QM2
The RMS Queen Mary 2 (QM2) is a Cunard Line ocean liner named after the earlier Cunard liner Queen Mary, which was in turn named after Mary of Teck, the Queen Consort of George V. At the time of her construction in 2003 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the QM2 was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built, and at 148,528 gross tons, was also the largest. She lost that last distinction to Royal Caribbean International's 154,407 gross ton Freedom of the Seas in April 2006, but QM2 remains the largest ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship) ever built, and her height, length, and waterline breadth are unsurpassed by any other passenger ship. The true distinction becomes somewhat cloudy, because "gross tonnage" is actually a measure of a ship's enclosed volume; "displacement" is a measure of the weight of water the ship displaces - and therefore equivalent to its "weight". The Royal Caribbean "Freedom" ships displace about 64,000 tons; the QM2, about 76,000.
QM2's facilities include 15 restaurants and bars, five swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theatre, and a planetarium.
The Queen Mary 2 is the current Cunard flagship and makes regular transatlantic crossings. The ship was constructed to complement the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) - the Cunard flagship from 1969 to 2004 - replacing it on the transatlantic route. The first RMS Queen Mary sailed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967. The prefix "RMS" on the QM2 originally stood for "Royal Mail Steamer," but now stands for "Royal Mail Ship." QM2 had the RMS title conferred on her, as a gesture to Cunard's history, by Royal Mail when she entered service in 2004 on the Southampton to New York route.
The QM2 is not a steamship like her predecessors, but is powered by gas turbines and diesel engines that produce the power to drive her four electric podded propulsors. Like her predecessors, however, she is built for crossing the Atlantic ocean, though she is used for cruising purposes from time to time; QM2's 30 knot open ocean speed sets the ship apart from cruise ships, such as Freedom of the Seas, which has an average speed of 21.6 knots.
The vision of a 21st century ocean liner — bigger than any that had gone before — started as the brainchild of Carnival CEO Micky Arison, who has stated that his company bought Cunard to create Queen Mary 2, not vice versa.
Cunard completed a design for a new class of 84,000-ton, 2,000-passenger liners on 8 June 1998, but immediately revised them upon comparing those specifications with Carnival Cruise Lines' 100,000-ton Destiny-class cruise ships and Royal Caribbean's 137,200-ton Voyager of the Seas.
Six months later, on 10 December Cunard released details of "Project Queen Mary", the project to develop a liner that would complement Queen Elizabeth 2. Harland and Wolff of Northern Ireland, Aker Kværner of Norway, Fincantieri of Italy, Meyer Werft of Germany, and Chantiers de l'Atlantique of France were invited to bid on the project. If construction began immediately, the liner could be in service by 2002. But it was not until 6 November 2000 that a contract was signed with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, a subsidiary of Alstom. This was the same yard that built Cunard's one-time rivals, the SS Normandie and SS France of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.
Her keel was laid down on 4 July 2002, in Saint-Nazaire, France. Approximately 3,000 craftsmen spent some 8 million working hours on the ship, and a total of 20,000 people were directly or indirectly involved in her design, construction, and fitting out. In total, 300,000 pieces of steel were assembled into 94 "blocks" off of the drydock, which were then stacked and welded together to complete the hull and superstructure. She is so much larger than the ships that Chantiers normally build that the shipyard treated her as "1.6 ships."
The QM2 was floated on 21 March 2003. Her sea trials were conducted between 25 September-29 September and 7 November-11 November 2003, between Saint-Nazaire and the off-shore islands of Ile d'Yeu and Belle-Ile. The final stages of construction were marred by a fatal accident on 15 November 2003, when a gangway collapsed under a group of shipyard workers and their relatives who had been invited to visit the vessel. 48 people on the gangway fell over 15 m (50 ft); 32 were injured and 16, including a child, were killed.
Construction was completed on schedule. Due to the size of the ship, the luxury of materials, and the fact that, due to her nature as an ocean liner, she required 40% more steel than a standard cruise ship, the final cost ended up being approximately $300,000 US per berth - nearly double that of ships such as Voyager of the Seas, Grand Princess, or Carnival Conquest.
Cunard took delivery in Southampton, England on 26 December 2003. On 8 January 2004, the liner was named Queen Mary 2 by her namesake's granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
QM2 in Sydney
QM2 news
Updated every 30 minutes
- SUSPENDED JAIL TERMS FOR QM2 BUILDERS
- An appeal court in France has handed suspended prison sentences to two workers from shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique and two from subcontractor Endel over ...
- Super spa at sea--Canyon Ranch a big hit aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2
- The 20000 square foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub on the QM2 is a state-of-the art spa, salon and fitness facility situated on two decks and staffed by 30 ...
- James packs them in on the QM2
- By John Honeywell on Jun 24, 09 10:56 AM in Cruise people It's been standing room only in the Royal Court Theatre on board Queen Mary 2 this week as singing ...
- First meeting of the three Queens
- QM2 put on an extra-special display, performing a 360-degree pirouette right in front of us (above). It wasn't quite such a historic event as billed, ...
QM2 Photos
Updated daily
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Queen Mary 2 Library
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Mark on QM2
QM2 blogs
Updated every 30 minutes
- CND's Cruiseblogger: James Taylor Sails aboard QM2
- James Taylor Sails aboard QM2. Like many stars before him, noted musician James Taylor and his family sailed aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2 last week on an eastbound transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton. ...
- James Taylor on board the QM2 | The Mail Buoy
- A two-part exclusive James Taylor video diary was recorded starting with embarkation in New York on 19 June that captures interviews with James and his family.
- James packs them in on the QM2 - Captain Greybeard - Travel Advice ...
- It's been standing room only in the Royal Court Theatre on board Queen Mary 2 this week as singing legend James Taylor and his band perform two shows during their Transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton. ...
- QM2 again on Travel Channel - NEW SHOW - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise ...
- The QM2 will be on the Travel Channel again. This is not a showing of the QM2: Birth of a Legend. I see it on the listing for Cablevision ? Bklyn/Bronx.
QM2 gifts
Updated daily
QM2 - The Queen Mary 2; Special Commemorative Maiden Voyage Edition
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 07/09/2009) 
List Price: $19.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
QM2: A Photographic Journey
Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $45.00
Not yet published
Queen Mary 2 40" Cruise Ship Wood Model Cunard Ocean Liner Replica Nautical Boat Maritime Decor Wooden Ships
Amazon Price: $399.99 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Intellivision Lives
Amazon Price: $21.97 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $9.99
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Sony NP-QM71D Super Quick High Capacity InfoLithium Camcorder Battery for DCRDVD301 & HDRSR1
Amazon Price: $65.45 (as of 07/09/2009)
List Price: $99.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
QM2 Britannia restaurant
QM2 vids
QM2
QM2 gifts
eBay
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QM2 Links
- Cunard
- Welcome to Queen Mary 2 - the grandest, most magnificent ocean liner ever ...
- Queen Mary 2, a classic cruise liner from Cunard fleet.
- Queen Mary 2 is the most magnificent ocean liner ever built. Her every detail harkens to the Golden Age of Ocean Travel, while providing one of the most ...
- Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Cruise Ship Profile
- Overview of the Queen Mary 2 (QM2)Cunard Line cruise ship - common areas, cuisine, and accommodations.
- Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Facts and Figures
- Facts and figures of the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship - size, cost, and comparison to other items.
- Queen Mary 2 - Exclusive Reports
- A complete cruise guide with timely information, impartial cruise reviews and feature articles by known cruise experts. Not a travel agency.
Comments
QM2
LauraSchofield wrote...
Have you ever sailed on her? Would you want to? When I was a travel agent, I had some clients take a cruise on the QE2 and hated it. They said it was too cold to go outside (they took a transatlantic crossing, I forget what time of the year) and they also thought their fellow passengers were snobby.
I'd love to take my son on this though. He's a big Titanic fan and stayed with his grandparents on the original Queen Mary (in Long Beach). I helped him put together two lenses on the original Queen Mary: they're at http://www.squidoo.com/queenmaryghosts and http://www.squidoo.com/queen-mary-transatlantic-liner if you want to check them out. I think he'd love staying on this reincarnation!
Great job - 5 stars. Maybe you could add a poll though to see how many people have been on it and how they rated it!
Posted July 08, 2009
BYE!
Hope to see you again soon...
HILLANDGLEN 
