January 13, 2008
Three Queens: two ships pass in the night
A little after 5:30 this morning, all three of Cunard's queens passed under the Verrazano Bridge and into New York Harbor.
The elegant QE2, which is set to permanently retire to Dubai later this year, was the first to arrive, followed by the Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria.
The QE2 and Queen Victoria were completing a tandem sail from England (read Cruise Critic's in-transit blog from onboard the Queen Victoria,) while the QM2 was returning from the Caribbean.
This was the Queen Victoria's first transatlantic voyage. She was christened December 10 by HRH Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, and departed for her maiden voyage the next day.
Before sunrise this morning, the three ships were in the harbor, but only the QM2 and Queen Victoria actually um, "passed in the night." It was when the QM2 prepared to make her 180-turn so she could back into the dock in Brooklyn's Buttermilk Channel. That's when the Queen Victoria passed to the west, both ships pulling their horns several times. From NewYorkology's vantage point, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the Queen Victoria was competely obscured by the QM2 in front.
In the picture above, the QM2 is on the right and the Queen Victoria is just starting to slip behind. For better pictures of the three queens arrivals, see the webcam screengrabs from this morning.
All three ships will depart this evening, with a fireworks show planned for tonight. See Cunard's website for updates. Note that the fireworks were originally scheduled for 7 p.m., but the page currently says 7:30 to 8 p.m. Plus, it's "weather permitting" and a snow storm is on its way.
A number of harbor yachts are offering 3 Queens viewing parties for tonight.
Related: USA Today's early look at the Queen Victoria
January 13, 2008 09:53 AM in Sightsology
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