I remember QM2 blasting her horns in Palma de Mallorca in May 2004. Every yacht in this large port and marina with someone onboard answered her. Goosebumps!!
Had the pleasure to sail on QM2 in 2019. Wow!! What a ship!!! A real treat!!! I sailed on other cruise ships which were fantastic but QM2 is out on her own! A bucket list priority for any ship lover! Thanks Chris. Your comments about QM2 in your video are truly justified!
Just to add, watch out for the recent movie release "Let them all Talk" by HBO Max staring Meryl Streep and others. It was made on QM2 during July/August 2019 on a transatlantic voyage. QM2 is the "star" of the movie.
@@JBurnsJourno she was built as an ocean liner and has specific design features because of that therefore it is an ocean liner. It would be like saying a ferry was a cruise ship
QM2 is an incredible ship, she theoretically still has about 20 years of service left, but I hope she keeps going longer. When she is finally done, I hope she has a worthy successor.
Crazy to think she’s just about reaching 20 years old and still looks amazing!! Her designers really nailed it with QM2. When I look at other cruise ships, they seem so outdated, imo. While she seems to look so fresh. I hope one day to buy tickets to do a transatlantic crossing with QM2.
Before China gave us this gift of COVID-19, the QM2 used to deliver passengers here to Sydney at Circular Quay. She's as beautiful as any ship could be. And I mean that. I know a lot of people will never get to see her, but take it from me when I say she casts a beautiful figure under the dim, rainy spring nights when she's moored at the Quay. Lovely vessel.
The pair of 2017 transatlantics on QM2 were pure joy. And the plucking of Mervyn Wheatley from his storm-stricken yacht was great drama! All the best to Captain Christopher Wells and his fine crew.
I watched it while having my breakfast! Unfortunately I turned up too late to get into the question and answer session with Mr Wheatley and Captain Wells. I was told afterwards that when someone asked the former what he took off the yacht with him when he was rescued, Captain Wells quipped: 'I hope you remembered your credit card.'
Postscript, yes, that is exactly what Captain Wells said! He had such a sly wit and impeccable timing. When Wheatley mentioned what a shame it was to have his mishap while leading the OSTAR race, Wells quipped, "But Mervyn, you still ARE leading the race!" It was one of the best stage presentations I ever saw! Our Captain said he'd never seen the auditorium so packed solid with people! Did you happen to see the "stowaway" pigeon which was along for the ride? He hunkered down aft on the promenade deck. I saw him fly away once we reached Halifax. That was quite the sturdy bird!
@@RickyJr46 Yes, I did see the pigeon! And then after the mid-Atlantic rescue, I went on an excursion to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where we had to be rescued too. The guide, in her tartan kilt, said as we drove around the town: 'Gee, isn't it amazing the way Jean-Guy and the other drivers manage to manoeuvre these huge motor coaches around these narrow streets.' As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Jean-Guy took a downhill left-hand turn and grounded the bus on the corner! We were stuck for over an hour until a tow truck came to rescue us. Great fun!
We travelled on the QM2 during her maiden voyage in the baltics. When we berthed in Hamburg, a million peoples came to see he ship. The whole city was at a standstill. It was amazing as is this great ship
Love the QM2. We did Southampton to New York in 2015 for our honeymoon. I'm lucky enough to have the red Cunard houseflag that flew from her main mast that same year. It's enormous!
The Astoria is actually the Stockholm. The Stockholm was the ship that rammed and sank the Andrea Doria in 1956. She was modified into a modern cruise ship in 1993.
I have had the good fortune to travel on QM2 several times and she is an amazing vessel. She retains that elegance of years past and brings it up to date with a very modern service. I have never encountered a North Atlantic storm that was able to able to seriously upset the passengers, through several did try. I'm looking forward to getting on her again next year.
I have been lucky to board a ship on the opposite side of the quay from her ( Paddle Steamer Waverley) while at Southampton. Later that day we passed QM2 outbound in the River as you could imagine lots of notes and blasts of whistles & horns were made by both ships in greeting , So for my first ever views of her that morning & evening made it a day to remember.
She's actually the 3rd Queen Mary . The first Queen Mary was a vessel operated by Robinson Buchanan line to serve the various ports on the Clyde and estuary. When Cunard were having Queen Mary built the directors approached their Robinson Buchanan counterparts to request them to change the name to Queen Mary 1 which they agreed to do. The Queen Mary 1 is happily back in Glasgow undergoing restoration.
Fun fact; To provide additional power, the QM2 has gas turbines (jet engines) that are located in the funnel. They are only used for top speed runs as they consume quite a bit of fuel.
@@sealover5861 yup! Also, the reason they're in the upper part of the funnel is to avoid using lots of interior space for the ducts that would supply the immense amount of air the engines require. Stability wasn't an issue since the engines are so light.
@@Andrew-ep4kw Talking about gas turbines, have you heard of the Finnish ferry GTS Finnjet (1977). She was the fastest, longest and largest car/passenger ferry in the world when she was built, and the only one powered by gas turbines. At the point of her scrapping in 2008, she remained the fastest conventional ferry in the world, with a recorded top speed of 33.5 knots. Here is more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTS_Finnjet
@@sealover5861 Really interesting story. 30+ knots is fast for any ship, let alone a ferry. It's not surprising the fuel consumption was an issue, plus starting service just as the second Arab embargo began was extremely bad luck. She was a beautiful ship, though, especially compared to the current lot of cruise ships.
I love QM2 and enjoyed my 2 Transatlantic Cruises and about 5 more. I love the Whistle, very comforting especially on foggy days/ nights. We had several detours on my last Caribbean cruise. Making up time, we were doing about 25 knots with no change in the smooth sailing !
there is a lot of reasons why qm2 is slower, the thing was never made to take the blue riband, that would be almost impossible especially considering her size and weight. that said, the qm2 was still made to be a very fast ship to ensure she can maintain a consistent schedule. not many ocean liners can go 30+ knots..
We have taken 5 cruises but now I want to travel on an ocean liner, the QM2. It may take longer and be more expensive but the experience will be priceless!
We were in Quebec the Autumn she made her 1st visit up the seaway. The town had a buzz about the arrival and I can testify that when she sounded those horns all of Old Quebec was on notice. Her illuminated marquee at night is quite something to behold, as well.
This is the last connection we have with the era of ocean liners and I hope when her time comes a replacement will follow and also recently learned that she is actually the second longest ship in the world to date
The RMS QM2 is pretty much sold out the entire summer for all crossings. I'm going to Europe and was only able to get on one way...forcing me to fly (which I HATE) there. It seems like there is a market for perhaps TWO ocean liners in the world now...plenty of people hate flying. Flying is uncomfortable, unpleasant, and increasingly expensive.
I reserved a spot on the western transatlantic crossing for next summer, early August...CAN'T WAIT! Gosh I hope the U.K. and the rest of Europe has opened up by then! Great, informative video.
She's Huge, over here in Long Beach we have QM1. They had a meeting of the ships in our harbor, the original has graceful lines, # 2 is just a brute compared to #1. Her draft was so big they couldn't be more than 1/2 mile from each other for photos. Enjoyed seeing both together that weekend
Oh, and by the way, I like your video - the last vessel I was on, see below, had two ship’s sirens, one on the short signals and radar mast at the aft end of the‘monkey islan’ above the bridge and chart room, the other on the foremast mounted on the fo’c’ll, which was used when the crew off watch were sleeping. I also considered it a cardinal sin to leave forward facing windows un-curtained after dark.
I am a retired Master Mariner, I was Captain on what would now be called an anachronism- largely forgotten. This was a Cargo Liner (and yes, a liner), which had been adapted to carry 185 single class passengers as well as having four holds, hatches and derricks. I mention this because there were times when circumstances dictated that I would have to berth the ship without the aid of tugs. Imagine my delight in the late Seventies ŵhen I was given command of a large container vessel which was equipped with bow thrusters. These were not. )pods’ electrically driven screws (propellers) within the hull up forward. A very strong jet of water could be used, to assist moving the bow port or starboard when the shipping almost no steerage way. I onc he a pilot who thought they would work as a boost to turning whilst under way. I was rather horrified and intervened. You can work out for yourself why they don’t! The pilot nearly hit a ferry. Capt. A R D.
Since were comparing the 747 and QM2, the QM2 has 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines which are marine derivatives of the Generoa Electric CF6 turbofan jet engine fitted to some 747s.
Is't it so that also Queen Victoria was designed as an oceanliner, only she is not operating as such? To my knowledge that was one of the reasons for the re-designing of the QV and why the originally planned QV is now the P&O ship Arcadia. As it was essential for Cunard to have a ship that could take over the pinnacle that are there transatlantic crossings if QM2 would fall out for any reason, the current QV I thought is actually designed as an oceanliner so she can fill in for big sis if needed. That sets het apart from for example QE and makes QV, at least technically, the second oceanliner in service.
Hi Robert. QV and QE both share the same modifications to their hull that make them slightly different from the other Vista’s. This included the lengthening to allow for the Queens Room and a reinforced bow to enable them to more regularly undertake the direct Atlantic passage. But in essence they are cruise ships as their designs are very much based on the Vista Class and they lack the hull design, speed and reserve power that the liners such as Queen Mary 2 has. As an interesting side note the top speed of QV and QE is the about the same as Cunard’s Lucania and Campania from all the way back in 1893.
Cunard really ought to buy up the original QM and the United States and modernize them for use along side the QM2, it would cost a lot of money, but if they actually went through with it, they could probably make a tidy sum marketing them as a “retro and unique” cruising experience. Meanwhile it could give the US the chance to break her own record
@@shipsbells I think you're right about that. On my first 2 crossings (2005 & 2007), there was a huge amount of noise amidships, up on Deck 12, and we make the crossing in 5 days. My later crossings have taken 7, and I never hear that same roar up on deck 12. I don't know exactly where the turbine is located, but my guess is that the discharge from it is up there somewhere!
The turbines are located on the upper deck. Stephen Payne put them up there due to the amount of air they would need. If they had been placed below deck, there would have necessitated big intakes to channel the air to the engine room.
The Queen Mary 2 is the only ship I book for my travel. Part of the reason is the crossings. I have family in the UK and dislike flying. With 9 voyages under my belt, I feel I know the ship quite well. The impressive bit is not her size, but how stable she is in heavy seas. QM2's top speed is a subject of some debate. Builder's sea trials were flawed, yet she managed 29.63 knots. Personally, I have been aboard when there was a medical emergency requiring the ship to get to a point where a helicopter could collect the patient. All 4 SSDG's plus 2 SSGT's came online and the ship speed increase rapidly to 28 knots the slowly came to 29 knots and finally 30 knots in a sprint to save a life. Yes, I had to rely on the information from the Ship's Navigation TV channel. You can tell the ship was moving at a much brisker pace than usual. Anyway, nice content. Thanks for sharing.
With regards to the Queen Mary 2`s speed reserve... I prefer to think of it, as with Rolls Royce, as never being declared, but merely described as " sufficient". If need be, I am confident the QM2 would have plenty in reserve, should it be required.
As with all Cunard liners since 'Lusitania' in 1907 modern Cunarders are specifically required to be engineered so as to be capable of being auxilliary cruisers in time of war, - (as was very effectively demonstrated by the 'QE2' during the Falklands War.) I have had the great privilege of 'crossing' six times in 'Queen Mary 2', and on my second outward crossing in 2005 we had every reason to marvel at her potential for speed when called upon. I was well used to the characteristic sounds and movement of the ship in most weather conditions, having been on the maiden voyage the previous year [when we went through a Force 11 'severe storm'] but was woken up at about 2:30 a.m. on the third night out in 2005 by something completely unfamiliar, and when I looked out of the stateroom window the sea along the entire port side of the ship appeared to be boiling. Tragically, a passenger had 'gone overboard' in the middle of the night, - [which we subsequently learned as the result of an inquiry conducted on our arrival in New York appeared to have been an event planned carefully and in detail by him in advance, and was the sole reason for his making the voyage in the first place.] The disturbance in the water alongside the ship had been the effect of our going about as quickly as possible to return to the last location where he was known to have still been on board, - as is required by international shipping regulations. That position had been at least 100 miles astern of where we had gone about at 2:30, but by the time of breakfast the following morning not only had the ship returned 100 miles and taken part in a search, but had by then - (at 9:30 a.m.) - been able to make up all the time lost in the 'retracking' and to be back in the same position she would have been in [as confirmed by independent GPS controlled by my travelling companion] as she would have been if the diversion had not sadly been necessary. Her potential maximum speed is, of course because of the possible military interest, undisclosed, but may best be described - as with the capacity of an R-Type Bentley in 1953 - as "adequate"!
@@robertwhittaker5477 Hello Robert. A most interesting account of your Atlantic crossings, something I envy. An upsetting incident indeed, regarding the passenger who jumped. Yes, I agree with you regarding power reserve, which is entirley governed by finances when it comes down to it. I had tentatively planned a first cruise on Cunard, departing Sydney, Australia, to Southampton, but sadly, it wasn`t to be, due to commitments and the advent of covid19. Hopefully, this pandemic will have had it`s day by 2022 and we can all get back to some sort of normality. Thank you, for what is possibly the most interesting reply I have ever received on RUclips in all the years I`ve frequented the site. Wishing you good health and all the best: Tony: Sydney, Australia.
Speed is no longer the issue when making the Atlantic crossing on the Queen. It's a real life drama or adventure holding the promise of love or intrigue .. If people want to get to London in a hurry, they just fly...
Fascinating stuff, but I thought the Hales Trophy / Blue Riband record was held by a succession of three Incat fast ferries on their delivery voyages from Hobart to Europe in the 1990s? Also I thought the liner Canberra lasted into the late 1990s, although in its last decade or so I think it was exclusively used as a cruise ship and troop transport.
Thanks Dave! The Hales Trophy is held by hydrofoil ferries but the Blue Riband is for Westbound crossings only and as such still held by SS United States. Canberra was retired in 1997 and Cunard acquired QE2 in 1998 so missed it by a year 😩
@@ChrisFrameOfficial Thanks for helping me with that, so I was out by a year. BTW, the Incat ferries are fast catamarans, they can go up to 55 knots (depending on the model) and effectively put an end to commercial hydrofoils and hovercraft.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial Since we are on the subject SS Norway was still in operation up through May of 2003 and was the last purpose built liner operated by the French line as SS France. Interestingly she was built in the same yard that built QM2 and that was also responsible for construction of SS Normandie the original Queen Mary's greatest rival and the first liner to crack the 30 knot Atlantic crossing. Granted Norway was no longer being operated by the French Line nor was she running regular Atlantic crossings but she was still in service and she still had that ocean liner hull. I was blessed to travel on her in the late 80s before the addition of those ugly penthouse decks and she was an amazingly beautiful ship.
QM2 built in France, Saint Nazaire shipyard, 2003 Harmony of the Seas & Symphony of the Seas, world's biggest cruise ships, 362 meters length, built too in Saint Nazaire shipyard, 2016-2017
Although I miss those five-day crossings we did on the QE2 , I like seven days on the Queen Mary 2. Looking back on those fast crossings which were exciting on deck, the time on board was too short. It seemed we were packing again after just unpacking - and of course that was true. It was really only four full days on the QE2. Seven nights and six days on the QM2 is great. Our last crossing on the QE2 in 2008 and the first few on the QM2 were six nights on each.
@Alfred Wedmore If we have to talk about terms, since when have we started to call a ship "it"? Ships and boats have been called "she" for centuries. It's an old tradition and almost every sailor and seaman knows that. - And you never "park" a ship.
Didn’t Queen Elizabeth manage to out run a force of German destroyers? That would suggest that she was seriously fast! But is it true or just an urban myth? - Serious question
@@ChrisFrameOfficial yeah. Very sad. But I like to think what it would be like of ships cats were still a thing today. Just imagine all the cute cats prancing around in uniform with a little captains hat on 🥰cats. And large ships. And planes. I love lots of things
In fact my moms cats were named after the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. Magic sadly crossed the rainbow bridge in 2017 but her sister wonder is still alive and well at 13 years of age.
Not enough money in it. The fuel burn for ships moving over 20 knots is enormous!!! One of the books I have stated that every knot of speed achieved over that 20 knot threshold requires as much fuel as the entire original 20 knots does. That's got a lot to do with the speeds you see most cruise ships operate at. They run them as fast as possible while maintaining economy. Additionally there isn't enough interest in transatlantic crossings to fill more than a single ship and even she only makes those crossings during the summer season. The rest of her year is spent cruising. Once again having to build a ship to the standards of an ocean liner cost a great deal more than what is deemed adequate for a cruise ship.
And cruising is far from always about speed. Cruising is often about recreation, the ship itself is the destination. The slower the ship moves, the more fuel it saves and the passengers have more time to spend money.
Why would you worry about getting some place faster? On this ship time should stand still. Take your time and enjoy the ride. Boy, if I were rich, you would never see me on solid land again. I would sail the Queen wherever she goes.
About her speed, it is a shame that Carnival Cruise line keep her chugging along the transatlantic at around 20 knots to complete a crossing in a week. That is the speed that ships in the 1880’s traveled. She could do a 4 night crossing. I had the privilege of sailing on one of her 4 day runs from New York to Eleuthera over President’s weekend in 2008. She went between 27 to 28 knots to keep the schedule. That’s a speed she never keeps now on her transatlantic crossings.
Not quite true. I was on the last Transatlantic crossing she has done up to now:New York to Southampton in Jan 2020. We had two major diversions in the first two and a half days due to medical emergencies - one stop in Halifax and one close to the Canadian coast for a helicopter pickup. After 3 days onboard, we were effectively about a day out from New York. We then steamed for Southampton at full speed (27kts+ at times) with the gas turbines in operation and got into Port about 12 hours late. It was an exciting and eventful trip. I can’t wait to get back onboard but have had two trips cancelled so far
Actually not. They are "fleet mates" but not sisters. Sister ships have to be mainly of the same design and size. QV and QE are extended Carnival Vista class cruise ships, not true ocean liners.
What Sealover said 😎 + both QV and QE have reinforcements made to their design to allow “regular” direct transatlantic crossings and had the ballroom design included. But they are very similar in design to the HAL / Costs / P&O Vista Class ships.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial I remember a reply from a person who had experience from a journey on January 2008, when QE2 and QV did a transatlantic crossing together and a storm hit them. The ride was still pretty smooth on QE2 (a true ocean liner) while it was a little chaos onboard QV. It's good to compare these ships because they have almost the same size (QV is slightly longer, but has 4 feet less draught than QE2). I thought I saved that comment but I can't find it anymore. QV and QE have indeed reinforced bows to make them seaworthy also in rough seas, but the comfort for the passengers is still not the same as on a real ocean liner.
They can steer using one side of the propulsion system more intensely than the other to effect turns etc. without the Azi pods they’d need tug assistance in port. It would be treated as a rudder failure would. I guess by having two Azi pods it’s more redundancy than 1 rudder.
The Normandie had the kennels located in one of the funnels if I'm not mistaken and in my humble opinion, the QE2 design was influenced by the Normandie.
That is absolutely correct Normandie used the third funnel for the kennel since it was a dummy funnel. However it would be more accurate to say that Normandie served as inspiration for the SS France then she did for QE2.
I recall from a Steve Payne [QM2's designer] that the QM2 is much more fuel efficient than her predecessors - the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were steam ships - and got about 12 feet to the gallon. The QM2 is larger, combined diesel and gas turbine electric propulsion , and gets 16 feet to the gallon ;-)
I remember QM2 blasting her horns in Palma de Mallorca in May 2004. Every yacht in this large port and marina with someone onboard answered her. Goosebumps!!
Call me old-fashioned but I like the classic ocean liners of the age.
would have loved to play Leo DiCaprio on the SS United States at speed.
Same
Me too, but I think QM2 does a great job calling back to that heritage.
Like the Queen Mary or Britannic?
Or the Olympic, Mauritania and Lusitania
Had the pleasure to sail on QM2 in 2019. Wow!! What a ship!!! A real treat!!! I sailed on other cruise ships which were fantastic but QM2 is out on her own! A bucket list priority for any ship lover! Thanks Chris. Your comments about QM2 in your video are truly justified!
Just to add, watch out for the recent movie release "Let them all Talk" by HBO Max staring Meryl Streep and others. It was made on QM2 during July/August 2019 on a transatlantic voyage. QM2 is the "star" of the movie.
QM2 is an ocean liner not a cruise ship
@@bitcoin-investment she’s both
@@JBurnsJourno she was built as an ocean liner and has specific design features because of that therefore it is an ocean liner. It would be like saying a ferry was a cruise ship
This is my favourite ship. She is so elegant. We have missed out on two cruises on her in 2020 and 2021 hoping for next year.
That's so interesting about the whistles! I have wondered why she sounds so.... commanding!! ;)
Wow a comment from RUclips cruise royalty!!!
Hey Emma.
QM2 is an incredible ship, she theoretically still has about 20 years of service left, but I hope she keeps going longer.
When she is finally done, I hope she has a worthy successor.
Who is that GORGEOUS cat at 2:20 ;)
He runs a RUclips channel that for some unknown reason goes under the name of Emma Cruises?
Crazy to think she’s just about reaching 20 years old and still looks amazing!! Her designers really nailed it with QM2.
When I look at other cruise ships, they seem so outdated, imo. While she seems to look so fresh.
I hope one day to buy tickets to do a transatlantic crossing with QM2.
Great point! Her designer deserves credit for coming up with a modern yet classic design that withstands the test of time!
I travelled on her a couple of years ago to New York, we went through two force eleven gales. The ship handled it so well I didn’t spill a drop.
The QM2 is my favorite modern ship.
Me too!
+1
Me too. Wonderful ship!
Yes.
It's always a good day when Chris uploads.
That’s made my day.
Before China gave us this gift of COVID-19, the QM2 used to deliver passengers here to Sydney at Circular Quay. She's as beautiful as any ship could be.
And I mean that. I know a lot of people will never get to see her, but take it from me when I say she casts a beautiful figure under the dim, rainy spring nights when she's moored at the Quay.
Lovely vessel.
Love this ship.
The pair of 2017 transatlantics on QM2 were pure joy. And the plucking of Mervyn Wheatley from his storm-stricken yacht was great drama! All the best to Captain Christopher Wells and his fine crew.
I watched it while having my breakfast! Unfortunately I turned up too late to get into the question and answer session with Mr Wheatley and Captain Wells. I was told afterwards that when someone asked the former what he took off the yacht with him when he was rescued, Captain Wells quipped: 'I hope you remembered your credit card.'
Postscript, yes, that is exactly what Captain Wells said! He had such a sly wit and impeccable timing. When Wheatley mentioned what a shame it was to have his mishap while leading the OSTAR race, Wells quipped, "But Mervyn, you still ARE leading the race!" It was one of the best stage presentations I ever saw! Our Captain said he'd never seen the auditorium so packed solid with people!
Did you happen to see the "stowaway" pigeon which was along for the ride? He hunkered down aft on the promenade deck. I saw him fly away once we reached Halifax. That was quite the sturdy bird!
@@RickyJr46 Yes, I did see the pigeon! And then after the mid-Atlantic rescue, I went on an excursion to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where we had to be rescued too. The guide, in her tartan kilt, said as we drove around the town: 'Gee, isn't it amazing the way Jean-Guy and the other drivers manage to manoeuvre these huge motor coaches around these narrow streets.' As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Jean-Guy took a downhill left-hand turn and grounded the bus on the corner! We were stuck for over an hour until a tow truck came to rescue us. Great fun!
A proud crew of both mentioned liners for 2 scores+ of years!
A wonderful ship . . . Feel so lucky to have sailed on her transatlantic 😊
So happy to see this
We travelled on the QM2 during her maiden voyage in the baltics. When we berthed in Hamburg, a million peoples came to see he ship. The whole city was at a standstill. It was amazing as is this great ship
She’s a remarkable ship!
Awesome video Chris hoping I can sail on that beauty soon 😁
I hope so too!
I have traveled on both QE2 & QM2....both wonderful.
Absolutely!!
Love the QM2. We did Southampton to New York in 2015 for our honeymoon. I'm lucky enough to have the red Cunard houseflag that flew from her main mast that same year. It's enormous!
Thank you Mr Frame well done
The Astoria is actually the Stockholm. The Stockholm was the ship that rammed and sank the Andrea Doria in 1956. She was modified into a modern cruise ship in 1993.
I have had the good fortune to travel on QM2 several times and she is an amazing vessel. She retains that elegance of years past and brings it up to date with a very modern service. I have never encountered a North Atlantic storm that was able to able to seriously upset the passengers, through several did try. I'm looking forward to getting on her again next year.
Very interesting Chris. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video Chris!
A. beautiful ship--and the sound of her horns is very stirring. Thanks for these details--very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it
I have been lucky to board a ship on the opposite side of the quay from her ( Paddle Steamer Waverley) while at Southampton.
Later that day we passed QM2 outbound in the River as you could imagine lots of notes and blasts of whistles & horns were made by both ships in greeting , So for my first ever views of her that morning & evening made it a day to remember.
I am booked for a trans Atlantic crossing April 2022. Can't wait! One of my bucket list trips.
THANKS- QUALITY,FIRST CLASS.VERY COOOOOL!!
Very, very informative! Thank you!
Excellent video. That's a like and a follow right there.
Thank you 😊
She's actually the 3rd Queen Mary . The first Queen Mary was a vessel operated by Robinson Buchanan line to serve the various ports on the Clyde and estuary. When Cunard were having Queen Mary built the directors approached their Robinson Buchanan counterparts to request them to change the name to Queen Mary 1 which they agreed to do. The Queen Mary 1 is happily back in Glasgow undergoing restoration.
You forgot the battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary (1912). This ship was 700 feet long, not so small. She was sunk in 1916, the wreck was found in 1991.
@@sealover5861 I didn't know about her.
Thanks, Chris -- this was fascinating! I am a new subscriber, having come on Gary Bembridge's reccomendation.
Great Video Chris, well made!
Lovely info….cant wait till April next year to do another crossing
I was lucky enough to do a Caribbean cruise on QM2. I would love to do a transatlantic crossing on her
No rudder? Now I understand why. Great informative video. Thank you.
Azipods
Fun fact; To provide additional power, the QM2 has gas turbines (jet engines) that are located in the funnel. They are only used for top speed runs as they consume quite a bit of fuel.
Yes!!
The fuel is also more expensive. The turbines need MGO (Marine gas oil) while the diesels use HFO (Heavy fuel oil)
@@sealover5861 yup! Also, the reason they're in the upper part of the funnel is to avoid using lots of interior space for the ducts that would supply the immense amount of air the engines require. Stability wasn't an issue since the engines are so light.
@@Andrew-ep4kw Talking about gas turbines, have you heard of the Finnish ferry GTS Finnjet (1977). She was the fastest, longest and largest car/passenger ferry in the world when she was built, and the only one powered by gas turbines. At the point of her scrapping in 2008, she remained the fastest conventional ferry in the world, with a recorded top speed of 33.5 knots. Here is more:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTS_Finnjet
@@sealover5861 Really interesting story. 30+ knots is fast for any ship, let alone a ferry. It's not surprising the fuel consumption was an issue, plus starting service just as the second Arab embargo began was extremely bad luck. She was a beautiful ship, though, especially compared to the current lot of cruise ships.
I love QM2 and enjoyed my 2 Transatlantic Cruises and about 5 more. I love the Whistle, very comforting especially on foggy days/ nights. We had several detours on my last Caribbean cruise. Making up time, we were doing about 25 knots with no change in the smooth sailing !
Nice points made.
Wow diesel queen mary 2 is slower than the steam queen mary ship !!! How fast and strong steam power is !!!!!!!!
QM2 can do 30 knots.
Bcus she wasnt made for the speed while the original QM was bcus for the blue ribbon
there is a lot of reasons why qm2 is slower, the thing was never made to take the blue riband, that would be almost impossible especially considering her size and weight. that said, the qm2 was still made to be a very fast ship to ensure she can maintain a consistent schedule. not many ocean liners can go 30+ knots..
Drove up close to this boat the other day near Torbay
We have taken 5 cruises but now I want to travel on an ocean liner, the QM2. It may take longer and be more expensive but the experience will be priceless!
We were in Quebec the Autumn she made her 1st visit up the seaway. The town had a buzz about the arrival and I can testify that when she sounded those horns all of Old Quebec was on notice. Her illuminated marquee at night is quite something to behold, as well.
This is the last connection we have with the era of ocean liners and I hope when her time comes a replacement will follow and also recently learned that she is actually the second longest ship in the world to date
The RMS QM2 is pretty much sold out the entire summer for all crossings. I'm going to Europe and was only able to get on one way...forcing me to fly (which I HATE) there. It seems like there is a market for perhaps TWO ocean liners in the world now...plenty of people hate flying. Flying is uncomfortable, unpleasant, and increasingly expensive.
I reserved a spot on the western transatlantic crossing for next summer, early August...CAN'T WAIT! Gosh I hope the U.K. and the rest of Europe has opened up by then! Great, informative video.
Even the short trip from Hamburg to Southampton on her was a wonderful experience
Long live the QM2! Meet the USS Enterprise of passenger ships :) Keep up the good work!
Been at sea on both QM2 and CVN-65. Both impressive, although Cunard's accomodations are a wee bit more plush!
@@RickyJr46 that’s amazing! Glad to learn of your amazing experiences on both ships.
SS United States? During her speed trials, she sliced through the waves at an astonishing 38.32 knots - 44 miles per hour
She was remarkable.
Nice video! Keep it up 👍
Thanks, will do!
She's Huge, over here in Long Beach we have QM1. They had a meeting of the ships in our harbor, the original has graceful lines, # 2 is just a brute compared to #1. Her draft was so big they couldn't be more than 1/2 mile from each other for photos. Enjoyed seeing both together that weekend
QE2 was a real ship
Never been aboard...
I do love the unique configuration.
She’s also fast enough that you can ski behind her
Container ships or tankers are fast enough to tow water skiers.
Oh, and by the way, I like your video - the last vessel I was on, see below, had two ship’s sirens, one on the short signals and radar mast at the aft end of the‘monkey islan’ above the bridge and chart room, the other on the foremast mounted on the fo’c’ll, which was used when the crew off watch were sleeping. I also considered it a cardinal sin to leave forward facing windows un-curtained after dark.
I am a retired Master Mariner, I was Captain on what would now be called an anachronism- largely forgotten. This was a Cargo Liner (and yes, a liner), which had been adapted to carry 185 single class passengers as well as having four holds, hatches and derricks. I mention this because there were times when circumstances dictated that I would have to berth the ship without the aid of tugs. Imagine my delight in the late Seventies ŵhen I was given command of a large container vessel which was equipped with bow thrusters. These were not. )pods’ electrically driven screws (propellers) within the hull up forward. A very strong jet of water could be used, to assist moving the bow port or starboard when the shipping almost no steerage way. I onc he a pilot who thought they would work as a boost to turning whilst under way. I was rather horrified and intervened. You can work out for yourself why they don’t! The pilot nearly hit a ferry. Capt. A R D.
It's never mentioned that her bridge was extended not long into her service.. To give a clear sight line down the length of the ship
I’ve been lucky enough to have her at anchor outside my window on the south Devon coast for the majority of covid-19
Since were comparing the 747 and QM2, the QM2 has 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines which are marine derivatives of the Generoa Electric CF6 turbofan jet engine fitted to some 747s.
Me and Her have the same Birthday! As in Maiden Voyage
Really interesting, thanks :-)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very interesting
Glad you think so!
Is't it so that also Queen Victoria was designed as an oceanliner, only she is not operating as such? To my knowledge that was one of the reasons for the re-designing of the QV and why the originally planned QV is now the P&O ship Arcadia. As it was essential for Cunard to have a ship that could take over the pinnacle that are there transatlantic crossings if QM2 would fall out for any reason, the current QV I thought is actually designed as an oceanliner so she can fill in for big sis if needed. That sets het apart from for example QE and makes QV, at least technically, the second oceanliner in service.
Hi Robert. QV and QE both share the same modifications to their hull that make them slightly different from the other Vista’s. This included the lengthening to allow for the Queens Room and a reinforced bow to enable them to more regularly undertake the direct Atlantic passage. But in essence they are cruise ships as their designs are very much based on the Vista Class and they lack the hull design, speed and reserve power that the liners such as Queen Mary 2 has. As an interesting side note the top speed of QV and QE is the about the same as Cunard’s Lucania and Campania from all the way back in 1893.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial ah, thanks for that info.
It is on my Bucket List of ships. So was the Marco Polo, but alas, COVID-19 intervened.
It's one of my favourite ships
Want to travel on this.
Cunard really ought to buy up the original QM and the United States and modernize them for use along side the QM2, it would cost a lot of money, but if they actually went through with it, they could probably make a tidy sum marketing them as a “retro and unique” cruising experience. Meanwhile it could give the US the chance to break her own record
Best ship ever
You forgot about the auxiliary gas turbine engines. Not many ships have them.
I don’t think she ever makes use of the gas turbines. They use too much fuel and Carnival Cruise lines won’t allow the speed or the cost.
@@shipsbells I think you're right about that. On my first 2 crossings (2005 & 2007), there was a huge amount of noise amidships, up on Deck 12, and we make the crossing in 5 days.
My later crossings have taken 7, and I never hear that same roar up on deck 12.
I don't know exactly where the turbine is located, but my guess is that the discharge from it
is up there somewhere!
The turbines are located on the upper deck. Stephen Payne put them up there due to the amount of air they would need. If they had been placed below deck, there would have necessitated big intakes to channel the air to the engine room.
@@shipsbells Aha; no wonder it was so loud up there!
The Queen Mary 2 is the only ship I book for my travel. Part of the reason is the crossings. I have family in the UK and dislike flying. With 9 voyages under my belt, I feel I know the ship quite well. The impressive bit is not her size, but how stable she is in heavy seas. QM2's top speed is a subject of some debate. Builder's sea trials were flawed, yet she managed 29.63 knots. Personally, I have been aboard when there was a medical emergency requiring the ship to get to a point where a helicopter could collect the patient. All 4 SSDG's plus 2 SSGT's came online and the ship speed increase rapidly to 28 knots the slowly came to 29 knots and finally 30 knots in a sprint to save a life. Yes, I had to rely on the information from the Ship's Navigation TV channel. You can tell the ship was moving at a much brisker pace than usual. Anyway, nice content. Thanks for sharing.
Sound superb. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced top speed on QM2. QE2 - 30 knots multiple times. It was glorious.
Thanku chris frame
You’re most welcome.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial ok thanku for your reply
You’re welcome for that too ☺️☺️☺️
With regards to the Queen Mary 2`s speed reserve... I prefer to think of it, as with Rolls Royce, as never being declared, but merely described as " sufficient". If need be, I am confident the QM2 would have plenty in reserve, should it be required.
As with all Cunard liners since 'Lusitania' in 1907 modern Cunarders are specifically required to be engineered so as to be capable of being auxilliary cruisers in time of war, - (as was very effectively demonstrated by the 'QE2' during the Falklands War.) I have had the great privilege of 'crossing' six times in 'Queen Mary 2', and on my second outward crossing in 2005 we had every reason to marvel at her potential for speed when called upon. I was well used to the characteristic sounds and movement of the ship in most weather conditions, having been on the maiden voyage the previous year [when we went through a Force 11 'severe storm'] but was woken up at about 2:30 a.m. on the third night out in 2005 by something completely unfamiliar, and when I looked out of the stateroom window the sea along the entire port side of the ship appeared to be boiling. Tragically, a passenger had 'gone overboard' in the middle of the night, - [which we subsequently learned as the result of an inquiry conducted on our arrival in New York appeared to have been an event planned carefully and in detail by him in advance, and was the sole reason for his making the voyage in the first place.] The disturbance in the water alongside the ship had been the effect of our going about as quickly as possible to return to the last location where he was known to have still been on board, - as is required by international shipping regulations. That position had been at least 100 miles astern of where we had gone about at 2:30, but by the time of breakfast the following morning not only had the ship returned 100 miles and taken part in a search, but had by then - (at 9:30 a.m.) - been able to make up all the time lost in the 'retracking' and to be back in the same position she would have been in [as confirmed by independent GPS controlled by my travelling companion] as she would have been if the diversion had not sadly been necessary. Her potential maximum speed is, of course because of the possible military interest, undisclosed, but may best be described - as with the capacity of an R-Type Bentley in 1953 - as "adequate"!
@@robertwhittaker5477 Hello Robert. A most interesting account of your Atlantic crossings, something I envy. An upsetting incident indeed, regarding the passenger who jumped. Yes, I agree with you regarding power reserve, which is entirley governed by finances when it comes down to it. I had tentatively planned a first cruise on Cunard, departing Sydney, Australia, to Southampton, but sadly, it wasn`t to be, due to commitments and the advent of covid19. Hopefully, this pandemic will have had it`s day by 2022 and we can all get back to some sort of normality. Thank you, for what is possibly the most interesting reply I have ever received on RUclips in all the years I`ve frequented the site. Wishing you good health and all the best: Tony: Sydney, Australia.
Speed is no longer the issue when making the Atlantic crossing on the Queen. It's a real life drama or adventure holding the promise of love or intrigue .. If people want to get to London in a hurry, they just fly...
But flying over water has a different taste
Fascinating stuff, but I thought the Hales Trophy / Blue Riband record was held by a succession of three Incat fast ferries on their delivery voyages from Hobart to Europe in the 1990s?
Also I thought the liner Canberra lasted into the late 1990s, although in its last decade or so I think it was exclusively used as a cruise ship and troop transport.
Thanks Dave! The Hales Trophy is held by hydrofoil ferries but the Blue Riband is for Westbound crossings only and as such still held by SS United States. Canberra was retired in 1997 and Cunard acquired QE2 in 1998 so missed it by a year 😩
@@ChrisFrameOfficial Thanks for helping me with that, so I was out by a year. BTW, the Incat ferries are fast catamarans, they can go up to 55 knots (depending on the model) and effectively put an end to commercial hydrofoils and hovercraft.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial Since we are on the subject SS Norway was still in operation up through May of 2003 and was the last purpose built liner operated by the French line as SS France. Interestingly she was built in the same yard that built QM2 and that was also responsible for construction of SS Normandie the original Queen Mary's greatest rival and the first liner to crack the 30 knot Atlantic crossing. Granted Norway was no longer being operated by the French Line nor was she running regular Atlantic crossings but she was still in service and she still had that ocean liner hull. I was blessed to travel on her in the late 80s before the addition of those ugly penthouse decks and she was an amazingly beautiful ship.
An I right in thinking she is now the only vessel with the RMS prefix now
QM2 built in France, Saint Nazaire shipyard, 2003
Harmony of the Seas & Symphony of the Seas, world's biggest cruise ships, 362 meters length, built too in Saint Nazaire shipyard, 2016-2017
Mooring at Torquay today
I just think that a WEEK is too long on QM2 to cross the Atlantic. QE2 did it ib 5 days.
Although I miss those five-day crossings we did on the QE2 , I like seven days on the Queen Mary 2. Looking back on those fast crossings which were exciting on deck, the time on board was too short. It seemed we were packing again after just unpacking - and of course that was true. It was really only four full days on the QE2. Seven nights and six days on the QM2 is great. Our last crossing on the QE2 in 2008 and the first few on the QM2 were six nights on each.
Not to forget the Turbine for more Power under the Funnel
It’s been parked in Torbay for almost a year.
Ships are moored. Cars are parked.
@Alfred Wedmore If we have to talk about terms, since when have we started to call a ship "it"? Ships and boats have been called "she" for centuries. It's an old tradition and almost every sailor and seaman knows that. - And you never "park" a ship.
Didn’t Queen Elizabeth manage to out run a force of German destroyers? That would suggest that she was seriously fast! But is it true or just an urban myth? - Serious question
Wow I cant wait to tell my friends about a boat!
So glad to give you’ll something to talk to your friends about! When you do - it’s a ship 🚢 not a boat 🛶
Queen Mary year 1936 max speed 30knots.
Queen Elizabeth 2 year 1969 max speed 34 knots.
Queen Mary 2 year 2004 max speed 30 knots.
I’d love to take my cat across the Atlantic on the QM2! I read somewhere that there were cats on the titanic, however sadly none of them survived :(
That’s true, and 12 dogs of which 3 survived.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial yeah. Very sad. But I like to think what it would be like of ships cats were still a thing today. Just imagine all the cute cats prancing around in uniform with a little captains hat on 🥰cats. And large ships. And planes. I love lots of things
In fact my moms cats were named after the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. Magic sadly crossed the rainbow bridge in 2017 but her sister wonder is still alive and well at 13 years of age.
WE NEED MORE OCEAN LINERS XD
Not enough money in it. The fuel burn for ships moving over 20 knots is enormous!!! One of the books I have stated that every knot of speed achieved over that 20 knot threshold requires as much fuel as the entire original 20 knots does. That's got a lot to do with the speeds you see most cruise ships operate at. They run them as fast as possible while maintaining economy.
Additionally there isn't enough interest in transatlantic crossings to fill more than a single ship and even she only makes those crossings during the summer season. The rest of her year is spent cruising. Once again having to build a ship to the standards of an ocean liner cost a great deal more than what is deemed adequate for a cruise ship.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 ah ok, thanks for the informations
And cruising is far from always about speed. Cruising is often about recreation, the ship itself is the destination. The slower the ship moves, the more fuel it saves and the passengers have more time to spend money.
Why would you worry about getting some place faster? On this ship time should stand still. Take your time and enjoy the ride. Boy, if I were rich, you would never see me on solid land again. I would sail the Queen wherever she goes.
"Dressing up a cruise ship to look like an ocean liner!"
It really isn't!
I hope that she will be preserve after retire in service
Me too!
About her speed, it is a shame that Carnival Cruise line keep her chugging along the transatlantic at around 20 knots to complete a crossing in a week. That is the speed that ships in the 1880’s traveled. She could do a 4 night crossing. I had the privilege of sailing on one of her 4 day runs from New York to Eleuthera over President’s weekend in 2008. She went between 27 to 28 knots to keep the schedule. That’s a speed she never keeps now on her transatlantic crossings.
Not quite true. I was on the last Transatlantic crossing she has done up to now:New York to Southampton in Jan 2020. We had two major diversions in the first two and a half days due to medical emergencies - one stop in Halifax and one close to the Canadian coast for a helicopter pickup. After 3 days onboard, we were effectively about a day out from New York. We then steamed for Southampton at full speed (27kts+ at times) with the gas turbines in operation and got into Port about 12 hours late. It was an exciting and eventful trip. I can’t wait to get back onboard but have had two trips cancelled so far
i had no idea
I keep forgetting how huge ships actually are.
Depends on what kind of ship you’re referring to
Informative video. But what about victoria and Elizabeth? They are sister ships to QM2? Are the not?
Actually not. They are "fleet mates" but not sisters. Sister ships have to be mainly of the same design and size. QV and QE are extended Carnival Vista class cruise ships, not true ocean liners.
@@sealover5861 thank you 😊
What Sealover said 😎
+ both QV and QE have reinforcements made to their design to allow “regular” direct transatlantic crossings and had the ballroom design included. But they are very similar in design to the HAL / Costs / P&O Vista Class ships.
@@ChrisFrameOfficial I remember a reply from a person who had experience from a journey on January 2008, when QE2 and QV did a transatlantic crossing together and a storm hit them. The ride was still pretty smooth on QE2 (a true ocean liner) while it was a little chaos onboard QV. It's good to compare these ships because they have almost the same size (QV is slightly longer, but has 4 feet less draught than QE2).
I thought I saved that comment but I can't find it anymore.
QV and QE have indeed reinforced bows to make them seaworthy also in rough seas, but the comfort for the passengers is still not the same as on a real ocean liner.
i wonder who would win in a horn battle the Queen Marry 2 or the Disney Fantasy or the rest of the DCL fleet.
QM2 hands down hehe
@@ChrisFrameOfficial mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ok
How would the QM2 be steered if both rotating pods failed at the same time?
They can steer using one side of the propulsion system more intensely than the other to effect turns etc. without the Azi pods they’d need tug assistance in port. It would be treated as a rudder failure would. I guess by having two Azi pods it’s more redundancy than 1 rudder.
The Normandie had the kennels located in one of the funnels if I'm not mistaken and in my humble opinion, the QE2 design was influenced by the Normandie.
That is absolutely correct Normandie used the third funnel for the kennel since it was a dummy funnel. However it would be more accurate to say that Normandie served as inspiration for the SS France then she did for QE2.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 QE2 for sure
QE2 was the last true liner.
Hi, do you know (or someone reading this) how much fuel the QM2 holds and how much it uses while underway? I am struggling to find this info reliably!
I recall from a Steve Payne [QM2's designer] that the QM2 is much more fuel efficient than her predecessors - the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were steam ships - and got about 12 feet to the gallon.
The QM2 is larger, combined diesel and gas turbine electric propulsion , and gets 16 feet to the gallon ;-)