QE2 - January 3, 2006 - Six Day Crossing

[tochan]

Doug, would that passenger mix hold true for the continuation of the World cruise out of Ft Lauderdale on the Jan 11? We are first timers on Cunard and anxious to meet up with other CC members on board.

[eroller]

To all our esteemed WCC members,

 

WELCOME HOME!

 

It was a privilege as well as a joy to sail with you all. I can't recall a more interesting and enjoyable group of people.

 

I hope we can all repeat it next April.

 

All the best and please lets stay in touch.

 

Ernie

 

ps - pictures and review to follow .... and it's going to be extremely positive as my experience was superb!!

[planetcadillac]

Sounds good we are getting ready to book for the Winter Crossing in January 2007 and its looking better and better already.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Doug, would that passenger mix hold true for the continuation of the World cruise out of Ft Lauderdale on the Jan 11?

I imagine you will have a lot more Americans and many fewer Brits and Germans (though still quite a few).

 

The crossing was about 1100 Brits, 350 Americans, 150 Germans, the rest "other".

 

I hope we can all repeat it next April.

Why April? Then you will have to start a "Spring Crossing Club" ;) !

 

Personally, I hope to return in January. I'd love to do it even sooner but obviously that's not possible...

 

And yes, it was a wonderful crossing. I can hardly wait to return!

[Transatlantic Tom]

Ernie:

 

I couldn't agree with you more !!! What an incredible crossing !!!

 

We will definitely stay in touch !!!

 

Tom

[transat_jon]

Hi Guys

 

Had a great trip, it was good to meet you all. I will write more whan I have more time. It will be two weeks before I can even start going through the photos and another couple of weeks before they hit the web. I did not take so many photos this time as I already have 100 photos of the funnel for instance and interior shots are best done by tripod on a cruise while in port. It will all be pictures of people!

 

Went to Dulles Air and Space yesterday : worth a visit if you can do it.

 

Currently in Alexandria VA and at lunch time today I start a two day Amtrak trip to Montana : one extreme to the other!

 

********************************************************

 

Tandemcaptain/Tandemtourer, here is the link to the recumbent project I talked about : http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/recumbent/

I lost my workshop a couple of years ago because the cost went up by a factor of five (thanks to govermental changes), also the difficuilty in getting the correct quality of steel that does not heat treated after welding in the UK has hamperred things.

[eroller]

it.

 

Currently in Alexandria VA and at lunch time today I start a two day Amtrak trip to Montana : one extreme to the other!

 

 

 

 

Jon,

Enjoy Montana, it's a beautiful state. We never did finish our "very proper" Yacht Club conversation. ;) Someday you will have to fill me in on the gory details.

 

When you get home and get a chance, I would love a copy of the "funnel photo" when the group of us went up there.

 

Take care and great meeting you!!

 

Ernie

[stowaway2k]

Yes, it was indeed a very fine crossing, minus the much hoped for heavy seas.

 

What a great bunch of people who make up the WCC!

Thank you to all of you for the good times.

 

After a too-quick visit to NYC, seeing friends off and a stop at my favorite NYC pub, McSorely's Ale House in the East Village, and a leisurely stroll back to QE2 from Grand Central Station, I wondered if our departure would be something special, owing to it's place in Cunard and New York shipping history. I was also looking forward to one last full day at sea on this crossing's extension to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Would our departure be special? I wasn't disappointed. Nothing in comparison to the tandem departure, but special and memorable it was.

Sailing an hour late, of course, at 6.00 pm, being on deck as this magnificent vessel is backed out of her berth into the North River, is always memorable enough.

 

When that awesome instrument, QE2's whistle, blows, the heart stirs and a lump forms in the throat. Three times, four times, and then all over again, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Cunard Line, the Cunard Steamship Company, Cunard White Star, is saying farewell to Manhattan and New York's historic Luxury Liner Row.

 

I couldn't help but stand there on that foward deck under the bridge and recall stories I have read by Cunard captains past, and other crew and on other Lines, about what is for us ship geeks, hallowed ground, hallowed waters. This is where the world's most celebrated and magnificent vessels of their day began and ended their storied crossings. This is where, at this very dock where we are departing now, the Normandie's short life ended. This is where, at these docks, hundreds of thousands of service men embarked on the two previous Queens to go off to war.

This is what was on my mind. I am here, witnessing the end of an era. Am I a sentimental ship geek? Yes.

 

Will Cunard return? Maybe. Will QE2? Unlikely, but all this has been discussed on other threads.

 

When the QE2 was out in the river and pointing down stream, we were met by the sight of the historic fireboat, the John J, Harvey, waiting to accompany us out to the harbor. As her water jets shot upwards, fully illuminated in the night, I was couldn't stop thinking how thankful I was to be there on QE2. As the John J. Harvey sailed with us downriver, and salutes continue to be exchanged, we realize that our tugs are staying with us as well.

More vessels, more salutes. Helicopters buzz us saluting us by flashing their lights.

 

The escorts and the salutes taper off as we pass the Battery, and Manhattan has seen the QE2 and heard her great whistle for the last time.

 

One final bit of fun as one of the Statin Island Ferries crossing from Manhattan to Statin Island stays with us, very close to us off our stern, for the short trip across the harbor.

 

The atmosphere on board has changed, as the crossing is over and the crossers replaced by world cruisers.

The next day was gorgeous, and it was nice to see the decks packed with passengers enjoying the blue skies and warm sun. We are racing along at 28.6 knots, in calm seas, and the great QE2 isn't even straining or shuddering. That night we are told we reached 30.1 knots.

 

The next morning in Ft. Lauderdale it was up early again, as we are told that QE2 would not be cleared by customs and immigration untill the Florida passenger are off and gone.

 

I had the nickle tour of Ft Lauderdale by a friend, then off to the airport for my 3.46 non-stop flight to L.A.

When the pilot announced our route to L.A., which included flying over New Orleans, I thought I should visit there sometime soon. About an hour later I had my wish. We made an emergency landing there when the flight crew detected a burning odor aft in the cabin. We waited five hours for our replacement aircraft to arrive from Dallas. The terminal was closed up, no shops or eateries open. The flight crew emptied our plane of food and beverages and set up a buffet of sorts in the waiting room.

Five hours late, at about 1.00 am I arrived at LAX, my long and fantastic holiday over.

[greatam]

Hello Everyone,

 

What a trip!!! From meeting Jan, Tom and Commodore Mik at some VERY early hour of the morning to our CC get togethers, the Cavalcade of Cabins, and being able to go into the West Side Piers and out again, this was truly something VERY special.

 

A VERY special kudo to Host Doug. I was totally astounded when I met you. Your knowledge is astounding. And if Ernie told the truth about your age, it is even more astounding. The organization for the Cavalcade of Cabins was top notch. Thank you so much for your help in making this one of the best vacations ever.

 

For those that disembarked in NYC, leaving NYC was VERY poignant. I was on the top deck, right in the middle of the bow. Announcements were made stating that this would be the last time QE2 sailed from the West Side Piers. They brought out the fireboats, lots of horn "thumbs up" from other ships, and you could almost hear the tears when the Captain blew the horn an extended time as we were leaving. The lump in the throat is still there.

 

Heads up on the 2007 Winter Crossing. I booked and deposited (reduced to $300pp) on board and was given some very interesting information. EVERYTHING, except the World Cruise, is on a guarantee. AND, the best news-as of yesterday, ALL Mauritania and Coronia cabins are booked for the full world 2007. Cabin 2004 (C-5, bow of ship) is booked and paid for in full, so no chance of that cabin for 2007. But the possibilities for upgrades look pretty good.

 

Of course, there will still be cancellations in M and C, but I'm taking my chances on another fabulous upgrade (booked a C-5 guarantee). And evidently Cunard sends the booking directly to the TA you used this year. Any price reductions will be taken care of by your TA, either via actual dollar amount or upgrade, which I thought was a great benefit. The cruise sales office was booking M and C cabins at 25% discount off Early Booking fares + reduced deposit and some shipboard credit (my statement says $200.00). So all in all, the price on board was only $312.00 more than I paid this year on the deeply discounted prices.

 

I had a truly fabulous time. It was great to meet so many of you that I have been corresponding with over these last months. Hopefully, everyone can do this again next year. And I will be praying for a little more "bounce".

 

Gina

[patwell]

After reading these postings from Stowaway2K and Greatam I too am sitting here with a lump in my throat remembering the days of those grand liners and liner row. I too departed and returned several times while growing up and was always thrilled to see which majestic ship was in port. Distant memories,and now with the departure of Cunard probably never to be seen again but oh how I remember even 40 years later. As a child I read the NY Times shipping news every week to see who was in....when we'd go to NYC my Dad would drive me past the piers so I could just look. Sad to see an era end...in my case the old Norwegian Amerika Line, the pier littered with streamers, tearful good-bys, passing the Statue of Liberty, the Ambrose lightship...but grateful to have those memories myself. Wish I'd been there!!!

 

It was lovely to read that the port made so much of this departure...as it should have. I left my laptop on the dining table just waiting to see her pull out and sail off one last time. As you all pulled off my screen I could swear I heard her horn but maybe that was one that's just embedded in my mind from the past...I wished you a bon voyage...hope you heard me. Sounds like one memorable sail-away!! Penny

[Transatlantic Tom]

Kyle:

 

Thanks for the great posting on the departure from NY. We were very envious of those of you continuing on to Florida !!

 

Jan and I have booked the April 2007 crossing, and added the NY-Florida section too!!

 

It was nice meeting you. I especially enjoyed our talk about the Matson Line and Hawaii. I hope to see you aboard QE2 again sometime in the not-too-distant future !!

 

 

Gina:

 

Yes, it was nice meeting you too. Say hi to Dennis for us. We enjoyed arriving at the end of the Town Quay at 6 AM in the pitch black and hearing someone say "Are you Jan ?" !!!!

 

Sorry I didn't bump into you more often during the crossing. So much of it is luck, I guess.

 

I gather we won't see you next year aboard QE2 since it appears that you and Dennis will be making the January crossing while we will be making the April crossing.

 

Tom

[Transatlantic Tom]

"Transat Jon" is travelling aboard Amtrak's "Empire Builder" at this very moment, going from Chicago to Montana. The train makes a 45 minute stop in St. Paul tonight. Jan and I live just a few miles away from where the train will be. If things work out just so, I may stop by the Depot and see if I can have him paged !!!

 

Tom;)

[Calliope]

Jim, Bob,Tom, Rebecca, Dennis, Gina, Kyle, Ernie, Julie,Chris, Doug, Bruce, Scott, Jon, John,et.al. it was truly great travelling with you across the great North Atlantic on the pride of the British Merchant Navy, the QE2! What a time we all had. Thanks to each and every one of you for making the anticipation of the trip and then the trip itself so very special.

 

I sure hope to see everyone on another trip on this great Cunarder. Perhaps it will be the crossing from Southampton to Ft. Lauderdale during April 2007 as I too am booked on that crossing.

 

Let's keep this thread going!

[sfo-john]

I won't write a full review right now, but I just wanted to say that it really was a pleasure meeting all of you and I sure hope to do it again soon. April 2007 looks like the soonest for me..

 

I also wanted to let you all who disembarked in NY know about what it was like from there to Ft Lauderdale.

 

On the positive side, the sail away from New York was truly amazing. It was every bit as impressive as I thought it would be and I was pleased with having decided to stay on for that. The weather was quite warm and the city couldn't have looked any better (except for the still painfully missed World Trade Center) as we made our way down the Hudson. I had a glass of champagne and marvelled at the sights for well over an hour and didn't head back inside until the Verazzano Bridge was almost completely out of sight. Whoever was doing the narration actually wasn't doing that great a job, mostly because he was talking about various sites way before they came into view. It was kind of confusing for those who didn't know. I had a good time reexplaining things to one of my British tablemates who was with me for a lot of the sailaway.

 

It was also nice to wake up on Tuesday morning and have the weather be very sunny and warm and to be able to lay out on deck and soak up some "rays" if you were so inclined. The decks definitely took on a different air with all of those blue reclining chairs set up on the larger stern deckspaces.

 

The negative thing (and I wasn't the only WCC-er to notice it) was that the whole tone of the ship changed after New York. It really sort of seemed to turn into a cruise crowd and the whole mystical sense of being on a crossing on a real ocean liner was gone. I feel like I was on a six day crossing and a 36 hour cruise. It made it that much easier to get off the ship on Wednesday morning, I guess. Note to self: don't ever bother taking a World Cruise.

 

So for all of you who hated leaving the ship in New York, you didn't miss much, the great time sailing out of New York aside.

 

I've got to get out of the office now, get home and unpack that suitcase that I plopped down on my living floor lastnight..

[juliecat]

Back home in the soggy Pacific Northwest after a very long day flying cross-country. It's always so sad to head home after a great crossing. The baggage handlers broke my limited edition Transatlantic Crossing mug, so if anyone sees one on ebay, please let me know.

 

Transatlantic Jon, I will meet you on the Amtrak train in Salem Oregon on Wednesday. Too bad we couldn't time dinner, but at least we can have tea and a leisurely ride down the Willamette Valley.

 

See you all next year!

Julia

[eroller]

 

See you all next year!

Julia

 

Hi Julia,

Sorry I was a bit standoff-ish on the bus to La Guardia. I was on the phone with a new employer and had to give her my undivided attention. I didn't get to give you a proper goodbye and I apologize for that.

 

Ernie

[eroller]

 

So for all of you who hated leaving the ship in New York, you didn't miss much, the great time sailing out of New York aside.

 

 

 

Hi John,

I truly appreciate your thoughts on the final days down to Ft. Lauderdale. As you can imagine, many of us were quite curious if the atmosphere onboard would change after so many of us disembarked. None the less, I think it must have been a nice way to wind down after a busy and social six day crossing.

 

It was hard to say goodbye to QE2 (and everyone onboard), but for me once it's over it's over and I'm anxious to get home. As it turns out, I pretty much missed nothing while I was gone and I guess that's a good thing. I do have a new full time job that I start on the 23rd, so that is exciting. I hope it doesn't cut too much into my "ship time". ;)

 

All the best,

Ernie

[planetcadillac]

Whoa we are in the process of booking the Winter Crossing 2007 as we speak. The travel agent/friend that I am using is an experienced agent and traveller but not as up on the ins and outs of the QE2 like a dedicated Cunard agent. So we will see. Tentatively reserved for Mauretania although that may change. Anyone suggest that we just book M-guarantee and wait it out or try and secure a specific cabin and basically live with that?

 

This will mark my third time on the QE2, as you can see below, but the first time on this unique Winter Crossing and since the QM2 took over regular transatlantic service. Back then we just booked and went. Now I am paying more particular attention to playing the 'game' of booking so to speak.

[greatam]

Whoa we are in the process of booking the Winter Crossing 2007 as we speak. The travel agent/friend that I am using is an experienced agent and traveller but not as up on the ins and outs of the QE2 like a dedicated Cunard agent. So we will see. Tentatively reserved for Mauretania although that may change. Anyone suggest that we just book M-guarantee and wait it out or try and secure a specific cabin and basically live with that?

 

This will mark my third time on the QE2, as you can see below, but the first time on this unique Winter Crossing and since the QM2 took over regular transatlantic service. Back then we just booked and went. Now I am paying more particular attention to playing the 'game' of booking so to speak.

 

It was my understanding, after speaking with the cruise sales staff onboard, that there will be NO cabin assignments until at LEAST July 2006, UNLESS you are booking the full world cruise. Only on the full cruise do you get to pick a specific cabin.

 

Evidently, there were many problems this year with bookings on various segments. Cabin xxxx was taken for segment XXX, but someone was willing to book that cabin category for the entire world cruise. However, that cabin had been booked for a segment and was NOT available for the entire world cruise. Various cabins were empty for various segments, when they could have been sold for the entire world cruise.

 

So for 2007 just guarantees for ANY category for a segment only. AND, with ALL M and C cabins booked and deposited for the full world cruise as of Tuesday, Jan. 10, upgrades should be plentiful for a segment.

 

Make sure your agent puts you in the lowest cat guarantee that you will be satisfied with for a segment. And then pray that not too many people cancel in the M and C cabins.

[juliecat]

Ernie,

 

Absolutely forgiven! I've been enjoying your photos this evening; I wish I had your eye (photographically speaking :)).

 

Julia

[planetcadillac]

It was my understanding, after speaking with the cruise sales staff onboard, that there will be NO cabin assignments until at LEAST July 2006, UNLESS you are booking the full world cruise. Only on the full cruise do you get to pick a specific cabin.

 

Evidently, there were many problems this year with bookings on various segments. Cabin xxxx was taken for segment XXX, but someone was willing to book that cabin category for the entire world cruise. However, that cabin had been booked for a segment and was NOT available for the entire world cruise. Various cabins were empty for various segments, when they could have been sold for the entire world cruise.

 

So for 2007 just guarantees for ANY category for a segment only. AND, with ALL M and C cabins booked and deposited for the full world cruise as of Tuesday, Jan. 10, upgrades should be plentiful for a segment.

 

Make sure your agent puts you in the lowest cat guarantee that you will be satisfied with for a segment. And then pray that not too many people cancel in the M and C cabins.

 

I guess I can put down my 1968 & 1972 deck plans lol trolled eBay looking for those plans just for this sort of thing but it looks like I will just find out where I will sleep when I get on. Not that I mind just BEING on the QE2 is 99% of the war but it would be fun to get a surprise none the less. Be interesting to see how this plays out with people as I know of several people including yourself who are already booked for the 2007 Winter Crossing.

 

Speaking of crossings while this is the Cunard board we are also in the process of booking a eastbound transatlantic crossing on the Celebrity Constellation from NYC to Dover England. Will be interesting to cross twice in one calendar year and experience it on a different line than Cunard. From the bits that I have cleaned from CC that a transatlantic even on Celebrity is an experience and quite different from the typical port intensive cruise. In a mandatory tie in with Cunard, Celebrity purchased remnants of the fittings of the RMS Olympic (sister to the Titanic and a member of the Cunard-White Star family before her demise) so you can book in her speciality alternative dining rooms RMS Olympis and Ocean Liners and feel like you were sitting in the first class lounges on the Titanic and Olympic!

 

So lots to do looks like the next year will be busy! I could never figure it out seems to take FOREVER waiting until the trip but the trip itself goes by way to fast!

[Transatlantic Tom]

"Transat Jon" and I were able to meet last night, after all !!!

 

I was able to make it to the Amtrak station here in St. Paul last night and, with the assistance of the conductor, was able to go aboard the "Empire Builder" to see Jon. I found him asleep in his coach seat, and it took some considerable effort to wake him. He claimed that it was too many late nights aboard QE2 catching up with him !!

 

The train stopped at St. Paul from approx. 10:15 PM to 11:15 PM so I was able to spend the better part of an hour together. Great fun !!

 

We kept asking people where we could find The Yacht Club, but this produced nothing but blank stares....

 

From the mid-Atlantic to the American Midwest - the WCC is alive and well !!

 

Tom:)

[Transatlantic Tom]

I won't write a full review right now, but I just wanted to say that it really was a pleasure meeting all of you and I sure hope to do it again soon. April 2007 looks like the soonest for me..

 

I've got to get out of the office now, get home and unpack that suitcase that I plopped down on my living floor lastnight..

 

John:

 

Thanks for this update, it was very interesting. I'm taken by your description of how the feel of the ship seemed to change after departing New York.

 

Could I trouble you to send me a quick e-mail (trtrapp@stkate.edu) ??? The e-mail address I have for you didn't seem to work this morning when I sent off a message, and I'd like to have the correct one. In particular, and for the moment, Jan and I have some nice pictures that we'd like to send to you.

 

Tom:)

[Transatlantic Tom]

January 2007 QE2 Crossing

 

*Brian Boru (Chris)

*Stowaway2K (Kyle)

*transat jon (Jon)

*greatam (Gina & Dennis)

*juliecat (Julia)

*planetcadillac

 

April 2007 QE2 Crossing

 

*Brian Boru (Chris)

*Skipperette (Jan)

*Transatlantic Tom (Tom)

*Calliope (Frank)

[eroller]

"Transat Jon" and I were able to meet last night, after all !!!

 

 

 

Great story Tom! Thanks for sharing.

 

Ernie