QE2 in Liverpool

petemc · 04-10-2008, 18:20

Yesterday was a good day. The Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was in town for its final ever visit. She’s off to Dubai to be turned into a floating hotel. Its a shame. I’ve seen Grand Princess and other liners visit Liverpool this year and they don’t come close to looking as good as the QE2. They’re function over form, designed to be a hotel that floats around the world. The QE2 and the old liners have a certain romanticism about them. They’re from a historic time when going across the world was something amazing.

As this was the final ever visit to Liverpool I was lucky enough to have a plane waiting for me to take me for a spin. I really got taken for a spin. We circled for about 30 minutes, which felt like 5 and by the end I was a little queasy. Most people would be with the g-force, turbulence, spinning and breathing jet fuel for 30 minutes. Glad to say I don’t have a fear of flying as I once thought I did. I now have a strong urge to do more. That plane trip was *the* most amazing thing I’ve done this year. Absolutely incredible. I spent most of the time looking through my lens so in some ways I was slightly removed from the moment but wow. Its just so unreal. Everything is so completely different, so small. It is like you’re looking at this photo but you’re there too. The plane banked incredibly steeply too. I never felt like I was going to fall out the window but it banked to at least 45 degrees and well, holy cow! If you have a few hundred spare take that trip. Raven Air in Liverpool. Great guys, amazing flight. Thanks to the cruise terminal for sorting it too.

Mark · 04-10-2008, 19:57

Sounds like a fab day, and glad you enjoyed it. I can but agree with your flight experience - imagine instead of Liverpool doing that over the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, and you'll know how I feel.

Shame she'll never be seen again in this country - another little piece of our history is leaving for the final time. No-one will ever have the pleasure of a round-trip to New York - out on Concorde, back on QE2. Shame.

Like the pic, but I think I still prefer your other one. I will buy a print of that someday. Maybe a birthday present to myself next year, assuming I still have a job then.

petemc · 04-10-2008, 20:03

We've moved into a world of standardness. Boring planes, boring boats. I agree about last year too. The ship was pointing in the right direction. I had the best spot for photos yesterday on the terminal but all I got was light shining on the ass end of her.

petemc · 04-10-2008, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

I love it Pete, looks fabulous. Scared the pants off me when it blew that ruddy horn again too

Me too

Thankfully not when i was falling out of a plane as I really would have done.

Mark · 04-10-2008, 20:11

I just noticed this - never expected to see that much colour difference between nearby bodies of water. The area top left looks so blue.

petemc · 04-10-2008, 20:15

I noticed the same thing the other month on some photo I either took or saw. Really huge difference. All the docks along that section, the touristy bit, all look good.

divine · 04-10-2008, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by petemc

I’ve seen Grand Princess and other liners

Picky picky picky but Grand Princess isn't a 'liner', which is why it sucks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Shame she'll never be seen again in this country

Again, not strictly true, she's hanging about 'til early November and Southampton will be the last British port she sees.

divine · 05-10-2008, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

Not Gibraltar?

I dunno, maybe, depends how they go about getting to Dubai from Southampton.

Gibraltar doesn't count as 'this country' anyway

edit -

Code:

T  	11  	SOUTHAMPTON
W 	12 	AT SEA
T 	13 	LISBON
F 	14 	GIBRALTER
S 	15 	AT SEA
S 	16 	CIVITAVECCHIA
M 	17 	NAPLES
T 	18 	VALETTA
W 	19 	AT SEA
T 	20 	ALEXANDRIA
F 	21 	AT SEA
S 	22 	SUEZ CANAL
S 	23 	AT SEA
M 	24 	AT SEA
T 	25 	AT SEA
W 	26 	AT SEA
T 	27 	DUBAI

cheets · 04-10-2008, 23:49

My parents have been on the QE2 they said its was brilliant, it was for there 25th wedding anniversary

This happened when they where onboard

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e2-678789.html

divine · 05-10-2008, 00:16

Although, it depends how you use 'Sail from'. It's often used just to describe the port at the start of the journey.

So, Southampton may well technically be the last British port she 'sails from' as Gibraltar is just a stop off, she isn't sailing from there

04-10-2008, 18:20	#1
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	QE2 in Liverpool Yesterday was a good day. The Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was in town for its final ever visit. She’s off to Dubai to be turned into a floating hotel. Its a shame. I’ve seen Grand Princess and other liners visit Liverpool this year and they don’t come close to looking as good as the QE2. They’re function over form, designed to be a hotel that floats around the world. The QE2 and the old liners have a certain romanticism about them. They’re from a historic time when going across the world was something amazing. As this was the final ever visit to Liverpool I was lucky enough to have a plane waiting for me to take me for a spin. I really got taken for a spin. We circled for about 30 minutes, which felt like 5 and by the end I was a little queasy. Most people would be with the g-force, turbulence, spinning and breathing jet fuel for 30 minutes. Glad to say I don’t have a fear of flying as I once thought I did. I now have a strong urge to do more. That plane trip was the most amazing thing I’ve done this year. Absolutely incredible. I spent most of the time looking through my lens so in some ways I was slightly removed from the moment but wow. Its just so unreal. Everything is so completely different, so small. It is like you’re looking at this photo but you’re there too. The plane banked incredibly steeply too. I never felt like I was going to fall out the window but it banked to at least 45 degrees and well, holy cow! If you have a few hundred spare take that trip. Raven Air in Liverpool. Great guys, amazing flight. Thanks to the cruise terminal for sorting it too. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

04-10-2008, 20:03	#3
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	We've moved into a world of standardness. Boring planes, boring boats. I agree about last year too. The ship was pointing in the right direction. I had the best spot for photos yesterday on the terminal but all I got was light shining on the ass end of her. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

04-10-2008, 20:15	#6
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	I noticed the same thing the other month on some photo I either took or saw. Really huge difference. All the docks along that section, the touristy bit, all look good. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

05-10-2008, 00:16	#10
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Although, it depends how you use 'Sail from'. It's often used just to describe the port at the start of the journey. So, Southampton may well technically be the last British port she 'sails from' as Gibraltar is just a stop off, she isn't sailing from there __________________ Last edited by divine; 05-10-2008 at 00:19.

04-10-2008, 19:57	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Sounds like a fab day, and glad you enjoyed it. I can but agree with your flight experience - imagine instead of Liverpool doing that over the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, and you'll know how I feel. Shame she'll never be seen again in this country - another little piece of our history is leaving for the final time. No-one will ever have the pleasure of a round-trip to New York - out on Concorde, back on QE2. Shame. Like the pic, but I think I still prefer your other one. I will buy a print of that someday. Maybe a birthday present to myself next year, assuming I still have a job then.

04-10-2008, 20:11	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I just noticed this - never expected to see that much colour difference between nearby bodies of water. The area top left looks so blue.

04-10-2008, 23:49	#9
cheets Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 442	My parents have been on the QE2 they said its was brilliant, it was for there 25th wedding anniversary This happened when they where onboard http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e2-678789.html