With the passing of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, the world mourns the lack of an incredible chief and dignified position mannequin for her topics worldwide and lots of others outdoors the British monarchy.
The queen leaves behind a wealthy legacy of 70 years of management, and amongst her many connections that shall be lengthy remembered is her connection to cruise ships that bear her blessing and serve with the identical dignity and beauty she confirmed the world all through her lengthy reign.
Cruise Ships With a Royal Connection
With the British Isles having a wealthy naval historical past and lots of maritime connections, it’s no shock that Her Majesty had completely different connections to crusing and cruise journey over time.
Caronia
Whereas nonetheless Princess Elizabeth, the long run monarch launched then Cunard White Star Line’s Caronia in October 1947. The ship was one of many first constructed for each transtatlantic ocean liner crossings in addition to luxurious passenger cruise journey. As such, the vessel launched new options to draw the cruise market, together with an outside swimming pool and personal toilet services for each cabin – options unparalleled on ocean liners.
Caronia served the road faithfully till 1967, making quite a few transatlantic crossings and providing extra regional cruises as nicely in her twin capability.
Queen Elizabeth 2
On December 30, 1967, Queen Elizabeth II named the illustrious Cunard Line vessel that additionally bears her identify, Queen Elizabeth 2.
The ship, nonetheless, will not be instantly named for the monarch Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), however is definitely the second vessel in Cunard Line to be named for her mom, on the time the Queen Mom, Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, Queen Elizabeth.
The longest-serving Cunard ocean liner, the elegant and well-liked “QE2” sailed its first voyage, a 5-night transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York Metropolis, shortly after being christened. The vessel served a few years and tens of millions of company till being retired in November 2008.
All through her service life with Cunard Line, the QE2 sailed transatlantic crossings yearly, in addition to different cruise itineraries and even unique world cruises, bringing one of the best of British affect to each nook of the globe.
After being retired, Queen Elizabeth 2 was transformed right into a floating resort, which opened to company in Dubai in October 2018.
Queen Mary 2
Queen Elizabeth II christened one other Cunard vessel, Queen Mary 2, in January 2004. The most important ocean liner on the planet when she debuted, the “QM2” was additionally designed for transatlantic crossings, and at present stays the one true ocean liner nonetheless crusing wherever on the planet.
Named for Mary of Teck, consort to King George V, the Queen Mary 2 is the second liner in Cunard’s historical past to bear the royal identify. The primary, Queen Mary, served the road from 1936 to 1967.
Like her retired sister ship the QE2, Queen Mary 2 additionally completes annual world cruises, transatlantic crossings, and quite a lot of different itineraries, together with many sailings in northern Europe and visiting the Norwegian fjords.
Thus far, the elegant liner stays the flagship of the Cunard Line, and at 149,215 gross tons, is the most important vessel the road operates.
Queen Elizabeth
Whereas yet one more vessel bearing the identical identify, the Cunard ship Queen Elizabeth is a Vista-class cruise ship that entered service in October 2010, once more christened by Queen Elizabeth II.
The ship will not be named for the monarch, nonetheless, however evokes the traditional nautical age of the Nineteen Thirties in her nautical decor and styling, paying tribute to each the earlier Queen Elizabeth vessels by bearing their identify. Her Majesty named the vessel at a ceremony in 2010.
Together with the standard transatlantic crossings, the vessel has made many memorable voyages, together with assembly up along with her two sister “Queens” on June 5, 2012, in Southampton in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, marking the sixtieth anniversary of the queen’s ascension to the throne.
The ship has additionally sailed within the Mediterranean, Australia, Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean, and lots of different superb locations, simply as every British monarch’s affect has stretched across the globe. Immediately, Queen Elizabeth is crusing from Barcelona, providing Mediterranean itineraries by mid-October.
Britannia
The British cruise line P&O Cruises has additionally been honored to have Queen Elizabeth II identify one in every of its vessels, the Royal-class Britannia, which entered service in March 2015 and have become the flagship of the P&O Cruises fleet.
Her Majesty, who served as godmother to the vessel, activated the standard champagne hitting the hull at a ceremony held on the Ocean Terminal in Southampton, UK, on March 10, 2015.
Appropriately for her British nature, the ship bears the most important Union Flag hull artwork on the planet, stretching 308 ft (93.9 meters). Till Iona launched in 2021, Britannia was the most important ship within the P&O Cruises fleet, weighing 143,730 gross tons and with a passenger capability of three,647 company.
Like different ships with royal connections, Britannia sails quite a lot of European itineraries, homeporting from Southampton in the summertime to supply visits to Scandinavia, the Norwegian fjords, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean.
In winter, the ship repositions to Barbados to supply Caribbean sailings.
Oriana
Queen Elizabeth II additionally christened P&O Cruises’ Oriana cruise ship at a ceremony on April 6, 1995. It was a momentous event for the cruise line as Oriana was the primary purpose-built vessel for the British market. The ship was constructed by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and departed on her maiden voyage on April 9, 1995.
The ship stays in service to this present day and is at the moment operated by the Chinese language cruise line Astro Ocean underneath the brand new identify of Piano Land.
A Legacy Sails On
Whereas there shall be no future ocean liners or cruise ships christened by the beloved monarch, every of those vessels honors Queen Elizabeth II in its personal approach with superior service, dignity, and beauty, a part of the legacy this exceptional lady has left to the world.
Cruise Hive, proudly primarily based in the UK, sends condolences and peaceable needs to the Royal Household, the folks of the UK, and throughout the Commonwealth, in addition to to all British topics serving on vessels throughout the globe.
