There must be very few things that give Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth true pleasure. After all, she’s stuck with her job, endlessly waving and asking people “what do you do?”
We know she loves her family, her dogs and her well love of horses and the countryside is well documented. And she loves the sea. I saw a documentary a few years ago that spoke of heartbreak when the Royal Yacht Britania ceased to be the Royal see escape and it was obvious from the clips just how much she loved being on the ocean.
She is a remarkable lady and some sandal wearing communists still question if there is a place for a Monarch in today’s society there is no doubt that she is respected and loved…..yes loved…………by most British people and by people across the globe. The Queen is in her eighties now yet she still carries out many public engagements. Some I am sure give her pleasure and some must I am sure are a little tedious and somewhat tiring.
Well, here’s one that won’t be and will combine her love of the sea and her love of the country she has reigned over for 58 years.
Her Majesty the Queen to Name Queen Elizabeth
1 September 2010 – Cunard Line is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England on Monday, 11 October 2010.
The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest.
“The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, Queen Mary 2, in 2004. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner, Queen Elizabeth,” added Shanks.
Her Majesty was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on 27 September 1938 when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch.
The Naming Ceremony will take place in Southampton on Monday, 11 October and Queen Elizabeth will set sail on her Maiden Voyage the following day.
Other historic namings of Cunard ships by British royalty over the Line’s 170-year history include the following:
• Her Majesty The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, launched Caronia, the ‘Green Goddess,’ in 1947.
• Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first British Monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. His Majesty King George V accompanied his wife.
• The late Queen Mother, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, launched Queen Elizabeth in 1938. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret accompanied their mother.
• HRH The Princess Margaret launched Carinthia in 1955.
• HRH The Duchess of Cornwall named Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007. HRH The Prince of Wales was also in attendance.
For more information and to book a voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth, consult your Travel Agent, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD (1-800-728-6273) or go to http://queenelizabeth.cunard.com/.
There is some poignancy Queen Elizabeth naming the ship that will carry her name, thousands of passengers and the proud flag of the United Kingdom. I say that because many years ago the Queen also named another vessel. She was the Godmother of the Empress of Britain which of course became the Carnivale.
Since Carnival Corporation became involved with Cunard the world’s most famous Ocean Liner company has been rejuvenated and one can only imagine just how proud Micky Arison must be today and how proud he and Peter Shanks will be standing next to the mother of all Godmothers as she names a ship that will carry the name of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and provide excitement and jaw dropping awe………….wherever she sails.
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BRAVO!
Cheers!
Mr Derek
Amazing. And my first cruise was on the Carnivale – fond memories.
Sadly…by the end of this year….the Carnivale will be the only Carnival ship and hubby has not been on since 1982.
In 1982, when he started cruising, the Carnivale only did less than 7 day cruises…
.and David only did 7 day cruises.
Linda (Mom of DJ)
Awesome, John
Frank and Bridie
Dear John,
I recently had the honor of meeting you aboard the Carnival Splendor that set sail August 22 for the Mexican Riviera. I was sitting in on the question and answers show where you get to ask the crew about life on board a cruise ship. I thanked you for being such an incredible cruise director and for making my experience aboard the splendor unforgetable. I also mentioned that I would really like to work aboard a cruise ship. You were kind enough to reply and said to follow my dreams, you also said to go to your blog and write you. My hope is you will remember me and will be able to see what you can do to help me as mentioned. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
your friend,
Josh Reando.
BRAVO!!!
God save the Queen!!!
This is absolutely wonderful… just wonderful.
The connection couldn’t be more brilliant.
Will the naming ceremony be a webcast??
Ciao and thanks!!!
Host Mach
Rule Britania
John:
Her Majesty The Queen has lived her life with dignity and grace. No wonder she is loved….
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Oops..that should be Britannia. Sticky keys
Dear John,
Cunard will have to re-design their uniforms as they will no longer have any buttons left on them after this news. How wonderful that QE1 is going to be naming her ship. Mr. Arison must be very proud indeed!
The Cruzin2some
She is Queen Elizabeth II, but she is a wonderful lady too
Hi John!
First I must say I’ve been loving your blog thingy since I found it.
Wondered if there have been any rumors of the new nickname for the new ship “Queen Elizabeth”? After all, the last was “QE2″. And “Queen Elizabeth” is much too long. Sooo…. I’d like to promote the new nickname of “QueenE” (as in “Queenie”, the nickname of my London-born great aunt Queenie Victoria born in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee). She loved all things royal and was a hoot. Taught us all the words to “Burlington Bertie”!! You’ll have to sing it sometime for your morning show.
Looking forward to our 3rd cruise on Carnival this Oct. Thanks for all you do, AnnD
PS – love the posts of your videos. Keep ‘em coming.
Smashing John,
Will the Queen sail on her maiden voyage.
God Save the Queen.
Cheers
Craig from the desert.
John, there has been some discussion on your blog about hamburgers. The fact is that no matter what the cruise line is, “foreigners” aka anyone who was not born, raised and educated in the United States of America CANNOT make a decent hamburger. The more training and experience the cook or chef has, the worse the hamburgers are. The only person who graduated from the CIA – the Culinary Institute of America – who can make a great hamburger is Bobby Flay. The “burgers” on Carnival are terrible. Royal Caribbean worse. All the others are horrible. On my last Carnival “adventure” brown rubbery discs were put out during numerous buffets and other celebrations and they were inedible. Carnival should not even be allowed to call them hamburgers. The food on Carnival – not the “burgers” – is outstanding and the chefs amazing. But leave the hot dogs, pizza and BURGERS to the folks who know who to cook them. Go to In/Out Burger in California – that’s a hamburger.