cunardaddict Posted January 21, 2015 #1 Share Posted January 21, 2015 QM2 has not yet started into the Suez Canal. She is anchored outside Port Said since early morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fg_hb Posted January 21, 2015 #2 Share Posted January 21, 2015 QM2 was on anchor since yesterday evening. I looked to the channel a few times today but there was only northbound traffic. But since a few minutes ago QM2 is moving towards the channel. Don't know if there's a delay now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted January 21, 2015 #3 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I think ships generally go through the Suez in an escorted convoy, so anchoring for a while was probably routine. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sail the seas Posted January 21, 2015 #4 Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) I think ships generally go through the Suez in an escorted convoy, so anchoring for a while was probably routine. Roy It is true they go through in convoy but QM2 arrived nearly 24 hours ago. They are due in Petra tomorrow 22nd. I believe the distance from their present position is at least 250 Nm so they do seem to have an unscheduled delay. Edited January 21, 2015 by Sail the seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted January 21, 2015 #5 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I believe there was a 12 hour delay due to dredging earlier today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 21, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) I think ships generally go through the Suez in an escorted convoy, so anchoring for a while was probably routine. Roy That's correct. In 2013 we arrived at 9pm and went trough from 4am to 2pm, mainly with thick fog. Edited January 21, 2015 by cunardaddict Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sail the seas Posted January 21, 2015 #7 Share Posted January 21, 2015 At 2230 UT they were finally transiting the canal so a port may have to be missed, unfortunate if it is Petra as that is one of the highlights of this leg of the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted January 22, 2015 #8 Share Posted January 22, 2015 "A partial collapse occurred at a precipitation basin in the new Suez Canal lane due to an overload of material dredged from the lane under construction, according to a Monday statement by the Suez Canal Authority..." quoted from http://www.thecairopost.com/news/133907/news/precipitation-basin-in-new-suez-canal-partially-collapses-no-casualities No mention of an effect - if any, this would have on marine traffic in the Suez. Perhaps a contributing factor to the delay? (I really don't know.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costalb2002 Posted January 22, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) At 2230 UT they were finally transiting the canal so a port may have to be missed, unfortunate if it is Petra as that is one of the highlights of this leg of the trip. From tweets of people on board it seems that they cancelled the Aqaba call. That means : after Rome on jan 17th the next port would be Fujairah on jan 28th, after 11 days at sea: quite a lot even on QM2. They already cancelled, before departure, 2 stops in Egypt for security reason offering Aqaba and Fujairah as alternate ports of call. This is understandable and acceptable. I know very well this route and these ports : Aqaba for Petra is outstanding and the industrial port of Khor Fakkan ( for Fujairah) is simply horrible, with nearly nothing to do and see. They have also missed ( transiting night time) the wonderful experience of Suez canal transit , that is the highlight of any cruise from the Mediterranean to Red sea . To compensate at least they could have easily done Aqaba on 23 jan cancelling Fujairah. Aqaba to Dubai is 2744 nautical miles : leaving Aqaba at 8 pm on jan 23 and travelling at just 21 knots you would arrive Dubai on perfect schedule. And with happy passengers. I can imagine passengers just booked on the Southampton / Dubai leg : 20 days with stops in Malaga/Barcelona and Rome : no Egypt ( Cairo and Luxor, for those who booked when Egypt was in the itinerary) no Suez canal experience, no Petra , fantastic ! And 11 days at sea ! Fujairah is a waste of time , the only nice escursion is the one to the mountain wadis . I would be VERY disappointed. Edited January 22, 2015 by costalb2002 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 22, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) Please do realize that from tonight on the ship will travel in complete darkness. All windows blinded, all outside areas except deck8 aft closed from 6pm to 7am. This will be an unforgettable journey for all passengers - and certainly Cunard will loose many of them for future business. The first and last leg of QM2s WC is becoming a rather unattractive journey. All POIs are passed in the dark or in 150 mls distance, no safe ports for more than a week. I have done both legs and I shall never ever do this again. Edited January 22, 2015 by cunardaddict Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2irisheyes Posted January 22, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The Egypt ports of call were cancelled on the last leg of WC on QM2 in 2014 so Cunard knew it was on the cards. Aqaba was substituted with a great but very hot trip to Petra - several km walking in the heat but wouldn't have missed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 22, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The Egypt ports of call were cancelled on the last leg of WC on QM2 in 2014 so Cunard knew it was on the cards. Aqaba was substituted with a great but very hot trip to Petra - several km walking in the heat but wouldn't have missed it. Next year QM2 will go around Cape Hoorn instead - a perfect decision. But there due to political incompetence of two governments we will have a long period of sea days again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare roscoe39 Posted January 22, 2015 #13 Share Posted January 22, 2015 But there due to political incompetence of two governments we will have a long period of sea days again. ??? please explain ? Not sure what you are referring to...... thanks Roscoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotterdam Posted January 22, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 22, 2015 around Cape Horn and hopefully by 2017 the new Panama Canal will be completed and QM2 can sail through there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 22, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted January 22, 2015 ??? please explain ? Not sure what you are referring to...... thanks Roscoe Cunard ships are not visiting any ports of Argentina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted January 22, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Cunard ships are not visiting any ports of Argentina. Cunard also cancelled all Baltic Sea port stops for 2015 last November. (Reference: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=6061 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sogne Posted January 22, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Cunard also cancelled all Baltic Sea port stops for 2015 last November. (Reference: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=6061 ) I think you mean Black Sea not Baltic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted January 22, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) I think you mean Black Sea not Baltic Yikes!:o My apology to the Baltic Sea! Thanks for the correction. Edited January 22, 2015 by Salacia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sogne Posted January 22, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 22, 2015 around Cape Horn and hopefully by 2017 the new Panama Canal will be completed and QM2 can sail through there.[/quote QM2 cannot pass under the bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted January 23, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 23, 2015 around Cape Horn and hopefully by 2017 the new Panama Canal will be completed and QM2 can sail through there.[/quote QM2 cannot pass under the bridge :confused:According to these two reports, QM2 will be able to transit the canal. "...Some of the industry’s largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-, Freedom- and Voyager-class vessels and Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream, will still be too wide or tall to transit the canal (ship height is limited by the Bridge of the Americas, which passes over the canal). But many others will, including Cunard’s flagship, the Queen Mary 2..." copied from http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/A-widened-Panama-Canal-will-accommodate-bigger-cruise-ships/ "...At 180 feet wide and 1,400 feet long, the new lock chambers will allow such iconic ships as Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to transit the canal for the first time..." copied from http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2013/10/24/panama-canal-cruise-celebrity-millennium/3178983/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare roscoe39 Posted January 23, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Cunard ships are not visiting any ports of Argentina. I don't know that, that is due to incompetence on behalf of the governments. I think it is a much deeper issue, but I can see what you were referring to now. thanks for the clarification. Edited January 23, 2015 by roscoe39 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 23, 2015 Author #22 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I think you mean Black Sea not Baltic Well, why can I find 3 journeys of QE to Baltic ports? may 9 to 27, June 2 to 11 and August 11 to 20? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunardaddict Posted January 23, 2015 Author #23 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Black Sea is a no go area now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted January 23, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Technically there is a clearance of a couple of feet under the Bridge of the Americas at low tide but the regulations do not permit vessels with that height. A special exemption can be obtained but the timing of the transit to coincide with the tides would be a factor as well. Bridge of the Americas Height (high tide): 201 feet QM2 height above keel: 236 feet 2 inches - QM2 (nominal) draft: 32 feet 8 inches = 203 feet 6 inches height above water Here's the actul text of the regulation: e. Maximum HeightThe allowable height for any vessel transiting the Canal or entering the Port of Balboa at any state of the tide is 190 feet (57.91 m) measured from the waterline to its highest point. With prior permission from the Transit Operations Division Executive Manager, height may be permitted to 205 feet (62.5 m) on a case-by-case basis, with passage at low water (MLWS) at Balboa. Maximum Height Restrictions are due to the tide and the unpredictable upward movement of water from swells, surges, waves, etc., and maintenance equipment suspended beneath the bridge at Balboa. http://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/notices/2014/N01-2014-Rev01.pdf , page 4 Edited January 23, 2015 by Underwatr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray66 Posted January 23, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Stephen Payne's answer on the subject of the bridge http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1913378 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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