I love boats, especially big ones, however due to the fact that I get sick just thinking of being a one is bad news. SO, no to be detered, I just read about them and visit them when they come calling into port. The best so far is when the Queen Mary 2 came to Portland, ME on October 9. This ship is the closest thing to the Titanic I'll ever see. My promotions director here at the radio station was graced with the opportunity to be on the fire boat that escorted the monstrous boat into the bay (I'm not jealous or anything). The ship itself could not dock because it was too big for anything we had. However, the public was able to see the ship from Spring Point. There was great little museum that I was not aware of that had a really neat exhibit on shipwrecks on the Atlantic Coast. Then next door was the Marine Society that had some really nice paintings of Clipper Ships and a great model of one as well.
The QM2 also made a stop in Bar Harbor a couple fo weeks ago. Here is an article from the local paper about the stops:

Baldacci greets Queen Mary II
BAR HARBOR — Gov. John Baldacci officially welcomed the world's largest and costliest ocean liner to Maine Monday morning.
Baldacci went aboard the Queen Mary II to greet the skipper, R.W. Warwick, and more than 3,000 guests and crew off of Bar Harbor.
The $800 million ship is anchored in Frenchman Bay, dwarfing another cruise ship that's in Bar Harbor for the day. The Queen Mary II will visit Portland early next month.
Bar Harbor officials closed off the town's main street and made it into a pedestrian mall in honor of the vessel's visit.
When guests return to the ship, they'll dine on Maine lobsters. The lobsters will be fresh — they were brought aboard Monday morning.
Associated Press/WMTW

PORTLAND (AP) - Eight months after its launching, the largest and most costly ocean liner ever built is poised to make its first visits along the Maine coast.

The $800 million Queen Mary II will call on Bar Harbor on September 27 and on Portland on October 9.

The visits are expected to draw large crowds during the height of the fall foliage season. And the two communities plan to mark the occasion with special events.

The Cunard Line vessel can carry more than 2,600 passengers and a crew of 1,250. It was launched in England last January.


Some facts about the QM2:

Length: 1,132 feet

Beam: 135 feet

Beam at Bridge Wings: 147.5 feet

Draft: 32 feet 10 inches

Height (Keel to Funnel): 236.2 feet

Gross Tonnage:
Approximately 150,000 gross tons
Passengers: 2,620
Crew: 1,253
Top Speed: Approximately 30 knots (34.5 mph)
Power: 157,000 horsepower, environmentally friendly, gas turbine/diesel electric plant

Propulsion: Four pods of 21.5 MW each; 2 fixed and 2 azimuthing

Strength: Extra thick steel hull for strength and stability for Atlantic crossings

Stabilizers: Two sets
Cost: Estimated $800 million dollars
Some comparisons:


QM2 is five times longer than Cunard's first ship, Britannia (230 ft.)

QM2 is 113 feet longer than the original Queen Mary

QM2 is more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall (550 ft.)

QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 ft.)

QM2 is more than 3 ½ times as long as Westminster Tower (Big Ben) is high (310 ft.)

QM2 is only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall (1248 ft.)

QM2 is more than three times as long as St. Paul's Cathedral is tall (366 ft.)

QM2 is as long as 41 double-decker London buses (31 ½ ft. each)

QM2's whistle will be audible for 10 miles

Thanks for the article. Like you going on a ship that big makes me sick at my stomach unless she is docked. I've kept track of her since day one and the finished product is beautiful. I wish more ocean liners were being built with such grace and elegance. For anyone that is interested I know that the QM II is hiring for all sorts of positions and also everyone should pull up her deck plans they are quite amazing. Thanks for the article!!!

I read about that in Down East magazine last month, I believe. I would love to be able to take a tour of it. The prices on it are a little bit expensive though.... Not surprising, when you look at the pictures of the interior.

The Queen Mary II was to have made a stop in Sydney, Nova Scotia, last month, but high winds from the remnants of one of the recent east coast hurricanes prevented a layover. Would have been a great sight and worth a drive! ;)

th: Thanks Liz.

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself ;)