A New Commodore for Cunard Line

**Ally** · 01-08-2007, 12:38 PM

Captain Bernard Warner joins elite group of Cunard Masters

VALENCIA, Calif., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain Bernard Warner has been appointed Commodore of the Cunard fleet -- Queen Mary 2, QE2 and, in December 2007, Queen Victoria -- the most famous ocean liners in the world. Captain Warner assumes the title previously held by Commodore Ronald Warwick who retired from the company in 2006. Captain Warner has been Master of the line's flagship Queen Mary 2 since June 2005. He has been at sea for 40 years and in command for the past 12 years.

He grew up in the North Yorkshire town of Wetherby and spent his summer holidays sailing and fishing with his father at Sandsend near Whitby. When just eight years old he went away to boarding school and at 16 he entered the Warsash School of Navigation at the University of Southampton. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth would frequently sail past the college as they made their way up Southampton Water into the port and it was these ships which gave him the inspiration to one day command a Cunard transatlantic liner.

In 1965 Cunard Line would only consider employing navigating officers who had attained a Master's Certificate and as Captain Warner would be 25 years old by the time this had been achieved, the alternative was to join P&O which had a large passenger fleet but an even larger fleet of cargo ships. His first voyage was from King George V dock in London to the Far East aboard Somali, a 7,000 gross ton freighter.

His first passenger ship was Oriana, which he joined in 1969. During the ensuing three decades he served on most of the P&O (and its associated British India and Princess Cruises) vessels including Iberia, Canberra, Uganda, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess, Island Princess (his first command in 1994), Dawn Princess, Golden Princess and Diamond Princess. Captain Warner then realised his career ambition after being appointed to command Queen Mary 2.

Captain Warner says:

"I am honoured by this appointment to Commodore of the fleet of the most famous shipping company in the world and I look forward to re-joining Queen Mary 2 on 20 February in Sydney when both Queens will be together for what promises to be a spectacular occasion."

Carol Marlow, Cunard's President and Managing Director, says:

"I am delighted with the appointment of Captain Warner as Commodore of Cunard Line and am sure that many of our regular guests will be as pleased and will join me in congratulating him on this notable achievement."

Captain Warner met his wife, Tina, on board Royal Princess and they were married in 1988 and now live at Leek Wootton in Warwickshire. Their two sons, Tom (aged 16) and Charles (aged 11), enjoy sailing aboard with them during school holidays.

Historical Cunard Commodores

In the 1920s and 1930s Cunard Commodores were customarily knighted and some of these were larger than life characters who made headline news.

Commodore Sir Arthur Rostron (Commodore 1928 - 1931), for example, had been master of the Carpathia when, in 1912, she sped through an icefield in the dark to rescue all the survivors of Titanic.

Commodore Sir James Charles (Commodore 1921 - 1928) was noted for the magnificence of his dinner table while commanding Aquitania and Mauretania. The menus often included whole roast oxen or small herds of gazelles, surmounted by hillocks of foie gras decorated with peacock feathers; champagne was served in jeroboams and souffles were the size of chef's hats. Confectioners spent hours creating centre pieces in spun sugar: on one occasion an electrically operated and illuminated Battle of Waterloo display was carried in to the music of the ship's orchestra playing Elgar.

And as reticent as Sir James was expansive was Commodore William Turner, who had been in command of the Lusitania when she was torpedoed in the First World War. He disliked the social side of his job so much he would excuse himself from dinner at the slightest hint of fog in order to escape the first- class passengers. But the passengers loved his gruff manner, and many would only travel if he was in command.

Commodore Sir James Bissett (Commodore 1944 - 1947) commanded Queen Mary during the war when she carried 15,000 GIs at a time to Europe, dashing unescorted at over 30 knots -- far faster than the U Boats that sought her. But Bissett complained that the ship ran the risk of capsizing as the troops all moved to one side on sighting land.

Commodore Sir Ivan Thompson who captained the Queens in the 1950s was a fanatical Liverpool Football Club supporter. As soon as the results came in over the radio, they were sent to the bridge. If the news was bad, officers knew to keep out of his way for the rest of the day. Yet when the Queen Mother joined the same Commodore for dinner on board Queen Elizabeth in 1954 there was not an empty seat in the dining room -- even those who were normally late for dinner scrambled to be seated in time.

Recently history was made when Captain Ronald Warwick succeeded his father, Commodore William Warwick, as fleet Commodore in 2003 -- the only 'father and son' ever to hold the position.

About Cunard Line

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like- minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(SM), fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in December 2007.

Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

Source: Cunard Line