The latest cruise ship Queen Elizabeth is the third Cunard ship to bear that name and following tradition, the Queen has been chosen to launch her. "The naming of Queen Elizabeth is a most momentous occasion, and we wanted to provide Cunard fans worldwide with special access to this historic Cunard and cruise industry milestone," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line in a recent press release.
Historic Cunard Cruise Ship Launches by Queen Elizabeth
The original Queen Elizabeth was launched in 1938 by the late Queen Mother whereas the second Queen Elizabeth (known as QE2) was launched by the reigning Queen Elizabeth in 1967. On Monday, October 11, 2010, the third Queen Elizabeth cruise ship will also be named by the Queen, this time in Southampton. "This is a tribute to her and her incredible reign, from a company that has proudly borne the name Elizabeth for the best part of a century," said Shanks in a Daily Mail article.
The naming ceremony for the latest Queen Elizabeth cruise ship will be like a royal endorsement by the Queen. Consider that the last cruise ship launched by Cunard Line, Queen Victoria, was launched by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla. Many may remember how the ceremonial bottle of champagne failed to break on the bow of the Queen Victoria. Choosing Queen Elizabeth to launch Cunard's newest cruise ship gives the honour back with hopes of breaking the commemorative champagne bottle.
Queen Elizabeth Cruise Ship Features
An overview of the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship reveals a vessel that cleverly mixes old world charm, modern luxury and Art Deco styling. Reminders of Cunard's connections to royalty are evident throughout the ship with art, photos and other memorabilia from the Queen's 58-year reign. On the other hand, the Queen Elizabeth features modern amenities, too, such as the Royal Bath House, a luxurious two-deck spa and an expansive children and teens facility.
Although built in Monfalcone, Italy, the Queen Elizabeth is quintessentially British. She features many traditional Cunard components like the exclusive Queens Grill and Princess Grill accommodations. Other British offerings include the Golden Lion Pub and Fortnum & Mason, an outpost of the London store where passengers can purchase teas, biscuits, preserves and gift items. As for entertainment, passengers can watch shows such as abridged versions of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".
Inaugural Events for Cruise Ship Queen Elizabeth
The Southampton City Council is hosting a series of free events on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the launch of the newest Cunard Line cruise ship. As somewhat of precursor of the entertainment to be offered onboard, local theater companies wander through Guildhall Square, Southampton's art quarter, dressed in Elizabethan period costumes and giving impromptu performances. Other weekend events include film screenings about the original Queen Elizabeth cruise ship and children's activities at the Maritime Museum.
The highlight of the inaugural events is when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will name the cruise liner on Monday October 11, 2010 via a live broadcast on a big screen in Guildhall Square. The Queen Elizabeth will cruise from Southampton on her maiden voyage on October 12, 2010. For more information about the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, visit the official Cunard website or the WeAreCunard blog, written by the ship's Entertainment Director, Alastair Greener.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
