quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:
QE2 replacement? Absolutely. Her name is QUEEN VICTORIA.
Sure there will be other Cunarder's, most likely sisters to QV.

Ernie

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Exactly! People, you have to realize that QM2 is a unique, one-off vessel, designed for the transatlantic trade as well as cruising on the side. There just isn't a big enough market to support more than one true "ocean liner." Any future vessels in the fleet would and should be for deluxe cruising.

After Vickie is running for a year another Vista; call her Queen Anne, based running mate can start up and learn from the original's mistakes.

QE1 was supposed to be a corrected QM1.

Except for the Saxonia, Lucy and Maury, Cunard ships are usually a one off.

It is too soon to have a QE3 as is a Canberra 2.
The beloved matriarchs are still to close in time and space.

quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

Exactly! People, you have to realize that QM2 is a unique, one-off vessel, designed for the transatlantic trade as well as cruising on the side. There just isn't a big enough market to support more than one true "ocean liner." Any future vessels in the fleet would and should be for deluxe cruising.

Rich

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[ 09-28-2007: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Except for the Saxonia, Lucy and Maury, Cunard ships are usually a one off.

]

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Er, actually Cunard is notorious for having the most "clones" afloat of any company in the 20th Century, until Carnival's FANTASY-Class came out in the 1990s. During the 1920s and '30s, Cunard's transatlantic fleet consisted mainly of their identical 'A-Class' and Scythia-Class ships: SCYTHIA, SAMARIA, LACONIA, FRANCONIA, CARINTHIA, ANTONIA, AUSONIA, ANDANIA, ASCANIA, AURANIA, and ALAUNIA.

Only a handful of Cunard's ships were one-offs, notably the biggest and most famous express ships, but those were by no means the bulk of the fleet.

Rich, a favor can you post topics and pics about the
'A-Class' and Scythia-Class ships: SCYTHIA, SAMARIA, LACONIA, FRANCONIA, CARINTHIA, ANTONIA, AUSONIA, ANDANIA, ASCANIA, AURANIA, and ALAUNIA.
I knew they existed but did not know much about them

Thank you

quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

Er, actually Cunard is notorious for having the most "clones" afloat of any company in the 20th Century, until Carnival's FANTASY-Class came out in the 1990s. During the 1920s and '30s, Cunard's transatlantic fleet consisted mainly of their identical
Only a handful of Cunard's ships were one-offs, notably the biggest and most famous express ships, but those were by no means the bulk of the fleet.

Rich

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quote:

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Originally posted by shipsnorway:
[...] From what I hear she will not be a Vista.

[...]

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Mind you that QV is not seen as being a Vista class ship buy Cunard.

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quote:

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Rich, a favor can you post topics and pics about the
'A-Class' and Scythia-Class ships: SCYTHIA, SAMARIA, LACONIA, FRANCONIA, CARINTHIA, ANTONIA, AUSONIA, ANDANIA, ASCANIA, AURANIA, and ALAUNIA.
I knew they existed but did not know much about them

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These ships were not part of the cargo fleet, but rather they made up the bulk of the transatlantic passenger fleet--for every BERENGARIA or QUEEN MARY there were many more smaller, slower, less-famous ships which carried the average traveler.

Here's a great link which gives loads of information and images of Cunard's passenger fleet between the Wars:
Cunard liners

quote:

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Originally posted by shipsnorway:

Like that matters...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ernst:

What I meant is that a sister of QV would not be a contradiction to having heard from Cunard that it will not be a Vista class - QV isn't a Vista class in their official language.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

These ships were not part of the cargo fleet, but rather they made up the bulk of the transatlantic passenger fleet--for every BERENGARIA or QUEEN MARY there were many more smaller, slower, less-famous ships which carried the average traveler.

Rich

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Exactly. That is why I don't understand all the fuss about QV being a clone or just an 'average' cruise ship. Cunard has had all types of ships over the years from large high speed liners, slower medium sized passenger ships to high and mid-range cruise ships-people forget their fun and sun Cunard Princess/Countess of the 1970s and 80s.

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Originally posted by Ernst:
O.K. - what else do you know? Do I understand it right that you do not know more and that you therefore can in principle not exclude a Grand Class?

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

It seems that the vast majority of their past (and even recent) fleet of ships has been swept under the rug by Cunard's marketing department as well as much of the public. Only the glamorous high profile liners are now associated w/Cunard and of course this sells well.

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Cunard marketing has done an excellent job at creating the current Cunard image. Yes it's all about ocean liners, formality, movie stars, heritage, and luxury. Do you think they want to remind you of the CUANRD ADVENTURER or CUNARD COUNTESS? Absolutely not. That is not the image Cunard is portraying. It's one of "liners" and not "cruise ships".

This is exactly the reason people (myself included) are so hard on QUEEN VICTORIA. She is a fine cruise ship to be sure, but she is no ocean liner and Cunard's slogan on every thing they print is "the most famous ocean liners in the world". They even have the slogan service marked. If Cunard ends up with a fleet of Vistas and Grand Class (which is all very likely), the slogan is a farce and they will end up being no different than HAL or Princess (except for QM2 of course).

If there is anyone to blame regarding the skepticism and harshness towards QV, it's Cunard themselves. They created a certain expectation and now they need to live up to it. Surely they have with QE2 and QM2, but the rest remains to be seen.

quote:

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
[...]
It seems that the vast majority of their past (and even recent) fleet of ships has been swept under the rug by Cunard's marketing department as well as much of the public. Only the glamorous high profile liners are now associated w/Cunard and of course this sells well.

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This is why I have problems with how the the term liner is used these days - by far not every liner was a large, fast luxurious superior ship for transatlantic service.

quote:

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Originally posted by shipsnorway:

That's correct, I've given you all I know. Nothing was said about the latter, but I do fear for a Grand class

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quote:

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

...It seems that the vast majority of their past (and even recent) fleet of ships has been swept under the rug by Cunard's marketing department as well as much of the public...

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This is true but there is a comprehensive list of their past fleet buried on the Cunard web site. Here's the
link.

It's been there for a long time and some of the listings of the more recent ships need to be updated.

I would have no problem with that at all. She is a beautiful ship and would make a perfect MAURETANIA or FRANCONIA.

On the other hand, if Cunard ever used a crappy Grand class ship, I would have to abandon them.

quote:

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Originally posted by linerguy:

On the other hand, if Cunard ever used a crappy Grand class ship, I would have to abandon them.

-Russ

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What if Cunard strengthened the bow an added some thickness the hull plating here and there. Then she would be an "ocean liner" right?

In regards to ORIANA (and AURORA), I agree they would make nice Cunarder's. They have an ocean liner look to them, and they are one-off designs which add to their appeal. They seem very "ocean liner" worthy, certainly much more so than a jacked-up Vista or Grand Class.

There's NOTHING that Cunard (or any line for that matter) could do to make the Grand class appealing.

No matter what, they will always look like militant pelicans about to attack,..

And I agree with regards to AURORA as well; I think that she is equally as beautiful as ORIANA.

-Russ

[ 09-28-2007: Message edited by: linerguy ]