QE2 Trip Pictures

[John Clifford]

Here are some of the pictures taken during my QE2 trip to the Mediterranean.

First set: Southampton: August 12th:

1. Views from the Town Quay:

2. QE2 as seen from the Hythe Ferry, whose service advertises that one will pass the Cunard ships when on the Ferry:

In one of these shots, I was told "There's more of the ship in the picture, than there is of you". I assured the picture taker that that was what I wanted.

3. View from accross the River Test/Solent, at the Hythe Terminal and the Marina Area:

The Hythe Marina is a popular spot for watching the ships depart from the QE II Terminal.

 

[John Clifford]

DEPARTURE FROM SOUTHAMPTON:
August 12, 2008

1. Departure from the QE II Terminal:

2. "CHEERS!!! to the QE2!!" & Sailaway Party Time:

3. Passing the Harbor Entrance & Heading in to the English Channel:

 

[Joe Russo]

Thanks for sharing John. Such beautiful lines in her design. She is really such an aesthetically pleasing ship. Hope the United Arabs treat her right.

 

[Russell Smith]

In the photos "Passing the Harbor Entrance & Heading in to the English Channel" theres a small circular "isle" visible, with (I assume) The Isle of Wight in the background. It's particularly clear on picture # 3. What is that? I don't see it referenced on GoogleMaps.

 

[John Clifford]

Arrival in Lisbon
Thursday, August 14th:

1. Escorted in to the Harbor, with "Asssistance from Mr. Standart's Friends"

plus ship-board views of the Belem Tower and the Discoverer's Monument, as well as seeing the Christ the King Statue accross the Tagus, after crossing under the Bridge, and the nearby wharfside restaurants:

2. Ship View from the Harbor:

3. Visit to the Discover's Monument:

including views from the Monument's Roof-top Viewpoint:

4. Statue of Vasco DeGama and the Cathedral where he is buried:

5. Visit to the Belem Fortress Tower:

6. Aviator Tribute: For the 1922 successful flight to South America:

7. "How to Cool Off"

:

and

8. Departure Pictures: Including Departure of Princess Cruise Ship:

 

[John Clifford]

Russell, the circular isle is one of four ancient fortresses built at the Harbor entrance, for defense purposes.
Nowadays, those isles sre more for observation purposes. One isle, it is said, has a restaurant located on it. I can't verify or disclaim that.

 

[Kyle Johnstone]

This one is called "No Man's Land Fort" and has a very interesting history

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-468609/Man-island-fit-Bond-villain-sale--4-million.html

It is visible on Google Earth, in the Solent, between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Man's_Land_Fort

 

[John Clifford]

Thank you, Kyle.

Now I do recall that one of my deckmates also mentioned the story about the No Man's Land Fort, as we passed it.
For me, it was one of those "Intersting Story!!" items. I, also, figured that I could not, truly, afford a night's stay there, and I certainly don't have 4,000,000 British Pounds, or about $8,000,000 in the US, to shell out (haven't won the CA Lottery, yet).

 

[Russell Smith]

It's for sale for only £4m ? What a bargain! With currency conversion, that's only $7,354,793 USD.

I wonder if they'll take a personal check.

John, the pictures are great Hi-Res shots. What kind of camera did you use?

 

[John Clifford]

Other Pictures to Share:
Friday, August 15th:
1. "Sunrise on the Mediterranean"
or
"Sunrise on the QE2"
The pictures "don't do justice" for the beauty of the scenes
(The titles, though, might make wonderful romance novels):

2. CABIN #2003:

and

3. Saturday, August 16th: Approach to Alghero & Launch of Official Tender (Before everyone learned that nobody would be allowed to go to Alghero):

Tomorrow I will have to upload the pictures taken in Cannes, Barcelona, and Gibraltar.

CHEERS, Everyone!!!

 

[John Clifford]

Russell, my camera is a Canon PowerShot A460.
It is a pocket camera, and my father bought it for me, for the September 2007 QM2 trip. He felt it would be easier, and better, for me to use, instead of my supersize Nikon D80.

 

[Jerry Nuovo]

John, Great pictures of you and the QE2.I just wonder why when I did the back2back transatlantic crossing last October aboard QM2 and the QM2 most of the time does dock at Berth 38/39 when there is no other Cunard Ship in the Port of Southampton,the QM2's bow was pointed Northwest and I see that in this picture the QE2 also docked at Berth 38/39 has her bow pointed to the Southeast towards the English Channel.What I am trying to say is why the bow of both ships is pointed in the opposite direction when either ship is in Southampton? And hopefully when I go aboard the QM2 next April 14th for the back2back transatlantic crossing,when the QM2 arrives in Southampton next April 20th the Queen Victoria will also be in the Port of Southampton.And the procedure is on the day that both Cunard Queens are in the Port of Southampton one Cunard Ship has to dock in the Eastern Docks and the other Cunard Ship has to dock in the Western Docks so I am just wondering which Cunard Queen will dock where? And to the right of Berth 38/39 due to the unusual shoreline of Southampton's Eastern Docks when you are facing towards the Northwest is Berth 44 where the Titanic was docked. Jerry

 

[John Clifford]

Hi Jerry.

I don't know why the ships face the directions they do.

In 1997, the QE2 was positioned facing inland, and was turned around for the start of the voyage (the THS-sponsored crossing, which included Millvina Dean).
In 2004, when Jason Tiller and I were on the Queen Mary 2, the ship was facing towards the English Channel.

Last year the Queen Mary 2 was positioned facing inland.
Why the changes in the postions of the ships, when at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, I don't know. One should ask someone on the ship, or an official at Cunard.

 

[Russell Smith]

I read an account of a passenger's docking on the QM2. They sailed northward up past The Solent, then past the QE2 terminal, did a 180 degree turn, sailed south past the QE2 Terminal AGAIN, did ANOTHER 180 degree turn, then eventually docked, facing northward.

Go figure!

 

[N. James Wright]

I have asked the question why sometimes the ship is the wrong way round - so to speak, and the answer I was given was that when the ship docked in the morning it was foggy so they just slid in to dock in the direction they were facing. Quite dramatic as one leaves as the ship does a 180 turn to get it the correct direction to proceed.

 

[Jerry Nuovo]

Here is a link to an internet radio talk show about cruise vacations.The host of the show does interview people in the cruise industry such as Cunard Line President Carol Marlow and Maritime Historians John Maxtone Graham and Bill Miller.This is a weekly show that can be only heard via the internet and the interviews with Carol Marlow,John Maxtone Graham and Bill Miller were recorded within the last several months but makes for interesting listening anyway.John Maxtone Graham does even comment on the Titanic movies A Night to Remember and James Cameron's Titanic.Here is the link www.vmanetconcepts.com/talkshow/id1.html And here is the link to the cruise talk show's home page www.cruisetalkshow.com Jerry

 

[Jerry Nuovo]

Here is a link to a map of the Southamton Docks.To enlarge the map just click on the round blue button with the t symbol on it. www.southamptonvts.co.uk/files/pos.pdf Look for Berth 44 where the Titanic was docked and see how close Berth 44 is to Berth 38/39 which is also known as the Queen Elizabeth II terminal where the Cunard Queens QE2,QM2 & Queen Victoria presently dock at. Jerry

 

[Russell Smith]

Nice catch Jerry.

 

[John Clifford]

QE2 Trip Pictures
Continued:

Sunday, August 16th: Cannes

PART I

Morning in the Bay of Cannes, and Arrival:

View of the Palm Beach Casino:

Includes the arrival of the Egyptian ship Aida Cara:

Cunard Tender Heading Out to Shore:

Looking to the Tender Landing Area:

 

[Jerry Nuovo]

Russell,Thank you and John,Great pictures.Thank You for posting them Jerry