New Queen Elizabeth for 2010

**middy** · 10-10-2007, 05:27 AM

Seems an order has gone in for a new Cunard ship, 92.000 tons with room for 2092 passengers, due for release in autumn 2010. Can't find source of original press release but full story at Cunard to Build 'Queen Elizabeth'

**Ally** · 10-10-2007, 06:35 AM

Sooooo that would be QE3...hmmmm...I wonder if the diehard Cunarders wrote in large numbers protesting the early demise of QE2?

I bet they did deluge CCL with complaints and 'how dare you' letters over the untimely sale of QE2, especially considering she is up to SOLAS2010 standards after having £40m/$80m spent in the last few years on upgrades and refurbs ready for 2010

**Ally** · 10-10-2007, 08:05 AM

From the BBC.....

Quote:

A shipping company is to build a 92,000 tonne liner which will be called the Queen Elizabeth.

The ship, which will be based at Southampton, will carry 2,092 passengers and more than 1,000 crew.

Shipping firm Cunard also operates the QE2 liner, which will leave service next year, making this newer vessel the largest of a three-ship fleet.

The decision to build the vessel was prompted by the demand for cruises on Cunard's new ship Queen Victoria.

QE2 departure

Cunard president, Carol Marlow said: "The decision to order another ship for Cunard Line has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria.

"We are delighted that the Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new Cunarder Queen Elizabeth, after our first vessel of that name.

"We are extremely pleased that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet so soon after the departure of the much-celebrated QE2 in November next year."

Cunard said that the Queen Elizabeth's maiden voyage will be in the autumn of 2010.

diana · 10-10-2007, 11:11 AM

How will the new ship compare, size-wise, with Queen Victoria? I thought she was around 90,000 tons?

**Ally** · 10-10-2007, 11:13 AM

She will probably be a twin, if CCL have gone to the same builder. So she will be another Arcadia/Westerdam/QV clone, which will be a shame, but then the builders thesedays don't usually turn out classic design ships anymore

diana · 10-10-2007, 11:27 AM

As you say, long gone are the days of a ship looking like a ship, although Cunard seem to do slightly better than some other lines.

I'm not sure that I forgive them yet for selling QE2 so prematurely!!

**Ally** · 10-10-2007, 11:45 AM

Diana, like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if the new QE3 wasn't a direct result of considerable lobbying from QE2 fans. There has never been a mention of a QE3 til now and there was certainly no mention of a 3 ship fleet til now either.

People power has, I think, made all the difference. They couldn't go back on the deal made for QE2, so they are calming stormy waters with a QE3 instead. However, I seriously doubt she will be as well loved or cherished as QE2 has been.

**Ally** · 10-10-2007, 04:43 PM

Cunard Press Release

Quote:

CUNARD TO BUILD ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH’

New liner to enter service in 2010

Cunard, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE CUK) signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092–passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately €500 million. The vessel will be the second largest Cunarder ever built.

In making the announcement, Cunard's President and Managing Director, Carol Marlow, said:

“Cunard already owns and operates the two most famous ocean liners in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2, and a third - Queen Victoria - is due to be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in December of this year. The decision to order another ship for Cunard Line has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria, and we are extremely pleased that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet so soon after the departure of the much-celebrated Queen Elizabeth 2 in November next year. Furthermore we are delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new Cunarder ‘Queen Elizabeth’, after our first vessel of that name. ”

The new ship follows a long line of famous Cunard liners stretching back to the company's inception as the first operator of a timetabled transatlantic service 167 years ago.

Speaking for Fincantieri, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Giuseppe Bono said: "It is a particularly special moment for Fincantieri to have secured a second order from Cunard at a time when we are nearing the completion of "Queen Victoria". Cunard is the most famous name in passenger shipping and we are honoured to have been chosen to build Queen Elizabeth and to continue the tradition and heritage of that great company".

Queen Elizabeth will offer the very best of Cunard’s values and traditions, blended with every conceivable modern luxury that today's discerning travellers expect. Through her opulent public rooms and impeccable service, the new ship will reflect the grandeur which has been associated with Cunard ships since the introduction of the Mauretania in 1907; and from the outside, her black hull, gleaming white superstructure and distinctive red funnel will echo the classic characteristics of the company's distinctive liner heritage.

Queen Elizabeth will fly the Red Ensign with her home-port Southampton, as is the case with the other ships in the Cunard fleet.

The agreement is subject to approval by the board of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc. Design details and initial itineraries will be announced in due course.

- Ends -

For Further PRESS Information

Contacts Eric Flounders, Corporate Communications Manager: 0207 940 5390 eric.flounders@cunard.co.uk

Michael Gallagher, Corporate Communications Executive: 0207 940 5391 michael.gallagher@cunard.co.uk

Date Posted: 10.10.2007

John · 10-10-2007, 06:42 PM

It is good to see that the ship will be called simply Queen Elizabeth and not QE3, although I am sure a number of people will call her that.

Like you say Ally I am sure that there was some pressure from the QE2 fans that has prompted this decision.

**Ally** · 10-11-2007, 04:29 AM

The ship will have to be called QE3. It cannot replace the original ship of that name, would not be correct to do that and it raises all sorts of superstitions too.

There can only be one QE...and that is why the next was called QE2...so the newbuild will have to be called QE3.

Tradition.

Otherwise why did they bother putting a '2' on the new QM?

The original QM still exists but is decommissioned, so the QM2 was the natural name to call the new version. In the same way that QE had been lost before QE2 was launched, they still numbered her rather than call her QE.

Nope they cannot call the new ship just QE...will have to be QE3. If they don't number the ship they will cause problems for themselves with the Cunard traditionalists all over again.