The RMS Queen Mary

RMS Queen Mary Vintage Passenger Ship

by evolveshop

The RMS Queen Mary left Southampton on her maiden transatlantic voyage 76 years ago today.  She was one of Cunard White Star's elegant Queens of the Ocean, and won the hearts of people around the world.  She also earned an honored place in history, serving the cause of freedom in World War II. Read more about the Queen Mary, and two other famous ships whose collective carreers spanned generations, in Queens of the Ocean Past.

Maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary:  May 27, 1936 - Southampton to New York.

Port Canaveral News - Tidbits from the Port

Queen Victoria at Port Canaveral

Here are several news tidbits from Port Canaveral.

A VISIT FROM A QUEEN and AMERICAN HAMBURGERS for 3 BRITS
The Queen Victoria recently visited Port Canaveral.  It was a pleasure to see one of Cunard's Queens, but mostly to finally meet a friend from England who I had 'known' as a fellow moderator for Cruise Line Fans forum. He and his party paid a visit to KSC, then lunched at the Cocoa Beach Pier.  All three were eager to order a "real American hamburger."  Once the meals arrived, they  took pictures of them, so they could show the folks back home what a real burger looks like!

My plan had been to get a great photo of the Queen putting out to sea.  Alas, that was not to be, as we were being assaulted by a wicked thunderstorm at sailing time.  The above pic of  the ship, berthed at the Royal Caribbean terminal, have to do.

MORE SHIPS?  (Yes, please!)
Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer J. Stanley Payne recently told the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce that he is " negotiating with major cruise line companies" in an effort to increase the number of cruise ships that will home port at Port Canaveral in the future.  (Hooray, I say and I wish him much luck)

DISNEY SAILING FULL
The local media reports that the new Disney Dream is SOLD OUT through the fall, and that the line's other ships are booked at 95% of capacity through June, and over 80% through September.  So, if you are thinking of sailing on a Disney ship, looks like you'd best plan ahead!

PHOTOS of CRUISE SHIPS and More
If you are just longing for your next cruise, perhaps for now, you'd enjoy feasting your eyes on some nice cruise related designs and photos of cruise ships from a hand-picked selection of Zazzle photograhers and designers. They're in a little article I've put together featuring wall art, iPad cases, and iPhone cases that should appeal to avid cruisers.

Isobel Peachey Paints Her Majesty The Queen

Just now, I am trying hard to imagine what it might feel like to be in Isobel Peachey's shoes, and I honestly can't get there. See the painting above? It was unvieled today. Isobel painted it, thus becoming, at 31, the youngest woman ever to be commissioned to paint a portrait of Her Majesty.

Imagine, if you will, yourself a young artist... having won some awards, and enjoyed some success ... but not enough to have your own studio. You are still painting in your "Mum's attic."

Then, you are intereviewed by someone from the famous Cunard Line about how you might "approach an important commission." And the next thing you know, you have been selected to paint a portrait that is to hang in the Grand Lobby of the new Cunard ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth. And the subject of the portrait? It is Her Majesty The Queen, Herself.

The new portrait was revealed to the press today. Is it not stunning? Isobel, your name is made!

On October 11th, The Queen will officially name the new ship, and Miss Peachey's painting will be on board, waiting to be enjoyed by legions of cruise passengers over many a year to come.

Visit the artist's website here:  http://isobelpeachey.weebly.com/index.html

Queen Elizabeth, WWII Troop Carrier

I couldn't help feeling quite a few twinges as I listed for sale a piece of ocean liner memorabilia that is alot more than just a cruise memory. It's an old post card picturing the venerable r.m.s. Queen Elizabeth on war service.

Cunard White Star Post Card - Superliner Queen Elizabeth on war service

I had actually purchased this card for my personal collection. But, as I thought about it, I realized that it's too special for me to keep. Born the year after the Queen completed her war service, I have no personal connection with her greatness or that of the men she carried. But, others DO. I hope one of them will find it among the Cunard Mementos on my site... Maybe it will end up as a small Christmas or Hannukah gift to someone who rode aboard her - or was close to someone who did.

I wonder what it must have been like for the brave souls who sailed off during the early 1940's aboard the famous ship repainted in battleship gray. And, though I don't even know their names, I'm indebted to them.