Maiden ports of call

[Cruisemarsh]

Has anyone been on the QE2 when she made maiden calls to ports?

I was on her in 1998 and we made three maiden calls and in particular the sailing into Grand Harbour Valletta was fantastic. Thousands lined the streets to greet the QE2 in her first call to the port. Dubrovnik was another one and also I think Corfu was a first. That was a great cruise.

Also, in summer 2000, was on her when she anchored off Anstruther, Fife for the Open Championship at St Andrews.

[Chris]

We were aboard during her maiden call to Albany during the 2008 World Cruise.

[Blue Bombay]

I was onboard on the following Maiden calls

1990-Greenock
1990-Cobh
1990-Liverpool                                         
1990-Plymouth 
1991-Monte Carlo
1992-St.Johns, Newfoundland 
1993-Edinburgh                                 
1994-Waterford
1995-Invergordon                                   
1995-Amsterdam
1996-Ambon
1997-Spritzbergen                 
1997-Corfu
1997-Dubai             
1997-Ponta Delgada                           
1997-Cozumel                                 
1997-Dun Laoghaire
1998-Kirkwall
1998-Vung Tau
1998-Lautoka

Louis
                             

[Cunardqueen]

Belfast last year was so memorable for all the wrong reasons. Added to the fact it was the only time l have missed a Dinner onboard.

If l had to pick two places never to go back to it would be Belfast... And South Queensferry, and both sadly failed with spectacular results  as part of QE2s Farewell Round the UK voyage. 
 To have missed their chance on the 40th might have passed as a one off, But to be the last Scottish port she ever called in and not to do anything, l felt was a total disgrace   and unforgivable.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

We were on board when QE2 paid her maiden call to Göteborg (Gothenburg) in 2005 -- she had a wonderful reception and send-off, with a band and majorettes, and a huge flotilla, which escorted us very very far out into the golden sunset.

A really memorable and happy occasion!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piasosua/2166817839/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2238885366/

It was our best send-off ever... until the time came for QE2 to pay her final call to so many ports... and even then...

More photos here :

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=55206992%40N00&q=gothenburg&m=text

[Jem]

Great photo's Isabelle. Really enjoyed the sunset shots.

Cheers.

[Peter Mugridge]

I am told that our September 7th 2002 at Civitavecchia was a maiden call?

And as we left the QE2 there to catch a flight to New York, the agent having had to twist Cunard's arm some months earlier to allow us to do only half the cruise pro rata ( long story; to be told later ) I rather suspect that made us the first two people to ever leave QE2 at Civitavecchia?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is a picture of QE2's maiden call to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands :

http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/picture/number23442.asp

This was the same cruise as the one where she encountered an iceberg. My Mum was on board and was hugely impressed by the welcome she received -- and the quantities of whisky served by the locals on the pier to the freezing passengers!

[Cunardqueen]

I do believe it was Highland Park that was served to the passengers.
 It was also one of the whiskies that the shops onboard had for sale.

[highlander0108]

My relatives are from Peterhead, Scotland.  My cousin informed us when we visited her before the Farewell to the British Isles cruise that QE2 actually made a stop there in the 90's she thought.  This is the only photo/info I could find about this.  Does anyone have any additional information why the ship stopped there.  Peterhead is a major fishing port, support harbor to the oil industry, but not much else.  I suspect that passengers were less than impressed with the area.  The surrounding area is beautiful, but a major tourist attraction it is not.



QE2's just outside the breakwater in the aerial of Peterhead harbor.

[Twynkle]

Ken
QE2 anchored off Peterhead on Thursday, 22nd July 1999

From http://www.qe2.org.uk/itinerary_1999.html

[highlander0108]

I found this article, which explains that the seas were too rough too tender in to Peterhead.  The passengers never knew what they missed. 
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/scotsman-edinburgh-scotland-the/mi_7951/is_1999_July_23/qe2-passengers-peterhead/ai_n32642168/

[Cunardqueen]

Doesnt it just show the draw that QE2 has over the crowds, Orkney proved a memorable visit as well.
 Im only sorry Cunard seemed insistant that South Queensferry remained on the list for so long.
 While im sure Peterhead isnt quite in the top ten of cruise ports it would have provided a welcome change from every other port.
 I wonder how much less ships pay if they anchor as opposed to berth at the various ports?
 I used to always be amused to see in the early day added to the fare was port taxes charge   

[Twynkle]

QE2 on the Tyne - September 18th 2007
This is very good indeed!
Keep a watch for the transitional joint!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG4w_Uso_sE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG4w_Uso_sE</a>
Thanks to FruitBone

[flagship]

I think that maiden arrival on the Tyne was the most spectacular I have witnessed given the fact that we only got in by the skin of our teeth but local man McNaught was determined. The tension on the Bridge was at times unbearable.