What would be the effect of Cunard leaving the UK Registry?

[Ray66]

You have to register to read it. Can you copy and paste into into this thread?

 

Just click on "close" top right and the registration box disappears.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Hmm.. I have to wonder how many people would choose to get married on a transatlantic crossing?

 

As it stands right now, weddings could be performed in either New York or Southampton with the couple bringing their clergy or notary with them as well as their guests. 3 hrs onboard, the guests and clergy/notary leave and the happy couple proceeds across the Atlantic on their honeymoon.

 

I seem to recall an urgent message from the QE2 for clergy in Boston when the QE2 was sent there following 9/11. Remember who got married?

 

Some people think getting married onboard works out cheaper than getting married at home. I often do an apples to apples comparison for engaged couples.... then also introduce the "you want all these people along on your honeymoon" question. And are these folks willing to give up a week's vacation time? For a Caribbean cruise in the winter....I can see people using it as vacation. But a transatlantic crossing??????????

 

Somebody posted earlier that what many of these people want is to be married by the Captain, not clergy or notary. I wonder if it's a status thing, to have a wedding that is different and more special than one's friends had?

 

I've always thought that "destination weddings" were asking a lot of friends and family, in terms of both time and money.

 

Who got married in Boston after 9/11?

[Husband & wife who cru]

Hello. No doubt others might have read this story in the Financial Times; http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4489f938-e5f6-11e0-b196-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1YvzFH1Y2.

 

Note: I believe posting this link and asking the question are not in violation of any published rules or regulations.

 

Looking forward to your comments.

 

Regards,

Salacia

 

Here is a link to another paper with the same news:

 

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/captain-greybeard/2011/09/flag-change-would-allow-cunard.html

 

 

I suppose it might make sense for Carnival to offer weddings on Cunard as done on sister brands Princess and P&O. But given Cunard's demographic I think the initial market segment might be small. Combined with the high charges Cunard is known for I am wondering just how much income this would bring in without tinkering the idea.

 

Given Carnvial's notorious cost cutting reputation this might just serve as an excuse/springboard for Carnival to jettison the expense of UK registries for its ships. One can not help but see this constant chipping away at a historical entity's reputation.

[ocngypz]

No, I don't think getting married by the Captain is it. Too many people getting off the ships at various ports in the Caribbean to get married even though there's a chapel onboard.

 

As to who got married, I'll let others try to guess.

[Cruise Liner Fan]

Somebody posted earlier that what many of these people want is to be married by the Captain, not clergy or notary. I wonder if it's a status thing, to have a wedding that is different and more special than one's friends had?

 

I've always thought that "destination weddings" were asking a lot of friends and family, in terms of both time and money.

 

Who got married in Boston after 9/11?

The who got married in Boston after 9/11 answer is the daughter of now retired Cunard Commodore Ronald Warwick.The wedding ceremony was supposed to be in NY Harbor aboard QE2.Then 9/11 happened,NY Harbor was then closed as a result of 9/11 and the QE2 was diverted to Boston Harbor where Commodore Warwick's daughter was married aboard QE2. Regards,Jerry

[Calliope]

The who got married in Boston after 9/11 answer is the daughter of now retired Cunard Commodore Ronald Warwick.The wedding ceremony was supposed to be in NY Harbor aboard QE2.Then 9/11 happened,NY Harbor was then closed as a result of 9/11 and the QE2 was diverted to Boston Harbor where Commodore Warwick's daughter was married aboard QE2. Regards,Jerry

 

Darn, Jerry beat me to the punch. I'm 99 and 44/100% sure it was Commodore Warwick's daughter.

[Cruise Liner Fan]

Darn, Jerry beat me to the punch. I'm 99 and 44/100% sure it was Commodore Warwick's daughter.

Calliope, You do have the right answer. Regards,Jerry

[ocngypz]

Bingo once, Bingo twice! The Commodore's daughter.

 

What a mess in Boston Harbor.. complete with a bomb threat to the QE2.. which turned out to be a hoax.

[Cruise Liner Fan]

Bingo once, Bingo twice! The Commodore's daughter.

 

What a mess in Boston Harbor.. complete with a bomb threat to the QE2.. which turned out to be a hoax.

This is the first that I have heard of a bomb threat to the QE2 but thankfully that turned out to be a hoax and on Sept.28,2001 I went aboard the QE2 for a Bermuda cruise and originally the QE2 was supposed to sail out of New York but as we know New York Harbor was closed as a result of 9/11 so Cunard bussed us passengers up to Boston.Then that night as the QE2 sailed out of Boston there were the jet planes flying above the ship because the Boston Airport is located right next to the Boston Harbor and these planes were taking off and some QE2 passengers myself included were concerned with these planes taking off that seemed to be no more than several hundred feet above the QE2 remember that this date 9/28/01 was about 2 and a 1/2 weeks after 9/11.Who is the moron who placed the airport in Boston right next to the seaport? Regards,Jerry

[bobby1119]

Who is the moron who placed the airport in Boston right next to the seaport? Regards,Jerry

 

Locating an airport near the water is always the best place. Many world class airports are located beside or near the sea. Before Hong Kong was moved,for example, the approach over the city was one of the most notorious, dangerous and frightening.

 

Near the water is always safer... well, except St. Barts. Very scary.

 

Sailing in is better than gliding in anyway.

[Husband & wife who cru]

Locating an airport near the water is always the best place. Many world class airports are located beside or near the sea. Before Hong Kong was moved,for example, the approach over the city was one of the most notorious, dangerous and frightening.

 

Near the water is always safer... well, except St. Barts. Very scary.

 

Sailing in is better than gliding in anyway.

 

Cruiseships used to dock further down at Commonwealth Pier next to downtown and the then famous Anthony's Pier 4 restaurant. We took QE2 (and many others) several times from there when she came to town. The cruiseship terminal now is further out from downtown and right in the flight path to Logan Airport.

[Cruise Liner Fan]

Cruiseships used to dock further down at Commonwealth Pier next to downtown and the then famous Anthony's Pier 4 restaurant. We took QE2 (and many others) several times from there when she came to town. The cruiseship terminal now is further out from downtown and right in the flight path to Logan Airport.

Why don't the Boston officials move the cruise ship terminal back to this Commonwealth Pier and further away from the flight path of Logan Airport? Regards,Jerry

[Husband & wife who cru]

Why don't the Boston officials move the cruise ship terminal back to this Commonwealth Pier and further away from the flight path of Logan Airport? Regards,Jerry

 

Space..there is so much more available dockage at the current cruise terminal than the old Commonwealth Pier. Also, the area surrounding the old Commonweath went from barren industrial to very chic residential and mixed use which doesn't look on the additional local traffic with appreciation.

[ocngypz]

Black Falcon was redeveloped for cruise traffic because we can fit many more ships there. Also provisioning the ships is easier too. And now with the I90 ext and thru the tunnel, it's a snap to get to the terminal. Nobody flying to a cruise wants a long transfer.

 

Both QE2 and Caronia came into the Boston the same day. About 630am or so, Boston radio reported there was a bomb scare and the QE2 was being held outside of Boston Harbor . Since my company had the shore contract, I had numerous staff with me all waiting to enter the terminal area so we could complete our work. As I recall, we were not let into the terminal area until around 11am. Even then, we were told our services would not be needed as the authorities cancelled all shore excursions that day. Pax were also transferring between the two ships....which was done under armed guard. Jeesh... I even had an armed "escort" to the ladies toilet in the terminal!

 

Just this past Thursday, we had 3 ships in.. all lined up in a row. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and the QE. The Carnival Glory had the preferred position, QE in the middle.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Black Falcon was redeveloped for cruise traffic because we can fit many more ships there. Also provisioning the ships is easier too. And now with the I90 ext and thru the tunnel, it's a snap to get to the terminal. Nobody flying to a cruise wants a long transfer.

 

Both QE2 and Caronia came into the Boston the same day. About 630am or so, Boston radio reported there was a bomb scare and the QE2 was being held outside of Boston Harbor . Since my company had the shore contract, I had numerous staff with me all waiting to enter the terminal area so we could complete our work. As I recall, we were not let into the terminal area until around 11am. Even then, we were told our services would not be needed as the authorities cancelled all shore excursions that day. Pax were also transferring between the two ships....which was done under armed guard. Jeesh... I even had an armed "escort" to the ladies toilet in the terminal!

 

Just this past Thursday, we had 3 ships in.. all lined up in a row. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and the QE. The Carnival Glory had the preferred position, QE in the middle.

 

On our first QM2 cruise, I met a couple who had been on Caronia with the plan to transfer to QE2 in new York. They said they were relieved to find QE2 in Boston with them (the QE2 TA was their way to get home), but couldn't get details about logistics--just "you'll be able to transfer, we'll take care of it." They were moved to QE2 in the dark. She said she felt like something out of a spy novel, sneaking around the terminal.

[Leucothea]

Bingo once, Bingo twice! The Commodore's daughter.

 

What a mess in Boston Harbor.. complete with a bomb threat to the QE2.. which turned out to be a hoax.

 

First of all, I want to apologize; I didn't realize there was a poster here with the name "Babette". You may not have read it, but when I joked about "Jolly Babette" it was just a random name that popped into my head, not referring to anyone with that name.

 

With regard to Boston Harbour, I once spoke with a Cunard insider on QE2 who told me Boston was not the safest place for QE2 to dock. I suppose he may have been referring to the bomb threat, I don't know.

[ocngypz]

First of all, I want to apologize; I didn't realize there was a poster here with the name "Babette". You may not have read it, but when I joked about "Jolly Babette" it was just a random name that popped into my head, not referring to anyone with that name.

 

With regard to Boston Harbour, I once spoke with a Cunard insider on QE2 who told me Boston was not the safest place for QE2 to dock. I suppose he may have been referring to the bomb threat, I don't know.

 

LOL.. on the contrary, I found it quite amusing.

[Salacia]

Thanks all. Reading replies with great interest.

 

I'm not sure on this, isn't a ship governed by the laws of the county in which it is registered?

 

Regards,

Salacia

[chinaiyf]

Thanks all. Reading replies with great interest.

 

I'm not sure on this, isn't a ship governed by the laws of the county in which it is registered?

 

Regards,

Salacia

 

Yes, but it is a little more complicated than that. States other than the state of registry can pursue criminal or civil cases in certain circumstances. Cunard registering in Bermuda will have little impact on their behavior or ship operations.

[BlueRiband]

Two points:

 

(1) By leaving UK registration, it will no longer be necessary for a specific percentage - not sure what it is - of officers to be British.

 

(2) Minimum SOLAS standards - as opposed to the higher levels required by the UK - would apply.

 

Forget weddings, these are serious issues that we should be concerned about.

 

Bingo - one huge reason why I sail on Cunard.

 

Also, the QM2 loses her designation "Royal Mail Ship" if she is not registered in a British commonwealth country.

[Classiccruiser777]

For those interested here's a link to information about the benefits for registering in the UK:

 

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/mcga-ukshipregister/mcga-ukshipregister-merchantships/mcga-ukshipregister-advantagesofreg.htm

 

I agree with mariepr as I feel more secure knowing that Cunard is registered in the UK. It provides more credibility in my opinion.

[chinaiyf]

Two points:

 

(1) By leaving UK registration, it will no longer be necessary for a specific percentage - not sure what it is - of officers to be British.

 

(2) Minimum SOLAS standards - as opposed to the higher levels required by the UK - would apply.

 

Forget weddings, these are serious issues that we should be concerned about.

 

What are the differences between the SOLAS and the UK standards?

[Salacia]

If interested, an informative article entitled Flag of Convenience can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience

 

For information about Bermuda (with the sub-heading No United Kingdom or European Union legislation apply in these islands) see

http://www.bermuda-online.org/legal.htm

[guernseyguy]

Also, the QM2 loses her designation "Royal Mail Ship" if she is not registered in a British commonwealth country.

 

Not only is Bermuda in the Commonwealth, the queen is head of state - but not sure that the (British) Royal Mail would assign 'RMS' to a non-British register ship.....but it's the seventh veil....so what real difference will it make?

[Salacia]

Not only is Bermuda in the Commonwealth, the queen is head of state - but not sure that the (British) Royal Mail would assign 'RMS' to a non-British register ship.....but it's the seventh veil....so what real difference will it make?

 

What real difference would it make if Cunard changed Regisrty to a Flag of Convenience?

 

As a passenger, it makes a great deal of difference to me personally.

 

For the crew, it is a matter of importance since both their wages and working conditions would be affected.

 

For the officers and members of the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom), deflaging Cunard ships would have an impact.

 

For students of maritime history...well you know what it would mean.

 

(And I'm just getting started).

 

Salacia

CCL stockholder & Platinum World Club Member