January 03, 2008
3 Queens to meetup for fireworks at Statue of Liberty
(Update: They're here.)
Cunard's one-time-only royal rendezvous of its three queens -- the QE2, QM2 and recently christened Queen Victoria -- will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on January 13 with a harbor fireworks show as the three grand cruise liners meet near the Statue of Liberty.
The QE2 and Queen Victoria will arrive in tandem (likely pre-sunrise) from Southampton, England. During the day, the QE2 will be docked at Manhattan's Pier 92 and the Queen Victoria nearby at Pier 88. The Queen Mary 2 will arrive separately (also early morning,) and dock in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
(All three have bridge cams: Queen Victoria, QM2 and QE2.)
Although the three queens will not be open to the public (unless you've bought a cruise ticket,) you can see the ships and the fireworks for free from land, or shell out some cash for one of several three queens cruises put together by private companies. NewYorkology's rounded up several cruise offers, hotels with Statue of Liberty views as well as at least one walking tour of downtown's old steamship district.
But first, a word about the free locations. Cunard has recommended several locations along the Hudson and at Battery Park -- but nothing outside Manhattan. However, you're likely to also get stunning views from the pier at Red Hook's Coffey Park, (map,) the waterfront around Jersey City and Staten Island -- and possibly on the Staten Island Ferry as well.
Here's the Queen Mary 2 departing Brooklyn for the first time (April 15, 2006,) as seen from the pier at Coffey Park:
WorldShip NY has a number of great resources in general about cruise ships coming and going in New York harbor, including a guide to photographing cruise ships in NY.
And now for the roundup of the 3 Queens hotel, cruise and tour packages:
The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Battery Park is offering an Anchors Aweigh package for $585 per couple, which offers a New York Harbor view room with in-room telescopes, breakfast in bed for two, and a seafood tasting tier for two in the hotel’s lobby lounge. The package is only offered the night of Sunday, January 13.
If you're not booking overnight, you might try for a table at the Ritz's Rise bar.
And while the Hyatt Regency Jersey City isn't offering a special 3 Queens package, you should be able to do OK by the view, especially for the Hudson River departure of the Queen Victoria and QE2.
Now for the 3 Queen tour and viewing cruises:
Circle Line downtown and the South Street Seaport Museum have put together a four-hour harbor cruise aboard the ZEPHYR yacht for an "up-close visit to this trio of magnificent vessels." Cocktails and a buffet will be available. The boat departs the South Street Seaport, Pier 16 at 4. The price is $125 per person (or $100 for Seaport Museum members.) Update: This one is sold out. Update II: Circle Line downtown has added another 3 Queens cruise, on its Miss New York, departing Pier 16 at 5 p.m. The $75 ticket includes appetizers and complimentary beer, wine and soda.
The New York Water Taxi has also set up a special four -hour cruise for the event. They depart from the South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 at 4 p.m. The $60 ticket includes an open bar with beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks. (Kids tickets are $45.)
Sail NYC's Manhattan, a 1920's-style motor yacht, will make a special 3 and a half hour cruise for the event as well. Departing from Chelsea Piers at 5 p.m., the $195 ticket also gets you an open bar.
Bateaux New York is offering a 3 Queens dinner cruise for $113 from 5 to 9 p.m. It departs at 6 p.m. from Chelsea Piers.
 Back on land, NYC Discovery Walking Tours has set up a special walking tour of Lower Manhattan's former "steamship district" that will take in the interior of the U.S. Customs House and sites associated with the White Star ship, Titanic. The tour will be offered twice - on Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. The price is $15 and you must call to reserve in advance and get the meeting place: (212) 465-3331.
(The Southampton picture at right is one of the many destination mosaics on Broadway No. 1, now a Citibank, which also still has doors marked "First Class" and "Cabin Class" (below,) from the days when ocean liner tickets were sold there.)
Those are the only organized 3 Queens tours NewYorkology's found thus far, but you can see the list of other NY tour operators (including the helicopter companies) if you want to set up something on your own.
3 Queens image source (top): Cunard.
Earlier: Cunard's 3 Queens rendezvous in NY on January 13
January 3, 2008 02:50 PM in Architecture, Cheap Stuff, Downtown, History, Hotelology, Kids, Romance, Sightsology, Tours
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