Both QM ships together

[Suzila]

Both Queen Marys will be together for the first time. This is a pretty big deal. My hubby, who flies a helicopter, will be working with the harbor tonight doing security, flying over the ship when it leaves. Thought you all might be interested in the article.

----

Queen Mary 2, World's Largest Passenger Ship, to Join Namesake at Port

By Deborah Schoch, Times Staff Writer

Two of the world's most famous ocean liners will meet for the first time Thursday in the Port of Long Beach in an event expected to draw hundreds of former passengers, ship buffs and other curious onlookers.

The Queen Mary 2, the world's largest passenger ship, is scheduled to pull near its namesake, the retired 1936-vintage Queen Mary, now a hotel and museum at the port.

The two ships are to salute each other with their horns at noon Thursday, an occasion that will also be marked by fireboat displays and skywriting.

"It's a historical event. What they're doing is not a small feat," bringing a big ship so close, said Daniel Crosswell, a longtime travel expert who has sailed on both vessels.

The venerable Cunard Line, originally based in Britain, built both ships, and both rank among the most lavish of their eras. The firm also launched the Queen Elizabeth and the QE2.

The QM2 is making its first West Coast visit, following a 38-day South American tour.

The 2,620-passenger ship was due to arrive at the Port of Los Angeles at 4:45 a.m. today and can be seen from a special viewing area at Berth 87 from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. It will return Saturday and again March 8. Visitors cannot go aboard the ship, due to security precautions.

The gross tonnage of the QM2 is 150,000 tons, almost twice as much as the Queen Mary. Its 17 decks loom 200 feet above the water, as tall as a 23-story building, and it is twice as long as the Washington Monument, Cunard officials say.

Those dimensions have posed a challenge for the ship's captain, pilots and port officials.

All other passenger ships arriving at the Port of Los Angeles move prow first up the Main Channel, turn under or near the Vincent Thomas Bridge and back into the main cruise ship slip. But the QM2 is too tall to go under the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

So, in a first-ever maneuver, it was expected to turn inside the Angels Gate entry to the port and travel backward up the Main Channel to dock at Berth 91/92.

"She's even too big to pull into the main slip, so we'll put her on the Main Channel," said Los Angeles port spokesman Theresa Adams-Lopez. The ship is also too large to dock alongside its forebear, the Queen Mary.

Those arranging the Thursday event could bring the vessel within only a third of a mile of the old ship.

Long Beach officials have recommended several viewing spots for the meeting: Bixby Park, Bluff Park, Junipero Beach, Shoreline Aquatic Park, Shoreline Park and aboard the Queen Mary. More information can be found at http://www.thequeenmarysmeet.com .

[JoeyandDavid]

hey sue are you going down?? I was thinking we may go down and have a bite at rock bottom on ocean.....David's fond of their beer sampler.. would be interesting to see moma and her big child!

[Dan]

Watching that thing back up the channel at LA will be something. Since our cabin on Sapphire was at the back, I didn't notice if we pulled up under the bridge to back into the slip, but we watched the NCL Star go under and turn around to dock at the main channel slip. Must have been something for the people on the bridge to watch a cruise ship go under.

[Suzila]

I'm not going to be able to go down there tonight Joey, but if you go and see a helicopter flying over...wave to my hubby Ray!

[Shari2]

If I were still living in Long Beach, I would love to go and watch!!

[eagleforest]

This is the best shot I could get with my telescoped AE-10 camera.

It was a little cloudy over the Rockies

[eagleforest]

NOTICE TO MARINERS

The first meeting of the Queen Mary with her namesake, the Queen Mary 2 will be an historic and inspiring event. Boaters are encouraged to set sail and enjoy this event from your vessel. Please note that strict security is required for the Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest ocean liner.

While the Queen Mary 2 is underway all craft must stay at least 600 feet from her bow and stern and at least 1000 feet from her port and starboard sides.

When the ship is in position in Queensway Bay for the ceremonial whistle salute between the two ships, all vessels must remain at least 1,000 feet from the Queen Mary 2

[Suzila]

Well, hubby's flying over the two Queens again tonight. #2 is coming back to the port this evening and they need security again.

Apparently they wanted to park the two ships side by side, but couldn't do it because there was too much mud and they were afraid she would get stuck.

Ray says it's beautiful to see...from the air it looks sort of like you would expect the Titanic to look. Let's hope she has smoother sailing than the Titanic had!