Hail to The Queen

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Sorry I couldn't load up my pictures, but I thought you might be interested in what it was like to be on board the QM2 as she sailed into New York Harbor. At 5:00, we took on the harbor pilot. Also a contingent of Coast Guard Security and a filming crew from The Today Show. It was very hazy, and the Verazzano bridge loomed out at us like a ghost. For those of us on deck 12, it was a rush to watch as first the mast and then the funnel cleared the underbelly of the bridge - by mere feet. We all applauded as she sailed through. We had an escort of fireboats, coast guard vessels and harbor patrol boats keeping any small craft at bay. The fireboats sent up continuous sprays as they led us and sailed in tandem with us. Many times the spray was red, white and blue. A loudspeaker played a mix of patriotic tunes, and New York songs, setting the mood. It was so hazy that we held our breath waiting to see the first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. She came out of the mist like a dream, and so did the lower Manhattan skyline - everything in shades of grey. We blew our horn several times - the horn from the first Queen Mary - and the decks shook. Once it was at the foot of Manhattan, a tribue to the World Trade Center. It cleared slightly as we sailed up the Hudson River - past the Intrepid, and the tiny Maxim Gorkiy docked at pier 88. Just shy of Pier 90, we stopped and began a very slow turn into berth #4. When we were properly angled, we eased forward alongside - it seemed as if the bow would go right through the barrier and overhang the West Side Highway. The gallant tugs, The Miriam and the Margaret nudged us against the pier, and we tied up. There were two marching bands to greet us - and the amazing thing is that we were looking down onto the roof of Pier 92 and they still looked like ants! I'm so glad that so many people came out to greet us - in a way, I would have liked to have been in two places at once so I too could have seen her sail into the harbor. Anyway, being a New Yorker, this was an experience I will never forget - it was worth every penny.

Thank you for that awesome description of your arrival. I will be looking forward to seeing your photos when available.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shipping Out:

Sorry I couldn't load up my pictures, but I thought you might be interested in what it was like to be on board the QM2 as she sailed into New York Harbor. At 5:00, we took on the harbor pilot. Also a contingent of Coast Guard Security and a filming crew from The Today Show. It was very hazy, and the Verazzano bridge loomed out at us like a ghost. For those of us on deck 12, it was a rush to watch as first the mast and then the funnel cleared the underbelly of the bridge - by mere feet. We all applauded as she sailed through. We had an escort of fireboats, coast guard vessels and harbor patrol boats keeping any small craft at bay. The fireboats sent up continuous sprays as they led us and sailed in tandem with us. Many times the spray was red, white and blue. A loudspeaker played a mix of patriotic tunes, and New York songs, setting the mood. It was so hazy that we held our breath waiting to see the first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. She came out of the mist like a dream, and so did the lower Manhattan skyline - everything in shades of grey. We blew our horn several times - the horn from the first Queen Mary - and the decks shook. Once it was at the foot of Manhattan, a tribue to the World Trade Center. It cleared slightly as we sailed up the Hudson River - past the Intrepid, and the tiny Maxim Gorkiy docked at pier 88. Just shy of Pier 90, we stopped and began a very slow turn into berth #4. When we were properly angled, we eased forward alongside - it seemed as if the bow would go right through the barrier and overhang the West Side Highway. The gallant tugs, The Miriam and the Margaret nudged us against the pier, and we tied up. There were two marching bands to greet us - and the amazing thing is that we were looking down onto the roof of Pier 92 and they still looked like ants! I'm so glad that so many people came out to greet us - in a way, I would have liked to have been in two places at once so I too could have seen her sail into the harbor. Anyway, being a New Yorker, this was an experience I will never forget - it was worth every penny.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Shippingout, could you suggest any vantage points on QM2 from which you could get exceptional pictures of the arrival in NY harbor, (VN Bridge, Statue of Liberty, the skyline, ect.) Also for the departure from NY. For example, which side of the ship, which deck,etc.

Thanks Much

Rick

Sounds wonderful - I wish I was there.

Actually, I wish I was doing back to back crossings on QE2 and QM2 - QM2's first crossing, QE2's last. That would be the experience of a lifetime for a liner nut like myself, or at least the closest thing to it in this day and age.

Alas I'm stuck here on land (sob) and will only get to see the two Queens from a distance on Sunday. But thanks for your report.

Doug Newman

Cruise Critic Message Boards Host

e-mail: shiploverny AT yahoo DOT com

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ricker:

Shippingout, could you suggest any vantage points on QM2 from which you could get exceptional pictures of the arrival in NY harbor, (VN Bridge, Statue of Liberty, the skyline, ect.) Also for the departure from NY. For example, which side of the ship, which deck,etc.

Thanks Much

Rick<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You should be on the top open deck - Deck 13 - as the QM2 sails to get the full effect of going under the Verazzano bridge. The Commodore Club, forward on deck 9, has a great view over the bow if you want to sip your bubbly as you depart. Sailing out, you want to park yourself on port side (to the left) to see the Manhattan skyline - but you often have to make a dash to the right to see the Statue of Liberty. The Promenade Deck 7 is good for this - and there is a great observation vantage point forward on the same deck.