Royal visit in Auckland
Auckland gets a lot of cruise ships docking in the city throughout the year but some of them draw more attention than others. For me these are Cunard's Queen Victoria, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, also known as the 3 Queens, Auckland has just hosted the Queen Victoria so I decided to go along and visit her. A link to the 2016 timetable shows it's a busy little port Cruise ships in Auckland
Queen Victoria is known for her elegance and her graceful splendour. Her unique facilities are amongst the most modern you will find and yet she has a special ambience so evocative of great liners past. With luxurious marbles, woods and rich fabrics she exudes elegance and is adored by her crew and passengers alike.
The Queen is Victoria is the smallest of the 3 Queens which when you are stood next you wouldn’t think so, she is massive, nearly the length of 3 football pitches. Facilities include seven restaurants, thirteen bars, three swimming pools, a ballroom, and a theatre, pretty impressive.
In a departure from other Cunard Queens, Queen Victoria does not carry mail and thus will not carry the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) status. Also unlike many previous Cunard Queens, Queen Victoria is not a true ocean liner as she does not have the heavy plating throughout the hull nor the propulsion system of a dedicated transatlantic liner.
Name: Queen Victoria.
Gross Registered Tonnage: 90,000 GRT.
Length: 964.5 feet / 294 metres, thats nearly 3 footbal pitches long.
Beam: 106 feet / 32.3 metres.
Draft: 25.9 feet / 7.9 metres.
Height: 179 feet / 54.5 metres.
Passengers: 2,014.
Number of Decks: 12.
Staterooms: 1,007.
Keel Laying: May 12, 2006.
Floating Out: January 2007.
Entered Service: December 2007.
Homeport: Hamilton (2011 - ) Southampton (2007 - 2011).
Callsign: ZCEF3 (2011 - ) GBQV (2007 - 2011).
Building Cost: €390 million
Some fun Queen Victoria Facts
86% of cabins are outside (have a view).
71% have balconies.
Official building start date: April 14, 2005.
The Maiden Voyage was booked out before the ship was completed!
Queen Victoria was christened by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwell.
She became the first Cunard Queen to have the misfortune of the christening Champagne bottle not breaking when released against the bow, oops.
You can track the whereabouts of Cunard's Queen Victoria by clicking here Queen Victoria Location
For reviews and comments on the Queen Victoria information can be found here
Bon Voyage!
Till next time.