Author Topic: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!  (Read 89908 times)

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Offline Twynkle

Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« on: Mar 21, 2009, 01:26 PM »


Tomorrow will be the Anniversary of The QE2's Maiden call at Dubai - 22nd March 1997

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #1 on: Mar 22, 2009, 03:54 PM »
The Sixties

1964
December 30: Contract to build signed by Sir John Brocklebank, then chairman of Cunard, and Lord Aberconway, chairman of John Brown

1965
July 5: Keel laid

1967
July 14:  Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh tours the uncompleted liner and lunches with Cunard and John Brown executives

September 20: Launched by the Queen in the presence of Prince Phillip and Princess Margaret.  The launch ceremonies are carried live on television by the BBC and broadcast worldwide on BBC radio.  The day is declared a holiday in Clydebank.  The Queen christens the ship "Queen Elizabeth the second" setting in place a controversy that is debated to this day as to whether or not the queen named the ship after herself, although Cunard intended the ship to be named simply "Queen Elizabeth"

September 21: News of the launch and naming ceremony is reported in major newspapers throughout the world.

1968
February 20:  Princess Margeret opens the QE2 Exhibition at the Design Centre in London

November 19:
Prince Charles, QE2's first passenger, sails on board from the shipyard in Clydebank to the dry dock in Greenock. Prince Charles sounds the ship's whistle for the final time in Clydebank.

November 26: Sea trials begin, which reveal engine problems.

December 23: Main trials and shakedown cruises commence in Greenock.
Engine problems develope off the Canary Islands.

1969
January 1: Cunard refuses delivery of the QE2

January 2: Arrives in Southampton for the first time. The maiden voyage is postponed plus 5 additional sailings are cancelled.

April 18: Cunard accepts delivery of the QE2

April 22: Officially enters commercial service with a mini-cruise to the Canary Islands

May 1: The Queen and Prince Phillip visit the QE2 in Southampton. Commodore Warwick leads the Royal party on a tour of the ship, where they meet and speak with many of the ship's officers and crew. A ceremony takes place in the Queen's Room, where the Queen viewed a bust of herself.
The Queen and Prince Phillip are Guests of Honor at a special luncheon in the Grill Room, hosted by the chairman of Cunard Sir Basil.

May 2: Maiden transatlantic crossing to New York, arrives five days later to a tumultuous welcome.

May 16:  QE2 cruises through the assembled NATO fleet at Spithead which the Queen was viewing from HMY Britannia and exchanges greetings with the royal yacht.

May 29:  Prince Phillip visits QE2 in Southampton while presenting the Council of Industrial Design awards.


« Last Edit: Mar 24, 2009, 02:48 AM by stowaway2k »

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #2 on: Mar 22, 2009, 03:57 PM »
The Seventies

1970
March 5:  Princess Margaret, accompanied by her husband Lord Snowdon, visit QE2 in Barbados, having lunch in The Grill Room and cocktails with the captain in his quarters and in the Midships Bar

March 23: Welcomes her 75,000th passenger

April 22: First Mediterranean cruise leaves from Southampton

June: Crosses the Atlantic in 3 days, 20 hours, 42 minutes at an average speed of 30.36 knots

October: The Queen gifts portraits of herself and of Prince Phillip to the officers wardroom. The presentation is made by Cunard Chairman Sir Basil Smallpeice on behalf of Her Majesty.

October: Departs New York for 37-day voyage to Africa and South America

1971
January 8-9: Anchored off St. Lucia in the Caribbean, QE2 receives an S.O.S. from the French liner Antilles, stating that she had run aground and was on fire. QE2 steamed full speed to the rescue. Upon arrival 3 1/2 hours later, the French ship was fully ablaze. All her passengers had been evacuated. QE2 took aboard hundreds of evacuated passengers by tender at Mustique and sailed for Barbados, where they were tendered ashore. 85 of them elected to remain with QE2.

March 5: Suffers power failure for four hours off Trinidad as a result of jellyfish being sucked into intakes.

June 30: Trafalgar House purchases Cunard for 27.3 million pounds.

After calling at Cobh, Ireland, and disembarking several passengers, it is discovered that six pieces of unclaimed luggage contain a large consignment of illegal arms destined to the IRA.

1972
Ten penthouse suites are added to the Sports Deck

April 23: Arrives 36 hours late in Southampton after one of the worst recorded Atlantic storms

May 17: While in mid-Atlantic, Captain Law receives a coded message stating that there may be bombs placed in strategic locations throughout the ship. An RAF Hercules transport is flown out to parachute bomb-disposal experts. No bombs were found, the extortion plot was a hoax, one month later a New York shoe salesman was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to 20 years.

1973
April 14: Leaves Southampton on first of two charter cruises to Israel to commenorate 25th anniversary of the state's founding. Intense security results after terrorist threats. Chartered passenger coaches from London are escorted by police convoy. The entire Ocean Terminal is sealed off. Though unconfirmed, it is believed that a team of undercover Special Air Service soldiers and a detachment of Royal Marines were on board.
The Columbia Restaurant and kitchen were made kosher for the cruises.

1974
April 1: Loses power after boiler room oil leak. Passengers are transfered at sea to Sea Venture.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat confirms that he personally cancelled orders to a submarine from Libya's leader Qadaffi to torpedo and sink QE2 during her call to Israel in 1973

1975
January 14: Sails from Southampton on her first World Cruise.

December 4: Completes her first million miles, between Antigua and Boston

1976
November 26: IRA plot to blow up the ship in Southampton drydock is foiled, enough explosives to do the the job are found in the basement of a Southampton block of flats. Three men are arrested and sentenced to 20 years.

1977
December: The two ultra-luxurious suites, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, are added to QE2

1978
January: QE2 makes maiden calls to Australia and New Zealand

1979
May: Celebrates tenth anniversary, having carried half a million passengers to 63 countries.  HM Queen Elizabeth sends a message to the captain "I wish her God speed and you and your officers and crew every success in adding to the one million five hundred thousand miles already sailed."





« Last Edit: Mar 24, 2009, 02:58 AM by stowaway2k »

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #3 on: Mar 22, 2009, 03:59 PM »
The Eighties

1980
January: First transit of the Suez Canel

World Cruise: Yokohama mayor informs Captain Arnott that a bridge is to be constructed across the harbor. The bridge will be built in a manner specifically to allow QE2 to pass beneath.

World Cruise: Yalta. Soviet authorities suddenly demand that only passengers with a Soviet visa or pre-paid tour be allowed ashore.
Realizing that more than half his passenger would never make it ashore, Captain Arnott orders a full tender to return to the ship, orders the Soviet authorities off the ship, and to the strains of "Rule Britannia" and "Stars and Stripes" ringing throughout the ship, pulls up anchor and sails away.
Passengers send masses of flowers and hundreds of messages of support to the captain's quarters, and Captain and Mrs. Arnott receive a standing ovation upon entering the restaurant that evening.

1981
May: Striking Southampton dock workers cause QE2 to terminate a cruise at Cherbourg.
The 1981 Transatlantic season begins in Cherbourg.

May 22: Crane drivers refuse to lift off the gangway. Captain Ridley orders his sailors to cut it off with gas torches to permit QE2 to depart for a Norwegian cruise.

July: Special screening of the Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles takes place while crossing the Atlantic. Cunard designates the crossing the "QE2 Royal Wedding Commemorative Voyage"

1982
April 25: The City of Philadelphia charters QE2 for celebrations in connection with the 300th anniversary of the city. QE2 remains in Delaware Bay on her maiden call for four days.

May 3: As QE2 steamed along the south coast of England bound for Southampton, those on board listening to the 12:30 BBC news heard that their ship had been requisitoned by the government. Following confirmation, Captain Hutcheson makes a formal announcement to passengers and crew that QE2 will be withdrawn from commercial service upon arrival in Southampton.

May 5: Work begins on QE2 to convert her from luxury liner to troop carrier.

May 12: QE2 departs Southampton for war with 3000 troops and 650 volunteer crew.

May 26: QE2 arrives in the active war zone in the South Atlantic

May 29: App. 640 survivors of the lost HMS Ardent, HMS Coventry, and HMS Antelope join QE2

June 11: QE2 arrives back in Southampton, greeted by HM The Queen Mother aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia

August: QE2 returns to service with her hull painted light grey, and her funnel in traditional Cunard Red.

December 2: HM The Queen Mother visits QE2 in Southampton. Captain Jackson escort HM on a ship tour and meet & greet of the ship's company who sailed to the Falklands. HM presents to QE2 a silver plaque that records the messages exchanged between the Queen Mother and Captain Jackson while QE2 was steaming past the Royal Yacht on her return voyage.

1983
June: QE2's hull repainted black.

November: At her annual over-haul, the Magrodome is installed over the Quarter Deck pool.

1984
The first sea-going branch of Harrods is opened on board QE2

April 22: At an Easter Egg hunt on board in New York, a 5 year old girl finds a silver egg awarding a free cruise on QE2. The little girl announces that she would rather have found a chocolate egg.

July 13: A sudden strike by Southampton dock works again results in the termination of a cruise at Cherbourg. Cunard must transfer disembarking passengers and their baggage to England by chartered airline, as well as embarking passengers set for the following Transatlantic crossing to New York.
QE2 sails on time.

1985
May 18: QE2, RAF's Red Arrows, and a Concorde rendevous in and over the English Channel. The event is photographed from a Hawk jet, after months of planning for good weather in daylight hours.

1986
May 3: HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother lunches on board QE2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of RMS Queen Mary's maiden voyage

July 4: QE2 participates in celebrations at the Statue of Liberty to mark the historic landmark's one hundredth anniversary.
Cunard commissions Garrard's, the Crown jewellers of London, to make a "freedom torch" as a gift to the American people. It was escorted to America by a Polish immigrant family of four, who, like millions of future Americans who came before, viewed America for the first time from the decks of a ship. For them, the ship was QE2.
The torch was presented to the National Maritime Historical Society in New York (where is it now?)
As QE2 sails under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, escorted by an armada of thousands of boats, a 100 foot American flag is unfurled over the side of the ship. As QE2 passes the Statue of Liberty, red, white, and blue ballons are released from the decks of the ship and red white and blue carnations tossed into the harbor.

October 20: Departs New York for the final time as a steamship.

October 27: Arrives in Bremerhaven to be re-engined. QE2's steam turbines had travelled 2,622,858 miles. Nine diesel electric engines are installed.

1987
April 25: QE2 is delivered back to Cunard after her successful engineering. She is now powered by the world's most powerful marine propulsion plant, and makes over 33 knots on her trials.

April 29: Diana Princess of Wales comes board QE2 off Cowes to join 400 schoolchildren who had embarked in Southampton. A fly-past by the Concorde and RAF Harrier jets salute QE2.

May: QE2 is pounded by a fierce storm on her first crossing to New York since the engine conversion.

1988
December 14: Her Majesty the Queen Mother is hosted by Captain Bennell at a special luncheon on board QE2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty's launching of RMS Queen Elizabeth at Clydebank on September 27, 1938

1989
March 27: A consortium of Japanese companies charters QE2 for 72 days to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the city of Yokohama.
Although she did not go to sea, QE2 maintained her status as an ocean liner throughout her stay. Every day several hundred visitors arrived to stay the night, and 1,200 or so would arrive to dine or shop aboard. All ship's facilities were open to visitors, along with a full program of entertainment, and weddings aboard officiated by Japanese authorities.

December: QE2 returns to Japan for a similar six-month charter for the World Exposition in Osaka. The ship made short cruises to Hong Kong and other nearby ports.




« Last Edit: Dec 12, 2020, 10:13 AM by Lynda Bradford »

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #4 on: Mar 22, 2009, 04:01 PM »
The Nineties

1990
July 22: Under the command of Captain Woodall, QE2 arrives in Southampton after her fastest-ever eastbound crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. At an average speed of 30.16 knots, she crosses in four days, six hours, 57 minutes.

July 22: Cunard begins their 150th Anniversary celebrations with a series of special voyages.

July 23: QE2 arrives Cobh, Ireland on her maiden call. She is greated by 60,000 people, including the Irish premier Charles Haughey.

July 24: QE2 arrives in Liverpool on her maiden call to the spiritual home of Cunard Line. She is anchored in the Mersey near where Cunard's Britannia sailed from 150 years before. Hundreds of thousands of spectators and a flotilla of boats greeted QE2 as she approached her anchorage.
10,000 balloons are released from the Quarter Deck swimming pool.

July 25: QE2 arrives in Greenock, Scotland, her first return to Scotland since her launch in 1967.

July 26: In order to relieve Captain Woodall for official duties the following day, Captain Ronald Warwick commanded QE2 when she sailed from Cherbourg. For the first time in Cunard history, a ship's Master captains the same ship his father did.

July 27: The Royal Review of Cunard and Navy ships at Spit Head by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Royal party transfer by Royal barge to QE2. The Queen attends a reception in the Queen's Room, unveils a plaque to commemorate her visit in the Grand Lounge, and luncheon in the Columbia Restaurant. The Queen along the way stops to greet passengers.
Elizabeth II becomes the first reigning British monarch to sail on a commercial vessel with passengers.
A fly-past of the Concorde, a 747, a 707, Sea Harrier aircraft salute QE2

August 9: QE2 completes her 500th transatlantic crossing, Southampton to New York

September: QE2 rounds off 150th anniversary celebrations with calls at Halifax and Boston, ports called at by Britannia in 1840. Governor Dukakis of Massachusetted declares September 4 "Cunard Day"

December: QE2 enters drydock at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg.
The Britannia Grill is added and the casino expanded, in addition to overhauls to machinery.

1991
June 15: Prince Edward and the Duke of Edinburgh attend a Royal Ball aboard QE2 in Southampton

1992
May 10: In Southampton, the Right Honorable Margaret Thatcher O.M. F.R.S. is the guest of honor at a luncheon and reception marking ten years since the Falklands war. Mrs. Thatcher stirs the guests with a speech stressing the importance of QE2 in the conflict.

August 7: Bound for New York, QE2 strikes a submerged rock off the shore of Martha's Vinyard, Massachusettes. QE2 suffers 74 feet of intermittent gashes to her hull. Two fresh-water and one saltwater ballast tanks and an empty fuel tank had been breached.
Local ferry boats are hired to bring passengers ashore at Newport, although the ship is in no danger. Coaches takes passengers to trains for travel onward to New York. Their baggage is air-freighted to them after QE2 arrives in Boston.

October 4: Repairs are completed at Hamburg

1993
June 12: Prince Edward attends a luncheon on board to commemorate the 40th anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth's asseccion to the throne.  The Prince sails with the ship and departs by helicopter

June 13: QE2 makes her maiden call to Edinburgh

August 5: HM the Queen and Prince Andrew visit in Southampton to mark the 175th anniversary of The British Sailor's Society.  Afterwards the Queen embarks HMY Britannia to review various units of the British merchant fleet including QE2.

1994
May 8: Silver Anniversary crossing to New York

June 15: QE2 and hundreds of vessels including the Royal Yacht with the Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne aboard,  gather at Spit Head for a 50th anniversary celebration of the D-Day landings. Passengers are entertained aboard QE2 by Dame Vera Lynn and Bob Hope on the short voyage across the Channel.

October 5: QE2 diverts 120 miles to answer a distress call. An ill crew member from a fishing vessel is transfered to QE2, where he is treated in the ship's hospital. Upon regaining consciousness, hospital staff have a difficult time convincing him that he is on the Queen Elizabeth 2

November 20: QE2 arrives in Hamburg for an extensive refit.
All cabin bathrooms are replaced. The Heritage Trail is installed.
The Quarter Deck pool is replaced by the Lido Cafe.

December 17:  Prince Andrew attends a luncheon on board to celebrate QE2's return to service after the refit.

1995
May 3: First call at Plymouth as part of VE Day anniversary

June 14: Leaves Southampton on her 1000th voyage.

July 17:  Princess Anne lunches on board prior to QE2 leading The Tall Ships out of the Firth of Forth

September: A round-Britain cruise becomes a reunion of former QE2 Masters.
Including Captain Warwick's father, on the cruise are Captains Hehir, Arnott, Woodall, and Commodore Marr.

September 11: Stuck in Hurricane Luis, QE2 was hove-to in wind speeds up to 100 knots and 40-50 foot seas.
2:10a.m. QE2 is struck by a 90 foot wave. The weight of the water crashing onto the foredeck dents deck plating and bends rails. Most passengers don't notice a thing.

1996
January 4: 20th World Cruise, which is marked by her four millionth mile.

September 28: Prince Edward attends a Royal Ball on board in Southampton

1997
April 14: In mid-Atlantic, the ashes of the late Commodore Marr are committed to the deep by Captain Hasel.

September 20: 30th Anniversary of QE2's launch.
To celebrate QE2's anniversary, a benefit in aid of land mine victims is held aboard QE2. Princess Diana was to be guest of honor. Paying tribute to the late Princess at the benefit were Lord Attenborough, Elizabeth Dole, Cherie Blair, and Terry Waite.

1998
March 29: South African President Nelson Mandela embarks QE2 at Durban.

April 3: Carnival Corp. purchases Cunard Line

1999
April 14: Special Anniversary lunch on board in Southampton and celebration cruise to mark QE2's 30 Anniversary in service.



« Last Edit: Mar 24, 2009, 03:29 AM by stowaway2k »

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #5 on: Mar 22, 2009, 04:26 PM »
The 2000's

2000
January 1: As the world anticipates the new millennium, the global press report on QE2 as being one of the most exclusive places in the world for ringing in the new era.
QE2's Millennium New Years cruise sold out in record time after going on sale.

January 5:  After the death of her husband during a QE2 cruise in 1999, Beatrice Muller begins her permanant on-board residency of QE2, garnering much international publicity over the years for herself and Cunard Line as "The Lady Who Lives on QE2"

July 4: While docking in New York, QE2 collides with the Japanese warship Koshima, berthed alongside the liner.   The captain of the Koshima remarks "It was an honor to be kissed by the Queen"

August 4: The passenger, master, and crew send a message to the Queen Mother congratulating her on her 100th birthday.

2001
March: QE2 officiated at the opening of the new cruise terminal in Dubai.

September: Terrorist attacks on New York City force QE2 to divert to Boston for the remainder of the year.

2002
January 8: QE2 becomes the first passenger ship to call in New York since the September 11 terrorist attacks. As she approached the site of the World Trade Center, she reduced speed, her flag was lowered to half-mast, and a wreath was laid in the harbor. She then sounded three long blasts of her whistle.

May 13: It was announced that the following year would be QE2's last full season on the North Atlantic.

June 14: Baroness Thatcher was guest of honor on board at a lunch to mark the 20th anniversary of the Falkland Islands campaign.

2003
March 14: Captain Ronald Warwick leaves QE2 for the last time as Master to take up command of the new Queen Mary 2 and become Commodore of the Cunard Line

October 24: A Concorde, due to be taken out of service, passes over QE2 in mid-Atlantic. The ship's master, Captain Heath, sends a message: "From one British icon to another. We are sorry to see you go."

2004
April 19: QE2 leaves Southampton for the last time as Cunard's flagship, heading for New York where, on April 25, she berthed alongside Queen Mary 2 for the first time. The QE2 and QM2 in New York together is a sensation, the media go wild and huge crowds descend on the docks and along the riverfront.

May 1: QE2 escorts Queen Mary 2 into Southampton. In a ceremony Captain Ian McNaught handed the impressive Boston Cup to Commodore Warwick of Queen Mary 2. As the cup exchanged hands QE2's whistle blew one long blast marking her final day as Cunard's flagship.
A message is sent from Buckingham Palace "Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh remember with pleasure their many visits to the ship and send their best wishes to you for a memorable event"

May: QE2 enters drydock where the Funnel Bar and awning are added to the Sun Deck and flat-screen monitors are added to the Golden Lion pub, much to the delight of QE2's football fanatic passengers.

December 27: On her final Caribbean holiday cruise, QE2 is joined unexpectedly by QM2 for six hours of tandem sailing as close as 1/4 mile to each other. By special arrangement, the two Cunard Queens alter course for the special treat.

2005
January 1: After departing San Juan Puerto Rico bound for New York, soon after ringing in the New Year, QE2 suffers a total loss of power and is dead in the water for a few hours.
The party rages on in the darkened Yacht Club, while a few nervous passengers are seen coming up from their cabins in their lifejackets.

February 16: While alongside in Freemantle four local Australians stole a fork-lift truck and rammed their way on board QE2. All four were found to be drunk.

April 19: Crew on a rampage. Meant to be an end-of-the-world-cruise crew party, several crew members go on a rampage doing damage to the Grand Lounge, a lifeboat, and bathrooms. Most upsetting was serious damage done to the famous tapestries by Helena Barynina Hernmarck depicting the launch of QE2 by the Queen. Thought to have been thrown overboard, the missing tapestries were later found and repaired and returned to their place on E Stairway
Three crew members were arrested when the ship docked at Southampton and fired by Cunard.

July 28:  HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh review QE2 from the deck of HMS Endurance as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations off Spithead

September 5: QE2 becomes Cunard's longest serving ship ever, 36 years, four months, two days.

2006
January 1: For the first time since her acceptance trails in 1969, QE2 was in European waters on New Year's Day.

March 12: A freak wave lifted the stern of QE2 making her roll severely and then a second wave struck the ship.

April 23: Both QE2 and QM2 are in Southampton together and as her older sister sailed past, the new flagship played James Blunt's "You're Beautiful".

November 27: QE2 makes her maiden call to New Orleans, to the great appreciation of the city which suffered so terribly from hurricane Katrina and the levy failures.

2007
January 3: QE2 departs Southampton for New York commencing her 25th World Cruise. A spectacular fireworks display in Southampton sends her on her way.

June 18: Cunard stuns with the surprise announcement that QE2 has been sold for $100 million to Dubai interests. Dubai soon announces vague plans for QE2 as a luxury hotel and shopping attraction, plus heritage museum, at the same time stating their intention to restore QE2 to her original 1969 appearance.

June 26: Cunard announce a series of QE2 "Farewell Voyages"

September 15: QE2 departs on her highly successful 40th Anniversary "Lap of Honor" cruise around Great Britain.
Prior to departure, QE2 hosts hundreds of special guests including Baroness Thatcher.

September 16: QE2 pauses off Scarborough to allow Sir Jimmy Saville to board.
After a four hour delay due to strong winds, QE2 enters the River Tyne on her maiden call, to a tumultuous welcome. Media coverage is heavy, as are the crowds along both shores of the river who had been waiting hours for the delayed arrival.

Captain Ian McNaught rededicates the pier at South Shields as Northumbrian Quay.

September 17: In spite of the wind and rain, QE2 departs with heavy media coverage and large crowds. Fireworks on the sea wall bid bon voyage to QE2

September 18: At anchor in the Firth of Forth very close to the famous Forth Bridge, QE2 and Captain McNaught host a luncheon for local dignitaries.

September 19: The day at sea is dedicated to the Falklands campaign. Commodore Warwick's lecture draws the largest crowd to the theater in recent QE2 memory.

September 20: In Greenock on the 40th anniversary of her launch by the Queen, huge crowds gather along the Esplanade for day long festivities, capped off by an exciting display of aerial daredevilry by the famous Red Arrows.
QE2 hosts a reception and lunch for former workers of the John Brown yard who helped to build QE2.

At 2:20pm, precisely the moment of her launch forty years earlier to the minute, QE2 lets off a 40 second long blast of her whistle.
QE2 makes a spectacular departure with much shoreside fanfare a large flotilla of boats.

September 21: Liverpool. The Duke of Kent and QE2 officially open the new Liverpool Cruise Terminal
For all passengers, special guests and dignitaries, QE2 hosts a free concert at the Liverpool Anglican Cathederal. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Cathederal Choir, Lesley Garrett, Nicky Spence, and the Band of the Scots Guards perform. Speakers include Carol Marlow, Sir Jimmy Saville, Carol Thatcher, and Captain Ian McNaught who gives an unexpectedly brief and emotional speech.
The former Cunard Building in Liverpool flies the Cunard House Flag.
A fireworks display over the Mersey wows the many thousands of persons packing the waterfront, and a Beetles Tribute band performs at the Funnel Bar.
The Liverpool press estimates the day's crowd at about half a million.

September 22: QE2 and QM2 outbound from Southampton, pass in the evening. The last time two Cunard Queens passed at sea was September 25, 1967

2008
January 6: QE2 begins her 26th and final world cruise with a send-off that includes a tandem departure with Cunard's new Queen Victoria cruise ship, and a huge fireworks salute. Queen Victoria departs first, passing QE2 which is berthed at the QEII terminal. The two ships exchange lengthy whistle salutes, while the Queen Victoria shines her spotlight along QE2's side while passing by.

January 7-13: While transating in tandem, it is reported that Queen Victoria passengers are transfixed by the site of the QE2 in her element, while on QE2 similar statements are not overheard about the Queen Victoria.

January 13: Queen Elizabeth 2 arrives in New York after a longer than usual 7-night transatlantic crossing. QE2 is made to cross slower to allow a tandem crossing with the Queen Victoria which cannot keep up with QE2's normal speed.
QE2 and Queen Victoria are met in New York by the Queen Mary 2, for the first Meeting of the Three Queens. Their triple departure that evening draws huge crowds out on charter vessels and along the shoreline. A massive fireworks display adjacent to the Statue of Liberty is the climax of the historic day.

January 13-April 18: QE2 bids farewell to much of the world on her final world cruise, escpecially to ports where she has been calling regularly for many years and is much beloved. The largest and most emotional send-offs are in Australia.

March 18: QE2 reaches 32.8 knots for a time, proving again that she is still the world's fastest ship in service, and on engines over twenty years old.

April 22: After Cunard decide to have QE2's 'tune-up' in Southampton, all three of Cunard's ships are together for the first and only time at their home port. This day also marks the 39th anniversary of QE2's entry into service. QE2 is at Berth 105 for her work to be done, Queen Victoria is at the City Cruise Terminal, and QM2 is at the QEII terminal berth 35. The event draws large crowds and wide media coverage.

June 2: At Southampton, HM Queen Elizabeth II marks the 55th year of her coronation with her farewell visit to QE2.
The Queen toured the vessel escorted by Captain McNaught before attending a reception and lunch onboard with 300 guests, including the former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher.

September 30: QE2's Farewell to Britain cruise. Public reaction is intense and bitter-sweet, with huge crowds and celebrations along the way.

October 10: QE2 departs Southampton for her final-ever westbound transatlantic crossing to New York, in tandem with her younger sister Queen Mary 2.

October 16: QE2 makes her 710th and final call to New York. She departs on her 806th and final ever transatlantic crossing and bids farewell to America, her second home since her maiden call in New York in 1969.
QE2 crosses in tandem with Queen Mary 2. Her final transatlantic crossings sell out in a matter of a few hours over a year before.

November 11:  QE2's final day in Southampton begins at 5:30am with breaking news as QE2, on her arrival from her final round-trip cruise briefly grounds on a sandbank in Southampton Water.  The grounding is widely covered by the media.
Armistace Day in Britain. 
At 11:00am to commemorate the end of WW1 a de Havillnad Beaver does a fly-over of QE2 dropping one million red poppies over the ship. 
HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh journeys to Southampton to pay his final visit to QE2 and to attend a special luncheon on board. 
1:40pm an RAF Harrier honors QE2 with a fly-past and a dip of her nose as she hovers off QE2's starboard flank.

Global media covers othe retirement-departure of the world's most famous ship.  Huge crowds of well-wishers crowd into Southampton, Mayflower Park becomes a gathering spot with BBC live coverage.  A flotilla of charter vessels including the historic SS Sheildhall, Blue Funnel Line and Red Funnel ferries join hundreds of private boats in the harbor to see QE2 out for her final time.

QE2 pushed away from her berth for the last time at the Queen Elizabeth II terminal at about 7:30 pm, then positioned herself off Mayflower park for a spectacular fireworks display.  About twenty minutes later, with her own whistles sounding across the waters and those of hundreds of craft joining in, she sails away for her final destination.   As QE2 sails past the Hythe Pier, a trumpeter plays Taps.

November 27: Finished With Engines
Queen Elizabeth 2 arrives Dubai, ending her long and celebrated career as the world's most famous and beloved ocean liner.



« Last Edit: Jan 03, 2018, 12:19 PM by Lynda Bradford »

Offline Mauretania1907

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #6 on: Mar 22, 2009, 07:46 PM »
Congratulations, what a tremendous amount of work. I vote this should have a place on the site where people can visit and read this without having to find it on the discussion board. Also the idea of a day by day calendar of QE2 events could be put on with it. I have to go to work now, but I will make another suggestion. World Voyages. This would take some time to do, and probably may need a dedicated site for QE2 history (herstory). Many thanks, to Stowaway2k.

Offline hollihedge

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #7 on: Mar 22, 2009, 10:12 PM »

September 22: QE2 and QM2 outbound from Southampton, pass in the evening. The last time two Cunard Queens passed at sea was September 25, 1967
Absolutely brilliant piece of work.  Thanks for compiling and posting.  I can report that late one windy night on deck during the Trafalgar celebration in June 2005 when we were heading for France a few of us witnessed QM2 going past, heading out on her Transatlantic crossing into the night. 
Gill

Offline Mauretania1907

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #8 on: Mar 23, 2009, 08:30 AM »
Aha, I have found something out. QE2's maiden port call in Auckland may have been dring the world cruise of 1978, when I THINK I saw a white funnel poking out above Princes' wharf. I was in the old City Depot mess room and looked out the window. What I MIGHT have seen was QE2's original funnel, was it white in 1978? I remember it was Jan or Feb (she usually came sometime in Feb). Once again, many thanks. Recent world trips - from about 2000 are documented on the World ship ny site. I am slowly printing out those years I don't have a brochure for.

Offline Twynkle

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #9 on: Mar 23, 2009, 08:42 AM »


Yes - you are right!

According to my QE2 'Birthday Book' (!) - she made her Maiden call to Auckland on St Valentine's Day! (14.2.1978)
There's no picture I'm afraid, and I guess it won't be long before someone fills in something definite about the colour of her funnel on that day...

Offline Twynkle

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #10 on: Mar 25, 2009, 09:17 AM »
23rd March 1970:  Welcomes her 75,000th passenger!

25th March 1975 - First transit of the Panama Canal,
making her the biggest ship ever to transit the canal!

She paid the largest sum to date for the transit.

HATS OFF TO THE QE2!


With credit and many thanks to Neilius - http://shipwatchernews.blogspot.com



  25th - 26th March 2008: Final call at Honolulu

  27th March 1989:  Chartered for 72 days by a consortium of Japanese companies.

  29th March 1998: President Nelson Mandela embarks, Durban, South Africa

  30th March 2008:  Final call to Los Angeles, USA

  2nd April 2008:   Final call Acapulco, Mexico
« Last Edit: Apr 02, 2010, 02:30 PM by Twynkle »

Offline Andy F

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #11 on: Mar 31, 2009, 12:29 AM »
Agree a wonderful amd most comprehensive record.  Well done Stowaway and thank you!

I echo Mauretania's comment that this certainly merits its own area of the forum if possible.
Start every day with a smile and get it over with

Offline Twynkle

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #12 on: Apr 12, 2009, 11:01 PM »


12 April 1976 QE2: Maiden call at Odessa, Russia



Offline Andy F

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #13 on: Apr 13, 2009, 01:39 AM »
Good work Rosie
Start every day with a smile and get it over with

Offline Chris

Re: Some of The QE2 Anniversaries!
« Reply #14 on: Apr 13, 2009, 01:17 PM »
March 4th, 2008 - QE2's first and last call at Albany, Australia.

The ENTIRE town comes out to see QE2 - or so it seemed (you can see the people lined up on the hill in the first video).



Note the cannon firing in the second video and her magnificent horn - we will never see the likes of her again.
« Last Edit: Sep 05, 2024, 07:59 PM by Lynda Bradford »
🎥 Check out my QE2 & Cruise Ship Videos: https://www.youtube.com/chrisframeofficial/