Cunard caters to a more formal cliental so art needs to be striking, yet subtle. Therefore, extra care was put into designing and creating the main centerpiece on the ship; the almost 20ft panel in the Grand Lobby. It is what guests first see upon embarking on the ship and it needs to be special. So here it is:

(click for larger) Thats not on the ship by the way.

Here is what Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Peter Shanks (left in the above photo) said:

“We needed to fill that space with something which would not just be dramatic, a ‘wow’ factor in an area already full of ‘wow’, but which would also reflect our emphasis on traditional and sumptuous materials. After much thought and exploratory work, it was decided to commission a 5.6-metre (18 ft 6 in) high marquetry panel depicting the original Queen Elizabeth, an Art Deco icon, using a variety of natural woods from around the world. Once we had decided on the theme and the medium, it didn’t take us long to conclude that no-one was better qualified for this detailed but monumental work than the company of the exceptional craftsman David Linley, whose creative ability and mastery of wood is renowned”.

The 2 deck tall piece features real wood (not eco-friendly) of Madrona, Indian ebony, American walnut, grey ripple sycamore, burr ash, bird’s eye maple, satin walnut , ash, burr walnut and Macassar ebony.

Here is a super high res of it:

(click for larger)

Pics and Quotes from: http://wearecunard.com

RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 in Trondheim, Norway 2008

]]> http://www.cruiseind.com/2009/08/qe2-plans-up-in-the-air/feed/ 0 http://www.cruiseind.com/2009/07/qm2-update-wpics/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.cruiseind.com/2009/07/qm2-update-wpics/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:09:31 +0000 Greg http://cruiseind.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/qm2-update-wpics/ I found some pics from Cruise Page’s message board, posted by Aad. Have a look.

Damage is reported, but only as minor, and located in the stern area. Ill update as more becomes available.

UPDATE 2:09pm : de Volkskrant is reporting that the ship was only delayed. This doesnt apprea as bad as the MSCin march. gCaptian has the details on the MSC one here.

• A domestic dispute turned deadly as a husband murdered his wife in their cabin. A couple on the last leg of their cruise on the Carnival Elation could be heard fighting. When security showed up, she was dead. The FBI and Coast Guard were notified and the FBI took the husband into custody when the ship arrived in San Diego. More here
• The rumors earlier in the week regarding the fate of the QE2 are starting to become true. A newspaper in Dubai is reporting that QE2’s owner, Nakheel, part of Dubai World, is contemplating sending the ship to South Africa for use as a floating hotel there instead. Then latter in the week word came out that Nakheel will only temporarily move the vessel there. The reports states the the vessel will leave Dubai, where its currently at, for 18 months. Its main duty there will be a floating hotel for the World Cup that will be played there next summer.
• Carnival Adds Jobless (just like the automakers have) and Storm protection insurance.
• CLIA now supports the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009. More here
• Maritime Matters is reporting that Spain’s Quail Cruises ship Pacific (former Sea Venture and most famously Princes Cruises “Love Boat” Pacific Princess) has been arrested by the Italian Coast Guard. The Coast Guard ordered the vessel to remain at the dock until the $14 Million lien placed against the ship the a shipyard that just did the renovations on her, is paid.

Check back latter as I will post the latest shipyard reports from the Oasis of the Seas in Finland, the Carnival Dream in Italy, and the Norwegian Epic in France.

This past week saw the laying of the first piece of the new Queen Elizabeth. The ship is being constructed at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard in the north west part of Italy. This photo courtesy of Cunard. I have no idea why they used a fish-eye lens for this.

UPDATE: The QE2 Final voyage sold out in only 36 minutes. I guess loyalists don’t care that she is a spitting image of QV and just a glorified Vista class.