Here we go again.

September 25, 2003 7:46 PM

Biggest cruise ship ever, the Queen Mary II, launches. Thousands watched as the giant 500 million pound cruise liner, which stretches the length of four football fields, left Saint Nazaire in western France on Thursday for a three-day test run. "We will push it to its maximum power to check that it can achieve 30 knots," said a spokesman for Alstom-Marine. "After that, we'll stop it brutally, and we will go in zigzags to check its stability." Thousands, and not one thought to take a picture.
posted by Poagao (23 comments total)

What are these, chopped liver?
posted by pmurray63 at 7:51 PM on September 25, 2003

I confess: I'm hoping the ship breaks apart spectacularly during those zigzag runs.
posted by aramaic at 7:51 PM on September 25, 2003

I hope they have enough lifeboats on board and stay clear of any and all icebergs.

Why this preoccupation with size? Do people want to forget that they are at sea?
posted by orange swan at 7:55 PM on September 25, 2003

Whoops, I missed the pictures.

And, by some strange coincidence, a huge piece of ice broke off from the Arctic shelf....hmmm.
posted by Poagao at 8:02 PM on September 25, 2003

thousands of seals and sea lions and not one thought to take a picture.
posted by quonsar at 8:09 PM on September 25, 2003

Unsinkable, I say.
posted by samuelad at 8:15 PM on September 25, 2003

To my landlubber eyes, this is not an attractive ship.

I'm just sayin'.
posted by moonbiter at 8:26 PM on September 25, 2003

Is it just me, or is that ship just plain *ugly*? In the pursuit of size and capacity, it seems like architecture - functional beauty - was cast aside.
posted by notsnot at 8:28 PM on September 25, 2003

Oh yeah, she's fugly. Especially compared to her namesake.

'course, she's a cruise ship. not an ocean liner; whadda expect?
posted by keswick at 8:51 PM on September 25, 2003

So, where do I sign up for the betting pool for how long before mass sickness breaks out on it?
posted by piper28 at 9:47 PM on September 25, 2003

My best friend is installing the point of sales systems on this monster in about 6 weeks. It's just the crew and his team. I think that'd be a little scary, such a big ship with so few people on it.

Also the QM2 and the QE2 are sailing together from New York to Southampton starting April 25th.
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:55 PM on September 25, 2003

My best friend is installing the point of sales systems on this monster in about 6 weeks. It's just the crew and his team. I think that'd be a little scary, such a big ship with so few people on it.

Oooooh, sounds like a horror movie...
posted by pmurray63 at 10:10 PM on September 25, 2003

I think that'd be a little scary, such a big ship with so few people on it.

Scary, WolfDaddy? Luxury, more like it! It's the crowds that spoil cruises. Ask your friend if he doesn't need a Portuguese interpreter to go with him and, you know, check the humidors and armchairs in the smoking lounge; the bar stock; the caviar etc, to see if they're up to scratch. I'm prepared to waive my usual fee, seeing that he's your best friend and all.

Talk about the ultimate MeFi get-together!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:38 PM on September 25, 2003

What the heck? That thing looks like some sort of half-ass recovered oil tanker. Shouldn't the "largest cruise ship ever" be some sort of shinning futuristic type deal?

Or perhaps this is the "all you can eat" type of cruise ship - a floating Mall of America, perhaps? Bummer.
posted by wfrgms at 11:25 PM on September 25, 2003

Now compare this to P&O's Oriana....
posted by twine42 at 3:05 AM on September 26, 2003

I think everyone on MeFi should book themselves on for a cruise next february. Just imagine, the whole ship full of rants, trolls and welcoming of various overlords. Now that's my kinda cruise.

Well, that and penelope cruz.
posted by ciderwoman at 3:48 AM on September 26, 2003

I dozed my way through a documentary on the Queen Mary's predecessor the other day. Seems she's always been a bit of an underdog.

Personally I think her old competitor leads in the style stakes too .... if she hadn't of sunk in NYC.
posted by MintSauce at 4:50 AM on September 26, 2003

To my landlubber eyes, this is not an attractive ship

I agree moonbiter. The hull has a nice look to it, but from the deck up, it is plain ugly.
posted by a3matrix at 5:28 AM on September 26, 2003

Is it QMII as in Terminator 2 or is it QMII as in Queen Elizabeth II?
posted by vbfg at 5:54 AM on September 26, 2003

A MeFi cruise. Now that would be interesting. Now, who would get drunk and embarrass himself or herself? Who'd be "visiting" the most staterooms? Who'd get thrown overboard (first)? Who'd get just dunked in the swimming pool? Who'd be making the smoothest moves on the dance floor? The possibilities are endless.
posted by orange swan at 6:52 AM on September 26, 2003

orange - that's true, but unfortunately the answer to all of the questions so far is: Miguel.
posted by soyjoy at 9:26 AM on September 26, 2003

I just can't see Miguel getting thrown overboard. Smooth dance moves I can definitely see.

Oh, and more questions - who would start the most bar fights? Who would win the most bar fights? Who would cheat the most at shuffleboard without getting caught? Who'd be found cuddling in one of the lifeboats? Who would be the nicest to the staff? Who would shortsheet who's bed? Who would do the best version of "Dust in the Wind" on Kareoke night? The most sought-after deck chair would be the one next to the chair belonging to whom?
posted by orange swan at 10:25 AM on September 26, 2003

Who'd have the best balance for the zigzags? Who'd be the one getting seasick and hurling over the side of the boat?
posted by orange swan at 10:36 AM on September 26, 2003