Posted on 02/23/2006 7:39:08 AM PST by goldstategop
Two of the greatest ocean liners ever made meet in Long Beach, California Harbor today. I am speaking of the Queen Marys. A once in a lifetime event! Southern California Freepers who are there can post to this thread. If the mod approves, it may be made live.
Oh goodie. Perhaps they'll reproduce. LOL
Can't wait to see the pictures of them side by side later today.
If I don't have jury duty I may drive up and take some pictures. If I do, I'll post them. I didn't even know they were hooking up today. Will be good to see if no JD.
They're gorgeous ships and sailing on them is fit for royalty. The original Queen Mary is a classic. The QM 2 is simply an experience. There's nothing like it in the cruise line business. Sumptuous elegance might be the best term to describe the QM's successor.
Freepers hould boycott the ports at Long Beach since we have too many queens in California already.
Would love to see that. Many years ago, we stayed on the Queen Mary, when it was used as a hotel. It was really neat, but had that old musty smell, and was dark. Portholes do not let in a lot of light. I'm glad to have stayed there once, but the next time I'm on a Queen Mary, it will be the new one!
Neat. I've had dinner on the Queen Mary several times and spent the night. (enjoyed taking out-of-towners there when I lived in CA)
Thanks for posting.
Led by Long Beach fireboats shooting fountains of seawater high into the air from their water cannons, and escorted by a flotilla of smaller ships, yachts and boats of all types, the Queen Mary 2 will maneuver as close to the Queen Mary’s stern as water depth will allow (approximately 1/3 mile from the Queen Mary)
12:30 p.m. The two great Queens will greet each other for this historic first meeting with a “whistle salute” using their 2,000 pound, 7-foot long signaling horns that will be heard for 10 miles. The Queen Mary 2 will remain in place for approximately one hour.
A squadron of 5 from Skytypers, Inc. will print a series of three 5-mile long, 1,200 foot high welcome messages 10,000 feet above the two Queen Marys. At the sounding of the whistles, a spectacular aerial display will be performed by 21st Century Skydiving, highlighting the occasion.
1:30 p.m. Queen Mary 2 will bid Bon Voyage” to Long Beach and the Queen Mary as she continues on her cruise to Mexico. *All times subject to change
Best Viewing Sites For The Queen Mary & Queen Mary 2
“A Royal Rendezvous”
Bixby Park 130 Cherry Ave (at Ocean Blvd) Driving directions
Bluff Park Ocean Blvd, between
Redondo & Lindero
Junipero
Beach Beach from 15th Street to
39th Place
Access is Junipero Ave @ Ocean Blvd
Shoreline
Aquatic Park 200 Aquarium Way
(located behind
Aquarium of the Pacific)
Driving directions
Parking Information
Shoreline Village* 429 Shoreline Village Dr
Best viewing from mole road that stretches into harbor Driving directions
Parking Information
The Queen Mary 1126 Queens Hwy (at end of 710 Fwy) Driving directions
Parking information * This location will feature complimentary “Royal Rendezvous” Event Flags (while supplies last, limited to supply on hand), as well as booths sponsored by KBIG 104 FM and The Long Beach Press-Telegram Newspaper
NOTE: All Times PST.
Does anyone remember downtown Long Beach circa 1970?
Seedy bars, tattoo parlors (before tattoos were kewl), adult bookstores, a few whores, wandering down from Anaheim street, remnants of the Pike all in shambles.
That was then. Today? Long Beach is a shining example of a downtown restoration, from the Queen Mary and the Aquarium to new hotels, restaurants and night clubs.
What made this transformation possible?........................................."OIL" capitalism and a sweet arrangement between the government and the Tidelands.
Freeper's should celebrate Long Beach, not disdain it because of the current political thinking.
Legend says she was to have been called the Queen Victoria, but when Cunard officials told King George V they wished to name their liner after the greatest of all English queens, ‘Oh’, said His Majesty, ‘my wife will be pleased’ — so Queen Mary it had to be.— James (Jan) Morris, Farewell the Trumpets.
Having worked on the Queen Marry when I built the Costeau Museum of the Sea on it, the English unloaded the biggest pile of dung on Long Beach in the world.
That rusted out hulk should have sunk when they brought it here.
Maybe I should have used a sarcasm tag.
The QE2 is one cruise I have always wanted to take....someday
I don't see the ship that way. It has its share of detractors but in its heyday it was the acme of the ocean-going experience. You can go on the QM 2 to get a feel for that kind of plushness. Nothing else compares.
I've lived here almost all my life and downtown has been completely transformed. One used to hear the jokes about Long Beach being "Iowa By The Sea." The city has matured and its actually a pleasant place to live. The College Park area where I live has great neighborhoods, quiet, stately and crime-free.
Hmm. My wife and I visited Long Beach once just to go aboard the original Queen Mary. We didn't stay in one of the rooms, but I found it to be quite a nice floating historical museum.
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