QE2: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
Fifty years ago the last British-built transatlantic liner was launched. Christened by HM the Queen on 20 September 1967, the 963ft-long vessel was named Queen Elizabeth 2. By the end of that same day, she was already known by her famous nickname: QE2. Fast, smart and sleek, QE2 sailed over 5.6 million miles and carried more than 2.5 million passengers during a magnificent career spanning nearly forty years. Put simply, she carried more people further than any ship before her and remains the longest serving express liner in history. Having sailed both as a liner and as a cruise ship, served her country in the Falklands conflict and undergone multiple makeovers, she also has one of the most fascinating histories of any vessel and remains one of the best loved and most celebrated. With stories from captains, crew and passengers, and an unparalleled collection of photographs, Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross bring the majestic QE2 to life in this commemorative tribute.
Maritime historians Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross have had a passion for ocean liners and cruise ships for most of their lives. Together they have written over a dozen books as well as countless articles and feature stories for both magazines and newspapers. Both authors have appeared on television news speaking about cruising, while Chris has featured as a history expert on TV and radio including the BBC, Sky News and ABC. Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross are authors of The Photographic Journey series and several books in the Story Series, as well as other popular titles including A Photographic History of P&O Cruises, A Photographic History of the Orient Line and The Evolution of The Transatlantic Liner. They maintain popular cruising and history websites at www.chrisframe.com.au and www.chriscunard.com