MS Queen Victoria

Unlike many previous Cunard ships, Queen Victoria is not a traditional ocean liner, as she does not have heavy plating throughout the hull. However, the bow was constructed with heavier plating to cope with the transatlantic run, and the ship has a high freeboard. The {{RMS|Queen Mary 2||2}} had cost approximately $300,000 US per berth, nearly double that of many contemporary cruise ships, so Cunard made the economic decision to base Queen Victoria on a modified {{sclass2|Vista|cruise ship|2||2002}}, and {{MS|Queen Elizabeth||2}} retains the same design with some minor changes. Nonetheless, Ian McNaught, who was Queen Victoria{{'}}s captain in 2009, has asserted that the ship is a liner based on her classic décor.{{cite web |url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/9013458.html |first=Tom |last=Peters |title=Saltwire | Halifax |work=Halifax Chronicle Herald |date=3 October 2009 }}

An order for a Vista-class vessel was transferred by Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company to Holland America, Cunard and P&O from its Holland America Line to Cunard with the intent that the vessel would become the Queen Victoria{{cite web|url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qv/qv-history/|title=History of Queen Victoria|date=4 February 2015 }} Fincantieri laid down the keel in 2003, but Carnival reassigned the hull again to become the P&O ship {{MV|Arcadia|2004|2}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qv/qv-history/|title=Queen Victoria|work=Chris' Cunard Page|access-date=16 February 2010 }}

The new Queen Victoria ordered from Fincantieri in 2004 was {{convert|11|m|ftin}} longer, 5,000 tons larger, with an increased passenger capacity of 2,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.ayrshirescotland.com/ships/253queenvictoria.html|title=Queen Victoria information|access-date=14 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430032510/http://www.ayrshirescotland.com/ships/253queenvictoria.html|archive-date=30 April 2008}} and features which had proved successful on Queen Mary 2. The keel was laid on 12 May 2006. Eighty prefabricated steel "blocks", each complete with interior structure, cabling, and ducts, and each weighing 325 tons, were then added. The completed hull with superstructure was floated out on 15 January 2007, after having a bottle of Prosecco smashed against her side by Maureen Ryan, a Cunard employee who has served on all four "Cunard Queens".{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/search/display.var.1125362.0.victoria_new_queen_of_the_sea.php |author=Hamilton, Keith |publisher=Southern Daily Echo |title=Victoria – new queen of the sea |date=16 January 2007 |access-date=14 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205095621/http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/search/display.var.1125362.0.victoria_new_queen_of_the_sea.php |archive-date=5 December 2007 |url-status=dead }} The ceremony also saw the traditional placing of coins on the mast – in this case a Euro and a gold Queen Victoria sovereign were welded beneath the radar mast.{{cite press release |url=http://www.cunard.co.uk/news/default.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6505&Active=News|title=Ceremonies mark the float out of the world's newest queen ocean liner |publisher=Cunard Line |date=15 January 2007|access-date=14 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210081407/http://www.cunard.co.uk/news/default.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6505&Active=News|archive-date=10 December 2007}}

Queen Victoria departed the Port of Venice on 24 August 2007 to commence her sea trials,{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/OurShips/default.asp?Ship=QV&main=int&sub=his|title=Queen Victoria: The Story So Far|publisher=Cunard Line}} and, after handover to Cunard, arrived in Southampton, United Kingdom, to fanfare and media attention on 7 December; much of the coverage was focused on the ship's superlatives, and represented Queen Victoria as "Cunard's most luxurious ship."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7132211.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=New liner arrives in Southampton|date=7 December 2007|access-date=14 May 2008}} The same day, the ship was officially named by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, continuing the tradition of Cunard "Queens" being named by royalty.{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6779&Active=News |publisher=Cunard Line |title=Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall To Name Cunard's New Queen Victoria |work=Press releases |date=10 September 2007 |access-date=14 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013190352/http://cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6779&Active=News |archive-date=13 October 2007 }} The bottle of champagne failed to break upon impact with Queen Victoria{{'}}s hull, which according to nautical superstition is a bad omen.Eyers, Jonathan (2011). Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical Myths and Superstitions. A&C Black, London, UK. {{ISBN|978-1-4081-3131-2}}. However, a backup bottle was immediately successful.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/12/a-royal-welcome.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080222145741/http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/12/a-royal-welcome.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2008|author=Sloan, Gene|work=USA Today|title=A royal launch for Cunard's Queen Victoria|date=10 December 2007|access-date=14 May 2008}}

Captain Paul Wright was appointed as the first master of Queen Victoria in October 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.co.uk/news/default.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6290&Active=News|publisher=Cunard Line|work=Press releases|title=First Master Appointed for Queen Victoria|date=6 October 2006|access-date=14 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210225152/http://www.cunard.co.uk/news/default.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6290&Active=News|archive-date=10 December 2007}} Captain Christopher Rynd became secondary master. Captain Ian McNaught{{Cite web |url=http://wearecunard.com/2009/05/queen-victoria%E2%80%99s-master-captain-ian-mcnaught/ |title=We Are Cunard: Interview with Captain Ian McNaught |access-date=12 July 2010}} briefly commanded Queen Victoria before transferring to Seabourn.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/captain-greybeard/2010/01/qe2s-master-moves-to-seabourn.html |title=Captain Greybeard : QE2 Captain Moves to Seabourn}}

Queen Victoria undertook her maiden voyage, a 10-day cruise to northern Europe, on 11 December 2007. Following this and a cruise to the Canary Islands, Queen Victoria embarked on her first world cruise, circumnavigating the globe in 107 days. (The first ship to have previously done so—also named {{ship||Victoria|ship|2}}—took 1,153 days in 1519 to 1522.) The first leg of this voyage was a tandem crossing of the Atlantic with Queen Elizabeth 2, to New York City, where the two ships met Queen Mary 2 near the Statue of Liberty on 13 January 2008, with a celebratory fireworks display, marking the first time three Cunard "Queens" had been present in the same location. Cunard declared that this would also be the only time the three ships would ever meet,{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous |publisher=Cunard Line |title=Royal Rendezvous |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=14 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426224143/http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous/ |archive-date=26 April 2008 }} owing to the QE2's impending retirement from service in late 2008,{{cite press release|url=http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6656&Active=News |publisher=Cunard Line |title=QE2 To Leave Cunard Fleet And Be Sold To Dubai World To Begin A New Life at the Palm |date=18 June 2007 |access-date=20 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706160214/http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6656&Active=News |archive-date=6 July 2007 }} though the ships did meet again in Southampton on 22 April 2008, resulting from a change in Queen Elizabeth 2{{'}}s schedule.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7360081.stm|title=Three 'Queens' in final meeting|publisher=BBC News|date=22 April 2008|access-date=14 May 2008}}

In May 2008, Queen Victoria struck a pier in Malta after her thrusters malfunctioned. However the damage was minimal, allowing the ship to continue operating, but repairs resulted in her missing a port of call in La Goulette.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=49846804.blog|work=USA Today|title=Cunard's Queen Victoria crashes into dock in Malta|access-date=14 May 2008|first=Gene|last=Sloan}}

Queen Victoria completed her third world cruise in 2010 when she was joined by Captain Chris Wells, who was aboard to familiarise himself with the Vista-class ship before taking command of Queen Elizabeth in late 2010. During a call at Sydney, Queen Victoria was illuminated in pink in support of breast cancer research.{{Cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/cruise-ship-to-turn-pink-for-charity-20100218-ohsn.html |title=Cruise Ship Turns Pink For Charity |access-date=18 February 2010 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=18 February 2010}} On 9 December 2010 Cunard announced its first female captain, Faroese-born Inger Klein Olsen,{{Cite web |url=http://www.dimma.fo/index.asp?t=a&i=E84167D2-70B1-409B-B4EC-0B03C67E637C |title=Inger er blivin skipari á Queen Victoriu |language=fo |access-date=12 December 2010 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} who took command of Queen Victoria on 15 December.{{cite web|url=http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/09/women-gaining-a-little-ground-as-cruise-ship-captains/|title=Women gaining (a little) ground as cruise ship captains|publisher=Gadling|date=9 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}

File:QV in Southampton.JPG At the end of October 2011 Queen Victoria and her fleet mates changed their registries to Hamilton, Bermuda, to host weddings on board. Also the word "Southampton" across the stern was replaced by Hamilton.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4634|title=It's Official: Cunard Re-flags Ships in Bermuda, Launches Weddings at Sea – Cunard Line – Cruise Critic|work=Cruise Critic|access-date=27 September 2015}}

In January 2011, two years after the first Cunard Royal Rendezvous, on the same date, Queen Mary 2 met up with both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth for another Royal Rendezvous in New York City on 13 January 2011. Both the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth made a tandem crossing of the Atlantic for the event. All three ships met in front of the Statue of Liberty at 6:45 pm for a Grucci fireworks display. The Empire State Building was lit up in red to mark the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iconic-cunard-line-queens-to-meet-for-historic-royal-rendezvous-in-new-york-harbour-on-13-january-111554089.html|title=Iconic Cunard Line Queens to Meet for Historic Royal Rendezvous in New York Harbour on 13 January|publisher=PR New Wire|date=8 December 2010|access-date=4 October 2015}} In March 2011 Queen Victoria passed the former Cunard retired ocean liner {{RMS|Queen Mary||2}} for the first time. The Queen Mary is permanently docked in Long Beach, California and operated as a hotel.[http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous Cunard ships rendezvous] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426224143/http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous/ |date=26 April 2008 }}

On 5 June 2012 all three Queens met again but this time in Southampton to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/5207-3711-cunard-line-announces-2012-2013-deployment.html|title=Cunard Line Announces 2012-2013 Deployment|work=cruiseindustrynews.com|date=7 March 2011|access-date=27 September 2015}}

On 6 May 2014 all three Queens met up for the first time in Lisbon, Portugal, in preparation for Queen Mary 2's 10th birthday. All three on departure sailed in a one-line formation to Southampton.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} On 9 May both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria led in single file, Queen Mary 2 up the Southampton channel, with both ships docking in a bow to bow formation performing a birthday salute to Queen Mary 2. Later on, all three sisters gather for a fireworks display in which Queen Mary 2 led the vessels back down the channel.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/10818571/Pictures-of-the-day-9-May-2014.html?frame=2906055 |title=Pictures of the day|date= 9 May 2014|work=The Telegraph|access-date=4 October 2015}}

File:MS Queen Victoria, River Mersey (geograph 4493129).jpg, on 25 May 2015, after the Cunard 175 celebration]]

On 25 May 2015 the three "Queens" were at Liverpool celebrating 175 years of the formation of the Cunard Line, which was formed and based in the city. At low tide, the three ships stopped in line in the middle of the River Mersey, bow to stern, manoeuvred 180 degrees in full synchronisation with each other, which was described as a river dance, and then formed an arrow side by side. Queen Mary 2 was in the centre with her bow in line with the Cunard Building at the Pier Head. The Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatics team performed a flypast in Vic formation, emitting red, white and blue smoke, over the vessels. An estimated 1.3 million people lined the river banks to witness the spectacle.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/three-queens-eyes-world-liverpool-9331285|title=Three Queens: Eyes of the world on Liverpool for Cunard's 175th anniversary |work=Liverpool Echo|date=26 May 2015 |access-date=29 May 2015}}

Queen Victoria{{'}}s exterior design closely resembles that of Vista-class ships built for various cruise companies.

A feature which distinguishes her from her younger fleet mate, Queen Elizabeth, is the more angled sloping stern, as compared to the newer ship's vertical one. In addition to this she lacks the covered games deck above the bridge, a feature which is present on the Queen Elizabeth.

File:QV sculpture on board copy.JPG

Queen Victoria{{'}}s public rooms are mainly located on the lower-level public decks of the ship, 2 Deck and 3 Deck. Unlike Queen Mary 2, however, there is no central circulation access, the main corridors being to the port side. The ship does have the similar grand lobby staircase with an artwork feature as on the Queen Mary ships, a relief portrait of the ship situated on the staircase sculpted by British sculptor John McKenna.

1 Deck, the lowest passenger deck, holds the lowest level of a three-storey stairwell lobby, as well as of the Royal Court Theatre. On 2 Deck can be found the mid-level of the Royal Court Theatre, casino, Golden Lion Pub, Queen's Room, Verandah à la carte restaurant, Chart Room bar, and lower level of both the library and Britannia Restaurant. The topmost level of the theatre, Royal Arcade, Midships Lounge, and upper level of the library and formal dining room are all on 3 Deck, along with a wrap-around exterior promenade. The decks above these contain mostly passenger cabins until 9 Deck, on which are the Cunard Health Club and spa, Winter Garden lounge, Lido Restaurant, and two outdoor pools. On 10 Deck is the Commodore Club, Churchill Lounge (for smokers) and Yacht Club{{cite web |url=http://maritimematters.com/2017/08/queen-victoria-refurbished/ |title=QUEEN VICTORIA refurbished | Maritime Matters | Cruise and Maritime News |website=maritimematters.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802124917/http://maritimematters.com/2017/08/queen-victoria-refurbished/ |archive-date=2 August 2017 |url-status=dead}} nightclub. The Queen's Grill and Princess Grill, with their attached lounge and an open courtyard between, are on 11 Deck.

The Queen Victoria operates similarly to both the Queen Mary 2 and the former Queen Elizabeth 2, both of which follow the same practice of separating passengers into different restaurants based on the price of the cabin they booked (the Britannia as standard for regular cabins, the Princess Grill as middle for those in junior suites, and the Queen's Grill as superior for deluxe suite occupants), are actually ships divided into three classes, despite the fact that all other public rooms are used by all passengers equally. Though this situation is similar on Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2, it is further enhanced on Queen Victoria by the fact that Grill Passengers (those dining in the Princess Grill or Queen's Grill) also have two private outdoor areas on 10 and 11 Decks with the specific name "Grills Terrace", a feature which also appears on Queen Mary 2 at the aft section of 10 Deck.

Queen Victoria{{'}}s theatre is the first at sea to have private boxes. There is also has a Winter Garden lounge with a retractable glass roof and a two-story library with a connecting spiral staircase.

In May 2017, Queen Victoria underwent a second major overhaul, which added new cabins aft, as well as refurbishing other spaces and adding new dining facilities. The modifications saw the passenger capacity increase to 2,081 from 1,988.{{cite web | url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7646 | title=Cunard Releases Details of Queen Victoria Cruise Ship Refit | publisher=Cruise Critic | date=15 March 2017 | access-date=15 July 2017}}

Changes included a new Britannia Club restaurant,{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fIsAj8B-oY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2fIsAj8B-oY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title=Queen Victoria Britannia Club| via=YouTube |author=Chris Frame | date=2 August 2017 | access-date=2 August 2017}}{{cbignore}} updated Chartroom, refreshed Winter Garden, refreshed Yacht Club and new outdoor pool area.{{cite web | url=http://maritimematters.com/2017/08/queen-victoria-refurbished | title=Queen Victoria Refurbished | publisher=Maritime Matterz |author=Chris Frame | date=2 August 2017 | access-date=2 August 2017}}

Queen Victoria can carry 3,000 tons of heavy fuel and 150 tons of marine gas oil, consuming 12 tons per hour for maximum output. Although the ship burns heavy fuel, it uses low-sulphur fuel in certain jurisdictions.

On Queen Victoria's 21 December 2007 voyage, 122 guests and 11 crew on board contracted norovirus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cunard-confirms-Norovirus-outbreak-on-Queen-of-Victoria|title=Cunard confirms Norovirus outbreak on Queen of Victoria: Travel Weekly|website=travelweekly.com|access-date=2019-12-30}} It was officially attributed to a guest who had already contracted the virus prior to boarding the ship. The outbreak was also popularly attributed to the Duchess of Cornwall's initial failure to break the champagne bottle during the ship's christening, which is a bad omen in naval tradition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-queenvictoria20jan20-story.html|title=The Queen Victoria cruise ship a queen, all the same|date=2008-01-20|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-12-30}} While most recovered, 30 were still reported to be ill at that time.

This was not reported on the CDC's website, which recorded three more norovirus outbreaks on the ship's 4 January 2010, 12 January 2010, and 21 February 2018 voyages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm|title=Cruise Ship Outbreak Updates {{!}} Vessel Sanitation Program {{!}} CDC|date=2019-11-25|website=cdc.gov|access-date=2019-12-30}}

On 14 May 2008, on Queen Victoria's first visit to Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta, the throttles malfunctioned during berthing, resulting in the vessel colliding with the pier. She remained in port for an extra night whilst repairs were carried out to the stern.

On 27 April 2022, the passenger ferry {{ship|MV|European Causeway||2}} suffered a complete power loss just off the coast of Larne, Northern Ireland The Royal National Lifeboat Institution dispatched three lifeboats to the vessel's location, a coastguard helicopter was dispatched and the Queen Victoria was asked to stand by to assist if required. European Causeway recovered power after roughly two hours adrift and continued the voyage to Larne under her own power, escorted by the lifeboats, while Queen Victoria continued on her way.{{cite web |last1=Meighan |first1=Craig |title=P&O ferry European Causeway travelling from Cairnryan loses power near Larne |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20094940.p-o-ferry-european-causeway-travelling-cairnryan-loses-power-near-larne/ |website=The National |access-date=5 May 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book|editor-last=Bond|editor-first=Mary|title=Queen Victoria: a classic Cunard liner for the 21st century|date=2007|publisher=Seatrade Communications|location=Colchester, UK|oclc=691276976}}
• {{cite book|last=Dawson|first=Philip|title=Queen Victoria: a celebration of tradition for twenty-first century ocean travel|date=2010|publisher=Lily Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781906608231}}
• {{cite book|last1=Frame|first1=Chris|last2=Cross|first2=Rachelle|title=Queen Victoria: a photographic journey|date=2010|publisher=The History Press|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK|isbn=9780752452982}}
• {{cite book|last=Miller|first=William H.|title=Cunard's Three Queens: a celebration|date=2009|publisher=Amberley Publications|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK|isbn=9781848683648}}
• {{Plowman-Aust Cruise Ships}}
• {{Saunders-Giants of the Seas}}
• {{cite book|last=Schwerdtner|first=Nils|title=The Cunard Queens: Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria|date=2008|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK|isbn=9781848320109}}
• {{cite book|last=Schwerdtner|first=Nils|title=The New Cunard Queens: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth|date=2011|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK|isbn=9781848321069}}
• {{Smith-Cruise Ships-2010}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons category|IMO 9320556}}

• [http://www.cunard.com/Ships/Queen-Victoria/ Cunard Line: Queen Victoria – official site]
• [http://www.traveller.com.au/downton-on-the-high-seas-gnqfyp "On board Queen Victoria's exclusive cruise"] – review in [http://www.traveller.com.au/ traveller.com.au] (Fairfax Media) of a cruise on Queen Victoria
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/cruise-ships/14807/Cunard-Queen-Victoria.html Queen Victoria] – review by Douglas Ward in The Daily Telegraph, London.
• [http://chriscunard.com/qv/ Queen Victoria Pages at Chris' Cunard Page]

{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen Victoria}}

Category:Ships of the Cunard Line

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Category:Ships built in Venice

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