Tyfon Horn Updates

Here is additional information on the big Tyfon horn located in the foremast of QE2:

More info on the MKT 230/75...It was last offered in 1985, it is 6' long, 30" bell opening, close to 200lbs, it is a 4 piece horn brass head, brass neck, aluminum body,and glass fiber reinforced polyester bell/opening. I belive it was on one of the Cunard ships along with an MA18/75, but have no confirmation on that.

The above information was confirmd on the Horn and Whistle Board, and later confirmed the ship in question was our beloved QE2.

Longing for the day to hear QE2's voice once again......

New York - October 10, 2009

Picture perfect weather unfolded shortly as we arrived at the Circle Line Pier today for a family day trip to New York City.  It has now been a full year since Ryan and I stepped off the QE2 for the final time.  You could say I am having a bout of cruising withdrawl, and in particular, QE2 withdrawl symptoms.  Today would help alleviate that, but would also be somewhat bittersweet since today would bring back memories of my last visit to see QE2 off for the final time.

After a somewhat late departure from the house, compounded with holiday traffic, we arrived at the pier around 1:45pm.  Prior to floating this trip to the family, I had checked the New York Cruise ship schedule and was pleased to see there would be four ships in port today.  The Carribean Princess, of the design I refer to as the "shopping cart", would fortunately be in Red Hook, while we would be treated to a full range of ships at the Manhattan terminal.  The NCL Jewel and the Carnival Triumph, which is a slightly stretched version of the Costa Magica that we have sailed on twice, were in port, but the ship that I wanted to see was the Saga Ruby. 

Standing out amongst the modern day cruise ship designs, the Saga Ruby is a welcome and familiar sight to ocean liner enthusiasts and QE2 fans.  In fact, she was often referred to as a miniature QE2 when sailing under the Cunard flag as the Caronia.  She began her career as the Vistafjord operated by the Norwegian American Lines, built by Swan Hunter in the UK in 1973.  She was sold along with her somewhat sistership, the Sagafjord, in 1983 and had her funnel painted traditional Cunard colors, but kept her original grey hull.  In 1999, after the purchase of Cunard by Carnival, the ships of the various fleets were reorganized and the Vistafjord was positioned along with QE2 as a premium ship.  After an extensive refit, which included repainting the ship's hull in traditional Cunard color, she reimerged as the Caronia, the third such ship to bear the name in Cunard history.

In 2004, Caronia would be sold to Saga Cruises, who were operating the Sagafjord, now named the Saga Rose, painted a sharp dark blue with a yellow funnel color.  Her new name would be the Saga Ruby and she went under another refit and emerged with the similar color scheme as her sister ship the Saga Rose, as well as revamped interiors.  With all the refits over time, the rumors are that the Ruby will be SOLAS compliant after 2010, unlike the Rose or QE2.  It is my hope to one day sail on the Ruby, when I attain the age limit of 50.  Hopefully she'll still be around.  In fact, a dream of many would have Saga acquiring QE2 and returning her to sea with her stablemate the old Caronia. 

Looking more carefully at the photos of the Ruby at the pier, one can see some hull damage at the stem of the bow.  I noticed the scuff on the bow when photographing her, but not until I zoomed in did the real damage become apparent.  It looks like there has been either contact with a pier or another ship.  I question the seaworthiness of the hull and whether repairs will be made before she sails back home.

Upate:  The Ruby spent two days across the Hudson RIver in Bayonne, New Jersey to have her bow damage repaired before setting off across the Atlantic.  http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3486

Our two hour Circle Line harbor cruise took us down the Hudson, past the Statue of Liberty, back up the East River (?) up to the United Nations Building and then back to Pier 86.  We got a glimpse of the "shopping cart" in Red Hook, which our tour guide referred to as QE2, not once but twice.  Ryan corrected him, telling him that QE2 was in Dubai at the moment.  We're not too sure if he appreciated the correction from a ten year old kid.

Coming back up the Hudson, we were treated to the departure of the NCL Jewel and as we docked, the departure of the Triumph.

All in all, it was a great day to be out on the water and to see a few cruise ships and one true LINER, the Ruby.

The classic stern profile of the Saga Ruby and tail fin of the Concorde; icons of British shipbuilding and aeronautical engineering.  One possible future location of QE2 could be right here!  Doesn't take much imagination with this picture to envision this.

Time to Say Goodbye - October 10, 2008

Today, we stepped off QE2 for the last time in her home port of Southampton.  Our magical 10 day Farewell to the UK voyage was over. For Ryan, this would be the last time he would see her.  For me, I would have one last time in New York in a weeks time to bid her a final farewell in New York City.

Since we were being picked up by our wonderful UK hosts and fellow QE2 tablemates Roger and Wendy, we opted for the early self disembarkation, even skipping breakfast onboard.  Our luggage load was reduced by one small, but extremely heavy bag that Myles had so gratiously offered to take across the Atlantic for me. He would hand over to me at the terminal in Manhattan in a weeks time when we were scheduled to meet to go to the Sequoia restaurant at the Seaport for a gathering of QE2 loyalists before some of us bid her farewell forever.  Myles was taking the historic final crossing home.  Since he offered, we also loaded him up with a QE2 replica life ring which obviously would have been an issue on the plane.

Exiting the ship was surprisingly quick.  There were few passengers up at this hour and there was no lines in the lobby to exit the ship.  We milled about the lobby for a minute and then proceeded down the gangplank, having our cards swiped for the last time.  Ryan commented that his red Cunard card would be upgraded to the gold color now.  His red badge of rookie QE2 passenger was history! 

In hindsight, it probably was for the better we left this way since I did not have too much time to dwell on the significance of today, but Ryan clearly did.  At this point, it is very clear that Ryan "got it", what it was like to be on the QE2, the greatest ship in the world.

New York Harbor

QE2 and QV tied up at Piers 88 and 92 in Manhattan, January 2008

Depending on the weather, we may venture into New York City tomorrow to take a harbor cruise, visit the Air/Sea museum, and perhaps go to the Empire State Building.  This also would give the opportunity to see the Saga Ruby for a final time.

English Channel - October 9, 2008

A QE2 Crossing, Explained

Queen Victoria on her maiden transatlantic crossing, January 2008, crossing in tandem with a true ocean liner, QE2

This video sums it up perfectly.  Although the video is several years old, the essence of the classic QE2 crossing are still the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ctkw2ehm0&feature=player_embedded

The bonus in the video is the return flight on another British icon, the Concord, first flown the same year QE2 was launched.

Newcastle - October 8, 2009

This morning we slept in a bit and did not get out on deck for our arrival to Newcastle on the Tyne, back in the UK.  All the trip hustle and bustle compounded with very late nights spent playing chess or checkers with Ryan and our January Crossing friend Ed, who was also onboard for this historic cruise caught up with us.  We have made it to the midnight buffet every night and enjoyed the company of our new friend Myles,as well as Ed.  These late nights were truly magical and often we were the only ones left in the Lido when we finally broke for our cabins.

Today, we are scheduled for another Cunard shore excursion.  Here we go again to experience yet another castle in the UK with an approximate hour motor coach ride to Alnwick Castle.  When picking out our shore excursions the first night onboard, I have to admit I did not do too much research on Newcastle and picked this excursion just to see another castle.  Little did I know how famous this castle was, how fabulous the weather would end up to be, and just how much fun we would have on this excursion.

After breakfast, I took a tour around the ship, photographing the exteriors of the ship in picture perfect sunlight.  Sadly, we were once againg confronted the the evidence of yet another shipbuilding yard being leveled and the waterfront redeveloped. 

As we first saw in Belfast with the Harland and Wolff yard, and again at the John Brown yard in Clydebank, we saw the remnants of the once great shipbuilding on the Tyne, who's yards built the famous Cunarder Mauretania.

Our tour was to leave mid morning and we made our way to the theatre once again to go through the familiar drill of waiting to hear our excursion number to be called.  Once again, we had a very "posh" motorcoach, using a Brit term.  Our tourguide narrated along the way, prepping us for our visit.  At this time, we found out that this castle is privately owned and occupied.  It is one of the rare castles that is owner owned, occupied, and open to the public.  In fact, they rent out the castle for films and other events to help pay for the massive upkeep required.  Alnwick Castle, pronounce "Ann-ick", is located in Northumberland.and was used in the filming of several of the Harry Potter films.  http://www.alnwickcastle.com/

The castle was breathtaking, and the surrounding english countryside was right out of a typical 19th century painting.  To add a bit of "Potter" to today's visit, there were many black crows milling about the castle.  Bill Miller, noted Ocean Liner enthusiast, writer, and ship's lexturer, joined us for this excursion.  While we were grabbing an ice cream and a coke towards the end of our allotted time, we briefly spoke about just how special this final farewell to the UK cruise has been and that it will be a trip that we will cherish for a lifetime.  Prophetic words from Mr. Miller since we were in store for a little treat on the pier when we returned to the ship.

After the motorcoach dropped up off at the pier, we milled about, getting some fantastic photos of the ship tied up at the pier.  There was a tent set up for evening festivities with the local press since this would be QE2's final call at Newcastle.  We then saw Thomas coming toward us, escorting Captain McNaught towards the tent off  slightly to our left.  We continued taking pictures and then I met up with a couple that had joined us earlier on the Cabin Cavalcade and had ventured off  to the local hotel that was known for having millwork from Titanic's sistership, the Olympic, installed as part of the interior.  After our chat, I noticed the Captain was standing alone at the entrance to the tent.  Very unlike me, I decided this was our time to go meet the captain and see if I could get a photo of Ryan and him.  Not only did the Captain oblidge, after we gratiously asked if we could bother him with a photo, he began quite a little chat with Ryan that we will never forget.

Ryan asked him what he was going to do after November and Captain McNaught mentioned the Queen Victoria.  Ryan told him that he was very sad to see her go to Dubai and that this would be his only time spent on the ship.  Captain McNaught made his somewhat familiar speech about her being time to go and that as he put it, "there will never be the likes of her seen again."  He joked that he would be going from the fastest ship in the Cunard fleet to the slowest, from the oldest ship to the newest, and from the most beautiful ship, but held off completing that thought.  I got it..nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.  Ryan mentioned that he is thinking of becoming either an architect or a naval architect.  Captain McNaught told the tale of Stephen Payne and the QM2 to a mesmerized Ryan.  The funny thing that Ryan was unaware of was Thomas in the background nerviously passing about and wanting to cut short the conversation.  Clearly, he was the Captain's handler for the event that was going to unfold in the tent, but Captain McNaught was not the least concerned and finished up his chat with Ryan on his own terms.  We ended our time with the captain, wishing him well, knowing full well that our beloved ship is in the hands of a Captain who wholeheartedly is going to have a hard time leaving her for the final time.  We told him we hope to see him in command of another liner someday, the QM2.

Newcastle gave us a decent fireworks show, which stopped briefly and then started up as we neared the breakwater.  Cunard played a completely horrid rendition of "Time to Say Goodbye" on the loudspeakers that must have attracted every dog in the area to the pier.  Later, we would learn that this was actually being performed live by one of the singers onboard.  The taped version would have been far better.  This was the last port of call for us. The next day would be a sea day and an early morning arrival at Southampton.