Queen Mary 2 world voyage 2024….Red Sea?

[Easybimble]

Is anyone wondering if the Queen Mary will still be transiting the Red Sea on her world voyage as is scheduled in the itinerary, the area is looking increasingly hairy with the attacks on cargo ships?

[roscoe39]

4 hours ago, Easybimble said:

Is anyone wondering if the Queen Mary will still be transiting the Red Sea on her world voyage as is scheduled in the itinerary, the area is looking increasingly hairy with the attacks on cargo ships?

I wondered about this recently.

 

Very glad our QV is going around South Africa on the WC this year. They seem to be attacking commercial ships at this stage,  the outcry if they attacked a cruise ship with its numerous nationalities onboard could bring them results they are not prepared for. But to suddenly change the QMS Itin this late and close to sailing would be problematic for Cunard - a lot of the providorring would already be on the high seas in containers ready to be accessed at Dubai and having to rebook ports this close to docking plus also rerouting passengers to board at Capetown rather than Dubai, passengers complaining that Carnival had "ruined their trip of a life time" by not going through the Suez etc would be a nightmare that they might not wish to address. 

 

I can see Carnival and other lines rethinking schedules for the future but I doubt they would change this late for this year.

[Easybimble]

47 minutes ago, roscoe39 said:

I wondered about this recently.

 

Very glad our QV is going around South Africa on the WC this year. They seem to be attacking commercial ships at this stage,  the outcry if they attacked a cruise ship with its numerous nationalities onboard could bring them results they are not prepared for. But to suddenly change the QMS Itin this late and close to sailing would be problematic for Cunard - a lot of the providorring would already be on the high seas in containers ready to be accessed at Dubai and having to rebook ports this close to docking plus also rerouting passengers to board at Capetown rather than Dubai, passengers complaining that Carnival had "ruined their trip of a life time" by not going through the Suez etc would be a nightmare that they might not wish to address. 

 

I can see Carnival and other lines rethinking schedules for the future but I doubt they would change this late for this year.

Yes anybody on QV is sitting pretty👍.. Cunard are not going to be taking any risks with their precious passengers though, I would imagine, they must be looking into alternatives in case things get worse?

[Austcruiser84]

MSC’s world cruise has shifted away from Red Sea. As published 8 hours ago. However, Silversea’s Silver Moon is currently transiting the Red Sea. 
 

Many cruise lines have already adjusted away from the area. QM2 would be capable of outrunning pirates I imagine but without naval escort I doubt Cunard will risk it. 
 

Speed is an advantage even with a change. QM2 could feasibly round the cape and make Dubai with minimal disruption if necessary. Though it would cost more to run her at high speed for many days. 

[martinmct]

9 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

I wondered about this recently.

 

Very glad our QV is going around South Africa on the WC this year. They seem to be attacking commercial ships at this stage,  the outcry if they attacked a cruise ship with its numerous nationalities onboard could bring them results they are not prepared for. But to suddenly change the QMS Itin this late and close to sailing would be problematic for Cunard - a lot of the providorring would already be on the high seas in containers ready to be accessed at Dubai and having to rebook ports this close to docking plus also rerouting passengers to board at Capetown rather than Dubai, passengers complaining that Carnival had "ruined their trip of a life time" by not going through the Suez etc would be a nightmare that they might not wish to address. 

 

I can see Carnival and other lines rethinking schedules for the future but I doubt they would change this late for this year.

Hate to say this….Insurance companies will be thinking somewhat differently to this - they will be calling tunes. We are on the QM2 for the WC and very much hope to be doing the journey as advertised - we were looking forward to visiting Vladivostok on QE last summer….. the rest is ongoing sad history. Now back to the packing for Thursday!

[Wonky]

15 hours ago, Austcruiser84 said:

MSC’s world cruise has shifted away from Red Sea. As published 8 hours ago. However, Silversea’s Silver Moon is currently transiting the Red Sea. 
 

Many cruise lines have already adjusted away from the area. QM2 would be capable of outrunning pirates I imagine but without naval escort I doubt Cunard will risk it. 
 

Speed is an advantage even with a change. QM2 could feasibly round the cape and make Dubai with minimal disruption if necessary. Though it would cost more to run her at high speed for many days. 

Unfortunately the Houthi pirates are using air and sea based drones, missiles and helicopters so not much chance of outrunning those!

[roscoe39]

1 hour ago, Wonky said:

Unfortunately the Houthi pirates are using air and sea based drones, missiles and helicopters so not much chance of outrunning those!

yes its just whether they will risk the ire of hitting a merchant ship full of international passengers and nationalities, would they risk having America Australia England France Germany (and the kiwis ferocious maoris warriors) on top of you. Mind you, the mindless acts currently being undertaken......maybe they would risk it....

[D&N]

I would be surprised if QM2 follows that route without a modern warship capable of identifying and shooting down any likely incoming missiles as an escort. It's unlikely that the most advanced stuff will be used as some of the nations that own it either won't part with it and or have a greater need for it in their own conflicts.

[paulco]

On the 2010 WC the Mary was escorted through the gulf of Aden by destroyer number 99 the USS Farragut. Was really cool.

[NE John]

The Indian navy yesterday had to work with the RN to rescue a crew when an Indian merchant ship was taken over by Somalian pirates. 
The other bad actors in the region (pirates) may become embolden when the big navies of the world are focusing on Yemen. 
10-12% of the world’s shipping transits through the Red Sea so it’s a big deal. 

Edited January 7 by NE John

[WoorimBeachLady]

We loved our voyage through Suez and the Red Sea a few months back. I hope you get to go. There are a lot of anti pirate measures in place.

[Zeg]

Just a quick comment.  
 

The recent attacks are not by pirates.  It is my understanding that they are sophisticated and well organised attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

 

Safe travels. 🤞

 

[NE John]

7 hours ago, Zeg said:

Just a quick comment.  
 

The recent attacks are not by pirates.  It is my understanding that they are sophisticated and well organised attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

 

Safe travels. 🤞

 

Unfortunately there are pirate attacks too. Source: BBC for the above Indian vessel incident. 

[exlondoner]

7 minutes ago, NE John said:

Unfortunately there are pirate attacks too. Source: BBC for the above Indian vessel incident. 

Though because of its very high freeboard, the QM2 is probably pretty safe from them.

[Zeg]

5 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Though because of its very high freeboard, the QM2 is probably pretty safe from them.

Yes. A high freeboard might deter random pirates but is little defence against missile and drone strikes from unfriendly countries. 

[Colin_Cameron]

2 hours ago, Zeg said:

Yes. A high freeboard might deter random pirates but is little defence against missile and drone strikes from unfriendly countries. 

Or even RPGs as Seabourn found out a few years ago.

[roscoe39]

4 hours ago, Zeg said:

Yes. A high freeboard might deter random pirates but is little defence against missile and drone strikes from unfriendly countries. 

they wouldn't dare, the clothes police would make absolute mincemeat out of them in the MDR and god-forbid if there was a Formal night onboard and they didn't adhere. They would have no idea which wine to pair with dinner let alone be able to cope with a few hands of bridge. No, no self respecting pirate would tangle with a Cunarder

[tjunmin]

39 minutes ago, roscoe39 said:

they wouldn't dare, the clothes police would make absolute mincemeat out of them in the MDR and god-forbid if there was a Formal night onboard and they didn't adhere. They would have no idea which wine to pair with dinner let alone be able to cope with a few hands of bridge. No, no self respecting pirate would tangle with a Cunarder

As a first timer on a Cunard ship in a couple of months, your post gives me anxiety.

[roscoe39]

3 minutes ago, tjunmin said:

As a first timer on a Cunard ship in a couple of months, your post gives me anxiety.

don't......Im sure all the pirates will have the proper dress code warning in advance........

 

(have a great trip....youll love it.....)

[NE John]

23 minutes ago, tjunmin said:

As a first timer on a Cunard ship in a couple of months, your post gives me anxiety.

No need for anxiety, sometimes humor to lighten up a situation doesn’t come across well in written form, even humor as good as @roscoe39’s. 
What is your itinerary? 

[tjunmin]

18 minutes ago, NE John said:

No need for anxiety, sometimes humor to lighten up a situation doesn’t come across well in written form, even humor as good as @roscoe39’s. 

Oh, I totally got roscoe39's humor! My reply was in jest, but as you said, my attempt at humor did not come across well in written form.

 

20 minutes ago, NE John said:

What is your itinerary? 

I'll be on the QM2 world voyage from Singapore to Southampton, thus my interest in this thread.

 

I've cruised through the region previously, in 2019, through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea onboard the Celebrity Constellation, with no incidents. I have wonderful  memories from that cruise [photo album]. The cruise line had special measures in place on that sailing. I have confidence that Cunard will handle this situation appropriately and we'll be fine.

[TouchstoneFeste]

9 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

don't......Im sure all the pirates will have the proper dress code warning in advance........

 

(have a great trip....youll love it.....)

The problem is they regard them more as guidelines than as actual rules.

[roscoe39]

Omg i forgot about the laundry, missiles

at 100 paces….. theres barely enough room to swing a cat let alone a bazooka

[tjunmin]

40 minutes ago, roscoe39 said:

Omg i forgot about the laundry, missiles

at 100 paces….. theres barely enough room to swing a cat let alone a bazooka

This will be my first cruise on a ship with do-it-yourself laundry facilities. Not sure what to expect, but I'll make sure to leave my bazooka in the cabin.

[roscoe39]

43 minutes ago, tjunmin said:

This will be my first cruise on a ship with do-it-yourself laundry facilities. Not sure what to expect, but I'll make sure to leave my bazooka in the cabin.

sounds like they may be de riggueur this trip.....