ECSTASY churns up the water in Progresso Mexico

Carnival Cruise Line’s 1991 built CARNIVAL ECSTASY is in the latter stages of a multi-million dollar refurbishment being performed during a 28 day drydock which began on September 19, 2009.

When the ship emerges on October 17, 2009 she will sport a new remodeled resort style pool area which will be decorated with faux palm trees, new lounge chairs and new staging areas and sound systems.

For youngsters, or those young at heart, there will be a new water playground called Carnival Waterworks. Features will include a four story slide called the “Twister” which presently will be the highest at sea. For those who prefer some competition the area will also contain twin racing slides of about 82 feet long.

New water playground like this will be added to ECSTASY

Grownups who would like to have some privacy will have an area called “Serenity” which is a adults-only area located all the way aft on Deck 9 with spectacular views overlooking the stern, all of which can be taken in on padded chaise lounges.

Young teens will find a new Circle “C” facility where they can spend time with new friends.

Other enhancements can be found inside the ship like newly remodeled staterooms which will feature flat screen T.V.’s and the popular Carnival Comfort Collection bedding.

Perhaps the most dramatic change which will alter her exterior appearance is the addition of 98 balcony cabins created from existing ocean view staterooms. These cabins are located primarily aft and midship. The only other ship in the Fantasy Class fleet of 8 to receive the new balconies has been CARNIVAL SENSATION.

Over the past year or so the following ships have received the “Evolution Of Fun” upgrades. CARNIVAL IMAGINATION, CARNIVAL INSPIRATION, CARNIVAL FANTASY and CARNIVAL SENSATION.

The ECSTASY sails four and five day cruises out of Galveston Texas.

Dream Sea Trials 3

Originally uploaded by Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise line accepted delivery of their newest and largest ship ever in a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy yesteday.

The 130,000 ton CARNIVAL DREAM departed for Rome (Civiavecchia) to begin her inaugural cruise, a 12 day Grand Mediterranean voyage departing September 21. This cruise is the first of three voyages before beginning a transatlantic crossing from Rome to New York City.

The 3,646 passenger ship is the first in a new series of ships for the line and will be followed by her sister ship, CARNIVAL MAGIC next summer.

Recently a couple of dear friends had the opportunity to sail Imperial Majesty’s REGAL EMPRESS. While onboard in late February, they were told that the ship was to be retired. Today’s Sun-Sentinel.com reports that the ship is scheduled to leave Fort Lauderdale for the final time this evening. No information has come forth about where she might be sailing.

The Sun-Sentinel piece deals primarily with the ship which will be replacing REGAL EMPRESS in the 2 and 3 night cruise market to the Bahamas, the BAHAMAS CELEBRATION of Celebration Cruise Line. The ship is a former European cruise ferry built in 1981 as the MS PRINSESSE RAGNHILD.

For more information about REGAL EMPRESS I’d highly recommend a visit to Maritimematters.com. A video highlights one of her final sailings. For some photos of the two ships the Shipping News section of the website is encouraged.

I’d like to continue with the QE2 tribute I began last month during her final voyage to Dubai. With the Thanksgiving holiday, illness to my kids and finally myself, I decided to make the time this evening and complete the last two commemorative menu covers handed out to passengers onboard her final transatlantic in October. This menu deals with the period of her history when she served as a troopship during the Falkland Island’s War.

Front cover picture: QE2 heads off to war; 12 May 1982

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2:

A Queen Goes To War

On 19 March 1982 the Argentine army invaded the British colony of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Despite constant rumours that QE2 would be ‘called up’ many felt that it would not happen as the ship would be a prime target for the Argentinians. Cunard rebutted any such talk and the ship continued as scheduled with an Atlantic crossing to New York, followed by a maiden call to Philadelphia on 25 April.

However, there was no doubting that QE2’s speed, size and facilities made her ideal for trooping so, on 3 May 1982, as QE2 was steaming along the south coast of England bound for Southampton, the long expected news that she had been requisitioned by the British Government for use in the Falklands campaign was confirmed.

Work to convert QE2 started on 5 May and this included the stripping of the public rooms, the construction of helicopter landing pads at the forward and aft ends of the vessel, the loading of 71 tonnes of stores and military equipment as well as providing accommodation for over 3,000.

Captain Peter Jackson was advised on 6 May that he would be in command and 650 of QE2’s own crew volunteered to remain with the ship throughout her war service.

On 12 May, eight days after arriving in Southampton, the formal embarkation of the 3,000 troops that made up 5 Infantry Brigade began. The Brigade comprised the Scots Guards, The Welsh Guards and the Ghurka Rifles.

QE2 first headed for Freetown and Ascension and she was making 24 knots on two boilers-a speed that was increased when the third boiler was brought on line on 15 May. QE2 arrived in Freetown on 18 May where she took on 1,867 tons of fuel as well as more water in an operation that was completed three hours earlier that expected. She was underway again by 2300 hours.

During her time as Ascension on 20 May stores and personnel were ferried between QE2 and the island by helicopters. An RAF Nimrod had reported sighting the Argentine vessel Chubut in the area while HMS Dumbarton Castle was stationed off QE2.

After leaving Ascension strict blackout regulations were enforced on board. Black plastic sheeting was taped over the 500-plus windows and 1,350-plus portholes. A helicopter flew around QE2 to ensure the ship was indeed blacked-out.

As QE2 left Ascension behind, in addition to being blacked-out, all navigation lights and radar was switched off – QE2 became electronically silent. She sped through the dark, through an ice field, without radar; life on the Bridge went back fifty years.

During the night of 26 and 27 May the radar was switched on every 30 minutes and at one time more that 100 icebergs could be seen on the screen. Captain Jackson would later write that “never have I known such a harrowing experience”.

Just after 1700 hours on 27 May South Georgia was visible on the radar and QE2 anchored in Cumberland Bay East two hours later. A rust-streaked CANBERRA was waiting for QE2’s arrival and, the immediate plan was to transfer survivors from HMS Ardent from the P&O flagship to the Cunard flagship.

From 0600 hours on 28 May the transfer from QE2 started in earnest with helicopters, QE2’s own lifeboats and five trawlers carrying troops and stores to waiting CANBERRA and NORLAND, the latter bringing to QE2 survivors from HMS ANTELOPE. The next day the Royal Fleet auxiliary STROMNESS brought survivors from HMS COVENTRY. Captain Jackson was concerned about the deteriorating weather and QE2 left South Georgia just after 1700 hours.

Captain Jackson received orders to proceed back to Southapmtion on 3 June. QE2’s work in the campaign was done and it remained for her to now bring home 640 survivors

On 11 June QE2 was home. The Queen Mother wished to greet QE2 and as the ship passed the Needles Lighthouse at 0900 hours the Royal Yacht Britannia came abeam with The Queen Mother standing on the aft deck. QE2’s crew and warship survivors gave three cheers and the liner blew her whistle in salute.

Captain Jackson received the following message:

“I am pleased to welcome you back as QE2 returns to home waters after your tour of duty in the South Atlantic. The exploits of your own ships’s company and the deeds of valour of those who served in ANTELOPE, COVENTRY, and ARDENT have been acclaimed throughout the land and I am proud to add my personal tribute”.

As QE2 made her way to her berth she was escorted by a flotilla of small aircraft and thousands cheered and waved from the shore as she berthed. QE2 had sailed the 6,796 mile distance from South Georgia to Southampton in 12 days, 12  hours and 18 minutes at an average speed of 23.23 knots.

Front cover picture: The most famous name at sea!

As we continue this weeks series of historical menu covers produced by Cunard’s UK Public Relations Department, we learn more of what  transpired in the naming of Queen Elizabeth 2.

The final short-list of names for the new Cunarder had been decided in May 1967 by Sir Basil Smallpiece, then chairman of Cunard, and his deputy Ronald Senior. They met in Cunard’s London offices on the evening of Monday 18 September where Sir Basil took three names from a safe. They then agreed on the final choice.

When the choice was made, a message was sent by scramble telephone to The Queen through her private secretary, Sir Michael Adeane, at Balmoral. The were the only four to know the name.

Princess Margaret became the 4-1 favorite on the eve of the launch when it was announced at the last moment that she would also be attending the ceremony. Workers had chalked Princess Anne on the liner’s hull-that was the name Captain Warwick, Master Designate of the ship liked. Of the royals Prince Charles carried the shortest odds.

More than 15,000 bets were placed with the bookmakers and a Glasgow bookie was offering the following odds:

3-1 Sir Winston Churchill

4-1 Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, Princess Margaret

5-1 Britannia

6-1 Princess Anne, John F. Kennedy

8-1 Queen Victoria

10-1 Aquitania

12-1 Mauretania

14-1 Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Atlantic Princess

25-1 Clyde Princess, British Princess

Other suggestions included Queen of the United States, Great Britain, Ocean Queen, The Crown and Anchor, Rose of England, Twiggy, The New Elizabethan, Gloriana, Windsor Wave and Donald Campbell (who had been killed a few weeks earlier). Housewife Helen Gormley suggested ‘Helen Gormley’.

Over 400 names were suggested with the last suggestion, Francis Chichester, arriving in the 48 hours before the launch. But Cunard’s chosen name was not Princess Margaret or Princess Anne,it was not even Queen Elizabeth II ,let alone Queen Elizabeth 2. It was simply Queen Elizabeth.

One reason may have been that no British merchant ship had ever been named after a reigning monarch and the company did not wish to presume an exception-a reason advanced by Sir Basil Smallpiece. But another reason of considerable weight concerned the sensibility of the Scots, whose ship this indubitably was. Cunard had built over 100 ships on the Clyde in the preceding century and was attuned to Scottish sensitivities. The company knew full well that in Scotland the present Queen is not Queen Elizabeth II- she is simply Queen Elizabeth. To ignore such an historical fact would reek of English arrogance and would be resented-and, in any case, there was no need to do so as Cunard’s wish to have the ship named after the Queen was perfectly well served by the chosen ‘Queen Elizabeth’.

When The Queen proceeded at the launch ceremony to name the ship ‘Queen Elizabeth the Second’- not just ‘Elizabeth’, nor even ‘Elizabeth Two’- the fleeting look of consternation on Sir Basil’s face was obvious to the millions of television viewers tuned in to the historic event.

But it is diffcult to know if it was a look of surprised delight that The Queen had, of her own choosing, decided to ignore tradition and to confer her name on Cunard’s ship-a merchant ship. That would have been a singular honour from the monarch. Or, conversely, if it was a look of concern deriving from a knowledge of what complication would ensue. Probably a bit of both.

As soon as The Queen had surprised everyone, including Sir Basil, controversy began. In England the name was criticized as being unimaginative, but in Scotland it was damned as “insulting”, “provocative” and “disgraceful”. Arthur Donaldson, chairman of the Scottish Nationalist Party, said: “It could not be a bigger insult to the people of Scotland”.

More than 500 calls were made to the various offices of Cunard in the UK, most of which congratulated the company on the choice.

In his autobiography Sir Basil maintained that he “could hardly contain” his delight when The Queed conferred her name in full on the ship;. But despite this being clearly her wish he says he proposed the use of the Arabic ‘2′ as it would not have been appropriate to use the “official designation of The Queen as sovereign”- that is, Roman Numerals- in advertising.

Front cover picture: QE2 enters the Clyde after being named by Her Majesty The Queen, 20 September 1967.

As QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 currently sails through the Red Sea on her final voyage to Dubai, I’d like to continue with the historical menu covers that Cunard’s UK Public Relations Department published which were distributed during her final transatlantic crossing.

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2:

Launching a Queen

At precisely 1428 hours on 20 September 1967, in front of 30,000 Clydesiders at the famous John Brown & Co Shipyard, The Queen stepped forward on  the launching platform and said “I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God bless her and all who sail in her.”

She cut the ribbon using the same gold scissors that her mother had used to launch Queen Elizabeth in 1938 and her grandmother to launch Queen Mary in 1934. This released the bottle of wine that smashed onto the side of the newly named liner. She pressed the button that electrically released the launching trigger.

Then nothing happened.

For 70 seconds it seemed as if the ship did not move. The Queen looked amazed; the smile slowly faded from Prince Philip’s  face. Workmen high up on the deck leaned over and shouted “Give us a shove!” Shipyard director George Parker joined in the spirit of the request and, bowler-hatted, he sprang to the bows and pushed. He jubilantly waved his bowler when, by a coincidence, she began to move. A little over two minutes after the Queen had named her, the new Elizabeth had slid smoothly into the Clyde. Newspapers the next day claimed the Queen had wept as the new ship entered the Clyde, and that Prince Philip took a white handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. The Queen exclaimed “Oh, look at her, she’s beautiful.”

It was planned that the liner would glide towards the river at 35 km/h with the last shore fetters, the massive drag links, running out in a thunderous roar. There were ten bundles of them on each side of the ship. Each weighed 71 tonnes-1,420 tonnes in all to steady the liner’s journey to the rive and so to the sea. The ship was expected to be travelling at 30 km/h as she hit the water, pushing away 20,320 tonnes of water-her own launching weight. A total of 150 men would be aboard the empty shell ready for any emergency. A further 161 men would work ashore to ensure a smooth launch.

The intricate launching calculations had been worked out by a computer- a week’s work using normal methods reduced to 30 minutes. Many factors had to be considered, for the river was narrow and the ship was long.

The man responsible for the slipway was Robert Craig, head foreman shipwright. He had worked at John Brown’s since leaving school in 1918 and this ship would be his 47th launch as head foreman. He built the slipway from the information given to him It’s declivity (downward inclination towards the river) was 1.27 cm for every 30 cm. Every square metre of the sliding and standing (fixed) ways had to bear a weight of more than 20 tonnes.

He used 5,000 metres of 30cm2 timber to build the supporting poppets (cradles) at each end of the ship. Once the ship had rested on 300 keel blocks but these had now been knocked away; the berth had been stripped of the huge bilge blocks and wedges.

The ship rested on two sliding ways, each formed of 25 timbers 9.1 metres long, 1.83 metres wide and 30 cm thick. The sliding and standing ways had been greased with a concoction of 9 tonnes of tallow compound, 320 litres of sperm oil, 0.71 tonnes of soft black soap and 32 litres of fine spindle oil.

The ship was held by six mighty triggers, each with its 20-cm wodden tongue set into the sliding ways. Wires trailed from a tiny electrical device to the button on the high platform where the Queen would perform the launching ceremony. As the Queen pressed the button the powerful trigger arms would snap back in their pits with a report like an artillery salute. Then the ship would glide towards the river; and just in case the liner was reluctant to leave the berth, two hydraulic rams would give her a nudge-a push with the power of 84 kg/cm2 behind it.

Shortly after the ship entered the Clyde for the first time, aircraft from the No. 736 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm flew over in an anchor formation as an aerial salute as six tugs manoeuvred her inch by inch into the fitting-out basin. The Queen and the royal parth and guests then went to tea in the works canteen. There the Queen was then presented with a small sppedboat for the royal yacht Britannia- built on the same berth as QE2. A delighted Queen thanked Lord Aberconway, then Chairman of the yard, and suggested it may be appropriate to call it John Brown and have it painted in Cunard colours. Prince Phillip retorted: “Why not call it Cunard and paint it brown?”

Front cover picture: Her Majesty The Queen, with Captain Warwick and Cunard Chairman Sir Basil Smallpiece, inspects the Britannia figurehead in the Britannia restaurant (now Mauretania Restaurant). 1 May 1969

To recognize the 2008 Farewell Season of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, Cunard’s UK Public Relations Department presented to passengers commemorative and informative menu covers detailing some of the special events and history of the ocean liner. For the next several days, while the ship is enroute to her final destination in Dubai, I would like to share the information found within the pages of the menu. These menus were presented during her 806th and final transatlantic crossing, 17 October – 21 October 2008.

Queen Elizabeth 2:

Dates with Royalty

The Royal Family has shown a great interest in QE2 throughout her life from before her  launch right to a farewell visit paid to the ship in June this year by Her Majesty The Queen. And not many ships can claim to have a prince as its first “passenger”!

1967

14 July HRH The Duke of Edinburgh toured the uncompleted liner and lunched with the Cunard and John Brown Chairmen.

20 September QE2 was launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Princess Margaret.

1968

20 February HRH Princess Margaret opened the QE2 Exhibition at the Design Centre in London.

19 November HRH Prince Charles sailed on board from the shipyard in Clydebank to drydock in Greenock.

1969

1 May HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited in Southampton continuing the tradition set by Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.

16 May While outward bound through Spithead on her second westbound voyage QE2 passed through the assembled multi-national fleet of NATO which HM the Queen was reviewing from the Royal Yacht Britannia. QE2 blew a loyal greeting as she drew abreast of the Royal Yacht.

29 May HRH The Duke of Edinburgh again visited and toured the ship in Southampton while presenting the 1969 Council of Industrial Design Awards.

1970

5 March HRH Princess Margaret paid an informal visit in Barbados. Accompanied by Lord Snowdon and a party of 13 she toured all the public rooms, lunched in the Grill Room and enjoyed refreshments in the Captain’s Cabin and Midships Bar.

1979

May For QE 2’s tenth anniversary, HM The Queen sent a message to QE2’s Captain which read:

“I wish her God speed and you and your officers and crew every success in adding to the one million five hundred thousand miles already sailed”.

1982

11 June QE2 was welcomed home in Southampton following service in the Falklands War by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on board Royal Yacht Britannia.

2 December HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board in Southampton and unveiled a Falklands Plaque.

1986

3 May HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board in Southampton to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Queen Mary’s maiden voyage in 1936.

1987

29 Apri HRH The Princess of Wales sailed on board to attend a children’s party and Concorde made a special flypast to mark the ship’s successful re-engining.

1988

14 December HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lunched on board to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of her launching the Queen Elizabeth in 1938.

1990

27 July Royal review of Cunard and Royal Navy ships at Spithead by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on board Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh transferred to QE2 by Royal Barge. The Queen then became the first reigning monarch to sail on a commercial liner with passengers.

1991

15 June HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Prince Edward attended a Royal Ball on board in Southampton.

1993

12 June HRH Prince Edward lunched on board to celebrate 40th Anniversary of The Queen’s accession. He sailed on the ship and left by helicopter.

5 August HM The Queen and HRH Prince Andrew visited in Southampton to join the 175th anniversary of the British Sailors’ Society. After the service Her Majesty boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia and accompanied by HMS York and Patricia she reviewed various units of the Merchant Fleet including QE2.

1994

4 June HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh reviewed QE2 from the Royal Yacht Britannia as part of the 50th Anniversary of ‘D-Day’ Commemorations. Also on board Britannia for the review: HM The Queen Mother; HRH Princess Margaret and HRH Princess Anne.

17 December HRH Prince Andrew was guest of honor at lunch on board in Southampton to mark return to service after major refit.

1995

17 July HRH Princess Anne lunched on board in Edinburg prior to QE2 leading the Tall Ships out of the Firth of Forth.

1996

28 September HRH Prince Edward attended a Boyal Ball on board in Southampton.

2004

1 May On the day that QE2 handed over flagship status to  QM2, Buckingham Palace set the following message:

“Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh remember with pleasure their many visits to the ship and send their best wishes to you for a memorable event”.

2005

28 July HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh reviewed QE2 from HMS Endurance as part of the Trafalgar 200 Celebrations off Spithead.

2008

2 June HM The Queen lunched on board as part of her farewell visit.

11 November HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is scheduled to visit QE2 on her last day in the UK.

Skynew  released a nice video of QE2’s last day in Southampton with some clips of her during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982. Like the others, I found it to be quite moving.

“Now her sea days are done and she passes on to a new life in a new home. We wish her well.”
Cpt Ian McNaught

As if trying to avoid the inevitable, Cunard’s QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 ran aground briefly this morning in Southampton waters. The ship was reported to have touched the bottom at the Brambles sandbank off Calshot on the Solent. QE2 was returning to her home port after a 15 night Mediterranean cruise.

Cunard announced last year the sale of their longest serving liner to interests in Dubai which will convert the  1967 Scottish built ship to a luxury hotel and museum permanently berthed at Palm Jumeirah.

The ship which was aground only a short time was quickly removed from the sandbar and arrived only a few minutes late. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, presided over the ceremonies to honor the ship for her nearly 40 years of service and final voyage under the Cunard banner.

QE2 was also honored for her service to the country during the Falkland Islands War in 1982. Festivities planned included a flyover by a Harrier jet which bowed or tipped it’s nose to the ships stern as a show of respect. Also, a Tiger Moth plane flew over the ship and dropped a million poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day.

A familiar face returned to Galveston Texas this afternoon. After an absence of several weeks due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ike in September, Carnival’s CONQUEST docked around 1:35 p.m. to a newly repaired and upgraded cruise terminal.

Normally the ship arrives early in the morning hours, but this time she traveled to the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston to offload last weeks passengers and then make the return back to Galveston to board the newest vacationers.

Thanks to the web cam at Harbor House located at Pier 21, I was able to capture several screen shots showing her maneourving into position to be tied up at the pier.

CARNIVAL CONQUEST currently operates on a 7 day  Western Caribbean run. She sails on Sunday with calls at Nontego Bay Jamaica on Wednesday, Granda Cayman, Cayman Islands on Thursday, and Cozumel Mexico on Fridays.

On March 15, 2008 she will be offering a welcome change to those who wanted a different itinerary from Galveston. Carnival announced that the ship will offer an Eastern Caribbean cruise. She will still be leaving on Sundays, with a stop in Key West, FL on Tuesdays, Freeport, Bahamas on Wednesday, Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, and returning back to Galveston on Sundays.