Watching QM2 at night

[Rob Lightbody]

One final thing... at Greenock, QM2's departure meant she finally sailed in total darkness.  I have photos of this.  QE2 sailed last year in total darkness too.

This is one comparison I would like to draw between the ships!

When watching QE2 at night, you had the stunning random "peppering" of porthole lights all over the black hull topped by two rows of brightly lit public rooms that you got glimpses into, and a boat deck with people clearly profiled on it, then that giant funnel.  I always felt, strongly, that it could be QM1, QE1, Normandie, SSUS or any of the old liners, only a wee bit of imagination was required - the portholes would have looked just the same...

She also has an odd row of downlighters along her side that i dont think look good - maybe if the light from them was more diffused or something...

With QM2 I wasn't sure what i was seeing, but it didn't seem all that interesting at all !  I wonder if anyone else has seen QM2 at night and thought the same?

[Jem]

Hello Rob, Here are some night time webcam images of all vessels at night 1 QE2 as she left the Solent for the last time, 2 QM2, 3 QV, On the first image QE2 it's hard to see the port holes, Image two, arriving, QM2 you can see light shining out from the hull, as for QV, arriving, looks like a Christmas tree! I expect if the images were sharper I'd be able to see QE2's port hoes better?

Cheers.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

She also has an odd row of downlighters along her side that i dont think look good - maybe if the light from them was more diffused or something...

With QM2 I wasn't sure what i was seeing, but it didn't seem all that interesting at all !  I wonder if anyone else has seen QM2 at night and thought the same?

The downlighters -- do you mean these on QM2?

http://www.irishseashipping.com/photofeatures/shipco/carnival/qm2_201009n/181_8180.jpg

I wonder whether the lack of interest derives from the fact that QM2 (I believe) has many public rooms low down, while those parts of the QE2 hull were devoted to cabins -- meaning that lights on QE2 were on or off at random, depending on whether the passengers were in their cabins at the time, and on whether they had their curtains drawn, while those on QM2 are presumably all on at the same time.

[Chris]

Rob,

We experienced a similar thing when viewing the Two Queens in Sydney in 2007. QE2 was docked alongside and you could stand there for hours watching her. QM2 sailed later that night and it really seemed as if a large apartment building had just set sail - at night she didn't really resemble a ship.

Here's two photographs from that night:

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here's another night shot from Greenock...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cumbo/4035798248/

Nothing really to catch the eye, except for the funnel and the name...

[Alex_H2010]

I know what you mean Rob,  I saw both the QE2 and the QM2 on the Clyde in 2008 and 2009.  There was a classic elegance to the QE2's lighting.  It really complimented her beautiful shape. 

I think that although she doesn't look anywhere near as nice as the QE2 at night, I still think the QM2 looked quite nice.  Especially the blue lighting near her stern and purple lighting just below the funnel.

I got a photo of the QM2 leaving Greenock.

[pete cain]

Posted this  sometime ago think it shows what Rob means about the random peppering of porthole lighting etc,      http://www.wallpapers247.com/wallpaper/QE2-Panama/http://. it is a free download & superb when viewed full screen

[andy liney]

Here is a night picture of QM2 departing New York.

After we disembarked from a transatlantic crossing, we caught the ferry to Red Hook to watch her departure that evening. Strangely enough, the departure should have been in full daylight, but QM2 was delayed considerably by what I later discovered had been a serious illness on board, with a passenger later having to be taken off. After she passed, we caught the ferry back and continued to have good night views of her as she eventually passed under Verrazzano Narrows bridge.

[Twynkle]

Hi! Thank you.
That's a superb picture of Queen Mary 2,
she does look good
and well worth your efforts!