QM2, QE2 AND VISTING CRUISE SHIPS IN PORT

Professor Willms presentation at the 1st International Cruise Conference in Bremerhaven started me thinking about my own experiences of cruise ships in port and the visitors they attract.

I think the most amazing vision of this was arriving in Cherbourg on Queen Mary 2's maiden arrival in France. Over 10,000 people were waiting to see the ship arrive at 7am, and this had swelled into 15,000 by the time she left! On our arrival, fire boats were spurting plumes of water as a salute to the uncrowned queen of France, and a large floatilla of small boats 

hovered dangerously near this enormous ship's bow. But the crowning moment was when she approached the terminal, she let out a roar from her massive horn! We all covered our ears and my daughter screamed - we couldn't hear her scream! One of these horns was from the original Queen Mary (now in Long Beach, California) and can be heard from over 10 miles away. France was proud of its Queen! But why had these people come to visit a ship? Is it because of national pride? Or could it be because they felt they had built the ultimate ship? (At 148,000 tons she was the largest passenger ship in the world at the time)

But one ship that always brings out the crowds wherever she goes is Queen Elizabeth 2. I have travelled on her three times now and each time she arrives and leaves port there are always lots of people lining the banks of the river waiting to see her. I have never seen this with any other ship apart from QM2. Why does QE2 cause such a stir? She has travelled more miles than any passenger ship; she is a Falklands War Veteran; she is perceived by many as the elite of cruise ships; she is the last Scottish-built ocean liner; she is a proper ocean liner; or she is named after our current monarch. Whatever it is, I am sure that when she arrives and departs from Southampton to Dubai on Armistice Day (11 November) this year, this war veteran will have one send off to remember!