It was a tense moment on the bridge as Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth arrived in Monte Carlo for the first time last week. On her maiden Mediterranean voyage, high winds were threatening to ruin the day for the 2,000 guests hoping to go ashore for a flutter in the casino, a spending spree in the famous name shops, or to visit the cathedral and see the white marble grave of Princess Grace.
The ship’s master, Chris Wells, and staff captain Hamish Sunter were determined to bring the 92,000-ton vessel alongside in Port Hercule, which is packed with some of the most expensive and glamorous private yachts in the world. Tendering passengers ashore would not have been an option in the conditions. It really was a case of Monte Carlo or bust.
And they made it. Once the ship was safely tied up, chief photographer Peter Pecanac hitched a lift with a group of passengers who were going on a helicopter ride over the principality, and came back with this amazing picture.
The tiny version here does not do it justice. Go to Entertainment Director Alastair Greener’s blog and click on the image there to see it in all its glory.
Queen Elizabeth returns to Southampton on Monday (November 8) and then sets off on a sold-out 18-night round trip to the Adriatic and the Aegean, making maiden visits to Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi and Athens. After that she sails on a five-night mini-cruise to Amsterdam, Zeebrugge and Cherbourg before I am due to join her on December 1 for a run down to Gran Canaria. Can’t wait.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
It’s a great photograph but I thought there was two liners in the picture looking at your small version. When I looked at the big one I could see that the other one is an office block even though it looks like it has a red funnel the same as Queen Elizabeth. What does that say about the design of the ship?
What an extraordinary photo. The ship looks as though it could almost fit the entire population of Monte Carlo on board – which as the town has only3,000 people it probably can. The ships photographer has managed a once in a lifetime image – superb .
I was on board and that’s not exactly what happened, the captain told us the night before on departure from Barcelona that if the weather stayed fine he would be bringing us alongside. The bad weather came in during the day which would have made tendering impossible. Full marks to the captain for getting her out again in high winds at 11 o clock that night. The passengers who stood ondeck and watched were very impressed