QE2 (THEN) by Barry Vaudrin
The famous Queen Elizabeth 2, like hundreds
of turnarounds before, is making ready to sail from her home port of Southampton, England. In addition
to the nearly fifteen hundred passengers boarding the ship, 7,720 pounds of beef, 2,342 doz. Eggs, 600 pounds of coffee, 865
gallons of ice cream, 55 pounds of caviar, and 6,700 pounds of potatoes, to name only a few items, will be loaded into the
ship.
The Queen Elizabeth 2 is virtually a floating city with all the necessary
departments which include: a bank, shopping mall, hair salon, post office, police station, hotel rooms, restaurants, swimming
pools, spas, print shop, photo lab, bars, show lounge, theater, disco, museum, computer lab, library, chapel, and finally
a town mayor, or more commonly known aboard the ship as the Captain. On this
particular day in 1995, the Queen Elizabeth 2 is preparing to drop her ties from the Southampton dock, and cross the vast
Atlantic ocean to the port of New York, over three thousand miles,
and about five days away.
Watching from the Bridge, on the starboard wing, the Captain, several
officers and the Harbor Pilot, work together as a team to command the departure of the QE2.
A high school band on the dock plays a tune, as shouts of farewells are heard both from land and from the decks of
the QE2, while she gently moves away from the dock. One can easily feel a sense
of nostalgia watching the people on land and the people on the ship wave at each other as the QE2 makes yet another classic,
trans-Atlantic voyage like she has done hundreds of times before. Last of the
great liners built for trans-Atlantic service*, the QE2 continues the legend of making an Atlantic crossing, like so many
of her predecessors did before her.
Life aboard the Queen Elizabeth
2 has slowly changed and matured over the last 26 years since she first made her debut
in 1969. Gone are the days when QE2 passengers would visit the coffee shop, the
Lookout Bar, or play a tune in the juke box. The Coffee Shop and Lookout Bar
have both been replaced with a pantry or galley. The only foozeball table aboard
the QE2 today is in one of the crew lounges. The Spartan, futuristic looking
chairs of the early 70’s have been removed from the Queen’ Room and replaced with furniture that is actually reminiscent
of the 40’s and 50’s. The chances of finding a “go-go”
girl in a mini-skirt, spinning records for the young adult passengers is pretty slim, being replaced with a DJ playing the
latest tunes on CD’s, or perhaps passengers can sing their favorite songs at karokoe night.
Structurally, the QE2 has gone
through many changes over the years. She went from being a steamship to sporting
the largest and most powerful diesel electric engines built for a vessel of her size.
The sheltered sports deck was filled in with two decks of luxury suites, and a classy shopping mall now over-looks
the Grand Lounge, which use to be the Double-up / Double-down room.
Although QE2 has seen many physical changes in her public rooms, and even her silhouette,
the movements, smells, sounds, and the basic feeling of being at sea aboard this unique vessel have not changed. In the morning, passengers can still find a cozy chair and look out at the expanse of the sea as QE2 makes
a steady 28.5 knots. Breakfast in one of the six restaurants, which all have
large windows, remind passengers that they are indeed at sea, traveling in a luxurious resort with palatial features. High-noon tea and snacks in the Queen’s Room is a popular and traditional experience
to enjoy. During the day there are countless activities to choose from, in fact,
it is estimated that it would take at least three months to attend all the activities scheduled for one five-day crossing.
As the dusk hour spreads it’s
darkening shadow over the ocean, the QE2 becomes an oasis of glamour, excitement, and prestige. Passengers can dance to big band music in the grand Lounge, see a colorful show filled with music, singing,
costumes and drama, and then indulge in some of the finest dining available at sea or on land.
After dinner, there may be a waltz playing in the Queen’s Room, more contemporary music and dancing in the sophisticated
Yacht Club, or perhaps passengers can relax in the less formal Golden Lion Pub. The
extravagance, sophistication and comfort aboard the QE2 of the 90’s would dazzle any passenger from the 70’s who
by chance could have peeked into the future.
Life aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 in the 90’s with her blend
of cultures, and timeless society, transcends the everyday lifestyle of people from either side of the Atlantic. There is a rare chemistry of comfort, nostalgia, prestige and wonder that may never again be duplicated
on another ship. An ocean voyage aboard the most famous ship in the world lives
up to the stereotypical glamour associated with her very name. The Queen Elizabeth
2, unlike the cruise ships of today, virtually sets the standard for elegance and grander for the ships of tomorrow.
* This article was originally written in 1995, before the announcement that
Cunard was going to build the Queen Mary 2. For many years it was said that the QE2 would be the last great Ocean Liner
to be built. Today the Queen Mary 2 is Cunard's new flagship, and has taken over the QE2's trans-Atlantic schedule.
