Forgive my lack of German grammer. I gave QMary2 that title for several reasons.
1. Amongst QE2's treasures, all sold with her was a leather picture of sailing ships (at least I think it was leather, I could be wrong) presented to the ship by the German firm which did the re-engining. This picture, I believe, was once aboard the German crack liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. The German ship was named after the king of that name - I believe he was father to 'Kaiser Bill' who led Germany to war 1914-18.
2. Although der/die Grosse means 'the Great,' in English the word also can mean 'overly big in a rather ugly way' or coarse. Unfortunately,in 2007, my first impression of QMary2 was of her overpowering size, and I compared her very unfavably with QE2. I have since come to the realisation that I must take QMary2 on her own terms and not compare her unfavably with QE2, who in my estimation could run rings around QMary2 for beauty.
3. I refuse to call her QM2, although nearly everybody does, because I felt she had deposed QE2 off the 'throne' of flagship (although I conceed the illogically of this view, because what else would Cunard do with their big new ship but make her flagship of the line.)
4. what does die fette mean? (does it mean 'the Fat') I have an evil grin on my face
(this one)
So, in conclusion, although I will conceed that QM and QV are the ships of today, I admit I repine for the QE2, and can understand more the feelings of the Tynesiders who wept when the old Mauretania paused at Tyne - mouth during her final voyage to Rosyth to be broken up.