2 and QM2, in order to have views from both sides.

It was very impressive the hundreds of flash lights from the QM2 when we were leaving New York.

There must be incredible pictures and videos of those moments.

In the picture, the view of the QE2 docking in Southampton from our cabin's TV.

DAY SEVEN: ARRIVAL TO SOUTHAMPTON

We did it!

At 6:15am this morning we saw from our cabin the early lights of Southampton.

And the QE2 docked without any special sound.

Very smooth.

Very slowly.

The pilots, the landings, and the Cunard agents wete in the dock waiting for us.

We had our last breakfast at the Queens Grill.

We thanked Roslyn and Nick that were our best friends in the restaurant.

Denis was at the front door saying goodbye to all of us.

And at 8:45 the penthouse passengers were escorted to the terminal.

We got our luggage, and a taxi took us to the AVIS office.

The car was ready and we left the QE2 in the harbor.

Tonight she was sailing again, this time to Bilbao, Spain.

We spent a few hours in Salisbury, crossed Bath and just a few minutes ago arrived to our house in St. Davids, Wales.

Peter, that runs an excellent art gallery across the street, knew about our trip.

How was the sailing? were his first words.

A lifetime experience!

DAY SIX: THE TANDEM CROSSING ENDED A FEW MINUTES AGO

As I said, the QM2 had to speed to arrive as soon as possible to Southampton.

In both ships, all the outside decks were full of passengers taking pictures, videotaping, and screaming in the last minutes of the tandem crossing.

Chase Heilman, a photographer from Missouri (USA) was taping for a podcast with the last horn salutes.

The horns went wild and louder than ever.

Twenty, thirty, forty times?

In the QE2 travels the chief design architect of the QM2, so he was really moved when he saw his ship taking the lead very fast,. heading to Southampton and despairing in a few minutes from our view.

The Captain spoke to us and the QE2 sent a tremendous applause to the QM2.

I am sure that the same happened aboard the QM2 and we will try to find in the next few days pictures, videos and memories of all these final moments.

The weather couldn't be better.

It was sunny and warm.

The perfect Atlantic conditions for the final farewell between the two Cunard Queens.

DAY SIX: GOODBYE TO THE QM2

The QE2 Captain announced that this afternoon the QM2 will leave us and take the lead in order to arrive Southampton earlier and she is leaving tomorrow for a three-week cruise.

At 4:30pm the QE2 and QM2 horns will say goodbye to each other.

During the day the distance between them is one mile.

At nights, two miles.

But this afternoon during the mutual farewell I am sure that they will be closer.

We will start the disembark tomorrow at 7:00am.

The last day is a very sunny one.

DAY FIVE: MEMORABILIA SIGNING

Captain Ian McNaught spent today more than one hour outside the library signing QE2 and Cunard memorabilia.

There was a long queue.

But Tam David went early and was one of the first to get the Captain' signatures.

One for his "My notes", a QE2 personal journal of the last crossing.

And another for the "Queen Mary 2: Book of Comparisons", a book that will go to Chiqui Esteban as a little token of appreciation for helping us in this blog.

DAY FIVE: WINDY AND ROCKY

Today the Atlantic is rocky.

In the "Noon Information", the QE2 Navigation First Officer released some specific data:

Voyage: 818. From New York to Southampton. Date: Monday 20th October 2008.

Latitude: 49, 22, 2 North

Longitude: 025,23,8 West

Distance: 586 Nautical miles

Average speed: 25.5 Knots...

Air Temperature: 52º F (11º C)

Relative Humidity: 56%

Barometer: 1019 millibars...

Wind: North Western

Force 7 (30 Knots)

Sea State: Rough.

DAY FOUR: BLOGGING FROM THE YATCH CLUB

As I said, blogging from the QE2 it's not easy.

I found that many fellow passengers willing to go wireless they come here to the Yatch Club.

So I do the same.

The view from the back of the QE2 is magnificent.

DAY FOUR: GREAT SUNSET

These pictures were taken from outside the Yatch Club.

Many other passenger were with photo and video cameras.

It was the first real sunset during the trip.

DAY FOUR: NICE AND WARM WEATHER

It's a sunny and warm day.

The weather changed as soon as we entered yesterday in the North Atlantic Current or Norh Atlantic Drift, known for its powerful warm ocean current that continues the Gulf Stream northeast wards.

We are on GMT-1 and the Sunset will be at 6.21pm.

The QM2 was very close, tandem with the QE2.

DAY FOUR: THE FUNNEL THAT WILL BE THE FRONT DOOR IN DUBAI

We had cocktails before lunch at the Funnel Bar.

The picture shows the magnificent funnel that in Dubai will be the front door access for the QE2 hotel.

In his lecture today, Stephen Payne, Chief Naval Architect of Carnival and the designer of the QM2, told us that this is nor the original funnel but a recent one.

DAY FOUR: MORNING TEA

The Queen Grill serves a fantastic tea.

Orange color as Tam David's shirt.

DAY FOUR: MID-CROSSING DAY

At 11:45 QE2 time, we were at the middle of the crossing.

As you can imagine this ship is now like a gigantic antique, but In his daily mid-day announcement, Captain Ian McNaught was not happy with recent developments around the QE2.

Two emergency signs and one clock were stolen last night.

This is something that is happening in the last sails of the Grand Dame of the Seas.

Fans of the ships are stealing more than spoons or little cups.

They want very unique souvenirs.

So they are hunting around the ship.

Oh Dear!

Picture by Deborah Withey.

DAY THREE: DEBORAH WITH A GREAT HAT

Deborah has been photo documenting little design elements from the QE2, like this outside bench with the traditional Canard's logo.

DAY THREE: THE QM2 STILL THERE

8 year old Tam David and the QM2 that today change sides and was crossing at the left side of the QE2.

Windy but not rough weather, so Tam was able to play outside and swim again next to the Lido.

DAY THREE: TAM DAVID'S BIRTHDAY

Tam David is now a 8 year old boy.

He got a signed card from the Captain Ian McNaught and two other officers from the QE2.

Later, when he was running in the decks, the Captain spotted him, and Tam David got a personal "Happy Birthday"

And after dinner we found in our cabin a big chocolate cake with these words: "Happy 8th Birthday Tam"

NIGHT TWO: FORMAL NIGHT

Tonight was the first formal night and Tam David was wearing new clothes that her grandma bought for this trip at the famous Bosco´s department store in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA.

He was a real gentleman and he was able to shake hands with the QE2 Captain during the reception held at the Queens Room.

DAY TWO: SWIMMING

Tam David had lunch at the Lido buffet and then he said that wanted to swimming.

At the inside pool?

No, he wanted to swimming at the outside one.

DAY TWO: SWIMMING WITH THE QM2 IN THE BACK

The Queen Mary 2 was today escorting us from the right side, tomorrow will be in our side of the ship.

He chief designer of the QM2 was today lecturing about the project.

Done in France, the construction of the QM2 was on time and under the budget.

In the picture you can see Tam David in the hot tub with the QM2 tandem the QE2 in the back.

DAY TWO: WINDY SUNRISE OUTSIDE THE CABIN

Tam David wake up very early to see the sunrise from outside the cabin, so we took one of the blankets and watched the first lights of the day.

It was windy.

NIGHT ONE: A LONG FIRST DAY FOR TAM DAVID

Tam David went with his British flag around the ship decks and he couldn't end his firs dinner at the Queens Grill.

DAY ONE: THE QM2 ESCORTS THE LAST QE2 CROSSING

At 18:00 hours, around Battery Park, the QM2 was waiting for us.

The horns were stronger than ever.

And hundreds of flash lights from both liners documented the historical moment.

BLOGGING FROM THE QE2

It's not easy to blog from this ship.

And not cheap either.

$0.32 per minute with a package.

And it's slow.

So, I will post once every 24 hours except if something special happens.

Weather is fine.

And we are having a great time after last night grand send off from New York City.

The QM2 sails next to us, but giving a few yards of advantage to the QE2 that heads all the time the crossing.

Last night the two ships went together to salute the Statue of Liberty and the QE2 took the lead passing the Verrazano bridge and starting the last crossing.

DAY ONE: LEAVING NEW YORK CITY

The station for our emergency drill was at the Queens Grill.

We finnish five minutes before the scheduled departure time, but ant the end the last crossing started not at 17:00 hours but 15 minutes later.

Hundreds of British flags.

“God Save the Queen” and other hymns.

Thousands of Pictures taken.

And the last, last QE2 goodbye to New York City.

I will post in Southampton some of the videos from the “bon voyage” ceremonies.

DAY ONE: ABOARD THE QE2

The first picture from the balcony of our cabin at the Signal deck.

Peter, our Scottish butler, gave us three plastic British flags.

Tam was very happy to see that all the drinks in the room were free.

So he had his first Sprite aboard the QE2.

DAY ONE: EMBARKING

The NYC terminal was very busy.

But our registration was very smooth and quick.

Yes, the crossing was wold out.

Average age of the passengers (my guess): 60 year old

DAY ONE: BEFORE EMBARKING

Waiting for our suitcases at Kennedy airport.

We were on time.

New York traffic was intense.

But no rain.

QE2 WOODEN MODEL

From Delphic Designs, a beautiful QE2 framed replica:

Original blueprints were used to capture the true beauty of the ship in its original and classic steamship configuration.

Size: 22½" x 8½"

$260.00

Availability: Usually ships the next business day.

READY TO GO

Tam David ready to go.

Pictures from this morning.

Taking the taxi and waiting at the Norfolk airport for our flight to NYC with Delta.

Reading Lemony Snicket.

QE2 FAREWELL TO THE NY STATUE OF LIBERTY

In a few hours, the QE2 will pass for the last time across the Statue of Liberty.

This is a fantastic picture of the workers constructing the Statue of Liberty circa 1883.

SWAPPING SIDES

In his blog, Tom, the young printer aboard the QE2 told us that durting the Tandem Crossing "the ships will be next to each other the whole time while swapping sides each day just for fun."

Thanks Tom for the wonderful picture of the QE2 docking in Manhattan.

QE2 WITH THE FIRST LIGHTS IN MANHATTAN'S HARBOR

The QE2 arrived to New York a few hours ago and now the ship is ready for the disembark.

No rain.

Temperature: 62°F

THE QE2 ARRIVES TO NEW YORK

First historic pictures from the QE2 Bridge Camera with the Grand Dame of the Seas docking in Manhattan a few minutes ago after her last Westbound Atlantic Crossing.

FROM NORFOLK TO NERW YORK FOR OUR BOARDING DAY

We are leaving Norfolk, Virginia, this morning going to New York to board what will be QE2’s 806th and final Atlantic crossing.

The last crossing.

The final one!