The QE2 Timeline - maiden calls, final calls

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm going to make this a separate topic as otherwise the more fascinating events in QE2's unique story will be 'drowned out' by them.

Please reply to this topic with any edits, which I will then incorporate before deleting your post.

Thank you to everybody who put so much effort into the original topic to bring out these dates.  Because the members of this forum worked out this information, it is not to be re-used without permission and a credit back to this topic.  I am also going to put a page for this information on the main site.

January
 
2 January 1969: Arrives in Southampton for the first time.
15 January 1972:  Maiden call at Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
19 January 2008: Final call at Barbados, West Indies
22 January 1993: Maiden call at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
24 January 2008: Final call at Salvador, Brazil
25 January 1986: Maiden call at Callao, Peru
26 January 2008: Final call at Rio de janeiro, Brazil
29-30 January 2008: Final call at Montevideo, Uruguay

February
 
1 February 1971: Maiden call at Freeport, Bahamas
1 February 2008: Final call at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
2 February 1998-Maiden call at Lautoka,Fiji.
3 February 2008: Final call at Punto Arenas, Chile
4 February 1979: Montevideo
5 February 1975: Maiden call at Mombasa, Kenya
6 February 2008: Final call at Valparaiso, Chile
9 February 1979: Tristan da Cunha
9 February 1983: Maiden call at Moorea, Tahiti
9 February 2002: Final call at Port Chalmers, New Zealand
11 February 1975: Maiden cal at Bombay, India
10 February 1996-Maiden call at Ambon,Indonesia.
14 February 1978: Maiden call to Auckland on St Valentine's Day!
14 February 2008: Final call at Papeete, Tahiti
18 February 1995: Maiden call at Guam
18 February 2008: Final call Nuku'lofa, Tonga
19 February 2005: Maiden and final call to Exmouth, Australia
20 February 1978: Maiden call at Hobart, Tasmania
21 February 2008: Final call at Auckland, New Zealand
24 February 1978: Maiden call at Sydney, Australia
24 February 2008: Final call at Sydney, Australia (exactly 30 years since 1st)

27 February 2004: Final call at Guam
27 February 2008: Final call at Hobart, Tasmania
29 February 2008: Final call Melbourne, Australia

March
 
2 March 2008: Final call Adelaide, Australia 
4 March 2008: Maiden and final call at Albany, Australia
5 March 1978: Maiden call at Kobe, Japan
5 March 2008: Final call Fremantle, Australia
6 March 2007: Final call to Yokohama, Japan*
10 March 2008: Final call at Singapore
12 March 2008: Final call at Vung Tau, Vietnam
14 March 2008: Final call at Hong Kong
19 March 1975: Maiden call at Los Angeles, USA
19 March 1977: Maiden call at Nagasaki, Japan
19 March 2008: Final call at Osaka, Japan
22 March 1997: Maiden call at Dubai
25 - 26 March 2008: Final call at Honolulu
30 March 2008:  Final call to Los Angeles, USA

April
2 April 2008: Final Call Acapulco
5 April 2008: Final Panama transit
6 April 2008: Final Call Cartagena, Colombia (Not Puerto Moin as Sam Warwick records)*
6 April 2008: Final call to Puerto Moin, Costa Rica
7 April 1976:  Maiden call at Alexandria in Egypt
8 April 2003: Final call at St Helena, Atlantic Ocean*
8 April 2007: Final call at Capetown, South Africa
8 April 2008: Final call at Montego Bay, Jamaica*
9 April 2006:  Final (and Maiden??) call at Safaga, Egypt*
10 April 2006: Final  call at Aqaba, Jordan*
10 April 2008: Final call at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA*
12 April 1976:  Maiden call at Odessa, Russia
12 April 2007: Final call at Walvis Bay, Namibia*
16 April 1982: Maiden call to Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands*
28 April 1969:  Maiden call at Lisbon, Portugal

May
1 May 2007: Final Call at St Thomas, Virgin Islands*
2 May 2007: Final call at St Kitts, West Indies*
3 May 1995: First call at Plymouth as part of VE Day anniversary
3 May 2007:  Final call at Grenada, Carribean Sea*
4 May 2007:  Final call at Barbados, West Indies*
5 May 2007:  Final call at St Lucia, Carribean Sea*
6 May 2007: Final call at Antigua, West Indies*
7 May 1969 - QE2's maiden Arrival in New York.
9 May 1975: Maiden call at Bremerhaven, Germany
10 May 2007: Final call at  Ponta Delgada, Azores*
11 May 2008: Maiden and Final call to Sami, Kefalonia*
14 May 2008: Maiden and Final call to Split, Croatia*
21 May 1983:  Maiden call at Genoa, Italy
24 May 1997:  Maiden call at Corfu, Greece

June

6 June 1973:  Maiden call at Messina, Scicily
13 June 1993: Maiden call to Edinburgh
6th June 2008. maiden call at Gravdal, Lofoten Islands (and possibly last call?)
8th June 2008, final call at Longyearbyen, Svalbard

July

 7 July 1981:  Maiden call at Tromsø, Norway
8/9 July 2005 : Final call to Hamburg, as the intended final call on 8 December 2007  did not happen due to inclement weather.
10 July 2005: Maiden call to Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden*
14 July 1997:  Maiden call at Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
18 July 2008: Finall call to Rotterdam
23 July 1981: Maiden call to Bar Harbor
23 July 1990: Maiden call to Cóbh - 60,000 people turn out
24 July 1990: Maiden call to Liverpool, Cunard's spiritual home - more than 1 million people turn out:
24 July 2008: Maiden call (and only call) to Propriano, Corsica*
25 July 1990: Maiden call to Greenock, 1st return to Clyde since 1968.
28 July 2008: Final call to Monte Carlo, Monaco
30 July 1996: Maiden call to Rostock, Germany

August

1 August 1996: Maiden call at Helsinki, Finland
1 August 1998: Maiden and final call at Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
5 August 1992: Maiden call at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
7 August 2008: Final call to Hellesylt and Geiranger, Norway
10 August 2008: Final Call to Oslo, Norway*
28 August 1988: Maiden call at Torbay, Devon, England
31 August 1991: Maiden call at Monte Carlo, France

September
 
2 September 1994: Maiden call at Waterford, Ireland
3 September 2005 : Maiden call St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South). Planned final call on 26 September 2008 did not take place due to unfavourable weather conditions.
4 September 1995: Maiden call at Invergordon,Scotland.
5 September 1995: Maiden call at Newcastle,England.
7 September 2002: Maiden call at Civitaveccia, Italy
7 September 2008 : Final call to Valencia*
17 September 2008: Final Call Newport Rhode Island*
18 September 2008: Final Call Boston, USA*
19 September 2008: Final Call Bar Harbor, Maine, USA*
20 September 2008: Final Call Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada*
21 September 2008: Final Call Halifax, Canada*
23/24 September 2008: Final Call Quebec, Canada*
26 September 2008: Final Call (aborted) - St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada*

October
1 October 1971: Maiden call at Boston, USA
1/2 October 2008: Final call at Cóbh, Ireland
3 October 2008: Final call at Liverpool - Liverpool Cathedral Commemorative Service[/url]
4 October 2008: Final call at Belfast (Red Arrows Fly Over to salute the ship)*
5 October 2008: Final call to Greenock & the River Clyde which gave birth to her
7 October 2008: Final call to Queensferry, and to Scottish waters
11 October 1973: Maiden call to Halifax, Nova Scotia
16 October 2008: Final call to New York City
20 October 1989: Maiden Call at Cadiz, Spain
22 October 1997: Maiden call at Ponta Delgada, Azores
24 October 2008 Final call Bilbao, Spain
25 October 2008: Final call in France, Le Verdon Sur Mer*
26 October 2008: Final call to St. Peter Port, Guernsey cancelled because of bad weather*
29 October 1998: Maiden call to Valletta/Malta
31 October 2008: Final call to Cagliari
November
 
3 November 1970: Maiden call at Luanda, Angola
3 November 2008: The last tender port was Dubrovnik*
7 November 1970:  Maiden call at Durban South Africa
10 November 1970: Maiden call at Cape Town, South Africa
11 November 2008: Final departure from Southampton
13 November 2008; Final call at Lisbon, Portugal
14 November 2008: Final call at Gibralter
16 November 2008: Final call at Civitavecchia, Italy
17 November 2008: Final call at Naples, Italy
18 November 2008: Final call at Valletta, Malta
19 November 1968: Maiden call Greenock, Scotland (sort of!)
20 November 2008: Final call at Alexandria, Egypt.  Her last port of call.
22 November 1969: Maiden call at Bridgetown, Barbados
27 November 2006: Maiden call at New Orleans, USA

December

 8 December 2007: Final call to Hamburg cancelled due to inclement weather, making 8/9 July 2005 her actual final call
10 December 1991: Maiden call at Agadir, Morocco
13 December 1995: Maiden call at Amsterdam, Holland.
17 December 1970: Maiden call at Castries, St. Lucia.
21 December 1971: Maiden call at Port Everglades, USA.
25 December 1981: Maiden call at Kralendijk, Bonaire
28 December 1989: Maiden call at Tokyo, Japan - spends 6 months there as a charter

[Stowaway2k]

5 September 1995: Maiden call at Newcastle,England.

Wasn't her maiden Newcastle call 16 September 2007, on her 40th Anniversary Cruise?
All the buzz and press reports at that time was that it was indeed her maiden call...

The following have been updated on the timeline list

24 Oct. 2008, final call to Bilbao, Spain
25 Oct. 2008, final call in France, Le Verdon Sur Mer
26 Oct. 2008, final call to St. Peter Port, Guernsey, aborted

[Twynkle]

Hey Rob

This is fast becoming a Masterpiece!

What would be the most helpful, now -
a) adding any additions as they occur on the current calendar (as before - adds interest?? )
Or b) supplying them randomly as we find them?
c) either?

8th April 2008: Final call at Montego Bay, Jamaica.

[Rob Lightbody]

Hi Rosie,

For now, if you wish to add 'on this day' type postings like you were doing before, please do so in the 'QE2 anniversaries..' topic as before.  This is a nice thing, i agree, and pops up on peoples recent/new posts so they are highlighted.

However if you come across any that aren't already in our timelines here, please also post a reply to them so i know to add them.

Thanks for your continued enthusiasm.

- Rob.

[Twynkle]

Many thanks, Rob
That's very helpful!

It will be QE2's 500th Day in Dubai on Saturday - 15.4.2010
(This doesn't come under Service  - does it? )

Rosie

[highlander0108]

  10th April 2008: Final call Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Here's a blog that documents the last World Cruise, including this port, with fabulous pictures.  Scrolling through them, really gives you a sense on jsut how epic a voyage like this would be in any ship, let alone the greatest ship in the world.  I cannot believe it has been two years.  Shortly after this sailaway, the ship lost all power, once again, for a considerable time and had to cruise at 30 knots to make up time to NYC, where I was waiting for the ship to come out of the fog two days later.  Refer to Malcolm's postings on the final World Cruise.

[cunardqueen]

4 September 1995: Maiden call at Invergordon,Scotland.

Note: link not active

[Twynkle]

   9th April 2006:  Final (and Maiden??) call at Safaga, Egypt

  10th April 2006: Final  call at Aqaba, Jordan


(Rob - if poss - please don't delete this post just yet! -
There could well be more to add to it when time allows!)

[Twynkle]

26th January 2008 (copied to timeline list)

Final Call to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Thanks to paulsclips

[Twynkle]

25th and 26th March 2008:  Final call to Honolulu, Hawaii (copied to timeline list)
A look around QE2, Carol Marlow and Thomas Quinones

Thanks to sonecessarySB

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

7 September 2008 : Final call to Valencia (and final crew photo) - copied to timeline list

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1958.0.html

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Ronald Warwick's book has an appendix in which he lists all the maiden calls which had taken place by the time the book was published (not sure about whether the later editions included the later maiden calls -- am not within reach of the book at present).

[Twynkle]

Hi Isabelle

That's great news regarding record of QE2's maiden calls.
The Itinerary page on Sam Warwick's site is useful for working out her Final calls.
Rosie

[Twynkle]

20th February 2008: Final call at Auckland New Zealand - on timeline list as 21 February 2008
Video includes launch.

Note: inactive link removed

Thanks to nzheraldtv

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

QE2's final call to Yokohama on 6 March 2007 : copied to timeline list

http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/port/cruise/2007/0306/

[Twynkle]

10.8.2008:  Final Call to Oslo, Norway - copied to timeline list
It seemed as if a thousand vessels sailed out of Stavanger harbour with us.
It's 2 years since we disembarked.
http://www.pcurtis.com/qe08fi-p2.htm#oslo
A good report - Thanks to Pauline Curtis

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Maiden call to Bar Harbor : 23 July 1981
Source : Daily Programme of 19 September 2008 (final call to Bar Harbor).

Maiden call to St John, New Brunswick : 5 August 1992
Source : Daily Programme of 20 September 2008 (final call to St John, New Brunswick).

Maiden call to Halifax, Nova Scotia : 11 October 1973
Source : Daily Programme of 21 September 2008 (final call to Halifax, Nova Scotia).

Maiden call to Quebec : 20 July 1981
Source : Daily Programme of 23 September 2008 (final call to Quebec).

Maiden call to St John's, Newfoundland : 9 September 2005
Source : Daily Programme of 26 September 2008 (aborted final call to St John's, Newfoundland).

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

A mix of important events here, to be sorted out later :

17 - 22 July Anniversary Crossing (eastbound). 4 days 6 hours and 57 minutes / average speed: 30.16 knots making it her fastest eastbound crossing.

22 July: Southampton
23 July: Cork. She opened the Ringaskiddy Terminal. President or Ireland visited and lunched on board.
24 July: Liverpool. First visit. Biggest ever crowd. Service held in church for Cunard War dead.
25 July: Greenock. First time back on the Clyde.
26 July: Cherbourg
27 July: Spithead Review. HM The Queen (and DoE) boarded from Royal Yacht Britannia after inspecting Cunard ships and naval vessels.
Back to Southampton

28 July - : Anniversary Crossing (westbound).

The Spithead Review was impressive. Will need to scan images.

Then in the autumn she made an anniversary cruise to Halifax.

[Rob Lightbody]

Are the events that people are posting, ever getting updated onto the 2 master lists?  Moderators can do this...  if not, I will get to it sometime!  When added to the master list, the posting should be removed so we know what is still "to do".

[Lynda Bradford]

Friday 3 October 2008 Brief visit to Douglas Bay Isle of Man en route from Cork to Liverpool but not sure if this is a maiden or final call

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7642681.stm

[Lynda Bradford]

Maiden call to Bar Harbor : 23 July 1981
Source : Daily Programme of 19 September 2008 (final call to Bar Harbor).

Maiden call to St John, New Brunswick : 5 August 1992
Source : Daily Programme of 20 September 2008 (final call to St John, New Brunswick).

Maiden call to Halifax, Nova Scotia : 11 October 1973
Source : Daily Programme of 21 September 2008 (final call to Halifax, Nova Scotia).

Maiden call to Quebec : 20 July 1981
Source : Daily Programme of 23 September 2008 (final call to Quebec).

Maiden call to St John's, Newfoundland : 9 September 2005
Source : Daily Programme of 26 September 2008 (aborted final call to St John's, Newfoundland).

5 August 1992
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/vmorley/QE2history.html
This site gives details QE2 first visit in St John's, New Brunswick on 5 August 1992. I am still looking for a newspaper report that would verify this date.  It was 9 August 1992 that she ran aground 10 miles west of Martha's Vineyard so you would think there would be a report detailing where she was sailing from.     

It seems, Boston media incorrectly reported the QE2 as having sailed from St. John's, Newfoundland, and not Saint John, N.B. which may have contributed to the incorrect information being noted on this site. 

9 September 2005 - I think we need some verification of the date of the maiden call to St John's Newfoundland being in 2005.  I was on QE2 in October 2003 and there was an aborted call to St John's Newfoundland at that time. Was it possibly that there had been intentions to call at St John's over the years and she finally had a maiden call in 2005?

 Does anyone have any other information to verify these two dates so we can update the timeline?

Thank-you

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Are the events that people are posting, ever getting updated onto the 2 master lists?  Moderators can do this...  if not, I will get to it sometime!  When added to the master list, the posting should be removed so we know what is still "to do".

That's a good idea, Rob. I'll do a bit from time to time to integrate the dates gathering here.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

9 September 2005 - I think we need some verification of the date of the maiden call to St John's Newfoundland being in 2005.  I was on QE2 in October 2003 and there was an aborted call to St John's Newfoundland at that time. Was it possibly that there had been intentions to call at St John's over the years and she finally had a maiden call in 2005?

I was on board during the last (and particularly disappointing) aborted call to St John's Newfoundland. I remember from what was being said at the time that there had been other aborted calls before. Maybe she only called there twice ever.

Lynda, do you have any reason to believe that the dates published onboard in the Daily Programmes might not be correct?

[Lynda Bradford]

I was on board during the last (and particularly disappointing) aborted call to St John's Newfoundland. I remember from what was being said at the time that there had been other aborted calls before. Maybe she only called there twice ever.

Lynda, do you have any reason to believe that the dates published onboard in the Daily Programmes might not be correct?

Isabelle it just seems strange that her first ever call at St John's Newfoundland was 2005.   It would be interesting to find out how many times a proposed call had been aborted mainly because when I was onboard in 2003 there was an aborted call and you had the same experience in 2008.

[Twynkle]

Lynda

For dates - might these links be of use?

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,314.0.html

and
http://www.qe2.org.uk/itinerary_2005.html

There's also a prospective list of dates here - maybe needing to be verified?
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/6937/121289.html?1207800197

Cunard had an Itinerary, too - on the 'old' website, I think(?)

[Lynda Bradford]

Hi Rosie

Thanks for the links.

St John's Newfoundland is noted as 3 September 2008 in the itinerary link and the  encyclopedia-titanica site is using a planned itinerary where the planned visit to St John's was nearer the end of September. 

Isabelle  has taken the dates from her QE2 cruise itinery which should be accurate as it is a reliable source so I think that is the one to use.  I just had a recollection on the 2003 QE2 cruise to Canada (where we had an aborted call at St John's) of someone mentioning that he had been there before on the QE2 but maybe another aborted trip. That was the only reason I thought it strange that 2005 was the maiden call at St John's. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

This correspondence seems to take account of 2006 as well as 2005 :

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=420556

It may turn out that 2006 was in fact her final call!

[cunardqueen]

   

    It may turn out that 2006 was in fact her final call!

Makes you wonder how many final calls QE2 had and nobody realised she wouldnt be back

[Lynda Bradford]

I searched for information on QE2 in "the Telegram St John's Newfoundland" and found this article relating to 2008. I have also sent an email to this newspaper to ask if they have information in their records on the dates for QE2's first and last call at Newfoundland. 

Note: Link removed as no longer active

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

St John's Newfoundland is noted as 3 September 2008 in the itinerary link and the  encyclopedia-titanica site is using a planned itinerary where the planned visit to St John's was nearer the end of September. 

Isabelle  has taken the dates from her QE2 cruise itinery which should be accurate as it is a reliable source so I think that is the one to use.  I just had a recollection on the 2003 QE2 cruise to Canada (where we had an aborted call at St John's) of someone mentioning that he had been there before on the QE2 but maybe another aborted trip. That was the only reason I thought it strange that 2005 was the maiden call at St John's. 

The itinerary on this site does not mention St John's Newfoundland at all for 2003 (and the "Autumn Colours" cruise seems to have taken place in October that year) :

http://www.qe2.org.uk/itinerary_2003.html

I wonder what is "Corner Brook NFL", listed for 3 October that year? Might that have been the anchor port for St John's?

Michael, Flagship, what do your brochures say? And then, I wonder what really happened...?

[StephanG2312]

Maiden call to Valletta/Malta: 29. October 1998

Source: Me, I was on that cruise...


Note: added to list LB

[andy liney]

I searched for information on QE2 in "the Telegram St John's Newfoundland" and found this article relating to 2008. I have also sent an email to this newspaper to ask if they have information in their records on the dates for QE2's first and last call at Newfoundland. 

http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Columns/2008-08-27/article-1461459/Last-visit-to-C.B.S.-for-stately-ship/1

She didn't, of course, make it to Newfoundland in September 2008 due to bad weather (Captain 'Miss a Port' McNaught!  ).

[Keith Walters]

20th February 2008: Final call at Auckland New Zealand - on timeline list as 21 February 2008
Video includes launch.

Final call Auckland was 21 February 2008.
Cheers,
Keith.
 
Note: added to timeline

[iain789]

8th June 2008, final call at Longyearbyen, Svalbard
6th June 2008. maiden call at Gravdal, Lofoten Islands (and possibly last call?)

Note: added to list LB

[iain789]

Her 2005 call at St Johns, Newfoundland was on 3 September (though I'm not sure that it was a maiden call, there was certainly nothing said about it on board the ship).

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Iain for posting the maiden calls final calls information. 

I have added the two 2008 calls. 

We have a note that the maiden call to St Johns Newfoundland was 9 September 2005.  There are instances when there was a planned visit to St Johns Newfoundland that were cancelled because of weather/sea conditions. I was onboard QE2 in 2003 and the call was aborted at the last minute because of sea conditions. 

If you were onboard on 3 September, 2005  and remember the ship calling  St Johns, Newfoundland then it is possible this was the date of the maiden call. 

[John Drew]

I was working through the 1970s and finished in 1981 and I went to St John's Newfoundland while on the ship but cannot recall the year. John.

[iain789]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

[Lynda Bradford]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

Thanks Iain it is good to have this information and the photo

[June Ingram]

Great photo, Iain - Thanks for sharing !   

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Yes, it looks as though 2005 could possibly have been the final call to St. John's, even though nobody was aware of it at the time.

The planned final call on 26 September 2008 did not materialise, due to unfavourable weather conditions, and we did not even linger, but started on our eastbound Atlantic crossing a day early... thus probably saving quite a bit in fuel costs.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,5321.msg30115.html#msg30115

I have checked the brochure for 2006, which indicates a call at St. John's Newfoundland on 29 September 2006. The brochure for 2007 indicates a call there for 8 October 2007. Are we sure that these did not happen?

Was anyone here was on board who could help us solve this puzzle?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

Iain, would you still have the Daily Programme for that day? It would be interesting to check there whether it confirms what I read in my Daily Programme in 2008, i.e. that the 2005 call was the maiden call.

Whether it was the final call will depend on whether she called again in 2006 and / or 2007. We know that 2008 was aborted... You were very lucky to have been able to land in 2005!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I have just had another look at the Daily Programme for 26 September 2008.

This lists as the "QE2 Fact of the Day" :

The maiden call to the town of St John's, Newfoundland was on September 9, 2005. QE2 has visited 3 times (including 2008) since 2005 making a total of 4 calls as part of her annual Autumn Colours Voyage. However in 2007 the ship could not land passengers due to weather conditions.

And so, there are two mistakes in these "facts" -- the first being that the maiden call was on 3 September 2005, not 9 September of that year. And the second that the 2008 call did not eventually take place, although it was scheduled.

I take it that the 2007 call really did not take place -- so all we need now is confirmation that the 2006 call actually happened and was therefore in reality her final call, even though nobody would have known that at the time.

[Lynda Bradford]

The maiden call and final call for St Johns Newfoundland has been difficult to trace because of the number of aborted calls.  I remember 5 years ago contacting the Telegram St Johns Newfoundland thinking that they may have this information but they did not. 

I searched for information on QE2 in "the Telegram St John's Newfoundland" and found this article relating to 2008. I have also sent an email to this newspaper to ask if they have information in their records on the dates for QE2's first and last call at Newfoundland. 

http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Columns/2008-08-27/article-1461459/Last-visit-to-C.B.S.-for-stately-ship/1

I was working through the 1970s and finished in 1981 and I went to St John's Newfoundland while on the ship but cannot recall the year. John.

John it would be good if you could recall the year and weather the ship actually called there or if, like many others was aborted. 

[iain789]

Iain, would you still have the Daily Programme for that day? It would be interesting to check there whether it confirms what I read in my Daily Programme in 2008, i.e. that the 2005 call was the maiden call.

Whether it was the final call will depend on whether she called again in 2006 and / or 2007. We know that 2008 was aborted... You were very lucky to have been able to land in 2005!

I only have the outer cover for that day's programme (previously posted), not the detailed insert. I do not recall any mention being made at the time or in the pre-voyage literature that this was to be a maiden call. Sorry I can't be of more help. 

[Twynkle]

Hopefully the following may help - I have sent it to St John's Port Authority.

'Please, and very hopefully you may be able to help, and won’t mind our query.

I am one of a group who are compiling the maiden as well as final ports of call made by RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly called ' the QE2'!
These may have taken place in the Port of St John’s  between 2004 and 2008.
I’m aware too that several attempts were made and not fulfilled, almost certainly because of the conditions at the time.

[June Ingram]

Today, 5 October 2008, our QE2 made her last visit to her birthplace, The Clyde.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1840.0.html

[June Ingram]

Many thanks, Isabelle, for adding the link !   

[June Ingram]

QE2 has three anniversaries coming up this weekend, all of them close to home.

23 July 1990 had QE2 making her maiden call to Cobh.

On 24 July 1990, she stopped at her spiritual home of Liverpool for the first time.

And on 25 July 1990, QE2 made her maiden call to Greenock, her first return to The Clyde since 1968.

A toast to QE2 !!

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 has three anniversaries coming up this weekend, all of them close to home.

23 July 1990 had QE2 making her maiden call to Cobh.

On 24 July 1990, she stopped at her spiritual home of Liverpool for the first time.

And on 25 July 1990, QE2 made her maiden call to Greenock, her first return to The Clyde since 1968.

A toast to QE2 !!

And dont forget this important one 22 July 1990: Arrived in Southampton after fastest ever Eastbound Crossing - 4 days, 6 hours, 57 minutes (av speed 30.16 knots)

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Louis, for adding this very important anniversary.  There are so many noteworthy anniversaries for our beloved QE2 !  Just think - 30.16 knots ! - absolutely awesome !!   

[Louis De Sousa]

Thanks, Louis, for adding this very important anniversary.  There are so many noteworthy anniversaries for our beloved QE2 !  Just think - 30.16 knots ! - absolutely awesome !!   

And I was onboard....

[June Ingram]

What did it feel like on QE2 going at that speed ?

[cunardqueen]

Comparing the speed at 29 knots and 5 days to her farewell crossings l always felt in the early days of speed, you were actually going somewhere and pretty fast, on the farewell crossings we were trundling along with that other thing and taking six days. Lord knows how it feels on the present cruises across the Atlantic taking however long it takes..Even then they stop short in the Ghetto   

[Louis De Sousa]

What did it feel like on QE2 going at that speed ?

June this was my second trip on her,I was living my dream.This record was never noticed by Me only until a few Months later.QE2 at sea with this speed on a calm day was not noticed.After all this was QE2 and the North Atlantic was her "home" it was normal.

[June Ingram]

Yes, it was normal for QE2.  It probably would have been noticeable had she slowed down.  The North Atlantic was her element and another ship like her will never be seen again.  To have the memories that you have of her as well as everyone who has served on her is awe-inspiring.

[Bruce Nicholls]

I am glad that when we made the crossing it was in the quick days. The Atlantic was flat calm but you did have a feeling of purpose. This was not a cruise but a crossing!

[Cruisemarsh]

Maiden call to Valletta/Malta: 29. October 1998

Source: Me, I was on that cruise...


Note: added to list LB

We were on that cruise too

[Thomas Hypher]

Though me and other forum members have mentioned it in other topics; I thought I'd add that QE2's Thursday 24th July 2008 call to Propriano, Corsica was both her maiden and final call there. I recall no particular if any fuss was made, although the locals got quite close (understandably!)  . Fuss was probably not made for the same reasons Michael gave in at least one other topic here on the forum (as no fuss was made on the last visit to Monte Carlo/Monaco on Saturday 26th July 2008 so me and my parents were also largely oblivious to the significance of that visit).

Here's one of my photos (seen before) to illustrate how (relatively) close the locals got:

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

And a few from Monte Carlo/Monaco (first taken by my Dad and the rest with my questionable horizons  ):

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr


Thomas

[Colin Partridge]

Very interesting Rob  - thanks for posting.

Just one observation. I believe that the maiden call to Alexandria, Egypt, was in April 1976 not 1977. I remember having a run ashore there during the Cradles of Civilization cruise. I know we went to Odesa on the same trip for our maiden call.

Best Regards.

[Sam Warwick]

Just one observation. I believe that the maiden call to Alexandria, Egypt, was in April 1976 not 1977. I remember having a run ashore there during the Cradles of Civilization cruise. I know we went to Odesa on the same trip for our maiden call.

You are correct Colin. The maiden call to Alexandria was 07-Apr-1976. The Odessa maiden call was 12-Apr-1976.
See https://qe2abstractlog.com/reports/ports_of_call_by_name for the complete list.

Sam

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you both very much for this correction. Wonderful, Colin, that you can remember these maiden calls personally.

The list will also be corrected.

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks to both Colin for the correction and to Sam for verifying the year.  I have changed on the list. 

Excellent to have the response to the newsletter article on the Maiden Call Final Call topic. 

[Mike White]

I’m a bit late to the party for this one, my apologies. I think I’m correct in saying that on July 28th, 2007 she made a maiden and final call at Ålesund, Norway. I’m not 100% sure about it being a maiden call, but I’m sure I heard it somewhere. I was onboard when she departed and there was a fireboat spraying water, so I guess that indicated it was her final call (I have photos of her call there).

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks for your post Mike.  Not sure how we can find out if July 2007 was QE2's last call to Alesund.  There are a few members who were on QE2 in Norway in 2008, perhaps they can respond if she called there in 2008.