Whickers World - A Fast Boat to China

[cunardqueen]

The great man himself...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Liners' List has been having a discussion about this series, one of the benefits of which is the links to all four episodes, as follows :

I have never watched them before, even though their fame reached me too, and I look forward to doing so now .

[cunardqueen]

  I have never watched them before, even though their fame reached me too, and I look forward to doing so now .

Enjoy, From the opening shots, to Alan Whickers Piece to camera at the very end  for rather like the QE2, you will never see anything like it ever again.

[Rob Lightbody]

Liners' List has been having a discussion about this series, one of the benefits of which is the links to all four episodes, as follows :

I have never watched them before, even though their fame reached me too, and I look forward to doing so now .

I've been enjoying watching these again.

I just noticed that the person who uploaded them to YouTube is one of the people involved in creating the series in the first place - he's in the credits - Keith Rogerson.  They're nice quality considering how old they are, he must have kept copies.

Even now, it takes me back to seeing these on TV as a child.

[cunardqueen]

Even now, it takes me back to seeing these on TV as a child 

The Holy Grail of QE2 programs. l taped these when they were first shown, then years ago my Brother in law copied them onto DVDs and  made up a few covers . It went a bit wonky for a few minutes . Nothing gives me better pleasure than to sit down for 4 hours to watch them.

For me this was the start of my QE2 history and while l really didn't know much about QE2 other than she was luxury and  very expensive. Viewing the iconic opening scenes and the theme tune l had no idea l would ever step foot onboard let alone notch up enough nights on board to take me on a World Cruise and a bit . The opening and closing scenes are forever embedded in the memory.

Before my in-law made up the dvds I wrote Alan Whicker asking if he knew if there would be any plans to repeat the showing, he sent a charming reply saying he had forwarded my letter to the BBC . They took the time to respond saying basically They had no plans to repeat the showing.

 Alan Whicker also did the Ultimate Package , a Thomas Cook package holiday around the world by private jet with l think about a hundred others. An amazing programme, They stopped at Easter Island, a place that remains on my bucket list to this day. Their last night before the flight home they had a party and oen lucky winner would win the price of the holiday back, it went to a lovely old lady Babs, with a yellow underwater camera who well deserved the treat, she was a loveable old thing and worthy of the prize.       

[Trevor Harris]

I've been off all week thanks to our annual April school vacation, so these will be nice to watch to wrap up the weekend!

[Chris Thompson]

I remember watching the show on BBC when it first aired. Definitely left an desire in my head to go to sea, 4 years later I boarded the great ship herself!

[Rob Lightbody]

We watched episode 3 tonight, and loved it.

The mistreatment of koalas in episode 2 was quite disturbing, and it was elephants in episode 3.  Wouldn't happen now.

There is a huge long interview with the security officer.

My question is around world cruise excursions at the time of filming.  Were some of them inclusive?  The fares they refer to are far higher (relatively) than later in QE2s career.

[Paul Joyce]

I though you might be interested in an article in the QE2 Times about Alan Whicker joining
the World Cruise to  film his documentary Fast Boat to China dated 11th of February 1983.
I was on that World Cruise with my parents from New York to Sydney. Alan Whicker and his film crew joined QE2 in
Tahiti. He would present some of his documentaries in the Theatre in the afternoon and take
questions.. His lectures were very entertaining to listen to and he had many great stories to tell.

[cunardqueen]

  There is a huge long interview with the security officer.
 

His comments about passenger and crew "friendships"  .

  I though you might be interested in an article in the QE2 Times about Alan Whicker joining
the World Cruise to  film his documentary Fast Boat to China dated 11th of February 1983.
I was on that World Cruise with my parents from New York to Sydney. Alan Whicker and his film crew joined QE2 in
Tahiti. He would present some of his documentaries in the Theatre in the afternoon and take
questions.. His lectures were very entertaining to listen to and he had many great stories to tell.

Amazing stuff to read, did you see the great man, did he interview you or your family ?, did you see yourselves on the programmes at all. How did you enjoy your partial World Cruise . What would be your story to tell....

[Paul Joyce]

My family didn't get interviewed but my father and myself appeared briefly on the third episode.
It was in a scene with the ship at sea, we were playing golf on the putting green next to the deck tennis court.
My dad who was a great golfer was was trying to teach me how to putt.
In the first episode my mum and dad were filmed in a dance lesson in the Double Room. It was interesting
watching the film crew moving around the ship with all their equipment.
As well as Alan Whickers lecturing in the afternoon, Sir Edmond Hilary gave lectures about the
experience of climbing Mount Everest and Dr Christian Barnard lectured about heart surgery.
This was a 37 day cruise and we enjoyed every minute and on arriving in Sydney we didn't want to leave.
The Captain was Robert Arnott the Cruise Director was Bob Haines and many of the crew in the early eighties
had served many years with Cunard going back to Aquitania Caronia and Queen Mary and Elizabeth which for me a young ship enthusiast it was great to talk to them about serving on these great ships, it as all a wonderful experience for me and it's been great to revisit photos an memories of this amazing ship.
I have included a picture of QE2 anchored at the island of Moorea on the 9th of February 1983 with her light grey
colour scheme and also some of the stationary, book and luggage tags given to the passengers.

[cunardqueen]

The Captain was Robert Arnott the Cruise Director was Bob Haines and many of the crew in the early eighties
had served many years with Cunard going back to Aquitania Caronia and Queen Mary and Elizabeth which for me a young ship enthusiast it was great to talk to them about serving on these great ships, it as all a wonderful experience for me and it's been great to revisit photos an memories of this amazing ship.   

Personally, for me these episodes did more for my QE2 interest than anything else, even the Falklands, and its lovely to hear your experiences, we don't always think that we will have an interest in something so unique so many years later, and what we remember, and don't remember after all this time is quite wonderful.

How old were you? what would be the one abiding memory have from your cruise ? How did such a trip come about for you and your family? I'm sure a lot of us would love to hear more about this voyage and your memories. I always thought QE2 looked lovely in the grey scheme . As a young guy on such a trip it must have been a most wonderful and enlightening experience.  How did watching the episodes on TV  compare to your experience of life aboard.

I always think about the lady who makes the comments about friendships on board , you can walk down the gangway and forget all about the people you have just met, and yet other friendships can be intense and long lasting
Hopefully you will be able to share some more memories with us.

At my young age, l really didn't appreciate the food we were being served.     

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Wonderful memories, Paul! It must have been so exciting to be on board for such a long voyage at a young age.

I have just watched half of episode 1. I had never watched them before, and it is great to see all the goings on on board and during port calls. I must admit though that Alan Whicker's supercilious tone grates a bit after a while. Nevertheless, I still want to watch all the episodes and think my way back on board.

Amazing to see her post Falklands colour scheme, the familiar shape and the unusual paint...

[Rob Lightbody]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Whicker