Queen Mary 2

[Pat McNelis]

I graduated from the TS Indefatigable in 1959 and sailed on Harrisons' (deck) for a couple of years before coming ashore and taking up a career in construction. I travelled back from the UK to New York on the QM 2 last August and was able to pay a visit to the bridge. At first I was told it was not possible, but eventually the captains office agreed. My aim was to see the difference between the bridge of 1950's cargo ship and one of the most modern ships afloat today. An amazing experience; I spent more than a hour on the bridge with the third officer. The wheel was the size of a dinner plate, unlike the wheel on the Biographer and Arbitrator that I sailed on. It is for ceremonial purposes mostly, but the third officer informed me that it could be utilized if the computers went down. If you ever get the chance to sail on the QM 2 it is well worth it, too bad she does not sail under the red ensign these days.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Pat, I sailed on the Maiden voyage of QM2 two weeks, Southampton to West Indies and Fort Lauderdale. and again Fort Lauderdale, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina , Round Cape Horn, throught the Glaciers, Chile and the rest of South and Central America, up to LA. a fantastic voyage of six weeks. She is certainly a magnificent ship.
I dont like the new Queen Victoria or Elizabeth.
I went in the wheel house several times during both voyages and to private cocktail parties in the Commodores cabin and Officers Wardroom. Very enjoyable.
Cheers
Brian

[Ron B Manderson]

Welcome to the site Pat.
Enjoy
Ron the batcave

[happy daze john in oz]

....... If you ever get the chance to sail on the QM 2 it is well worth it, too bad she does not sail under the red ensign these days.

She was here in Oz last year and definitely had the Red Duster flying from the stern jack. I know she is no longer owned by Cunard but her port of registry allows for the Red Duster to be flown.

[Captain Kong]

She was registered in Southampton, Red Ensign.
18 months ago re registered in Hamilton still Red Ensign. with Bermuda badge in the fly.
Brian

[Patrick McNelis]

Hi Brian, I have now crossed from Southampton to New York three times. It is the only way to travel, I envy the experiences you had on your voyages. My last trip was in June, 2017, in which the QM2 was asked to rescue a distressed yachtsman in the middle of the Atlantic. The rescue took place at 10:00 am, so I was able to watch it unfold. Though the QM2 is registered in Bermuda, she has British officers, and they demonstrated British seamanship at its finest during the rescue in very heavy seas.Cheers Pat.

[Evan Lewis]

Hi Brian, I have now crossed from Southampton to New York three times. It is the only way to travel, I envy the experiences you had on your voyages. My last trip was in June, 2017, in which the QM2 was asked to rescue a distressed yachtsman in the middle of the Atlantic. The rescue took place at 10:00 am, so I was able to watch it unfold. Though the QM2 is registered in Bermuda, she has British officers, and they demonstrated British seamanship at its finest during the rescue in very heavy seas.Cheers Pat.

Though. not mentioned. What about the Crew members.Who manned the Boat.'s?

[Captain Kong]

When I was on her the Sailors were all Pilipino.
The boat crews obviously do the hard part of a sea rescue.Brian

[Patrick McNelis]

When I was on her the Sailors were all Pilipino.
The boat crews obviously do the hard part of a sea rescue.Brian

Agree, the two seamen on the rescue boat were Filipino, but the third officer, British, was in charge. All three were very brave. Pat.

[happy daze john in oz]

To those who have never sailed on the high seas there would be little or no understanding of how hard it can be to launch in such waters and then rescues another person.

It is not like being in the bay, or on a river or the local pond.

I have seen it done in the South Atlantic in what was considered a fair sea and that even was no easy task.