Laconia Cup (Heritage Trail)

[Michael Gallagher]

The Laconia Cup is a silver cup and it was actually commissioned by the passengers who undertook the first World Cruise. That was on Laconia and departed in November 1922. It was presented to the Captain / Cunard to mark the first World Cruise.

There is another cup / trophy on QE2: The Telegraph Cup which the various football teams from the ships used to play for. That was / is displayed on Two Deck D Stairway.

Photos of both cups attached.

[Michael Gallagher]

It took over 12 years to get the Britannia Cup into the Grand Lobby - which is where it should have been from when QM2 was made flagship.

The Britannia Cup and Laconia Cup are the only pieces of QE2's Heritage Trail that made it to QM2 - I think at this moment!

QM2 got to cup to signify her status as flagship in April 2004 as she was not flagship when she entered service in January 2004 and the reason for that is a story in itself which can't be revealed on a public forum!

[Brandon Sterkel]

Great to see the Boston and Laconia cups in 2018!

Wasn't the Laconia cup on Queen Victoria before QM2?

Hope you enjoy you're voyage, Chris!

[Michael Gallagher]

Yes the Laconia Cup was gotten back from QE2 in 2010 and placed in Cunardia on QV when I got QE2 items for QE.

It went to QV as something was needed when the replica Hales Trophy (the award for the Blue Riband and something Cunard never accepted despite more Cunard ships winning the award than any other line) was recalled by Carnival for their Carnival Paradise (where it had been on display in the Library since that ship came out).

It was a terrible replica so glad to see the back of it BUT it meant the slowest Cunard Queen built actually had a Hales Trophy on board which the Queens who won it or could have won it never did!

[Lynda Bradford]

Excellent photo of the Laconia Cup that Chris Frame posted in the Boston/Britannia Cup topic

[Lynda Bradford]

Photo of Laconia Cup in reception exhibition area of Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel (2019)

[Andy Holloway]

Wow, very impressive.

Excuse my ignorance but where now is that onboard or, to be more precise, what WAS that area in those long ago days of QE2 at sea?

[Lynda Bradford]

Wow, very impressive.

Excuse my ignorance but where now is that onboard or, to be more precise, what WAS that area in those long ago days of QE2 at sea?

Andy the cup can be seen in the terminal building where you check in prior to boarding the ship.  I was really impressed with this area when I visited in March and loved spending time looking at QE2's treasures.
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7891.msg96164#msg96164

[Barumfox]

Whilst it is good to see the Laconia Cup is on public display and well cared for it is still very annoying to me that items such as this which are Cunard history - not QE2 specific items -  were sold like the family silver to Dubai showing that the Cunard management of that era only really valued its heritage for marketing reasons (and possibly still does.)

They should have stated that such items were only on QE2 whilst she acted as temporary custodian and been prepared to fund replica's of such items being made for Dubai whilst keeping the original items for the current and future fleet - the Laconia cup should have been transferred to another Cunard ship undertaking world cruises when QE2 retired i.e. the Queen Victoria and then on again to the new QE at an appropriate time.

Gary

[Thomas Hypher]

The Laconia Cup should be in a display cabinet, in my opinion, for it's own safety and longevity. Same goes for the Japanese Samurai armour and whatever else is open to the elements within the terminal/lobby building that is irreplaceable.

[Thomas Hypher]

Wow, very impressive.

Excuse my ignorance but where now is that onboard or, to be more precise, what WAS that area in those long ago days of QE2 at sea?

Dubai's original cruise terminal that QE2 inaugurated on one of her world cruises in the late 1990s/Millenium. Quite the coincidence it's now her permanent (as far as we know) home as a lobby as Lynda mentioned.

[Twynkle]

If my poor old eyes serve me right,
this extra special trophy needs an Extremely Good Clean....

[Andy Holloway]

Dubai's original cruise terminal that QE2 inaugurated on one of her world cruises in the late 1990s/Millenium. Quite the coincidence it's now her permanent (as far as we know) home as a lobby as Lynda mentioned.

I was Chief Security Officer on that W/C call and remember the opening and subsequent ship tour by theTourism  Minister who reformed the ceremony. There is a good story about that tour but..... It's more a visual story so will have to wait for the next QE2 conference!

[Lynda Bradford]

If my poor old eyes serve me right,
this extra special trophy needs an Extremely Good Clean....

It could be my photo - I cannot remember thinking it looked dirty, but as it is silver it will require regular cleaning.

Looking at the Facebook post when the QM2 Captain handed over the cup in 2018 it does look cleaner
https://www.facebook.com/qe2dubai/photos/a.2290567321170154.1073741828.2290544674505752/2308947962665423/?type=3&theater