Nick Bates

[RmsAquitania]

Seems like cunard are loosing all their best captains, thought it as so sad when Ian Mcnaught left, but I suppose time has to move on, be it good or bad.

[cunardqueen]

Andy, Its not only their Captains they are losing, But the passengers as well.....

[Cruise_Princess]

I heard that the Captains just didn't like the way the Company is being run and they were being told to do 8 month contracts....so now they are pulling in the P/O and Princess Captains to Cunard.....

Shame really...the good old days are gone...and all those dignified Captains with it....Times change as you say....Cunard just not the same any more.

[RmsAquitania]

Give cunard their due, at least their captains and officers met some of the passengers, and were regularly seen walking around the ship, so unlike the last cruise 2 weeks ago, not with cunard but another shipping company, where we never saw the captain or officers once.

[Matt]

There was an interesting newspaper article in the local paper here, just after the QM2 made her maiden Western Australian visit, and it said that he started his career over 40 years ago, on the MS Athena (Current name) which was in port the same day, then stating the QM2 will be his last ship of command before he retires, so it might just be coming sooner rather than later!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

In Liners' List today, from Karen Segboer :

Cunard news from Liners List friends this morning:

"Captain Nick Bates, Master of Queen Mary 2, retired from Cunard today after serving his entire career with them. The liner arrived in Southampton this morning following a cruise to Norway via Hamburg. Commodore Bernard Warner is now in command as the ship sails for New York this afternoon."

Karen Segboer
Warwick, NY

Kevin in London added :

And a jolly good Captain he is too. His teacher when he was younger apparently said he "spent too much time looking out the window." He actually started out with the Port Line, which was owned by Cunard.

Here's his background:

http://www.qm2.org.uk/captain_nb.html

Kevin in London

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LinersList/message/123662

Happy retirement, Captain Bates! And do join the QE2Story Forum    !

[Cruise_Princess]

All the best Captain Bates for a long happy healthy retirement.....you will be missed!

[cunardqueen]

There is  a very good review in the we are cunard blog.  http://wearecunard.com/2010/09/president%e2%80%99s-blog-%e2%80%93-farewell-to-captain-bates/ 

Some great photos and a very special one at the bottom.
 I throughly enjoyed my voyages sailing with Captain Bates and the honour of dining on his table, which for me was the ultimate in all my cruising history, And the fact that he personally made the choice.
 God speed for a long and enjoyable retirement and lm sure the good wishes of many passengers will follow you... 
All Cunard captains are special,   But some are more special than others 

[cunardqueen]

His new vocation..
It seems natural doesnt it...
http://www.allmediascotland.com/media_releases/27334/new-wins-for-tartan-silk 

[Jeff Taylor]

All the best to a true gentleman, and a very entertaining one!

[SaraSteiner]

I had a long conversation on the phone today with Nick Bates. He is enjoying his retirement with his wife and cat and dogs ....one being a beautiful puppy.
I knew Nick 30 years ago when we sailed together on the QE2

I told him about the QE2 Story and sent him the web address.

Sallie AKA
SaraSteiner

[cunardqueen]

Couldnt find the link

[Jem]

Many thanks for that . I really enjoyed it.

[Kathy M.]

Thanks for all the great info - I'm ordering his book for my Dad for Christmas!!

[cunardqueen]

Are your ordering via amazon or ebay? If its the latter ask the seller and chances are you can have it autographed personally by the name himself...