More on the QM2 rebellion

Aside from a spoiled passenger problem the technical
incident was------

The "nightmare" entailed the cancellation of scheduled stops in St Kitts,
Barbados and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. This followed a close-encounter
with a sea wall in Florida - a collision which damaged one of the QM2's
propellers.

Usually these big boats avoid this kind of thing. In the "old days" tugs
handled any close-in maneuvers. When handling sailboats, docking is
a high stress moment, partly because a lot of people are watching!

As for storms, they are normal and make the trip more interesting.

****






QM2's luxurious 'nightmare'
By Steve Kingstone
BBC News, Rio de Janeiro


Was this a calamity cruise, marred by incompetence and corporate arrogance?
Or did passengers overstate the hardship of spending eight continuous days
aboard the world's most luxurious liner?

Even among paying customers opinion was sharply divided, as they emerged
down the gangplank into the searing heat of Rio de Janeiro.

"It was horrendous," gasped Pauline Berwick from Lancashire. "We couldn't
get off the ship, and the weather was dreadful. It was too rough to go out
on deck."

Many passengers complained of a delay in being told about itinerary
changes.

"Had they given us the opportunity to get off in Florida, I would rather
have gone home," explained an emotional Penny Freemantle. "I would rather
have gone home than have gone through this nightmare."

'Whingeing poms'

The "nightmare" entailed the cancellation of scheduled stops in St Kitts,
Barbados and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. This followed a close-encounter
with a sea wall in Florida - a collision which damaged one of the QM2's
propellers.

Around 300 to 500 passengers were in a mutinous mood - they were
threatening to have a sit-in in Rio and chain themselves to their beds
Ted Staunton
passenger
But with a theatre, fitness centre and casino among the on-board
attractions, some passengers felt their fellow travellers were being
ungrateful.

"They were whingeing poms," said Australian Terry Southerwood. "And there
were a few whingeing Americans too."

Quayside in Rio, one man showed off camcorder footage of the voyage. A
revealing snippet showed angry passengers haranguing Commodore Ronald
Warwick, the Master of the QM2.

Rebellion in the air

Bearded and besieged, the experienced Commodore Warwick did his best to
apologise. Despite their many complaints, most departing passengers
described him as "a very nice man".

As far as everything else went, the trip was delightful

But nonetheless, as the ship approached the Brazilian coast there was
rebellion in the air.

"Around 300 to 500 passengers were in a mutinous mood," explained Canadian
cruiser Ted Staunton. "They were threatening to have a sit-in in Rio and
chain themselves to their beds."

In the end, the bed-post protest was averted when the ship's operator,
Cunard Line, offered all departing passengers a full refund, including
airfares home. That was an improvement on the initial offer of a 50% refund.

"If they'd been smart they would have offered full refunds in the first
place and got a lot of good PR," rued Jack Gulick from Princeton, New
Jersey. "But as far as everything else went, the trip was delightful."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...as/4656562.stm

On 28/01/06 17:27, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

The QM2 has the props mounted on pods, among other reasons it is in
order to avoid the need for the assistance of tugs etc.


The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...
On 28/01/06 17:27, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

The QM2 has the props mounted on pods, among other reasons it is in
order to avoid the need for the assistance of tugs etc.


The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

Shoddy French workmanship?

JohnT

On 28/01/06 21:24, in article
, "JohnT"
wrote:

The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

Shoddy French workmanship?

Or maybe they use foreign personnel on the ship. One pod was ruined by
running into a concrete pier, No ship is idiot proof.

Take the word of an old sailor (first photo at
http://homepage.mac.com/evleth/PhotoAlbum7.html) :-)

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...
On 28/01/06 21:24, in article
, "JohnT"
wrote:

The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

Shoddy French workmanship?

Or maybe they use foreign personnel on the ship. One pod was ruined by
running into a concrete pier, No ship is idiot proof.


No but pods are by definition more susceptible to damage than screws
which are under the stern of the ship. Most conventional ships
can glance off a concrete pier or even run aground without
wrecking the screws.

Cunard went for a bold design and seem to be paying the price.

Keith

What has this to do with Europe???
Once more evleth spams the group and martin entertains the thread.
Once more he'll be whining "momma that naughty Runge is stalking me !"
Once more martin will be advising him to plonk me.
Of course, it seems that I'm the only one to be complaining, I suppose it's
very anglo-saxon to enjoy such bad manners.
evleth is a real pest.

"Earl Evleth" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
Aside from a spoiled passenger problem the technical
incident was------

The "nightmare" entailed the cancellation of scheduled stops in St Kitts,
Barbados and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. This followed a close-encounter
with a sea wall in Florida - a collision which damaged one of the QM2's
propellers.

Usually these big boats avoid this kind of thing. In the "old days" tugs
handled any close-in maneuvers. When handling sailboats, docking is
a high stress moment, partly because a lot of people are watching!

As for storms, they are normal and make the trip more interesting.

****






QM2's luxurious 'nightmare'
By Steve Kingstone
BBC News, Rio de Janeiro


Was this a calamity cruise, marred by incompetence and corporate
arrogance?
Or did passengers overstate the hardship of spending eight continuous days
aboard the world's most luxurious liner?

Even among paying customers opinion was sharply divided, as they emerged
down the gangplank into the searing heat of Rio de Janeiro.

"It was horrendous," gasped Pauline Berwick from Lancashire. "We couldn't
get off the ship, and the weather was dreadful. It was too rough to go out
on deck."

Many passengers complained of a delay in being told about itinerary
changes.

"Had they given us the opportunity to get off in Florida, I would rather
have gone home," explained an emotional Penny Freemantle. "I would rather
have gone home than have gone through this nightmare."

'Whingeing poms'

The "nightmare" entailed the cancellation of scheduled stops in St Kitts,
Barbados and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. This followed a close-encounter
with a sea wall in Florida - a collision which damaged one of the QM2's
propellers.

Around 300 to 500 passengers were in a mutinous mood - they were
threatening to have a sit-in in Rio and chain themselves to their beds
Ted Staunton
passenger
But with a theatre, fitness centre and casino among the on-board
attractions, some passengers felt their fellow travellers were being
ungrateful.

"They were whingeing poms," said Australian Terry Southerwood. "And there
were a few whingeing Americans too."

Quayside in Rio, one man showed off camcorder footage of the voyage. A
revealing snippet showed angry passengers haranguing Commodore Ronald
Warwick, the Master of the QM2.

Rebellion in the air

Bearded and besieged, the experienced Commodore Warwick did his best to
apologise. Despite their many complaints, most departing passengers
described him as "a very nice man".

As far as everything else went, the trip was delightful

But nonetheless, as the ship approached the Brazilian coast there was
rebellion in the air.

"Around 300 to 500 passengers were in a mutinous mood," explained Canadian
cruiser Ted Staunton. "They were threatening to have a sit-in in Rio and
chain themselves to their beds."

In the end, the bed-post protest was averted when the ship's operator,
Cunard Line, offered all departing passengers a full refund, including
airfares home. That was an improvement on the initial offer of a 50%
refund.

"If they'd been smart they would have offered full refunds in the first
place and got a lot of good PR," rued Jack Gulick from Princeton, New
Jersey. "But as far as everything else went, the trip was delightful."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...as/4656562.stm

and now the old family album so that everyone can see how a great man.evleth
is.
Duuhhhh
He also has a friend in Ghana, did you know that ??
Meanwhile let us forget about travelling in Europe

"Earl Evleth" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
On 28/01/06 21:24, in article
, "JohnT"
wrote:

The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

Shoddy French workmanship?

Or maybe they use foreign personnel on the ship. One pod was ruined by
running into a concrete pier, No ship is idiot proof.

Take the word of an old sailor (first photo at
http://homepage.mac.com/evleth/PhotoAlbum7.html) :-)

On 28/01/06 21:58, in article , "Keith
W" wrote:

Cunard went for a bold design and seem to be paying the price.


Maybe it was the crew? Most of these ships employ 3rd world crews
which are constantly running down French fishing vessels in the
Manche.

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...
On 28/01/06 21:24, in article
, "JohnT"
wrote:

The apparently needed the tugs, time tested, you know. Or maybe
you don't. :-)

Shoddy French workmanship?

Or maybe they use foreign personnel on the ship. One pod was ruined by
running into a concrete pier, No ship is idiot proof.


The QM2 was built in France.

JohnT

"Earl Evleth" wrote in message
...
On 28/01/06 21:58, in article ,
"Keith
W" wrote:

Cunard went for a bold design and seem to be paying the price.


Maybe it was the crew?

No the crew didnt choose to use Azipods

Most of these ships employ 3rd world crews

Not on the bridge they dont

which are constantly running down French fishing vessels in the
Manche.


Feel free to list the number of French fishing vessels run down
by Cunard cruise ships

Keith