Cunard’s Three Queens Perform River Dance on the Mersey in a Salute to Liverpool where the Company Began 175 Years Ago
For the first time, Cunard’s ‘three Queens’ fleet gathered together in spectacular fashion in Liverpool, its spiritual home, as the company marked its 175th anniversary. The event culminated with the three magnificent ocean liners, the largest passenger ships ever to muster together on the River Mersey, lined up across the river just 130 metres apart as the Red Arrows performed a fly-past overhead to the delight of the hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Read on ...
For the first time, Cunard’s ‘three Queens’ fleet gathered together in spectacular fashion in Liverpool, its spiritual home, as the company marked its 175th anniversary. The event culminated with the three magnificent ocean liners, the largest passenger ships ever to muster together on the River Mersey, lined up across the river just 130 metres apart as the Red Arrows performed a fly-past overhead to the delight of the hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Read on ...
Ships
The great cruise ships of world wander the oceans of our planet in their own blue universe. Like the space ships of science fiction, they are fully self- contained cities capable of making amazing journeys to faraway places.
They simply are the biggest and grandest machines ever built by mankind.The evolution of these cruise ships in the past 20 years has been astounding. Today’s ships are up to 10 times bigger than standard cruise ships of the mid to late 20th century. In those days the ship was a form of transport designed to get people from one port to the next with a minimum of fuss.Entertainment was a club act at night in the auditorium. Meals were a simple three course fare washed down with one of two or three wines on offer.
They simply are the biggest and grandest machines ever built by mankind.The evolution of these cruise ships in the past 20 years has been astounding. Today’s ships are up to 10 times bigger than standard cruise ships of the mid to late 20th century. In those days the ship was a form of transport designed to get people from one port to the next with a minimum of fuss.Entertainment was a club act at night in the auditorium. Meals were a simple three course fare washed down with one of two or three wines on offer.
Long days were spent in a deckchair or at the bar. Ships didn’t visit exotic islands, they went to traditional ports which often had exotic names, but in reality were boring and grubby. A game of deck quoits or a belly flop competition broke the spell of long days at sea. Afternoon bingo was the highlight of the day. Some people loved it and look at the days of ships like Fairstar and Oriana through rose coloured glasses. Most of the cruise ships from this era were built as liners.
As the jet age took over, liners quickly became redundant.In reality, they are a universe away from today’s ocean going resort towns. Today’s ships are tourist destinations in their own right. The ports of call now often play second fiddle to the ship itself.On a modern ship you can undertake just about any activity that takes your fancy. There are circuses, water slides, multiple pools, restaurants galore, giant movie screens and amazing discos set high above the water. Ships have their own shopping centres and casinos.High class gyms with latest gear cater for those who want to work off the food, while full day spas pamper guests with all kinds of treatments. There are literally hundreds of things to do on the big ships.
Despite the thousands of passengers on a typical modern ship, there is actually much more room per passenger than days gone by.Royal Caribbean’s sister ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas weigh in at 225,000 tonnes and carry 5400 people each. Fairstar the Funship was 21,000 tonnes and crammed in 1400 passengers.
Where will it all end? Ships are restricted in size because of the need to enter narrow harbours, restricted berths and the need to traverse the Panama Canal. In reality there are still lots of possibilities for cruise ships.Theme parks at sea, airports on board, large excursion boats to take passengers up waterways and around islands and even undersea aquariums are just some ideas being worked on.
The development of permanent cruise ship living will also explode in years to come. Cashed up travellers no longer want a holiday spot in one place. Cruising the highways in campervans and motor homes has lost its lustre with rising fuel and park costs. And for the cost of a large motorhome you can purchase a cruise ship cabin that allows you to take an endless world journey.
The strangest thing out of all this is that bingo is still the highlight of a day at sea.
As the jet age took over, liners quickly became redundant.In reality, they are a universe away from today’s ocean going resort towns. Today’s ships are tourist destinations in their own right. The ports of call now often play second fiddle to the ship itself.On a modern ship you can undertake just about any activity that takes your fancy. There are circuses, water slides, multiple pools, restaurants galore, giant movie screens and amazing discos set high above the water. Ships have their own shopping centres and casinos.High class gyms with latest gear cater for those who want to work off the food, while full day spas pamper guests with all kinds of treatments. There are literally hundreds of things to do on the big ships.
Despite the thousands of passengers on a typical modern ship, there is actually much more room per passenger than days gone by.Royal Caribbean’s sister ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas weigh in at 225,000 tonnes and carry 5400 people each. Fairstar the Funship was 21,000 tonnes and crammed in 1400 passengers.
Where will it all end? Ships are restricted in size because of the need to enter narrow harbours, restricted berths and the need to traverse the Panama Canal. In reality there are still lots of possibilities for cruise ships.Theme parks at sea, airports on board, large excursion boats to take passengers up waterways and around islands and even undersea aquariums are just some ideas being worked on.
The development of permanent cruise ship living will also explode in years to come. Cashed up travellers no longer want a holiday spot in one place. Cruising the highways in campervans and motor homes has lost its lustre with rising fuel and park costs. And for the cost of a large motorhome you can purchase a cruise ship cabin that allows you to take an endless world journey.
The strangest thing out of all this is that bingo is still the highlight of a day at sea.