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Captain's view from the bridge
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| Captains eye view from the bridge as Queen Victoria arrives at Southampton for the first time |
HER name recalls the glories of the past, but Southampton's latest queen ushers in a 21st century Victorian age destined to voyage far into the future.
Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton, made her entrance into the city early today.
And these pictures show the view from the ship's on board web camera as she arrived in the city for the first time.
The arrival of the £300m luxury vessel now lights the fuse on five days of celebrations in the city including a royal naming ceremony, a firework extravaganza and a Victorian-style street fair and entertainment on the waterfront next door to her berth at the City Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks.
Just a few days ago, Cunard's next generation of cruise liner, left the Italian shipyard near Venice where she was built and began her journey through the Mediterranean, turning into the Bay of Biscay and then the English Channel for her scheduled arrival in Southampton.
With her dark grey hull and white superstructure topped by Cunard's traditional and iconic red funnel, Queen Victoria is the product of leading-edge maritime technology that makes her one of the most advanced and sophisticated vessels afloat.
Some quarters have questioned whether Queen Victoria should be classed as either a liner or a cruise ship but the company's president and managing director Carol Marlow is definite on the subject.
"Cunard Line ships do not sail on cruises, Cunard liners sail on voyages," she said.
It seems then that Queen Victoria is something of a hybrid. She will be taking her passengers on fabulous cruises but her hull has been strengthened to allow her to make transatlantic voyages thus giving her liner status.
Her exterior design, with row after row of outside cabins with private balconies, echoes other modern day ships but inside, Queen Victoria is, without doubt, truly stunning.
Every deck is an elegant combination of rich wood panelling, the luxury of marble. Ornate columns, the restrained colours of stained glass and the sparkle of thousands of pieces of crystal in the chandeliers all exude an atmosphere of warmth and welcome that other ships take much longer, if ever, to establish.
Reflecting the vessel's regal name, designers drew inspiration from Queen Victoria's favourite home, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
The ship's big set pieces of the public rooms include a two-deck high library containing 6,000 books, the Commodore Club facing forward looking out over the bow, the impressive Britannia Restaurant, a breathtaking theatre able to seat 830 people, the glamour of the ballroom and the exclusive cache of the ship's renowned grill rooms, reserved for passengers in the most sumptuous and expensive suites and staterooms.
All these areas are on a grand scale but it is in the extraordinary attention to detail that the quality and finish of the ship lies. Leather armchairs, deep comfortable settees, fine soft fabrics and carpets complement the quiet, understated elegance of the cocktail bars and lounges while fresh flowers add splashes of vibrant colour to Queen Victoria's decks.
Proudly flying the Red Ensign and with the name of Southampton Emblazoned on her stern, Queen Victoria will be officially named by the Duchess of Cornwall next Monday in front of a specially invited audience seated in a purpose built dockside auditorium.
All eyes will be on the duchess during the ceremony, the highest profile public engagement since she joined the top flight of the Royal Family, as she says the famous words: "I name this ship . . ."
In a wonderful twist of fate the naming will also take place in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria.
Spectators in the nearby Mayflower Park will be able to watch the ceremony on a large screen which will be part of a Victorian style fair which will be staged to coincide with the celebrations for the new Cunarder.
For a few months, until November of next year when the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 is withdrawn from service, Cunard can boast, for the first time, a fleet of three Queens.
When QE2 begins her new career as a first class floating hotel in Dubai, it will leave just Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in service together but two years later, in September, 2010, another new Cunard vessel to be called Queen Elizabeth will join them in Southampton.
Keith Hamilton
Click
HERE for Queen Victoria photo gallery
9:34am Friday 7th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Hiram Hackenbacker, Tracey Island on 2:15pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Looks like Keith took offence at the earlier comments and removed them. Shame on you.
Still I can see impressions of them around the net - and they will be there forever - like this comment!
Looks like Keith took offence at the earlier comments and removed them. Shame on you.
Still I can see impressions of them around the net - and they will be there forever - like this comment!
Posted by: Jonas on 7:03pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Keith Hamilton is going all out for his MBE to compensate for the cr*p job he's had for the last 30 years.
Keith Hamilton is going all out for his MBE to compensate for the cr*p job he's had for the last 30 years.
Posted by: what the ?, southampton on 10:19pm Fri 7 Dec 07
"In a wonderful twist of fate the naming will also take place in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria."
As I said earlier and will continue to repost if removed .........
[bold]What a fantastic comedic bit of journalism, what an absolute twist of fate that a member of the royal family is related to Queen Victoria.[/bold]
No shi*t sherlock.
"In a wonderful twist of fate the naming will also take place in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria."
As I said earlier and will continue to repost if removed .........
What a fantastic comedic bit of journalism, what an absolute twist of fate that a member of the royal family is related to Queen Victoria.
No shi*t sherlock.
Posted by: Sailor Sam, at sea on 10:21pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Cunard's Yankee boss can say what she likes, but if a ship is not on a line voyage, she's not a liner!
I guess she's never heard of a cargo liner.
Cunard's Yankee boss can say what she likes, but if a ship is not on a line voyage, she's not a liner!
I guess she's never heard of a cargo liner.
Posted by: Jim, Southampton on 10:33pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Someone calm the journalist down....before theyre head explodes from over excitement. Jeez, whoever wrote this must have been bordering making odd noises. Wonder what the rest of the Echo newsroom made of it.
Someone calm the journalist down....before theyre head explodes from over excitement. Jeez, whoever wrote this must have been bordering making odd noises. Wonder what the rest of the Echo newsroom made of it.
Posted by: Saint John, Southampton on 11:04pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Usual negative comments from those who inhabit this site, Just come back from Mayflower Park. The ship looks stunning. A blaze of light against a dark backdrop. Met quite a few 'out of towners' who also thought ship looked great. They weren't moaning.
By the way Carol Marlow, the boss of Cunard, is British. She actually studied at Soton University.
Best to check facts before posting
Oh and Keith Hamilton has travelled the world as part of his work. Not many people would see that as a 'crap job '
Usual negative comments from those who inhabit this site, Just come back from Mayflower Park. The ship looks stunning. A blaze of light against a dark backdrop. Met quite a few 'out of towners' who also thought ship looked great. They weren't moaning.
By the way Carol Marlow, the boss of Cunard, is British. She actually studied at Soton University.
Best to check facts before posting
Oh and Keith Hamilton has travelled the world as part of his work. Not many people would see that as a 'crap job '
Posted by: R, Baghdad on 6:13am Sat 8 Dec 07
Journalist echo, travel the world?????????????
I doubt it, they think the Isle of Wight qualifies as a war zone.
Journalist echo, travel the world?????????????
I doubt it, they think the Isle of Wight qualifies as a war zone.
Posted by: Robert on 2:31pm Sat 8 Dec 07
So the boss of Cunard is Carol Marlow, a WOMAN?!
Jeez, you need a MAN in that job!
So the boss of Cunard is Carol Marlow, a WOMAN?!
Jeez, you need a MAN in that job!
Posted by: Charlie, South Wales. on 8:08pm Sat 8 Dec 07
To ail on a Cunard is an experience to be savoured, their liners are reminiscent of the Transatlantic Palaces that crossed the Atlantic between the two world wars, but with modern refinements and pure luxury. We are looking forward to the maiden voyage of Queen Victoria.
To ail on a Cunard is an experience to be savoured, their liners are reminiscent of the Transatlantic Palaces that crossed the Atlantic between the two world wars, but with modern refinements and pure luxury. We are looking forward to the maiden voyage of Queen Victoria.
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