1976 fire, explosion & damage to QE2 including the funnel

[Rob Lightbody]

Hello,
I watched a program recently on the PBS channel about the QE2, and I was excited about this as I was a student passenger on that QE2 voyage in 1976,...…..

Kate, thanks so much for posting your first hand experience of the QE2 fire, doesn't sound very enjoyable for you, but I very much enjoyed reading it!

On QE2 in 2007 and 2008 the lifeboat drill treated seriously and I remember being impressed.  On QM2 most recently in 2018, it wasn't treated so seriously, but I suspect Cunard is still better in this respect than some other cruise lines.

[cunardqueen]

but I suspect Cunard is still better in this respect than some other cruise lines.   

I was quite stunned on the later crossings to be advised how to jump off the ship should that be required...

[June Ingram]

Thank you, Kate, for your post and your telling of your experience.  Other details would be appreciated too.

[Thomas Hypher]

I was quite stunned on the later crossings to be advised how to jump off the ship should that be required...

"Never jump but instead step off the deck whilst holding your nose with your arms braced over the front of your lifejacket accordingly" and "check below before jumping for obstructions".

That information has stuck with me to this day too and it should as diving or jumping off would be almost akin to hitting concrete at the heights involved and one doesn't want to break their neck or anything else as has often happened in the past particularly with over-inflated lifejackets of the old type if my memory is correct!

[Elizabeth Mork]

Cleaning out closets in my mom’s house.... we found the programme from Thursday July 22, 1976 and Friday July 23, 1976. We also found deck plans and a pennant. Amazing the things my Dad kept.

[Rob Lightbody]

Cleaning out closets in my mom’s house.... we found the programme from Thursday July 22, 1976 and Friday July 23, 1976. We also found deck plans and a pennant. Amazing the things my Dad kept.

Fabulous!  Don't throw them out!!