QE2 Story 2012 get togethers

[Lynda Bradford]

We would like to hear Forum Members' ideas for a QE2 Story Get together in 2012.  The past two years we have enjoyed our annual get together onboard the PS Waverley and last year this corresponded with the Tall Ships event in Greenock.   Later in the year Forum members met onboard QM2 and there has also been get togethers arranged by individual Forum members.  Put your thinking caps on and post your ideas here for what you think would be a good QE2 Story event for 2012.   

[Twynkle]

This topic takes us back....!

  Hello Everybody - Peeps
Is it time to think about a gathering for us this year?
Would there be anyone hoping to gather again on the River Clyde?

PS Waverley's website doesn't show dates yet, and the person in the Office has just told me
that the sailing programme won't be available till the beginning of March.
For anyone who is interested, I understand that she'll be sailing to and from  
Tighnabruaich to Glasgow on most Saturdays in July.
Rosie

[Alistair]

The best day out in the world! 
Not sure of my whereabouts but if I'm in Glasgow I'm on-board

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

My suggestion would be on 15 July in Hamburg :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,3808.0.html

I am quite tempted to find someone who could book her for me and to take QM2 to get me there!

She then sails off to the Norwegian fjords... tempting too... but I might prefer to mingle with the Hamburg crowds and watch her sail away amidst that great wave of festivity and enthusiasm which she always receives there -- and for the port anniversary, this is bound to be very special indeed.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Two other ideas have come to mind.

The first would be Southampton. We could try and find a day when a serious number of interesting ships are in port, and perhaps cross over to Hythe and use the little train along the pier to view them.


Rising Sun Illuminates The Pier Train by Hythe Eye, on Flickr

Another suggestion could be to meet in London for the annual Ship Show. This is an event for liner enthusiasts, organised my members of Liners' List. I do not know the theme for this year's show at present, but it takes place in October and normally combines excellent lectures with sales of cards and memorabilia.

[Cunarder Man]

A night or weekend in Liverpool?
Could the Maritime Museum do anything for us and a 'special tour' of the Cunard building?

[Twynkle]

A night or weekend in Liverpool?
Could the Maritime Museum do anything for us and a 'special tour' of the Cunard building?

A great idea, and we could take 'the Iris' across the Mersey too!
 - although PS Waverley on the Clyde would be equally good.

[Peter Mugridge]

Two other ideas have come to mind.

The first would be Southampton. We could try and find a day when a serious number of interesting ships are in port, and perhaps cross over to Hythe and use the little train along the pier to view them.


Rising Sun Illuminates The Pier Train by Hythe Eye, on Flickr

Well, an obvious possible date is surely July 3rd when all seven of the P&O European fleet are sailing out simultaneously in line astern?

[highlander0108]

Over on this side of the pond, we should start planning for another get together.  July 1st 2010, it was onboard QM2 in Brooklyn.  We had a more informal gathering Julyst 2011 for QM2's special Manhattan docking.  Looks like no special Manhattan dockings this year, unless there is a last minute change.  South Street Seaport is open again, with a view of Red Hook.  Perhaps another July 1st meeting is in order.  Once again QM2 is embarking on her 5 day Fourth of July cruise.

[Lynda Bradford]

This is looking quite positive for 2012 get togethers. 

Possible get togethers suggested by members so far are :

5 June in Southampton for the 3 Cunard ships.
Week-end in Glasgow with a trip on the Waverley on the Clyde, date to be decided
Hamburg when the QM2 visits
New York 4th July when QM2 visits
Week-end in Liverpool "Iris" across the Mersey

There does not need to be a huge number of people involved and like Rob has mentioned for the Southampton event we just need to agree where to meet up and when. 

[Jeff Taylor]

Would love to join up with anyone who's around in NY.  Just curious, though; is there any way to have a reunion aboard QM2 when she's in NY?  I know security is very tight these days, so I suspect you have to have some fairly high level contacts to arrange that sort of thing.

[Twynkle]

Really good to know that you are coming across the pond, Bob
Seems like the best reason  possible for the third 'The QE2 Story' Annual Gathering!

Just a mention about the August Bank Holiday - Monday, 27th August
Rob and Lynda, does this include Scotland too?
Public transport South of the border probably will be a bit deranged!

Then about Waverley - she leaves the Clyde on or about 28th August,
and doesn't return North until October.
Hopefully I can reach Scotland (preferably with a few weeks notice, so that the train tickets will still cost less rather than more!) and will need to be on the way South again by the 10th September
Rosie