A DOUBLE DECKER HISTORY LESSON

Loading onto the Queen Mary (Cunard)

If you are history buffs, as we are, you'll enjoy this item written by Michael Gallagher, public relations executive and historian for Cunard Line and part of an ongoing series of key moments in the Cunard Line's history.

"After purchasing Queen Mary, the City of Long Beach wanted to build an 'Olde London' village alongside their new acquisition. As well as buying the great Queen herself, the City purchased two London Double Decker buses to be used in the village. The easiest way to get them to Long Beach would be on Queen Mary. Before her final departure from Southampton in October 1967, the buses were loaded onto the aft decks of the ship.

"It would prove to be a very good revenue stream for Cunard as tickets (a dollar a time) were sold to passengers to sit on the bus as Queen Mary rounded the notorious Cape Horn.

"The 'Olde London' idea never quite came to fruition and neither did the plan to have live electric eels swimming in specially-made handrails on staircases in the Jacques Cousteau's Museum of the Sea which was built in the gutted machinery spaces!

"A London Double Decker Bus was used at ceremonies to mark the Float Out of Queen Mary 2 in March 2003. The bus ferried guests to and from the airport and then took them on an excursion into the dry-dock to see Queen Mary 2. An on board Conductor processed tickets giving the destination as 'QM2'. It was perhaps then we realized just how big she is...."

Credit: Cunard

'QUEEN MARY 2' MARKS 77TH ANNIVERSARY

Queen Mary visits New York  (Credit: Cunard)

Today is a special day for Cunard. When the Queen Mary 2 sails into New York harbor, concluding her Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton, it will mark 77th anniversary of the maiden call of the original Queen Mary in New York in 1936. Having cruised on the Queen Mary 2 from the Big Apple, we can imagine it was just as special then as now.

Here's a little of the backstory from Cunard:

"Queen Mary’s Maiden Voyage began in Southampton on May 27, 1936 when she departed to the sounds of gleeful bands and ecstatic crowds. On board were the famous bandleader, Henry Hall, scheduled to give a series of live radio broadcasts during the Crossing; the virtuoso harmonica player, Larry Adler; and well-known singer, Frances Day, who performed a song written especially for Queen Mary by Henry Hall. Interestingly, Miss Day was doubtful of the ship’s ability to provide fresh eggs throughout the voyage, and so brought along her own chickens.

"Seventy-seven years later, flagship Queen Mary 2 left Southampton last Saturday, May 25, for New York. On board to speak is Jeffrey Weinberg, adviser to seven U.S. Presidents; and passengers still enjoy Cunard’s renowned on board entertainment, including presentations from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Today, the eggs – all 45,000 of them – are fresh and plentiful, and the Line’s legendary Transatlantic Crossings live on.

"Queen Mary would cross the Atlantic another 1,000 times during her 31-year career before being retired in 1967. Queen Mary 2 will sail her 200th Crossing on 6 July – from New York – during this, her ninth year on the Atlantic." --Gerry

A CUNARD ROYAL RENDEZVOUS IN LONG BEACH

Credit: Cunard

Queen Mary, meet Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth, meet Queen Mary.

On March 12, Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth will make a Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach Harbor with the legendary Queen Mary. The public is invited to witness the occasion, which will feature whistle salutes between the ships and a fireworks display. This is Queen Mary’s first encounter with a Queen Elizabeth since 1967 when "Queen Mary, during her final Transatlantic Crossing in Cunard service, passed by the original Queen Elizabeth" on Sept. 25. Free access to the ship will be offered from 4-9 pm. Queen Elizabeth will sail into Long Beach Harbor at approximately 6:30 pm, and the fireworks display will begin at 7:30 pm. Even the famous Goodyear blimp will be overhead.

In her 30 years of service, Queen Mary served as a troopship during World War II. Cunard reports, "Winston Churchill credited Cunard with ending the war one year early due to the troop transport that both the Queen Mary and the original Queen Elizabeth provided." Today she is a popular tourist and maritime destination as a hotel and museum. -- Gerry