QE2 40th, A Few Highlights

[stowaway2k]

Not until I got home did I realise how few photos I took on this cruise. Entering and leaving port was usually very exciting, and I mostly was using my video camera. I should have some presentable video to share in the not too distant future

 

I missed taking any photos of the Red Arrows, as I was watching and taping at the same time. It was very exciting, and Jon already showed us a fine one of his. The same with the Liverpool fireworks.

My little point-and-shoot wouldn't have done justice.

 

What follows are just a few highlights... starting with something we have all seen :)

 

[stowaway2k]

A terrible photo taken off the cabin monitor, but if you look carefully, you will see QE2's path circling off and then entering the River Tyne

 

Displayed at every port over the gangway

 

 

QE2 tied up on the Tyne

[stowaway2k]

On the quay at North Sheilds

 

Happy Birthday to us!

 

Two great icons of Scottish engineering, nearly a century apart.

QE2 anchored in the Firth of Forth at the Forth Rail Bridge, South Queensferry

[stowaway2k]

Our Queen, in the Firth of Forth

 

Cruising off the north of Scotland

[stowaway2k]

Happy Birthday to us!

 

 

South Queensferry, the whole community got into the spirit of the day, as the following several photos show

 

A 16th century church

[GAV BOY]

Hi Kyle,

 

Great photo`s, hope you are well and it was lovely to meet you.

 

regards,

 

Gavin :cool:

[Coolgran]

Enjoyed your company

coolgran

[stowaway2k]

 

[stowaway2k]

 

 

[stowaway2k]

They came, by the thousands, in the rain

 

Proud of their ship...

 

 

A local church sends a message...

[stowaway2k]

They never forgot what they accomplished...

 

And the wee ones were finding out...

 

Everywhere we looked...

[stowaway2k]

Old enough to understand...

 

Happy Birthday to us!

 

QE2 flies the Cross of Saint Andrew

[stowaway2k]

Part of our large flotilla leaving Greenock, the seemingly over-full Balmoral and Saturn stay with us for miles

 

In Liverpool, they came, by the thousands, in the rain

 

QE2 has the honor of officially opening Liverpool's new cruise terminal, with HRH The Duke of Kent

[stowaway2k]

 

QE2 passenger set out to the Liverpool Cathedral for the highly anticipated concert of celebration. The Royal Liver Building fills the picture, with the old Cunard Line building just to the right

 

Once the headquarters of the mighty Cunard Line, Liverpool's Cunard Building once again flies the Cunard Line house flag

[stowaway2k]

QE2 passengers arrive by chartered coach at the beautiful Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, the world's largest Anglican cathedral

 

The Band of the Scots Guards enter, playing a stunning rendition of "Sailing", bringing many in the audience to their feet

 

"Rule Britannia!"

[stowaway2k]

“We are celebrating the long and extraordinary life of a great ocean liner.

“It was conceived here in Liverpool and so far the QE2 has visited Liverpool eight times.

“She will come back next year for her last visit, after that she will not pass this way again.”

 

QE2 Captain Ian McNaught, in words that we all understood and felt, and we were all with our Captain in spirit.

[stowaway2k]

Perhaps Liverpool is Home to Wayward Luggage.

Would the airport be a more fitting location for this sculpture?

 

They came, and they came, and they came...

The world loves the QE2

 

QE2 berthed at Liverpool's new Cruise Ship dock on the Mersey

[stowaway2k]

What a cruise!

Thank you to all my friends on board who added to the fun, excitement, the bar tab!

[stowaway2k]

Hi Kyle,

 

Great photo`s, hope you are well and it was lovely to meet you.

 

regards,

 

Gavin :cool:

 

 

 

Enjoyed your company

coolgran

 

Thank you! :)

And right back atcha!, as we say in the States

We had a blast, didn't we? :D

[jgsmuzzy]

I cannot see the pics from work, so will look home. Talking of churches, there was one on the outskirts of Greenock. It was a baptise church and the sign said :

 

"The QE2 has come back to meet her makers,

Are you ready to meet yours?"

 

I kid you not!

[carlmm]

Thanks for sharing these great photos.

How happy you all must have been you were part of the celebration. Probably there is no way to top this atmosphere even on the farewell cruises next year when there will be so much more sadness around than on this birthday cruise.

[GAV BOY]

Thanks for sharing these great photos.

How happy you all must have been you were part of the celebration. Probably there is no way to top this atmosphere even on the farewell cruises next year when there will be so much more sadness around than on this birthday cruise.

 

Every Voyage on her will now be special. But i believe you are correct, it is near impossible to imagine any voyage will top the "40th Anniversary "

[exlondoner]

Thank you so much for thee wonderful pictures. In some ways I am quite glad I was not aboard, as I think I would have spent half the time in tears.

[Kindlychap]

Every Voyage on her will now be special. But i believe you are correct, it is near impossible to imagine any voyage will top the "40th Anniversary "

 

We'll have to take that as a challenge in January!

 

Matthew

[Lanky Lad]

Great pictures Kyle, love the ones from the Cathedral :)