Queen of the seas says no to a knight

[Jason]

NO LUNCH: Cruise passenger Geoff Charles cannot invite Sir Edmund Hillary to dine with him on the Queen Elizabeth II because of tightened security since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

By MATT O'SULLIVAN, Dominion Post

He might be New Zealand's most famous person, but his status doesn't give Sir Edmund Hillary any special access to the cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2.

Geoff Charles, a passenger on an eight-day cruise on the ship, invited Sir Edmund and wife Lady June Hillary to lunch on the liner when it visited Auckland last week.

But Mr Charles, who arrived in Wellington on the QE 2 yesterday, was told guests had been a "no, no" on the cruise ship since stricter security measures were introduced after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.

"I wanted to get him on board the ship to treat him and Lady June to lunch because, let's face it, as a country we owe him," he said.

The Feilding man, who is helping to raise money for Sir Edmund's Himalayan Trust, said he was disappointed officials could not make an exception for New Zealand's most renowned mountaineer.

"He doesn't even look like Osama bin Laden. (Sir Edmund) only has to present a $5 note for ID," Mr Charles said.

"It's disappointing. I was told by (Queen Elizabeth 2's owner) P&O very, very definitely that there would be no chance of him coming on board. It's all because of September 11."

P&O Cruises could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Wellington's port company said passengers wishing to invite guests on board cruise liners had to seek permission at least 36 hours in advance.

CentrePort security supervisor Karen Funnell said the increased security at ports around the world was customer-driven and exceptions could not be made.

"If you start to have exceptions, then you start to have all sorts of problems," she said. "The days of just rocking up and getting on board are over with the new international security (measures)."

CentrePort is likely to be installing X-ray machines at the port later this year.

The QE 2 spent about 14 hours in Wellington yesterday.

The 70,000-tonne ship is likely to be a more regular visitor to the capital after the Queen Mary 2 made its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York last month.

"Now that the Queen Mary has started trans-Atlantic services we are expecting the Queen Elizabeth to be a more regular visitor to Wellington," CentrePort marine manager Charles Smith said.

The Queen Mary 2 - 60 metres longer than the QE 2 - was also likely to visit Wellington within the next three years after CentrePort confirmed the port was big enough to hold the liner, Mr Smith said.

[Jason]

NO LUNCH: Cruise passenger Geoff Charles cannot invite Sir Edmund Hillary to dine with him on the Queen Elizabeth II because of tightened security since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

By MATT O'SULLIVAN, Dominion Post

He might be New Zealand's most famous person, but his status doesn't give Sir Edmund Hillary any special access to the cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2.

Geoff Charles, a passenger on an eight-day cruise on the ship, invited Sir Edmund and wife Lady June Hillary to lunch on the liner when it visited Auckland last week.

But Mr Charles, who arrived in Wellington on the QE 2 yesterday, was told guests had been a "no, no" on the cruise ship since stricter security measures were introduced after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.

"I wanted to get him on board the ship to treat him and Lady June to lunch because, let's face it, as a country we owe him," he said.

The Feilding man, who is helping to raise money for Sir Edmund's Himalayan Trust, said he was disappointed officials could not make an exception for New Zealand's most renowned mountaineer.

"He doesn't even look like Osama bin Laden. (Sir Edmund) only has to present a $5 note for ID," Mr Charles said.

"It's disappointing. I was told by (Queen Elizabeth 2's owner) P&O very, very definitely that there would be no chance of him coming on board. It's all because of September 11."

P&O Cruises could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Wellington's port company said passengers wishing to invite guests on board cruise liners had to seek permission at least 36 hours in advance.

CentrePort security supervisor Karen Funnell said the increased security at ports around the world was customer-driven and exceptions could not be made.

"If you start to have exceptions, then you start to have all sorts of problems," she said. "The days of just rocking up and getting on board are over with the new international security (measures)."

CentrePort is likely to be installing X-ray machines at the port later this year.

The QE 2 spent about 14 hours in Wellington yesterday.

The 70,000-tonne ship is likely to be a more regular visitor to the capital after the Queen Mary 2 made its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York last month.

"Now that the Queen Mary has started trans-Atlantic services we are expecting the Queen Elizabeth to be a more regular visitor to Wellington," CentrePort marine manager Charles Smith said.

The Queen Mary 2 - 60 metres longer than the QE 2 - was also likely to visit Wellington within the next three years after CentrePort confirmed the port was big enough to hold the liner, Mr Smith said.

[GottaCruz]

It's a shame that lunch didn't work out but in my opinion, better safe than sorry. Interesting article, Jason

[GottaCruz]

It's a shame that lunch didn't work out but in my opinion, better safe than sorry. Interesting article, Jason

[sailinglisa]

I have some skepticism about this story because a basic fact is misrepresented.....the QE2 is owned by CUNARD, not P&O.

[sailinglisa]

I have some skepticism about this story because a basic fact is misrepresented.....the QE2 is owned by CUNARD, not P&O.