Queen Mary 2

Last evening we attended the most spectacular event. Real and Nicole invited us to go to Old Quebec City and the Port of Quebec to see the arrival of the cruise ship Queen Mary 2 as there was going to be a big party for the arrival.

A few quick facts - the Queen Mary 2 had its maiden voyage in January 2004. It cost 800 million Euros (about one billion US dollars), can carry 3,090 passengers and a crew of 1,254. It is the biggest, longest, highest cruise ship of all time. It is longer than 4 football fields and is 23 floors high. Its energizing power station produces enough electricity to illuminate a city of 200,000 people and has complete internet access.

The ship was to arrive some time around 5:30 p.m., and we were there with thousands of others by 3 p.m. The city had arranged parking at some distance away with free shuttle service to the port. All this was handled very efficiently. (The next morning, we learned that over 10,000 people were there to greet the Queen Mary 2.)

It was one of the most interesting evenings. While we waited among this huge crowd, people were talking to each other--complete strangers. Laughing, giving information about what was to happen, discussing so many things. At about 5 p.m., two pilot boats and a tug left the harbor and the band started playing. In about 15 minutes, we began to see the ship enter the harbor.

It was a sight to see with over 80 personal motor boats, sailboats, ski-doos, cabin cruisers all out in the harbor on either side of the Queen Mary and at least a half dozen planes and helicopters flying overhead. It took over 45 minutes for the ship to get to the dock, turn around 360 degrees, and fully dock under its own control.

During this time from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., the city was giving all of us free hot dogs and soda. There was a small open air amphitheater and they had such an efficient set up that no matter what line you went to, at most there might be three people in front of you. Another amazing thing is that everyone threw their napkins, cans, and paper holder for the hot dog in the garbage bags, and I did not see any garbage whatsoever on the sidewalks and boardwalks. The city had people stationed to change garbage bags as soon as they were full, and others were milling in the crowds with large garbage bags for folks to put their paper and soda cans in. I have never seen crowds this size handled so well. The most thrilling part came about 7:30 p.m. when the ship was docked and they were setting up for a walkway to connect to the ship. The passengers were all out on deck and the lights of the city were ablaze as were lights on both sides of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and then the people on the dock started clapping, whistling, cheering, and waving flags. In response the passengers began to clap, whistle, cheer, and wave anything they could get hold of.

This cheering when on and off for over 45 minutes. It just sent chills up my spine. I could not imagine how these passengers must have felt coming into the harbor with all these small boats out to greet them, and then seeing a sea of people out to welcome them.

Another remarkable thing is that there was zero visible security. Quebequers are not in fear of terrorist attacks like we would be in the US. We were told that there is usually great security around this ship and that in most ports you cannot get close, but that was not the case in Quebec City. The first row of people where literally at the docks edge. The passengers and dock visitors could yell to one another and be heard. At one point, a passenger called out is so and so there, and the crowd yelled back yes--even though they had no idea who this person was. This set off a great deal of laughter and smiles.

At one point, we were standing at about the middle of the ship length. In my field of vision, I could not see the top and waterline of the ship at the same time, and I could not see the bow and stern at the same time. There was a large condo building nearby and the ship was taller than this building of many floors.

It was a grand evening, and when we decided to leave to catch the shuttle back to the parking lot, we turned and saw Old Quebec City all in lights and there was the Chateau Frontenac which is a hotel that looks like a castle in the upper city with all its splendor shining bright. This would be our last day in Quebec City. What an ending!