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Queen Victoria home page
Queen Victoria photo tour Queen Mary 2 home page Queen Mary 2 photo tour Queen Elizabeth home page Queen Elizabeth photo tour Two Queens Sail By (photos and video) |
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CRUISE SHIP PHOTO/VIDEO FEATURE
TWO QUEENS SAIL BY |
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On 11 August 2019, the three current Cunard Queens met in Southampton. Unlike the meetings of the Cunard fleet earlier in the career of these three ships, there were no fireworks, no flyover by the Red Arrows or bands from the Guards regiments playing on the quayside. Instead, it was just treated as a normal embarkation day for each of the ships.
Still, the sight of these ships sailing together is somehow special. The black and white hulls topped with their orange-red funnels represent history, tradition and speak of a unique elegance. To see them together on a clear summer's afternoon is simply different than watching the normal departure of a number of cruise ships. On this day, Queen Victoria left from Southampton's Mayflower Cruise Terminal. In a departure from the norm, Queen Elizabeth occupied the Ocean Terminal while Queen Mary 2 was berthed at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal. 
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Above: Queen Victoria at the Mayflower Terminal.
Below left: In addition to the Cunarders,Celebrity Silhouette and the recently-retired Oriana were also in Southampton. Below: Half-hidden by cargo ships, Queen Elizabeth at the the Ocean Terminal. 
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Underscoring that this was just a normal departure, Queen Victoria sailed before the emergency drill was completed on QM2, resulting in QM2 passengers scurrying from their muster stations to the open decks when the drill was completed.
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Shortly thereafter, Queen Elizabeth backed out of her berth. She then executed a 90 degree turn and sailed past QM2. As was the case with Queen Victoria, there was much sounding of horns as the ships passed.
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Following in the wake of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth sailed down Southampton Water past the oil refinery at Fawley.
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At Calshot, Queen Victoria turned to starboard making it look like she was going to exit the Solent by the Needles (western) entrance. A few minutes later, Queen Elizabeth followed the same course.
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However, the two ships were actually sailing around the Brambles Shoals. Once clear of this shallow water, the two ships turned so as to exit by the Portsmouth (eastern) entrance to the Solent.
This course took the two ships past the town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight (above). Although it was Cowes week, there were only a few sailboats present as the racing had been cancelled due to high winds.
After Cowes, several mansions appeared on the Isle of Wight shoreline including the summer home of Queen Victoria's namesake, Osbourne House. However, by this point most guests had retreated indoors due to the wind.
After Cowes, several mansions appeared on the Isle of Wight shoreline including the summer home of Queen Victoria's namesake, Osbourne House. However, by this point most guests had retreated indoors due to the wind.
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Cruise ship photo feature - - Cunard - - Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria - - Two Queens Sail By - - page one