Queen Mary to sail the oceans again?

Meanwhile, another development company hopes to buy the Queen Mary and has grand plans for the ship - restoring it to seaworthiness and turning it once again into a luxury ocean liner. Is that plan a pipe dream - one in a seemingly endless series of plans and proposals for the Queen Mary that never came to fruition - or would city leaders actually consider selling the vessel that has been a symbol of Long Beach for more than four decades?

This article (New ideas floted for Queen Mary) says that there are possibly plans developing to return Mary to sea worthiness. Whilst I would love to see this, I am not sure it will happen. As is stated in the article, it would require a huge amount of money, and, more importantly, Cunard's permission to use her as a passenger vessel. Also, hasn't it been mentioned that, when compared to current liners, she would be move to much in the water to be comfortable to modern passengers?

I would personally love to see her sail into Liverpool, even just watching. I think it would generate 10 times as much interest as either QM2's first or QE2's last arrival.

Imagine, one of the original Cunard Queens plying the Atlantic again(albeit somewhat bumpily). That really would be a sight to behold.

What do you think, will it happen, can it happen?


J

I have pleasure in announcing that the April photo of the month gallery is now active, and that voting can begin.

Please peruse the gallery, which can be found by clicking here

When you have decided which photo to vote for, please send me a PM through the forum with the number of the photo that has taken your fancy.

WE have a great selection, and not just Cunard ships, although QM2 and QE2 feature heavily. I hope you enjoy looking at them, and I thank the entrants for their sterling efforts.

Any problems, please email me. Take care

James

Free magazine subscriptions

Well, in the history of Cunard Forums, I do not think anyone has given away magazine subscriptions!

I have a load of Delta sky miles expiring at the end of the month. As I live in the UK, and do not have enough miles for a return trip to Atlanta, the only way to use the miles is to give away magazine subscriptions to the American members of the board.

To get to the thread, click the link. Sorry, but only members who were registered before I offered this are eligible for the free subscriptions.

To go to the thread, click here!

Thanks

James

Pictures for the competition

The pictures are flooding in now that the subject has been changed. There are many to choose from, and the ships in question are very diverse, especially from one member!

Please keep sending them in, and they will be put up on the 26th April for voting.

Gallery is now operational

After much faffing about, the gallery is now working on the new forum. There was a conflict between the forum skin we use and the gallery software. By remapping the gallery skin, it now uses the default IPB skin. The gallery can be located by clicking the gallery button at the top of the forum. Each member can have 2 galleries, so get uploading!

Whilst this makes for a not too good looking forum, at least it works and can be "tarted up" at a later date.

The newsletters that I send out from Cunardcritic seem to be a success. There is always a good deal of interest after the emails are sent out, and none more so that todays detailing the launch of the forum. Please let me know if you are, or are not happy with the newsletters.

The first ever photo contest was won by Robert (tyneturbine) with a lovely night shot of QE2 leaving North Shields on her "farewell to the UK" tour.

This months competition is titled "from a distance", meaning shots where the ships are in the distance, and not the main subject of a shot.

Anyway, I will write again, when I have something pertinent to say.

Still wondering about which trips to do in 2010!

Take care

James

What to do, what to do

Cunard have released details on what to expect in 2011. It seems that Lexx, Leo and I will be flying to LAX and popping on Queen Victoria for her maiden call to Hawai'i. With any luck, there will be other CuTic'ers with us as Betsy has expressed an interest, and hopefully we might be able to drag Vic on for the ride. It will be like the Jan 2008 Caribbean all over again!

Other details have also been made public. The much publicised QM2 7 day crossings have been cut in number to 11, with the other 10 crossings taking the more normal 6 days. Personally, I like the ship to be stretching it's legs on a crossing, so a 6 day 24kt crossing is more my thing rather than 20kt.

Anyway, it seems that decisions will have to be made when the voyages go on sale in just over two weeks time, hopefully my brochure will land on the doorstep soon.

James