Cunard Queen Mary 2 (QM2)
The ship nobody thought
they'd make... a real magnificent transatlantic liner, and a replacement
for the 1969 QE2.
Introduction
The Queen Mary 2 is unique. She is the only
modern transatlantic ocean liner. She is huge, fast, strong and
has numerous unique aspects to her design that define her as an ocean
liner rather than just a cruise ship. She is still the longest
passenger ship afloat.
The beginning...
After arriving in her home port of
Southampton on Boxing Day 2003, Queen Mary 2 was named by the Queen on the
8th of January before setting out on her maiden voyage to Florida on the 12th.
She and her sister ship the Queen Elizabeth 2,
are the only 2 true ocean Liners left in the world today.
In 2004 the two "Queens" came together in a sight not seen since the 1960s:
two high-speed ocean liners, whistles blaring,
together in the mid-Atlantic"
QM2's first eastbound Atlantic crossing was
on April
25, 2004, when she sailed from New York. And it was
a day to witness: With running mate QE2 in the lead, the pair departed the
Manhattan piers in the afternoon of what was the QE2's last
scheduled Atlantic
crossing to England. Somewhere mid-Atlantic, the two Cunarders closed the
distance between them and the flagship role so long held by the
QE2 was
symbolically passed to the QM2, which then led her older sister into
Southampton.
Detailed Cutaway picture |
Detailed side profile |
Rob's QM2 Fast Facts:-
- The first real Ocean Liner for over 30 years (far
stronger and faster than a cruise ship)
- When built she was the world's Longest, Largest , tallest, most expensive
passenger ship ever (over 150,000 tonnes and
over 1130 feet long)
-
The 2nd Fastest
current ocean Liner (after QE2) - and the fastest modern cruise
liner.
-
Not as fast as
her 1930s predecessor, or as luxurious and only slightly longer!
- Features an exact replica of the Queen Mary's whistle, together with one
of the original whistles, so that she can be
heard on the ocean again (although the original had 3 and
they were steam driven not air!).
- Far more manoeuvrable than the QE2 or any other
ship of similar size.
- Efficient and environmentally friendly with low emissions to air and water
- Won't do as many transatlantic crossings as the QE2 did, or as fast as
QE2 and her predecessors did them
and can't fit through the Panama Canal so can't do world
cruises like the QE2 does.
- Won't replace the QE2... yet... QE2 retiring to
cruising out of Southampton including the World Cruise.
- Has 4 giant propulsion 'pods', more than any other ship
and larger than any other ship too.
- 29 knots takes 7 minutes to achieve from rest and she
takes 45 minutes to drift to a standstill from that speed.
Some Early artist's impressions:-
To give you some idea of the immense size
 
"I'm Ready to go home now"
Queen Mary 2 leaves St. Nazaire,
December 2003 |
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Click here
for News articles I have gathered
Click here for reviews I have gathered from people on board or eyewitnesses
Click here for QM2 Comparisons
Websites full of information and actual photos:-
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