All The Sounds aboard QE2

[Stowaway2k]

Another sound that I loved hearing was the voice of the elevator announcing the decks in the British accent, reminding me everytime we were onboard a British ship.

"Boat Deck.  Lift... going down."
what a pretty voice the Lift Matron has. 

I loved that.  I have a video somewhere from inside the "A" lift, but I can't find it.   

There is some good 5-deck cabin ambient sound, including the noon whistle and the tv in the background, here:

and all the sounds of being at sea:

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks Kyle for posting these two videos.  I so enjoyed my walk around deck this morning watching the sea and listening to the sounds.  Brings back lots of memories. 

I remember late at night as you were ready to sleep there was a rhythmic sound, almost like someone walking along the corridor with flip flops on their feet.  My husband always joked it was the QE2 ghost.  I never found out what made the sound but if it was a ghost I am sure it was a friendly one. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is the lady of the E lift :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2976368178/

As this is a Flickr video, I don't think there is a way of embedding it here -- but if you open it on its Flickr page, you may also enjoy the comments there!

The lady is still living in the QE2 lifts -- Rob found her there, fit and well, last year.

I wonder who she is / was? Will we ever know?

[Stowaway2k]

Well now, that was just lovely Isabelle.

The Lady in the Lift just may be my favorite QE2 sound, well.... second, behind her horn.   

[highlander0108]

Thanks for finding this Isabelle and I have to agree with Kyle here.  The Tyfon's are my most favorite sound followed right by the Lift Lady.  I wonder if we can track down the actual person.  I assume that the lifts were upgraded over time so this probably was not an original feature correct?

[cunardqueen]

Ok its not a sound on QE2, but on a ship visit, l was introduced to the voice of Cunard..She who is the posh voice on the phone.. l was quite tickled. For the life of me l cant remember which ship we were on. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Also, I will never forget the "at sea" sounds in these cabins, including those when sitting in the porthole space of the waves hitting the ship and her wobble and vibration when that happened and the sound of the machinery humming away contently, not to mention the bow thruster and anchor noises at times including as a wake up call! All part of QE2's charm 

That is a great sound to recall for us, Thomas! I used to love sitting by the porthole, feeling the vibrations, watching the sea and listening to the waves.

And in my 5 Deck cabin, right beside the Engine Room entrance, I heard all the machinery sounds as well -- it was a wonderful cabin!

[Thomas Hypher]

That is a great sound to recall for us, Thomas! I used to love sitting by the porthole, feeling the vibrations, watching the sea and listening to the waves.

And in my 5 Deck cabin, right beside the Engine Room entrance, I heard all the machinery sounds as well -- it was a wonderful cabin!

I'll never forget the throbbing of the diesels amidships, particularly on Five Deck, and the warmth from the funnel uptake there too. One could hear the auxiliary machinery and the diesels when putting one's ear to the amidships panelling that had the funnel uptake on the other side.

Also, I have wondered recently, having watched Waverley's videos on Flickr, what caused the loud machinery noises at the top of A Stairway (Boat Deck) that I remember well (a kind of whooshing sound) - it can't have been the funnel uptake as it was a bit further aft. This noise and warmth from machinery was also present on the long staircase up to the Nursery which makes me wonder if it was the ventilation and A/C systems that occupied the space behind the bridge on the starboard side and not to mention the signal mast being a vent itself. Maybe more and more machinery was packed into this area over the decades, maybe between the upper decks (Boat, Sun and Signal Decks) in tween deck space?

[Chris Thompson]

Ah.... yes... the sound of the slot machines in the casino....

Those noisy machines were introduced in the Hamburg refit 1990. The original Bally slots apart from crunching and whirring would only ring a bell on jackpots. The IGT machines that replaced them played a constant warbling tune on each play, this companies machines changed the sound of Casinos everywhere as all the machines being played together creates a constant background noise.

Personally my favorite QE2 sound was when leaving port they would raise the electric motor revs for cruising speed....sounded like the Starship Enterprise going to warp speed! That would be followed by a satifying roar as the propeller pitch was adjusted as the ship accelerated, sounded great from my cabin on 5 deck aft....5242.

BTW, the foghorn was one of the best ever!!!!!!

[Andy Holloway]

The snoring from the Hotel Officer's cabin next door, only eased when his girlfriend stayed the night!!

[Thomas Hypher]

Those noisy machines were introduced in the Hamburg refit 1990. The original Bally slots apart from crunching and whirring would only ring a bell on jackpots. The IGT machines that replaced them played a constant warbling tune on each play, this companies machines changed the sound of Casinos everywhere as all the machines being played together creates a constant background noise.

I remember hearing the slot machines from the nearby stairway, not to mention all the way down both Upper Deck Promendades. Incessantly noisy - which is similar on QM2 too. Wish the machines were only the jackpot sounding ones!

[Chris Thompson]

On the IGT slots even the payout trays were tuned to make the maximum amount of noise when winning coins hit them! The machines do have internal volume controls, obviously Carnival corp liked them turned up, considering Carnivals's origins I'm not surprised.
BTW, on my cruise on a Carnival ship last year the biggest issue with the Casino was that being the only smoking allowed area, the smell of smoke pervaded the entire deck.......

[Willum]

The clunk clunk of the clocks being forwarded an hour. The "All persons not sailing" announcement.
One sound not heard on QE2 but will be familiar to any cargo ship crew is that of a steward announcing lunch or dinner by walking through the accommodation banging a 4-chime hand xylophone.

[Rod]

Remember that sound from a few ships I traveled on as a passenger.
What about the Engineers Alarm?

[David J. Drexel]

I recall an 11 day Caribbean cruise out of New York in January 1993.  She was making close to top speed at some points during the voyage and I can recall sitting next to the windows at the Mid-Ships Bar and hearing (and feeling), the shudder that traveled all the way from her stern to her bow as she cut through the waves.  The feeling and sense of power and majesty was unforgettable!