The Queen Elizabeth is the third ship to be named by The Queen, who also named the QE2 in 1967 and the Queen Mary 2 in 2004. The ceremony will be a milestone in British maritime history as well a major event of worldwide interest.
Though the maiden voyage of the Queen Elizabeth sold out in a record 29 minutes there is still limited availability on her other 2010 sailings.
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
]]>Camilla will visit the Queen Victoria when she docks in Liverpool for the first time on the 26th July, as part of celebrations for the 170th Anniversary of the company's first ship setting out from Liverpool in July 1840.
Peter Shanks, Cunard’s president and managing director, said: “Cunard is honoured that Her Royal Highness named this fine ship, and delighted that she continues to display such an interest both in the ship and in the crew. The Duchess will always be warmly welcome onboard”.
The Duchess will be escorted onboard by Peter Shanks and will meet several crew members before heading to the bridge. At midday she will sound the ship's whistle, before cutting the cake to commemorate Cunard's 170th Birthday.
Written by Stephen Adam
Spanish fisherman Benito Estevez, from Vigo, found the camera in his trawler nets. On discovering that the memory card was still intact he made it his mission to return the camera to the owners. Mr Estevez first contacted Cruise Critic, the cruise fan forum site, and later the story made in onto BBC South Today, where a friend of Mrs Gregory saw the story and got in touch.
Barbara and Dennis Gregory were pleasantly surprised to hear the news their camera had been found. Though the camera was damaged beyond use, the memory card with their silver wedding anniversary pictures had survived. The couple, who live in Johannesburg, South Africa, travelled to Vigo last week to meet Mr Estevez and to retrieve the pictures.
Mrs Gregory had said "It's too big a thing to sit a million miles away at home and just say thank you by email," while on the dockside in Vigo. "The pictures were of our silver wedding anniversary trip of a lifetime. But once it falls to the bottom of the Atlantic you just give up on it... The fact that he dredged it from the sea bed is almost miraculous. [The] deep concern of Benito to find us, and the effort that he went to, is beyond the normal call of human duty."
Benito Estevez added "I looked for the owner of the pictures because I thought how I would feel if I lost some important memories. And now we have met Barbara and Dennis, I am so happy."
Written by Stephen Adam, quotes from BBC News.
]]>Peter Shanks, Cunard's President and Managing Director, described the commissioned artwork; “We needed to fill that space with something which would not just be dramatic but which would also reflect our emphasis on traditional materials. After much thought, it was decided to commission a 5.6 metre (18 ft 6 in) high marquetry panel depicting the original Queen Elizabeth, an Art Deco icon, using a variety of natural woods from around the world'.
“Once we had decided on the theme and the medium, it didn't take us long to conclude that no-one was better qualified for this work than the company of the exceptional craftsman Viscount David Linley (nephew to Her Majesty The Queen), whose creative ability and mastery of wood is renowned”.
The dramatic artwork spans two decks and shows the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth seen dramatically from sea level.
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