Queenie

Giles + I had to go out with the rest of Sydney, to see the royal boat.

Some facts (do your own conversions because I like the old country speak)...

• Owned by Cunard who according to them have "Advancing civilization since 1840";
• Length: 1,132 feet;
• Beam: 135 feet;
• Beam at Bridge Wings: 147.5 feet;
• Draft: 32 feet 10 inches;
• Height (Keel to Funnel): 236.2 feet;
• Gross Tonnage: Approximately 151,400 gross tonnes;
• Guest Capacity: 2,592 lower berths; 3,056 maximum capacity (Including 3rd & 4th berths);
• Crew: 1,253;
• Cruise Speed: 28.5 Knots;
• Power: 157,000 horsepower, environmentally friendly, gas turbine/diesel electric plant;
• Propulsion: Four pods of 21.5 MW each; 2 fixed and 2 azimuthing
• Strength: Extra thick steel hull for strength & stability for Transatlantic Crossings (no iceberg claims here - touch wood)
• Stabilisers: Two sets
• Cost: Estimated $800 million

The Queen Mary 2 docked at Garden Island

In 1839, Queen Victoria awarded Samuel Cunard the first ever licence to deliver mail across the Atlantic, proudly granting his steam ship the honoured title RMS (Royal Mail Steamer).

My eyes are close for some reason

Giles + Queenie (The QM2)

Compare this...

• QM2 is five times longer than Cunard's first ship, Britannia (230 ft.)
• QM2 is 113 feet longer than the original Queen Mary
• QM2 is more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall (550 ft.)
• QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 ft.)
• QM2 is more than 3½ times as long as Westminster Tower (Big Ben) is high (310 ft.)
• QM2 is only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall (1248 ft.)
• QM2 is more than three times as long as St. Paul's Cathedral is tall (366 ft.)
• QM2 is as long as 41 double-decker London buses (31½ ft. each)
• QM2's whistle is audible for 10 miles