The last view of the Grand Dame of the Seas for the Soutampton QE2 fans.
Pictures by Tim Poultney.
11/12/2008
UNHAPPY READERS
London Times readers are not happy with the final destination of the QE2:
British pride is unfortunately often sold to the highest bidder!!
Maddison, london, england
It's just a boat for Heavan's sake.
Doris, Wigan,
How sad that she will end up so for from home.
R Leasure, Vidor, Texas, USA
I have to agree. It would be better if she were sunk. She is a British ship and should remain a British ship. This is disgraceful.
KDP, Lompoc, CA, USA
British pride sold to the highest bidder. Better that she were sunk.
C. Heathcote, Tonbridge,
RED FACES AND ROYAL FAREWELL
It was hardly the most regal moment in the QE2's glittering career when the luxury ocean liner ran into a sandbank off Southampton yesterday, as it headed for its home port before a final voyage which will see metamorphosise into a floating hotel in Dubai.
Fortunately the embarrassment was fleeting, and the ship docked just 25 minutes late at the port, where the Duke of Edinburgh led the farewell ceremonies.
A Cunard spokesman said the ship had been pulled off the sandbank quite easily. "No one on board has been injured. A lot of people will have been in bed when it happened and not have noticed."
The QE2's final departure from British shores was accompanied by solemnity and fireworks. To mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the first world war, a Tiger Moth plane dropped 1m poppies on the 70,000-tonne liner, which was a hospital ship during the 1982 Falklands war.
After the two-minute silence, Prince Philip met long-serving staff as well as the former captains of HMS Ardent, Antelope and Coventry, ships lost in the Falklands campaign. He also stood on the aft decks of the QE2 to watch a Harrier jet fly-past.
Last night a flotilla accompanied the ship as it left Southampton for its final voyage. Passengers snapped up tickets, with the highest-priced berths going for more than £28,000.
OH, DEAR, WHAT A BUMPY SENDOFF!
Yesterday, at 5:30am the Grand Dame of the Seas had a bumpy weakup when beached Southampton with the 2,700 passengers and crew who had just enjoyed a 12-night Mediterranean cruise.
It seems that force seven winds contributed to her grounding.
But as you know many on board joked that it was her reluctance to go without a fight.
It seems that force seven winds contributed to her grounding.
But as you know many on board joked that it was her reluctance to go without a fight.
First picture: the early morning drama.
Second picture: the Duke of Edinburgh shocked by a blast from the ship's fog horn as he was leaving after his visit to the QE2 in Southampton docks.
Oh dear!
Oh dear!
AN EMIRATES AIRBUS A380 WILL FLYPAST THE QE2 IN HER ARRIVAL TO DUBAI
Max Kingsley-Jones reports:
A flypast by an Emirates Airbus A380 is planned as part of celebrations to mark the arrival of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 at its new home in Dubai later this month.
The QE2 left Southampton, UK, on her last voyage yesterday. She is due to arrive in Dubai after a passage through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal on 26 November where she will eventually be preserved as an attraction alongside a specially constructed dock at the Palm Jumeirah island
According to Emirates, a major event is planned to celebrate her arrival in Dubai. When she arrives at the Gulf port, she will be greeted by a flotilla of boats and ships led by the world's largest yacht, the Dubai, owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. Topping off the arrival celebrations will be a flypast by one of Emirates' newly-delivered A380s.
The ceremony echoes that for the RMS Queen Mary off the coast of California 40 years ago as she steamed towards her new home at Long Beach in December 1967. The ship was greeted by a DC-9 flown from the nearby Douglas Aircraft plant, which dropped red and white carnations on her decks.
A flypast by an Emirates Airbus A380 is planned as part of celebrations to mark the arrival of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 at its new home in Dubai later this month.
The QE2 left Southampton, UK, on her last voyage yesterday. She is due to arrive in Dubai after a passage through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal on 26 November where she will eventually be preserved as an attraction alongside a specially constructed dock at the Palm Jumeirah island
According to Emirates, a major event is planned to celebrate her arrival in Dubai. When she arrives at the Gulf port, she will be greeted by a flotilla of boats and ships led by the world's largest yacht, the Dubai, owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. Topping off the arrival celebrations will be a flypast by one of Emirates' newly-delivered A380s.
The ceremony echoes that for the RMS Queen Mary off the coast of California 40 years ago as she steamed towards her new home at Long Beach in December 1967. The ship was greeted by a DC-9 flown from the nearby Douglas Aircraft plant, which dropped red and white carnations on her decks.
11/11/2008
COMMODORE RONALD WARWICK RETURNS
Keith Hamilton reports:
Commodore Ronald Warwick, the longest serving master on QE2, is to return as the ship’s captain when she arrives in Dubai. He has been appointed as the “owner’s representative” on board QE2 as she undergoes a multi-million pound conversion into a floating hotel and entertainment centre. Commodore Warwick who is retired, has a unique position in the history of QE2 as it was his father, Commodore William Warwick who was the liner’s first captain in 1969. “My father was closely involved with putting QE2 together and now it seems I shall be involved in the many changes that will be made to the ship,” he said. Following the running aground of QE2 this morning the ship was checked over. It is not thought it will result in any delay to her sailing times this evening when she leaves Southampton for the last time.Thanks to Amy Blume.
REACTIONS
Times online readers comment to this embarrassing moment:
"The QE2 is a magnificent old girl who loves life - and she's going to enjoy her facelift in Dubai, ready to attract an entirely new generation of "passengers" who will love her as much as we all did for over 40 years. God Save the Queen!"
Narguesse Stevens, Montaigu-de-Quercy, France.
"The 'obit ' failed to mention her role in the Falklands. Where would we have been without her??"
Chris, Shannon , Ireland.
"It appears that the bridge team (captain and pilot) failed to take account of the prevailing weather conditions. Shame the old girl had to go out like that."
R Bingham, Lauzun, France.
"Its been thrown away like an old doll. The last great Cunarder should have been kept in Southampton as an example of Britians lost maritine heritage. This is illustrative of the political and moral decline of the UK that we don't even recognise our own history we certainty couldn't build one today"
Ian, London.
"She is refusing to leave her home port! Oh dear, poor old girl. She is being sent off to a retirement home and is behaving like any grand old lady would. She stuck her stately heels in and demanded to stay here."
Sue Doughty, Twyford, UK
Narguesse Stevens, Montaigu-de-Quercy, France.
"The 'obit ' failed to mention her role in the Falklands. Where would we have been without her??"
Chris, Shannon , Ireland.
"It appears that the bridge team (captain and pilot) failed to take account of the prevailing weather conditions. Shame the old girl had to go out like that."
R Bingham, Lauzun, France.
"Its been thrown away like an old doll. The last great Cunarder should have been kept in Southampton as an example of Britians lost maritine heritage. This is illustrative of the political and moral decline of the UK that we don't even recognise our own history we certainty couldn't build one today"
Ian, London.
"She is refusing to leave her home port! Oh dear, poor old girl. She is being sent off to a retirement home and is behaving like any grand old lady would. She stuck her stately heels in and demanded to stay here."
Sue Doughty, Twyford, UK
A BBC VIDEO: THE SOUTHAMPTON FAREWELL TO THE QE2
Watch here a BBC video about today's ceremonies in Southampton.
Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
A GREAT HEADLINE
From the Times online:
Grounded at sea, QE2 says a reluctant farewell to British shores
One of the world's great cruise-liners gets stuck in the Solent at start of grand farewell after years of service
"Passengers aboard the liner, which had just completed a Mediterranean cruise, spoke of their surprise at the grounding – with some claiming that it showed the famous old liner, one of the world's last great transatlantic cruisers, did not want to leave for her new Middle Eastern home.Pensioner Shirley Newcombe from Durham, who was on her 10th voyage on the QE2, said: “She didn’t want to come in. That’s the opinion of quite a few of us on board. She doesn’t want to go to Dubai and we don’t want her to go.”
THE QE2 RAN AGROUND ON HER LAST DAY IN SOUTHAMPTON
Matt Dickinson reports today for the British PA:
The QE2 cruise ship ran aground as she came into her home port to make her final call, owner Cunard said today.
The BBC said the vessel touched the bottom at the Brambles sandbank near Calshot, Southampton, with three tugs attached to her stern.
A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said they were alerted to the 70,000-tonne ship being aground at the entrance of Southampton Water at 5.26am today.
Five tugs were sent out to assist her getting off the sandbank, he added, and she was pulled off just before 6.10am.
The spokesman said: "She has been refloated and is under way under her own power and heading back to her berth in Southampton."
He added: "She had only partially gone aground, and the tugs pulled her off."
Thousands of people are flocking to Southampton today to bid a fond farewell to the famous vessel before it leaves on its final voyage.
The Duke of Edinburgh is visiting the ship during her final day in port today, with aerial flypasts and a Remembrance Day ceremony involving the dropping of one million poppies also organised.
The ship was heading back to Southampton from a 15-night Mediterranean cruise, with a full complement of 1,700 passengers and 1,000 crew.
A Cunard spokesman said no-one had been injured during the grounding, and she was making her way back to Southampton after being pulled off.
He added: "No-one on board has been injured. A lot of people will have been in bed when it happened and not have noticed."
Solent coastguard said the winds were blowing from the south west at force seven, or 30mph, at the time of the grounding, with a moderate swell.
Police have urged those wanting to see the ship in port, launched by the Queen on the Clyde in 1967, to arrive early.
Prince Philip will be making his seventh visit to the QE2 which entered service with Cunard in 1969. The Queen made her final visit in June this year.
The Duke will be present for the Remembrance Day ceremony at 11am when a million poppies will be dropped from a Tiger Moth aircraft over the QE2.
After the two-minute silence, Prince Philip will meet QE2 crew members who travelled on the vessel when it was used as a troop ship in the Falklands War in 1982.
The Duke will tour the ship and will later present to the Mayor of Southampton a painting of the QE2 which was unveiled by the Queen during her visit this summer.
Prince Philip will also meet long-serving staff, as well as the former captains of HMS Ardent, Antelope and Coventry - ships that were lost in the Falklands campaign.
The Duke will also watch a flypast by a Harrier jet from the aft decks of QE2.
After the QE2 moves off this evening, she will stop for a time and a pre-recorded message from her master, Captain Ian McNaught, will be broadcast on a specially-erected screen in Southampton's Mayfair Park.
There will then be a firework display and the QE2, with whistle blasting, will move away from Southampton for the last time...
The final voyage to Dubai was sold out almost instantly, with the highest-priced berths going for more than £28,000.
11/08/2008
QE2 COMMEMORATIVE BADGES STOLEN
The Sun in London reports:
Souvenir hunters have stolen dozens of commemorative badges intended for the final crew of the QE2 – and put them up for sale on eBay.
The badges, in the shape of the captain’s gold epaulettes, were commissioned by the ship’s master, Captain Ian McNaught, as a unique gift to the 1,000 crew.
But more than 100 were taken from the package before it was delivered to the ship.
Police were last night investigating the theft.
The badges – which had attracted bids of more than £100 each – have been taken off the eBay website.
Souvenir hunters have stolen dozens of commemorative badges intended for the final crew of the QE2 – and put them up for sale on eBay.
The badges, in the shape of the captain’s gold epaulettes, were commissioned by the ship’s master, Captain Ian McNaught, as a unique gift to the 1,000 crew.
But more than 100 were taken from the package before it was delivered to the ship.
Police were last night investigating the theft.
The badges – which had attracted bids of more than £100 each – have been taken off the eBay website.
11/06/2008
POST LAST CROSSING REVIEW (2): DAY ONE
In the picture, April MacDonell and her husband, Robin McCubbin, arrive to the New York terminal on October 16th.
This elegant Canadian couple posted on YouTube a very gracious slide show of the QE2 Last Crossing that you must watch.
With the right music of Sarah Brightman, Con Te Partiro, Time to Say Goodbye (Solo), this is, says April, "our personal farewell."
A magnificent one!
11/04/2008
POST-LAST CROSSING REVIEW: DAY ONE
Let's start with this one at the New York terminal.
Yes, there was a sense of history and nostalgia.
The Last Crossing was ready to start.
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