On 12 March 2013, Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth and the legendary Queen Mary will make history once they meet for the primary time in a Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach Harbor. This rare evening encounter can be open to the general public and should feature traditional whistle salutes between the ships and conclude with a fireworks display.
Adding to the importance of this event, the Royal Rendezvous can be Queen Mary’s first encounter with a Queen Elizabeth since 1967 when Queen Mary, during her final Transatlantic Crossing in Cunard service, glided by the unique Queen Elizabeth at the morning of 25 September.
“The Queen Mary is a cornerstone in our nearly 175-year history, and we’re more than happy to introduce our youngest Cunarder to this legendary ship in festive Royal Rendezvous fashion,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.
“What a superior time this fusion of voyages past and present shall be for the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Cunard,” said Everette Hoard, commodore of the Queen Mary. “Those that witness this splendid day in history will undoubtedly carry the Queens of their hearts forever.”
The best public viewing location of the Royal Rendezvous is at the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary, on the aft (back) of the ship. Free access to the ship should be offered from 4:00-9:00pm; parking would be $15.00. A DJ shall be on deck providing musical entertainment while everyone eagerly awaits this historic meeting. Queen Elizabeth will sail into Long Beach Harbor at approximately 6:30pm, and the fireworks display will begin at 7:30pm.
Joining these maritime icons high above often is the famed Goodyear blimp, the Spirit of America. The presence of a Goodyear blimp overhead lends a unique appeal at major sporting and red carpet events and should add to the historical significance of this Royal Rendezvous. For more info on Goodyear blimp, visit: http://www.goodyearblimp.com.
During Cunard Line’s legendary history, the enduring Queen Mary epitomized the Golden Age of Ocean Travel and served as a Cunard liner for greater than 30 years. She also served as a British Royal Mail Ship (RMS) and as a troopship during World War II. Winston Churchill credited Cunard with ending the war three hundred and sixty five days early as a result troop transport that both the Queen Mary and the unique Queen Elizabeth provided.
The Queen Mary’s influence lives on today, inspiring Cunard’s modern fleet; and she or he is still a favored tourist and maritime destination as a hotel and museum in Long Beach Harbor, located 40 kilometers south of la.
The elegant Queen Elizabeth captured the area stage in 2010 when she was christened in a Royal Naming Ceremony by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton, England, amongst greater than 1,500 guests, celebrities and dignitaries. The youngest in Cunard Line’s fleet, Queen Elizabeth recalls the wealthy heritage of the 1st Cunarder to bear the name, and contours many unique Cunard traditions linking her along with her sister ships and their predecessors, along with each of the today’s luxuries Cunard guests have come to expect. The ship’s adherence to liner traditions is most blatant through art deco touches, elegant double- and triple-height public rooms on a grand scale, luxuriously endowed with rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics, hand-woven carpets, gleaming chandeliers and funky marbles. Moreover, Queen Elizabeth reintroduced The Verandah Restaurant which was first conceived at the Queen Mary and pays homage to her predecessor with replicas of the legendary ship’s artwork.
Key features of Queen Elizabeth which might be on display within the Grand Lobby include a specially commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, in addition to an 18.5 ft. marquetry piece of the unique Queen Elizabeth, expertly created by David Linley, the only real nephew of Her Majesty.
Earlier within the day on 12 March, Queen Elizabeth could have returned from a 36-day roundtrip voyage from L. a. through New Zealand, and departs at 5:00pm that day, en path to The big apple via the Panama Canal.
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