Cruise Talk: QUEEN MARY 2 afloat

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » QUEEN MARY 2 afloat (Page 1)

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Author

Topic: QUEEN MARY 2 afloat

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-21-2003 09:18 AM

March 21: Cunard's 1132-foot-long QUEEN MARY 2 was floated out of the building dry dock at Alstom's Chantiers de l'Atlantique at St Nazaire in France early today. The manoeuvre began at 5:43 am local time, assisted by 8 tugs the liner was moved to her fitting out berth for completion and by 7:20 am she was moored at her new location. The original "launch" date of March 16th was dropped after it was revealed that more dredging was needed at the fitting out dock to accommodate the ship. QM2 is expected to commence trials in September, with a her naming ceremony at Southampton in January 2004.

From www.maritimematters.com

[ 03-21-2003: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-21-2003 09:24 AM

Now there is a REAL Liner !!!

From Ouestfrance Website

[ 03-21-2003: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 03-21-2003 10:27 AM

What a beautiful ship,
On a (beautiful) Spring morning,
May she rise as the biggest ship,
Let the tide take her to her moorings,
So she can be completed and grace the Oceans,
And safely sail around the World!

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Keitaro1
First Class Passenger
Member # 3567

posted 03-21-2003 10:53 AM

Wow!

This picture shows its size!

Posts: 98 | From: Washington State | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 03-21-2003 11:14 AM

I like this photo as well...

Joe at Travelpage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 03-21-2003 11:26 AM

Here is another from Maurizio Eliseo. I think she looks a litle top heavy, but should settle some in the water as she is fitted out.

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 03-21-2003 11:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Thad:
Here is another from Maurizio Eliseo. I think she looks a litle top heavy, but should settle some in the water as she is fitted out.

Thad- where are you finding those images by Eliseo? I have one of his books, and love his work.. I'd like to know where I can find more of his photos and work on the web.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 03-21-2003 12:00 PM

Actually he is a member of another list to which I belong. He posts some of the images there, and has been kind enough to allow me to share them with all of you.

Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 03-21-2003 12:17 PM

She still looks a bit too high to me, almost as if a bit of wind will roll her over. I am still confused by the stern. I thought more of the 'block' bit would be under water? She'll have to settle down a fair bit to get rid of the ugly bit, or maybe the picture is just an odd angle, or the way I'm looking at it, it's hard to make out. A bit unreasonable of the tides to be right when it's not brilliant sunlight

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 03-21-2003 01:07 PM

Pam,
QM2 stern is an exagerated version of the rare combined transom/cruiser stern.
It can be found on ssEugenio c and Oceanic, both Italian designs.
It helps the aesthetics above water, but maximise hydrodynamics below waterline. A clever compromise, perhaps too expensive to have been used a lot.
Some ships would do having it fitted, like the Crown Odyssey, the Crystal ships, and many up-market ships .
l

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 03-21-2003 01:21 PM

Finally! She is now "the largest passenger ship afloat." (sort of, don't think the title becomes official until January '04).

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

RobTheNetherlands
First Class Passenger
Member # 3736

posted 03-21-2003 01:44 PM

I think this isn't a ship anymore. This is just a floating bunch of metal, though I think that a bit paint would change the exterior view. At least the classic design is lots better than the horrible Grand Princess and comparable ships.
But my cruisefriends, come on, do you really think that a ship like this will have a warm atmosphere, that you can feel a connection with the ship? I really don't think so. Best regards, Rob from The Netherlands

Posts: 33 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-21-2003 01:56 PM

Maybe she is too big and modern for people to have a connection with this ship like people have with the QE2.

Ðraikar

[ 03-21-2003: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-21-2003 03:39 PM

Great images Draikar, thanks for sharing!

Barryboat asked a while back what Stephen Payne looked like, well here he is wearing a rather nice jacket:

(Image from the Ouestfrance Website)

[ 03-22-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 03-21-2003 03:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PamM:
[IMG]I thought more of the 'block' bit would be under water? She'll have to settle down a fair bit to get rid of the ugly bit, or maybe the picture is just an odd angle, or the way I'm looking at it, it's hard to make out.

She will settle down a bit eventually when she is fully finished, but the strange block will be completely visible though I’m afraid. I’m hoping that when her hull is painted black eventually the block will be less visible.

Anyway it is good to see her finally afloat, I noticed that the little black top part of the funnel isn’t yet placed on top. Does someone know when this will be don?

Best, Onno

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-21-2003 03:55 PM

quote:
I noticed that the little black top part of the funnel isn’t yet placed on top. Does someone know when this will be don?

Very soon i think after she gets to her fitting out berth

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 03-21-2003 04:01 PM

quote:
Barryboat asked a while back what Stephen Payne looked like, well here he is wearing a rather nice jacket:

Nice to finally see the face behind the QM2 design and a nice jacked indeed (wouldn’t mind having one of my own.)

Best, Onno

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 03-21-2003 04:03 PM

I don't think the mast is fully raised yet either. I think there is a small portion on top which is collapsable, and is in the down position. Either way, the mast also looks a bit small for the ship, in a similar way that the funnel does. Still she is better than nothing, and I am excited to see her completed.

Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 03-21-2003 04:20 PM

I thought I had an image showing how the mast folds, but i can't find it...

[ 03-21-2003: Message edited by: Thad ]

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-21-2003 06:39 PM

Here is a comparison between the first Queen Mary and the second Queen Mary, I used to think the first one was a giant.

QM1

[ 03-21-2003: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Captain Rhone
First Class Passenger
Member # 3498

posted 03-22-2003 11:26 AM

Ouest-France has a photo of the mast like that folded back at the mast-coin laying ceromony thing they had about a week ago in their set of the pictures on that one page(the pages with many pictures) the one page that told about the mast being on board...it has a link to the picture.

Posts: 686 | From: New York,USA | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Captain Rhone
First Class Passenger
Member # 3498

posted 03-22-2003 11:40 AM

Also there is a picture I dont think anyone here paid attention to at here and then if you look at a list of topics at the bottom click the one that says ''Le Queen Mary 2 a commence a flotter jeudi matin a 6 h dans les eaux de Saint-Nazaire'' and its the last one to the bottom with the date 21/03/2003 and it has a picture of her floating in the drydock.She looks nice in that picture.

Posts: 686 | From: New York,USA | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 03-22-2003 02:32 PM

Here she is still in drydock, while the water level is rising. Nice to see that the name has been painted for the occasion.

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-22-2003 02:34 PM

I just posted that photo but you got to it first

[ 03-22-2003: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

jeffrossatsea
First Class Passenger
Member # 2962

posted 03-22-2003 07:30 PM

geeeesh....what a fantastic shot of the lady....i wish i was there

.....jeff

Posts: 1118 | From: vancouver | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

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