On Thursday, September 18, 2008, Cruiseport Boston will bid a fond farewell to an ocean-going royal when Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 makes her final call to the Port of Boston. In her more than 40 years of service, QE2 has made 50 calls to Boston, including 21 overnight calls. Her maiden call to the city was on October 1, 1979, and most recent visit was October 3, 2007. QE2 visited Boston approximately once per year in the fall as part of her annual “Autumn Colors” voyage.
Afternoon viewing festivities will commence at 5:00 p.m. at DCR’s Castle Island in South Boston with fireboat water displays by Massport Fire-Rescue and the Boston Fire Department. As QE2 sails away for the last time, British Deputy Consul-General Chris Henderson will be present for an 11-Round Howitzer Salute by the Massachusetts Army National Guard 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery to be fired from the Lt. John McCorkle Pier.
For those who would like to catch a glimpse of the ship coming into Boston, she will become visible in the harbor at approximately 7:00 a.m. from DCR’s Castle Island in South Boston. Viewing is prohibited from the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal Pier, therefore the best opportunity to see the ship while docked will be from the Summer Street Bridge over the Reserved Channel in South Boston.
QE2 comes to Boston on a 20-day, final voyage to Canada and New England. She will complete her service in November 2008, and relocate to Dubai UAE as a floating hotel and museum at The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island.
QE2 was launched by Her Majesty The Queen on Sept. 20, 1967, and is the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history. She has logged more than 5.6 million nautical miles (equivalent to traveling to the moon and back 13 times), carried more than 2.5 million passengers, undertaken 25 world cruises, and crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times. She is 963 feet long, weighs 70,327 tons, and carries 2800 passengers and crew.
WHERE:
DCR’s Castle Island
South Boston, Massachusetts
WHEN:
Thursday, September, 2008
5:00 p.m.
