The QE2 Timeline - maiden calls, final calls

[Twynkle]

Hopefully the following may help - I have sent it to St John's Port Authority.

'Please, and very hopefully you may be able to help, and won’t mind our query.

I am one of a group who are compiling the maiden as well as final ports of call made by RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly called ' the QE2'!
These may have taken place in the Port of St John’s  between 2004 and 2008.
I’m aware too that several attempts were made and not fulfilled, almost certainly because of the conditions at the time.

[June Ingram]

Today, 5 October 2008, our QE2 made her last visit to her birthplace, The Clyde.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1840.0.html

[June Ingram]

Many thanks, Isabelle, for adding the link !   

[June Ingram]

QE2 has three anniversaries coming up this weekend, all of them close to home.

23 July 1990 had QE2 making her maiden call to Cobh.

On 24 July 1990, she stopped at her spiritual home of Liverpool for the first time.

And on 25 July 1990, QE2 made her maiden call to Greenock, her first return to The Clyde since 1968.

A toast to QE2 !!

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 has three anniversaries coming up this weekend, all of them close to home.

23 July 1990 had QE2 making her maiden call to Cobh.

On 24 July 1990, she stopped at her spiritual home of Liverpool for the first time.

And on 25 July 1990, QE2 made her maiden call to Greenock, her first return to The Clyde since 1968.

A toast to QE2 !!

And dont forget this important one 22 July 1990: Arrived in Southampton after fastest ever Eastbound Crossing - 4 days, 6 hours, 57 minutes (av speed 30.16 knots)

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Louis, for adding this very important anniversary.  There are so many noteworthy anniversaries for our beloved QE2 !  Just think - 30.16 knots ! - absolutely awesome !!   

[Louis De Sousa]

Thanks, Louis, for adding this very important anniversary.  There are so many noteworthy anniversaries for our beloved QE2 !  Just think - 30.16 knots ! - absolutely awesome !!   

And I was onboard....

[June Ingram]

What did it feel like on QE2 going at that speed ?

[cunardqueen]

Comparing the speed at 29 knots and 5 days to her farewell crossings l always felt in the early days of speed, you were actually going somewhere and pretty fast, on the farewell crossings we were trundling along with that other thing and taking six days. Lord knows how it feels on the present cruises across the Atlantic taking however long it takes..Even then they stop short in the Ghetto   

[Louis De Sousa]

What did it feel like on QE2 going at that speed ?

June this was my second trip on her,I was living my dream.This record was never noticed by Me only until a few Months later.QE2 at sea with this speed on a calm day was not noticed.After all this was QE2 and the North Atlantic was her "home" it was normal.

[June Ingram]

Yes, it was normal for QE2.  It probably would have been noticeable had she slowed down.  The North Atlantic was her element and another ship like her will never be seen again.  To have the memories that you have of her as well as everyone who has served on her is awe-inspiring.

[Bruce Nicholls]

I am glad that when we made the crossing it was in the quick days. The Atlantic was flat calm but you did have a feeling of purpose. This was not a cruise but a crossing!

[Cruisemarsh]

Maiden call to Valletta/Malta: 29. October 1998

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


Note: added to list LB

We were on that cruise too

[Thomas Hypher]

Though me and other forum members have mentioned it in other topics; I thought I'd add that QE2's Thursday 24th July 2008 call to Propriano, Corsica was both her maiden and final call there. I recall no particular if any fuss was made, although the locals got quite close (understandably!)  . Fuss was probably not made for the same reasons Michael gave in at least one other topic here on the forum (as no fuss was made on the last visit to Monte Carlo/Monaco on Saturday 26th July 2008 so me and my parents were also largely oblivious to the significance of that visit).

Here's one of my photos (seen before) to illustrate how (relatively) close the locals got:

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

And a few from Monte Carlo/Monaco (first taken by my Dad and the rest with my questionable horizons  ):

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr


Thomas

[Colin Partridge]

Very interesting Rob  - thanks for posting.

Just one observation. I believe that the maiden call to Alexandria, Egypt, was in April 1976 not 1977. I remember having a run ashore there during the Cradles of Civilization cruise. I know we went to Odesa on the same trip for our maiden call.

Best Regards.