The QE2 Timeline - maiden calls, final calls

[StephanG2312]

Maiden call to Valletta/Malta: 29. October 1998

Source: Me, I was on that cruise...


Note: added to list LB

[andy liney]

I searched for information on QE2 in "the Telegram St John's Newfoundland" and found this article relating to 2008. I have also sent an email to this newspaper to ask if they have information in their records on the dates for QE2's first and last call at Newfoundland. 

http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Columns/2008-08-27/article-1461459/Last-visit-to-C.B.S.-for-stately-ship/1

She didn't, of course, make it to Newfoundland in September 2008 due to bad weather (Captain 'Miss a Port' McNaught!  ).

[Keith Walters]

20th February 2008: Final call at Auckland New Zealand - on timeline list as 21 February 2008
Video includes launch.

Final call Auckland was 21 February 2008.
Cheers,
Keith.
 
Note: added to timeline

[iain789]

8th June 2008, final call at Longyearbyen, Svalbard
6th June 2008. maiden call at Gravdal, Lofoten Islands (and possibly last call?)

Note: added to list LB

[iain789]

Her 2005 call at St Johns, Newfoundland was on 3 September (though I'm not sure that it was a maiden call, there was certainly nothing said about it on board the ship).

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Iain for posting the maiden calls final calls information. 

I have added the two 2008 calls. 

We have a note that the maiden call to St Johns Newfoundland was 9 September 2005.  There are instances when there was a planned visit to St Johns Newfoundland that were cancelled because of weather/sea conditions. I was onboard QE2 in 2003 and the call was aborted at the last minute because of sea conditions. 

If you were onboard on 3 September, 2005  and remember the ship calling  St Johns, Newfoundland then it is possible this was the date of the maiden call. 

[John Drew]

I was working through the 1970s and finished in 1981 and I went to St John's Newfoundland while on the ship but cannot recall the year. John.

[iain789]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

[Lynda Bradford]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

Thanks Iain it is good to have this information and the photo

[June Ingram]

Great photo, Iain - Thanks for sharing !   

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Yes, it looks as though 2005 could possibly have been the final call to St. John's, even though nobody was aware of it at the time.

The planned final call on 26 September 2008 did not materialise, due to unfavourable weather conditions, and we did not even linger, but started on our eastbound Atlantic crossing a day early... thus probably saving quite a bit in fuel costs.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,5321.msg30115.html#msg30115

I have checked the brochure for 2006, which indicates a call at St. John's Newfoundland on 29 September 2006. The brochure for 2007 indicates a call there for 8 October 2007. Are we sure that these did not happen?

Was anyone here was on board who could help us solve this puzzle?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I was indeed on board on her call at St Johns on 3 September 2005, (actually, she was anchored off Foxtrap in Conception Bay South, and not in St John's itself). I can confirm that the date was 3 September, and I am attaching a photo of her at anchor on that occasion. The exif data in the photo file confirm that it was taken at 1707hrs on 3/9/2005.

Iain, would you still have the Daily Programme for that day? It would be interesting to check there whether it confirms what I read in my Daily Programme in 2008, i.e. that the 2005 call was the maiden call.

Whether it was the final call will depend on whether she called again in 2006 and / or 2007. We know that 2008 was aborted... You were very lucky to have been able to land in 2005!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I have just had another look at the Daily Programme for 26 September 2008.

This lists as the "QE2 Fact of the Day" :

The maiden call to the town of St John's, Newfoundland was on September 9, 2005. QE2 has visited 3 times (including 2008) since 2005 making a total of 4 calls as part of her annual Autumn Colours Voyage. However in 2007 the ship could not land passengers due to weather conditions.

And so, there are two mistakes in these "facts" -- the first being that the maiden call was on 3 September 2005, not 9 September of that year. And the second that the 2008 call did not eventually take place, although it was scheduled.

I take it that the 2007 call really did not take place -- so all we need now is confirmation that the 2006 call actually happened and was therefore in reality her final call, even though nobody would have known that at the time.

[Lynda Bradford]

The maiden call and final call for St Johns Newfoundland has been difficult to trace because of the number of aborted calls.  I remember 5 years ago contacting the Telegram St Johns Newfoundland thinking that they may have this information but they did not. 

I searched for information on QE2 in "the Telegram St John's Newfoundland" and found this article relating to 2008. I have also sent an email to this newspaper to ask if they have information in their records on the dates for QE2's first and last call at Newfoundland. 

http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Columns/2008-08-27/article-1461459/Last-visit-to-C.B.S.-for-stately-ship/1

I was working through the 1970s and finished in 1981 and I went to St John's Newfoundland while on the ship but cannot recall the year. John.

John it would be good if you could recall the year and weather the ship actually called there or if, like many others was aborted. 

[iain789]

Iain, would you still have the Daily Programme for that day? It would be interesting to check there whether it confirms what I read in my Daily Programme in 2008, i.e. that the 2005 call was the maiden call.

Whether it was the final call will depend on whether she called again in 2006 and / or 2007. We know that 2008 was aborted... You were very lucky to have been able to land in 2005!

I only have the outer cover for that day's programme (previously posted), not the detailed insert. I do not recall any mention being made at the time or in the pre-voyage literature that this was to be a maiden call. Sorry I can't be of more help.