Cunard has announced more details about the Queen Mary project and expects to announce the name of the official name of the vessel and ship's builder by year's end. At 1,100 feet in length she is expected to be the largest passenger vessel ever built.

Preliminary artist's sketch of the Project Queen Mary

According to by Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Cunard Line Limited, "Among the many ships being built, this Cunard ocean liner is perhaps the most intriguing of any passenger vessel under consideration. She will become famous before she even takes to the seas. The level of interest is beyond our wildest imagination." He added that he expects the vessel to enter service in 2003.

According to Cunard the hull will be painted black continuing a Cunard tradition dating back nearly 160 years. She will have a giant single stack, painted historic "Cunard Red" with black bands. The funnel will tower over 20 stories above her keel. Her white superstructure will be stepped far back from her raked prow, and stepped aft as well, in the classic liner profile. Her power plant will produce sufficient electricity to light a city the size of Southampton, England. And her engines will produce 140,000 horsepower. Her whistle will be audible from a distance of ten miles.

Cunard plans call for the new ship to carry 2500 guests in spacious interior spaces, reminiscent of the White Star liner Titanic as depicted in the recent film. Considering that smaller ships sailing today carry many more guests, the 2500 passengers on board the new ship will enjoy an significantly more space per guest, and service is expected to be superior with an average of one staff member per couple of guests on board.

The ship's ambience will attempt to re-create the high style and grace of years gone by with classic touches. such as grand staircases, expansive promenades, elegant grand restaurants and gracious public rooms of an imposing scale. Some of the features already revealed include a Heritage Trail highlighted by mementos and artifacts from Cunard's 160-year history and an onboard Maritime Museum of liner history; a pub with its own onboard microbrewery; an advanced Computer Learning Centre and an expansive spa and health centre. Other design concepts will be revealed as the final yard selection is made. While Project Queen Mary is expected to be the largest passenger vessel ever built, Cunard's Pimentel said she will nevertheless maintain a feeling of intimacy with smaller, comfortable spaces ideal for contemplation and privacy. Three-quarters of all suites, staterooms and apartments will have large private balconies.

While the new ship's speed is unlikely to exceed that of the present Queen Elizabeth 2, she will be built to operated at speeds in the vicinity of 30 knots. Unlike many of the mega-cruise ships in service today, she will be designed for high-speed passage through open ocean conditions.

The press release said "The ship's ambience will attempt to re-create the high style and grace of years gone by.." A strange choice of word - "attempt". It sounds like they are not sure if they can pull it off or not?

I would like to see a mega ship where every stateroom has a private veranda. I'm sure it could be done. Some of the public rooms, shops etc could occupy the space which is normally used for inside cabins.

I hope that you get royalties Barryboat!

The Panamax width is 33.5m (110 ft) and the Panamax length is 306m (1000 ft). I know the S/S Norway at 1035 ft cannot transit the Panama Canal.

[This message has been edited by Renegade4 (edited 11-10-1999).]

I can't help thinking that the design looks a bit like the Disney ships?

(Disney Wonder - Picture from this web site)