The objective to build a new generation of oceanliner that will be the very pinnacle of the shipbuilder's art; the realization of a dream of another time."

Although details have yet to be determined, the concept is expected to develop into the next evolution of a true oceanliner and not a substitute for, Cunard's elegant top liner Queen Elizabeth 2.

October 27, 1998

Dear Mr. Barryboat (this is not my real name you know)

What an amazing document we received the other day. We were astonished to see the amount of thought and effort that you put into your "Queen Mary" proposal. Thank you for your thoughts on the concept. We have, of course, received numerous viewpoints and ideas for this new ship.

Realistically, we are in the very early stages of the project development. At a recent meeting of senior management, there was still debate as to the approximate form and mission of the ship. You might be pleased to know that many agree with you as to the updated, "classic" look of the vessel. There will be a lengthy process of analysis before any decisions are made.

Please be assured that we are delight to have your imput and will certainly consider the various points during our deliberations.

So, let's look forward to the day when the champagne breaks over the bow and the new "Queen Mary" joins the fleet. We trust that you will be aboard and standing at the rail.

Sincerely,

Capt. Thomas H. Thomason
Corporate Shipbuilding

---------------------------------------------

I just spoke to Capt. Thomason last week to follow up nd they were currently in the process of trying to decide upon the configuration of the various lounges, and he mentioned the "Queen's Lounge". He said that the new ship will definitely be a long strong steel hull like the Liners, tappered at the bow and stern. They were in the process of negotiating with various shipyards, but still had not made any decisions. One of the shipyards was in Asia. The exact profile was still not decided upon. The weight and length was still speculative. I'll of course keep my shipfriends "in-the-loop" as I get information. I may even make a trip to Miami to visit Capt Thomason to see the progress.

Perhaps you both would have mutual friends?

I don't know barryboat, I have asked around in the office here but no-one remembers any Barry at that time. I suppose he could be using a pen name.

May I ask what years you served on the QE2?

I hope that you will be able to give us updates on the Queen Mary Project from time to time as I am sure that we will all be hoping to sail on her during her maiden voyage.

Waiting patiently and expently for the time when you are allowed to share more.

A great pleasure as well as an honor to have a true insider amongst us. It so often takes some time to get such news via the usual channels. And much of the word even upon hearing what is about to be revealed concerning the QM2 will be falling upon deaf ears. Any tidbit you would be allowed to share is appreciated.

In anticipation,

We were on a leg of the World Cruise on the QE2 in 1995. We went to listen to the Navigator's talk. Would that have been you?
It is nice to be able to put a face to your name.

For that (1995) world cruise I was on the ship from 17th December in Southampton until I got off in Auckland on 5th February and then came back again in Hong Kong on 26th February until Southampton on 13th April when I got off again. However, the navigators talk was traditionally given by the ships navigator who is the 12-4 watch, First officer (he is the jumior one, seniority wise of the three First officers)
At that time I was senior so I didn't do the talk. Mind you if one of the others was busy or something we would switch (for the price of a beer!)so I may have done the lecture you saw. I'm sorry, but my memory is terrible!... If the one you saw was given by a six foot, dark and handsome chap then that wasn't me....
I was (and still am I suppose) mid height and build, greying brown hair with a close cropped beard. Was it me ? And did you enjoy it ? If not it definitely wasn't.
By the way, I have been busy lately and not able to comment about the Queen Mary project but please be patient and I will have great
pleasure in letting you know the true facts just as soon as sanctioned.
Watch this space.

Your presence on the travelpage.com bulletin board was pointed out to me by a kind soul who understands my enthusiasm for ocean liner travel and who remembered that my wife and I had, based only upon our faith in Cunard, booked a cabin on the maiden voyage of this yet-to-be-named, yet-to-be-ordered ocean liner. I hope that you have not forsaken this site and that you will remember to return here when you are free to share any news about the PQM.

Though I did not, until visiting this site, know anything about you, I did hear your name associated with PQM several months ago. When my wife and I were passing through Miami this April onboard QE2, we overheard one of the Cunard people, a smaller gentleman with a narrowly-trimmed mustache, call to one of his colleagues on the opposite moving walk, "Gerry's doing really well; he's been put in charge of the Queen Mary [sic]." Eager to probe for information, I took advantage of the fact that the speaker was trapped on the same walk as my wife and me and asked, "Gerry who?" After a long pause stared at me in an attempt to decide who I was or if he should answer me, he looked down at his feet and answered "Gerry Ellis."

Rumours concerning the PQM abound, but those who claim to have seen Mr. Payne's drawings, most of whom are very critical folk, have universally expressed relieved satisfaction in the direction Cunard is heading with the PQM.

Although it is too late in the design phase for my input to have any hope of swaying the direction of development, I would like to draw your attention to the review of Peter Dielmann's Deutschland posted at . Though I hope the shape of the PQM will preserve the Normandie-esque lines of QE2, I know that my wife and I will be won over if the interiors achieved the same classic richness as those of Deutschland. Also, though my wife and I are happy to take advantage of the lower per diems being offered by Cunard, I can write that in our case our time at sea is extremely precious; we would be willing to pay considerably more for assured quality, but would sadly defect should that quality disappear, regardless of how low the prices sank.

Sharing the hope,