Queen Mary 2

[gct13]

The new, mammoth Queen Mary 2 cruise ship rolled into New York City this morning amidst much fanfare. The "QM2" is the largest, most expensive passenger ship ever made. They say that at high tide the QM2 would clear the Verrazano Narrows Bridge by a scant 13 feet.

Anywho, I got up bright and early to witness the spectacle-


Here we have the ship cruising up the Hudson escorted by a mini-armada of helicopters and various boats. You can kinda see the fireboat on the far right.

Cruising by the 30th St Heliport.

On the West Side of Manhattan, the trick is to find a spot in the chain link fence where you can gently jam in the lense of your camera for an unobstructed photo op.

The masses gather in anticipation at the Passenger Ship Terminal.

A few in the crowd requested law enforcement kindly move their vehicles. Request denied.

Strike up the band.

Notice the 20-foot chain link fence and elevated highway on the right, working well in tandem to deftly obstruct the view.

Overall quite a sight. And an adventure unto itself snapping a decent pict.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Wow thanks! Wonderful pics!

It will be sad to see the QE2 go the way of ships of yesteryear but damn they know how to build nice ones.

 

[Budgie]

Excellent photos. Thanks for sharing. The total occupancy of the ship is probably greater than the population of 90% of the incorporated town in the U.S. I can only imagine seeing it with the naked eye. Kinda like the space ships in Independence Day.

 

[Planderella]

This is one cool shot. It looks as if the ship is superimposed into the picture. It's so out of scale with everything else.

 

[Gedunker]

Exceptional photos. Thanks for getting up early and taking Cyburbia virtually with you! Looks like the Port Authority ought to spend some money fixing up the pier (was that Pier 57?) -- that was not a particularly pretty sight. Cunard can't be too happy with that...

Queen Mary II is built as a liner, not a cruise ship and the difference really shows. If ever I win the lottery . . . ;-)

 

[Tranplanner]

Awesome pics! I liked'em so much I had to steal this thread for TP&A

I agree with GD, the pier itself looks a little decrepit for such a glamourous ship...

 

[Planderella]

Here's an article about the Queen.

 

[jordanb]

Why does the NYPD feel the need for SUVs? B-)

 

[Plannerbabs]

She's gorgeous, thanks for the photos. Absolutely magnificant. I took the QEII years ago from England. That's the kind of trip that will stay with you for life.

 

[gct13]

Exceptional photos. Thanks for getting up early and taking Cyburbia virtually with you!

My pleasure!

Looks like the Port Authority ought to spend some money fixing up the pier (was that Pier 57?) -- that was not a particularly pretty sight.

Speak of the devil -
Mayor announces improvements for cruise ship lines

Queen Mary II is built as a liner, not a cruise ship...

Ah, a liner. Okay, got my water vernacular down Oh, and Cunard did name it with the "2" - :-0
http://www.cunard.com/QM2/home.asp

 

[gct13]

The total occupancy of the ship is probably greater than the population of 90% of the incorporated town in the U.S.

"2,600 passengers, attended by a crew of 1,250..." Almost a 2:1 guest to crew ratio 8-!

NY Times article, with nice audio slide show.

 

[jordanb]

Maybe you guys all already know this, but it was named "Queen Mary 2" because it's the second ship to be named "Queen Mary." The "Queen Elizabeth II" was so named because it was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. So if it were to sink or something and they were to name another ship after her, I suppose it'd be the "Queen Elizabeth II 2"

 

[JNA]

Thanks for posting the your photos.

Good trivia question -
Q. Which ocean liner company bought out the White Star Line (RMS Titanic) ?

 

[Gedunker]

Ah, a liner. Okay, got my water vernacular down Oh, and Cunard did name it with the "2"

2 bad for me :-0

Sorry if you thought I was correcting you about "liner" vs "cruise ship". I wasn't.

[naval architecture geek]The bow of a liner is noticeably different because they have to cut through rough seas (she was in 30' waves on this voyage), whereas a cruise ship has a much more blunt bow because they try to avoid rough seas. I read somewhere that the QM2 is designed to withstand a 75' sea.[/naval architecture geek]

 

[JNA]

naval architecture geek

I have been one for a very long time.
Have you seen or read the magazine SEA CLASSICS ?

 

[ludes98]

Thanks for posting the your photos.

Good trivia question -
Q. Which ocean liner company bought out the White Star Line (RMS Titanic) ?

Cunard, but not until 1936.

Thanks for the pics GCT13!

 

[JNL]

Cool pics!

This is one cool shot. It looks as if the ship is superimposed into the picture. It's so out of scale with everything else.

Me like that pic too

Naval architecture geek, oops I mean Gedunker, thanks for that info. I will see if I can drop it into conversation this weekend

 

[jresta]

Did you all know that "Cunard" is a multi-purpose french insult most often translated as "a**hole". C'est vrai.

At anyrate, i worked downtown when the Regina Maersk came into town. They had to wait for low tide to get under the Verrazano. From where i was it didn't look like it was going to make it at all.

The Verrazano is no joke. While the Golden Gate gets all the credit the Verrazano is actually the bigger bridge.

 

[FueledByRamen]

Very awesome. Thanks for the pics. Ive never been on a big boat like that. Well, i take that back...Ive been on an aircraft carrier before and the WWI battleship "Texas." (sorry for the big pics)

USS Texas

USS Lexington (which has recently moved off of the beach and into the harbor in Corpus Christi)

2
[naval architecture geek]The bow of a liner is noticeably different because they have to cut through rough seas (she was in 30' waves on this voyage), whereas a cruise ship has a much more blunt bow because they try to avoid rough seas. I read somewhere that the QM2 is designed to withstand a 75' sea.[/naval architecture geek]

Hmm, never new that. Thanks for the info!