Queen will yield only one title

[Charles McAllister]

The brief reign of QM2 as the world's largest passenger vessel will end soon, as Freedom of the Seas will be embarking on her maiden voyage next month.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=82419&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21

QM2 will remain unique, in my opinion, however, as she has more of the classic lines and beauty of a great liner.  Hopefully, Carnival will allow Cunard to retain its distinctveness and not become just another cruise line under the corporate umbrella.

Best to all,

Charles

[David Harrison]

Technically QM2 is still the largest cruise liner in the world and Cunard can still say so. Freedom of the Seas is the longest cruise ship.
As I said it's a technicality.
To me QM2 is still the grandest ship afloat. Long may she reign 8-)  8-)  :-D

[Aleksi Lindström]

You got it exactly vice versa as it should be: Freedom is the largest passenger ship afloat, QM2 is longer... they wouldn't be calling Freedom the largest if she wasn't! :-)

Freedom 339 m / 158.000 GT
QM2 345 m / 148.000 GT

[polsteam]

>>>>>
as she has more of the classic lines and beauty of a great liner
<<<<<

yeah...  especially her rear (stern) is exceptionally "classic beauty"...

I do not like this ship...

the effort to compromise uncompromisable (effect of scale, hugeness, modernity on one hand with classic feeling and architecture on the other) failed!


regards,

Peter

[Charles McAllister]

Peter,

Well, you have a point about her stern.  Kind of weird looking.  I presume the bustles house additional machinery space, but they could have been integrated better. However, I stand by my original opinion.  I think she is better looking overall than many of the big boxes launched over the past few years.  The impression is of better proportions, the superstructure does not overwhelm the hull, and the lines (except for the lower stern, you're right, Peter) incorporate more (not all) of the lines of great liners of the past.  The longest passenger vessel hull afloat is built to carry less than 2700 passengers, not 3500-4000. And, when needed, she can be speedy. Yeah, I think she is better.

By the way, have you seen a rear view of Seven Seas Navigator?  http://www.boatnerd.com/news/newpictures03/SEVEN-SEAS-NAVIGATOR.jpg

or Navigator of the Seas?
http://parnami.freeyellow.com/navigatoroftheseas/046f4800.jpg

Those are definitely weird backsides.

I respect your opinion, Peter.  Given that every ship is a compromise, I think QM2 is a pretty good one overall.

[Pedro Baptista]

Well, I won'tm call her the most pretty ship, but she's not that ugly...

In my opinion, the most pretty ship of all times is the good old Queen Elizabeth 2... I also love ships like Black Prince, Athena, Princess Danae, etc...

Best regards