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Queen Elizabeth 2 Update

Greg — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:15:01 +0000

French site Meretmarine, posted the below photo update about the famed liner. It seems as if she is being kept in excellent condition in the scorching climate of Dubai. Her devoted fans will be happy to know that I bet.

(© : MER ET MARINE )

Queen Elizabeth’s Artwork Update

Greg — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:18:26 +0000

Over the weekend I was digging through old posts from my original blog and I came across my very first post. It was the leaked images of the Queen Elizabeth’s interiors from way back in March 2009. I was looking at the pictures and something struck me. The new artwork that was just displayed to the public was not there! Either: a) the artwork was a last minute thing; or b) the artwork was planned but kept hidden from the public. See for yourself in the photos below:

Original	Updated

The New Queen Elizabeth’s Artwork

Greg — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:25:32 +0000

At an exclusive cocktail party, Cunard unveiled the centerpiece of the ships art collection. All ships from RCI to CCL ships, carry extensive art collections to take up wall space. There is careful though that goes into determining the right look throughout the ship (Just like CCL will theme each ship individually.)

Cunard caters to a more formal cliental so art needs to be striking, yet subtle. Therefore, extra care was put into designing and creating the main centerpiece on the ship; the almost 20ft panel in the Grand Lobby. It is what guests first see upon embarking on the ship and it needs to be special. So here it is:

(click for larger) Thats not on the ship by the way.

Here is what Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Peter Shanks (left in the above photo) said:

“We needed to fill that space with something which would not just be dramatic, a ‘wow’ factor in an area already full of ‘wow’, but which would also reflect our emphasis on traditional and sumptuous materials. After much thought and exploratory work, it was decided to commission a 5.6-metre (18 ft 6 in) high marquetry panel depicting the original Queen Elizabeth, an Art Deco icon, using a variety of natural woods from around the world. Once we had decided on the theme and the medium, it didn’t take us long to conclude that no-one was better qualified for this detailed but monumental work than the company of the exceptional craftsman David Linley, whose creative ability and mastery of wood is renowned”.

The 2 deck tall piece features real wood (not eco-friendly) of Madrona, Indian ebony, American walnut, grey ripple sycamore, burr ash, bird’s eye maple, satin walnut , ash, burr walnut and Macassar ebony.

Here is a super high res of it:

(click for larger)

Pics and Quotes from: http://wearecunard.com

QE2 Plans Up In The Air?

Greg — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:16:44 +0000

Fellow cruise blogger John Honeywell reports that South Africa canceled plans to have 2 cruise ships docked in South Africa for the World Cup. A few weeks ago we reported that the Queen Elizabeth 2 was to be repositioned there possible for housing during the event. The QE2 was not part of the two ship deal, but a separate deal. This nix-ing of the original deal put the QE2′s plans in jeopardy. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 in Trondheim, Norway 2008

The Past Week Summed Up

Greg — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Well I’m back and as promised here is everything that happened recently including two big stories out of San Diego and Dubai.

A domestic dispute turned deadly as a husband murdered his wife in their cabin. A couple on the last leg of their cruise on the Carnival Elation could be heard fighting. When security showed up, she was dead. The FBI and Coast Guard were notified and the FBI took the husband into custody when the ship arrived in San Diego. More here
The rumors earlier in the week regarding the fate of the QE2 are starting to become true. A newspaper in Dubai is reporting that QE2’s owner, Nakheel, part of Dubai World, is contemplating sending the ship to South Africa for use as a floating hotel there instead. Then latter in the week word came out that Nakheel will only temporarily move the vessel there. The reports states the the vessel will leave Dubai, where its currently at, for 18 months. Its main duty there will be a floating hotel for the World Cup that will be played there next summer.
Carnival Adds Jobless (just like the automakers have) and Storm protection insurance.
CLIA now supports the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009. More here
Maritime Matters is reporting that Spain’s Quail Cruises ship Pacific (former Sea Venture and most famously Princes Cruises “Love Boat” Pacific Princess) has been arrested by the Italian Coast Guard. The Coast Guard ordered the vessel to remain at the dock until the $14 Million lien placed against the ship the a shipyard that just did the renovations on her, is paid.

Check back latter as I will post the latest shipyard reports from the Oasis of the Seas in Finland, the Carnival Dream in Italy, and the Norwegian Epic in France.