She did get a splendid send-off! This is what I wrote at the time :
Boston on 18 September 2008 laid on a pipe and drum band dressed in traditional military costumes, and marching on the pier as we pulled away. We then played "God save the Queen", which some of us joined in to sing with conviction, as we love this ship. Many of the passengers waved the Union flags we had been given -- it was a moving occasion.
Two fire tugs came out and gave a magnificent display, remaining stationary while varying the patterns of their water spurts quite beautifully. Eleven cannon shots were fired as we left, the eleventh absorbed by the powerful whistle of QE2 with three full-throated blasts, followed by a shorter one. We thought this a very satisfactory farewell, at least as good as those of Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.
Final Call 
Finale
Rainbow salute 
Sailaway scene
