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The MS ''Queen Victoria'' (''QV'') is a new Cruise Ship under construction for the Cunard Steamship Lines at the Fincantieri ship yard near Venice, Italy . It will be completed in 2007 , and is due to make its Maiden Voyage in on December 11 of that year. The ''Queen Victoria'' is of the same basic design as other Vista class passenger vessels, but more in keeping with Cunard's interior style. At 90,000 Ton s, it will be the second largest Cunard ship ever built, after the ''Queen Mary 2'' . CHARACTERISTICS The ''Queen Victoria'' is to be a running mate to the RMS ''Queen Mary 2'' and RMS ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' . As she is a Cruise Ship and not an Ocean Liner , it is unknown as to whether the ''QV'' will receive RMS (or Royal Mail Ship ) status after completion. Some ship Aficionados have criticised Cunard for naming this ship as a "Cunard Queen"; the designation having previously been reserved for the line's Flagships (''Queen Mary'', ''Queen Elizabeth'', ''Queen Elizabeth 2'', and ''Queen Mary 2''), which were all also ocean liners. In comparison, the ''Queen Victoria'' is neither ocean liner, nor flagship, and has an essentially mass-produced hull and superstructure form. It has been opined that the ''Queen Victoria'' should have borne the name of any of Cunard's previous smaller ships, such as MS ''Mauretania'' , or MS ''Aquitania'' , as was done with the last SS ''Caronia'', which served Cunard between 1999 and 2004. She can carry 3,000 tons of heavy fuel and 150 tons of marine gas oil, consuming 10 tons per hour for maximum output. HISTORY Concept and construction Originally destined to be an addition to the Holland America Line fleet, the order for a Vista class vessel put into Fincantieri was soon transferred by Carnival Corporation (parent company to Holland America, Cunard, and P&O) to Cunard with the intent that the vessel would become the MS ''Queen Victoria''. The keel was laid down at the Fincantieri ship yard in 2003. However, due to restructuring within Carnival Corp., as well as a later decision by Cunard that modifications should be made to the design to bring in certain aspects which had proven successful on the ''Queen Mary 2'', such as decor, junior suites, dining alternatives, promenades, etc., the hull was then designated to become the P&O ship MV ''Arcadia'' . A new ''Queen Victoria'' was subsequently ordered with Fincantieri in 2004, which was 11 meters longer, 5,000 tons heavier, and with an increased passenger capacity of 2,000. Her keel was laid on May 12, 2006. DESIGN Exterior The ''Queen Victoria'''s exterior design closely resembles other Vista class ships built for the Holland America Line , like the MS ''Oosterdam'' , with a wrap-around promenade deck, private balconies, and a retractable glass magrodome over the mid-ship pool. The hull has been built to meet the demands of the Atlantic Ocean , with extra steel added to strengthen key decks and bulkheads, and reinforced, thicker bow plating. Interior As with most newbuild cruise ships, the ''Queen Victoria'''s public rooms are mostly arranged along the lowest public decks of the ship, mainly on 2 Deck and 3 Deck. Unlike the ''Queen Mary 2'', however, there is no central circulation access, the main corridors being to the Starboard side, with the public rooms mostly along the Port . 1 Deck, the lowest passenger deck, holds the lowest level of a three story lobby, as well as of the Royal Court theatre. On 2 Deck can be found the mid-level of the Royal Court theatre, Casino , Golden Lion Pub , Queen's Room, Todd English à La Carte restaurant, Chart Room bar, and lower level of both the library and Britannia restaurant. The top most level of the theatre, Royal Arcade, Midships Lounge, and upper level of the library and dining room are all on 3 Deck, along with a wrap-around exterior promenade. The decks above these contain mostly passenger cabins until 9 Deck on which is the Cunard health club and spa, Winter Garden lounge, Lido Restaurant, and two outdoor pools. On 10 Deck is the Commodore Club, and Hemispheres night club, and the Queen's Grill and Princess Grill, along with their attached lounge, as well as an open courtyard between, are on 11 Deck. Though ''Queen Victoria'' is theoretically a "classless" ship, it has been argued that the ''Queen Mary 2'' and ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' , both of which follow the same practice of separating passengers into different restaurants based on the price of the cabin they booked (the Britannia as "standard" for regular cabins, the Princess Grill as "middle" for those in junior suites, and the Queen's Grill as "superior" for deluxe suite occupants), are actually ships divided into three classes, despite the fact that all other public rooms are used by all passengers equally. Though this situation is similar on the ''QE2'' and ''QM2'', it is further enhanced on the ''QV'' by the fact that "Grill Passengers" (those dining in the Princess Grill or Queen's Grill) also have a private outdoor deck on 11 Deck with the specific name "Grills Terrace." Of note is that the ''QV'''s theatre is the first at sea to have private boxes. As well, she has a Winter Garden lounge with a retractable glass roof and water fountain, and a two storey library with a connecting spiral staircase. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS FOOTNOTES |
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