Cruising to Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island has a multi-faceted appeal and thus is one of my favorite cruise destinations.

Of course, Newport is known for its Gilded Age mansions. Built during the later half of the 19^th century and the early 20^th century by people with vast fortunes, these buildings are extraordinary. Their owners commissioned the best architects of the day and so they are interesting from an architectural standpoint. They also crammed them with fine art and furnishings and so they are interesting from an artistic standpoint as well. Then the fact that they were used only for a few weeks each summer and were known as “cottages” hints at the opulence of the strange society that inhabited them. Thus, the are interesting sociologically as well.

Then there is a large section of town that is made up of colonial and early American buildings. There are so many in fact that the whole district is a National Historical Landmark. Here again, you have architecture and history but much different than the mansions.

Newport is also famous for its yachting and sailing. Indeed, all the masts of the sailboats anchored in the harbor make it look like some strange forest that has lost its foliage. You have the heritage of a half century of hosting the America's Cup races but you also have the relaxed summer atmosphere of its seaside restaurants and shops.

There is also the military connection. Newport is the home of the Naval War College. It also has Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortification in the United States.

Although Newport is called a city, it really has the feel of a large town. You can walk just about anyplace - - tree-lined streets, parks, along the cliffs that border the sea on one side and the mansions on the other.

Thus, Newport is not the kind of port where you can say “I've seen it all” with just one visit. It has the ingredients to sustain multiple visits.

Beyondship's illustrated guide to Newport, Rhode Island begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination---newport.html

Talking with the Captain, Hotel Manager and Entertainment Director on Queen Mary 2

During the last couple of years, Cunard Line, and its flagship Queen Mary 2 in particular, have seen the retirement of a substantial number of senior officers including Commodore Bernard Warner, Captain Paul Wright, Captain Nick Bates and Hotel Manager John Duffy. It is also my understanding that Entertainment Director Ray Rouse is now semi-retired. Those familiar with the Cunard world know that these people played a significant part in bringing the Queen Mary 2 into service and shaping the on board experience.

Now they have been succeeded by a new generation of leaders. Some of them have only been with Cunard a relatively short time. However, it is now their responsibility to take Queen Mary 2 into the future.

This is a more difficult task than taking over the leadership of any other major passenger ship. Queen Mary 2 was built as a transatlantic liner and although she does other types of voyages, her mainstay is the crossing between New York and Southampton, England. Whereas at one time hundreds of ships were making this journey on a regular basis, only one ship makes regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings today. The question that constantly haunts Cunard is whether there is enough of a market for such voyages to even sustain one ship.

The direct crossings on Queen Mary 2 are different than the transatlantic re-positioning cruises that cruise ships moving from the Caribbean to Europe or vice versa do during the Spring and Fall. On a direct crossing, there are no port days. Thus, the focus of the voyage is on what happens onboard, not on the ports. In addition, it is a shorter voyage than the re-positionings even though with the high cost of fuel, Cunard has lengthened its crossings in recent years to reduce fuel consumption.

Queen Mary 2 was designed with such differences in mind. The ship is geared for sea days, with facilities and programming to occupy your time fully. Furthermore, the ship was designed to withstand whatever weather she may encounter on the Atlantic and still proceed at speed and in comfort.

There is a core of people who love the traditional crossings and their elegance. Consequently, Cunard has a very high number of repeat passengers. However, in order to sustain the ship, it must also attract other vacationers and holiday-makers.

Thus, Cunard must balance preserving tradition with providing the type of onboard experience that contemporary travelers seek in an ocean voyage. Queen Mary 2's predecessor, Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) managed to tread this tightrope for nearly 40 years. As one who traveled on QE2 many times, I can attest that she constantly evolved throughout her career.

I recently met with some of the new generation of Queen Mary 2's senior officers and asked them about their vision for taking the ship forward. As noted earlier, even though some have only been with the line for a relatively short amount of time, I was struck by their commitment to preserving the Cunard heritage, which goes back some 170 years. At the same time, they recognized the need to move forward. But changes will be done in a keeping with the Cunard style, not by merely copying whatever becomes popular on other ships.

Beyondships interview with Captain Kevin Oprey is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-captain-oprey-interview.html

Our interview with Hotel Manager Robert Howie is at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-howie-interview.html

And our talk with Entertainment Director Keith Maynard is at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-maynard-interview.html

We have also updated our Queen Mary 2 section with new daily programs and with new photos so that the photo tour of the ship reflects the changes that were made in the 2011 refit. http://beyondships.com/QM2.html

Queen Mary 2 videos

 I was recently on a cruise during which Queen Mary 2 was with us in three of the ports as well as when we embarked from New York. It was interesting to watch the reaction of the passengers on the ship that I was on each time they saw QM2. People would stop and make some comment like: “Is that the Queen Mary?” And then they would pause for awhile just to watch. It was a recognition that this was something special that you could tell your friends and family about - - “I saw the Queen Mary 2.”

Cunard's QM2 is an imposing sight. At 150,000 gross tons, she is much larger than the majority of today's cruise ships. Also her sleek streamlined silhouette has a traditional grace and beauty.

But the thing that stops people in their tracks is the fact that Queen Mary 2 is heir to a tradition that goes back some 170 years. She is the only true ocean liner providing regularly scheduled transatlantic service. As such, she follows in a tradition of such legendary ships as the original Queen Mary, the Normandie, the France, the United States and most recently, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).

These ships became legendary not just because of their technology but as the epitome of luxury. They captured the public's imagination with images of movie stars, royalty and the rich and famous mingling in beautiful surroundings.

Queen Mary 2 brings that image into the modern era. Leaving QE2 aside, the luxury on the historic ships was pretty much limited to first class. On Queen Mary 2, everyone can participate. (One of the myths that has arisen about QM2 is that she is a two-class ship. She is not. There are separate dining rooms for passengers traveling in the suites but other than that every passenger pretty much can go anywhere any other passenger can go. There is actually more separation of passengers on some of today's cruise ships than there is on QM2).

This ship is also technologically unique. In order to be able to handle any weather that might confront her during an Atlantic crossing, the ship was built to be strong and powerful. Although she is rarely called upon to do so, she can reach speeds of up to 30 knots. In addition, I have been on her in tremendous storms during which the dining rooms were nonetheless full of passengers. That is a testament to her stability.

Another thing that makes QM2 interesting is that she does varied itineraries. Her mainstay, of course, is the transatlantic crossing between New York and Southampton but she also turns up in the Norwegian fjords, in the Caribbean, circling the British Isles, in Germany, Australia, and on the Canada & New England run. When she does appear, the reaction is always the same: people stop and stare. Indeed, there have been instances in Hamburg and in Australia where they came in the thousands just to have a look.

I've put together several new videos on Queen Mary 2. The first is an introductory piece with video of the ship sailing and a slideshow of the ship's public areas – theaters, restaurants, bars and lounges etc. It is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-video-review.html

The other two videos will primarily be of interest to QM2 fans. One shows the ship sailing into Halifax, Nova Scotia and maneuvering into her berth. It is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-arrives-video.html

The third video is the flip side of the second one. Filmed some eight hours after the arrival shown above, this video shows QM2 leaving her berth and going out to sea. In it, you can hear Queen Mary 2's fabulous deep fog horns. The video is at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-departs-video.html

Cruise destination Portland Maine; Lighthouses Photos and Video

With the coming of fall, many cruisers are taking or thinking of a cruise to Canada and New England. The leaves are starting to turn color in that region and there is something refreshing about being out in the crisp air in a place of such scenic beauty. Accordingly, cruise ships gather each fall in the embarkation ports of the northeastern United States for their annual fall foliage cruises.

It should be noted at the outset that it is very difficult to time it so that your cruise matches the height of the fall colors. The time when the leaves are at their height varies each year as a result of temperature, rainfall amounts and other conditions. But while the changing leaves can be indeed breathtaking, the good news is that the scenic beauty of this region goes beyond the leaves. In fact, in my opinion, the cruises earlier in the season are usually nicer because the weather is usually warmer and so it is more pleasant to be outside viewing the scenery.

The state of Maine is in the heart of this region. Relatively undeveloped, it is known for its forests which come down to its rocky coastline, its lighthouses and, of course, for its lobster.

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Most cruise ships call at either Bar Harbor or at Portland. Some call in both ports because they are quite different experiences. Bar Harbor is a small town on an offshore island that is dominated by the Acadia National Park. It was once a summer playground of wealthy Americans but now its unspoiled charm is accessible to all. Beyondships' photo guide to Bar Harbor begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Bar-Harbor.html

Portland is Maine's largest city and has been a major port since Colonial days. However, during the second half of the 20^th century, many of its traditional businesses declined to moved elsewhere. As a result, Portland had to re-invent itself - - something that it has had to do several times in the past due to war and natural catastrophes. The city which has emerged is quite tourist friendly with restaurants, art galleries and interesting shops as well as places of historical interest. Beyondship's new photo guide to Portland begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination---portland.html

As mentioned earlier, one of the things that Maine is known for is its lighthouses. These lonely sentinels standing at the edge of the sea have a unique romantic appeal. Consequently, many travelers to Bar Harbor and to Portland choose to visit some of the area's lighthouses. I've put together a photo essay showing some of the lighthouses that can be visited in both ports. http://www.beyondships2.com/lighthouses-in-maine.html

One lighthouse that just about everyone has seen is Portland Head Light. Standing on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Casco Bay, Portland Head Light has been the subject of numerous paintings and photographs. It is the classic image of a lighthouse. However, while the image is well-known, one thing that struck me about visiting Portland Head Light in person was how much the image was enhanced by the sight and the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below the lighthouse. Therefore, I have put together a short video in which you can hear and see the power of the waves. It is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/video-the-portland-head-light.html