Cunard Line has unveiled plans to mark QE2’s final departure from her home port of Southampton, England on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. During QE2’s many years in Cunard’s service, the iconic ocean liner has sailed 5.9 million nautical miles, completed 806 transatlantic crossings, carried over 2.5 million guests, undertaken 25 World Cruises and answered her country’s call during the Falklands Campaign. Her new home will be in Dubai where she will become a first class hotel and entertainment centre.
The highlight of the day will be a farewell visit by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, his seventh visit to the most famous ship in the world. While onboard, His Royal Highness will observe two minutes of silence at 11:00am prior to meeting crew members who served on the ship to the Falklands. His Royal Highness will then tour the vessel, including the Wardroom, Bridge, Engine Control Room and Hospital, before attending a reception in the Queens Room.
At the reception, His Royal Highness will present the painting of QE2 that was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen during her farewell visit to the ship on June 2, 2008, to the Mayor of Southampton, who will accept it on behalf of the city. Also at the reception he will meet long-serving staff as well as the former Captains of HMS Ardent, Antelope and Coventry whose ships were lost in the Falklands Campaign and who returned to the UK on QE2. After lunch His Royal Highness will watch a flypast by a Harrier jet from the aft decks.
People from all over the country are expected to travel to Southampton to say goodbye to QE2. She will arrive alongside her berth at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at just after 6:30am, where she will remain until her departure at 7:15pm.
At 11:00am, one million poppies will be dropped over the ship from a Tiger Moth aircraft to commemorate Remembrance Day, mark QE2’s role in the Falklands, and note her final farewell on this day. This will be followed at 1:40pm by a flypast of a Harrier jet which will hover and bow to QE2 approximately 500-feet off her stern.
QE2 is planned to leave her berth at 7:15pm and proceed astern to be off Mayflower Park where she will remain while a pre-recorded message from her Master, Captain Ian McNaught, will be broadcast on a specially-erected screen in the park. A spectacular firework display will immediately follow. QE2 will then proceed downriver with her whistle blasting, accompanied by a large flotilla. Just before 8:00pm, she will pass the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal for the final time and make her way down Southampton Water en route to Dubai.
Filed under: Cunard Cruise Lines
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