Remarks of Peter
Shanks, President and
Managing Director of
Cunard Line at the
13 January 2011
ROYAL
RENDEZVOUS in
New York City
Shanks, President and
Managing Director of
Cunard Line at the
13 January 2011
ROYAL
RENDEZVOUS in
New York City
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On 13 January 2011, all three ships in the Cunard fleet
met in New York City. As part of the events surrounding this
occasion, Peter Shanks, President and Managing Director of
Cunard Line, spoke to the press at Pier 88 in the Manhattan
Passenger Ship Terminal where the new Queen Elizabeth was
berthed. The following is excerpted from his remarks.
It's a very exciting day for Cunard Line - - three queens in
town and of course, the Queen Elizabeth here for the very first
time.
I love New York. I came to New York as a 17 year old
I was working for Eastern Airlines selling tickets to 17 year
olds. As a 17 year old, New York made a real impression on
me and I thought I'd like to come back.
Cunard Line loves New York as well. You may not
know it but Cunard Line first sailed into New York in 1845 on
a ship called the Hibernia with 126 first-class passengers. It
was a wooden boat, a paddle steamer. That was the beginning
of Cunard Line coming to New York. We made an impression
on New York and New York made an impression on Cunard
Line and that is why we keep coming back.
And then there is something in the name Elizabeth and
that is why this fine new ship and everything to do with
Elizabeths is such a special part of Cunard Line. In 1949,
unfinished and painted battleship grey, our first Queen
Elizabeth sailed into New York harbor under guise of a [troop
ship]. That ship and her sister [the first Queen Mary], took
over one million troops to the war effort in Europe. And, more
important than that, took an awful lot of morale as well. She
went on to make over 400 calls here in this city.
Then in 1969, our most famous Elizabeth, the QE2,
sailed into New York for the first time and became very fond
of this fair city. Over 1.3 million people sailed into New York
on the QE2 when she made over 700 calls.
That is why I am so proud that our new and largest ever
Queen Elizabeth makes her maiden call here [today] in New
York City and is accompanied by Queen Mary 2 and Queen
Victoria.
The sun always shines on Cunard Line. On the 11th of
October, Her Majesty the Queen, with wonderful pageantry
and occasion in Southampton, England, named this ship. I was
able to tell her that this ship was her ship. And so this
wonderful monarch, who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in
2012, this is her ship for evermore. So Queen Elizabeth will be
coming to New York in her name for many, many years.
How much does Cunard Line love New York? I was
working out this week that just on our Queens, we have
brought over five million people to New York. It is estimated
that since 1845, Cunard Line has brought over 10 million
people to New York. Many of them came to stat a new life in
North America. So we have a very special relationship with the
City.
Yesterday morning, I went out for a walk at breakfast
time and I came across, for the first time I have to admit, 35
Broadway. Many of you may know it was the original Cunard
Line building and one of New York's finest art deco buildings.
It still bears the name Cunard in stone and [has] beautiful brass
doors with Cunard Line. If we keep on growing as we are, I
may take her back. It was wonderful to see how fantastic that
relationship is between ourselves and the City.
But, of course, even more important than the heritage,
today represents the future of Cunard Line. You will hear
very shortly [from other speakers] how our industry is enjoying
very solid growth particularly in comparison to other travel
sectors. We are now positioned, believe it or not, with our
170 years of history, with the youngest fleet in the world. We
have built three new liners in the past six years. That just
shows what you can do if you are confident about a historic
brand and mix that with the very latest in terms of ocean liners.
Queen Mary 2 continues to have a very special
relationship with New York. She is at Red Hook [in Brooklyn]
today. She does about 20 transatlantic crossings every year.
New York is her second home. So whilst the Queen Elizabeth
and the Queen Victoria come infrequently, Queen Mary 2 will
be here in New York City for many, many years to come.
The transatlantics are a fast growing business for us.
Remember last April when the ash cloud came to Europe,
Cunard Line was once again the only way to cross. We had a
voyage with over 1,800 people on the waiting list. The one
fortunate part of that ash cloud was the reminder of the
importance of ocean liner travel.
We are also proud to be part of the Carnival Corporation,
which has helped us [by investing] in our growth. This
afternoon at four o'clock, we are going to ring the closing bell at
the New York Stock Exchange. This fine bell here I collected
from Queen Mary 2 this morning. The bell itself is the original
ship's bell off the bridge of the original Queen Elizabeth. So
Commodore Warner will be ringing this bell at four o'clock at
the stock exchange. It is really marvelous for Cunard Line.
This evening, at around 6:45, we are going to position Queen
Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth right in between
Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty and fire off our
fireworks to celebrate our Three Queens event here in New
York City.
And a thing that is really special to me - - and many
thanks to the City of New York - - this evening in Cunard's
honor, this evening the Empire State Building will be in Cunard
red.
Although such a small business in comparison to many
other travel [businesses], for Cunard to achieve such
recognition by something as important and substantial as New
York City makes us immensely proud to build our relationship
with the City in the future.
I am also proud today to have two of our captains with us
- - Captain Julian Burgess of the new Queen Elizabeth and it is
a great honor for me to introduce to you the first ever lady
captain for Cunard Line, Captain Inger Olsen of Queen
Victoria. It is a sign of the times that there is a lady captain
taking control of one of the finest ocean liners in the world.
She has worked her way through the company to take
command of Queen Victoria.
Also, Queen Victoria arriving in New York today, is the
first time that we have dedicated a ship just to the North
American market. So whilst Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary
2 depart this evening to go right around the world on their
world voyages. Queen Victoria will be sailing from here, down
through Fort Lauderdale to Los Angles, out to the Hawaiian
Islands and back. We have therefore dedicated Queen Victoria
to the American market for the very first time. We will look at
basing one of our liners in the North American market next
year for the winter as well. The North American market for
Cunard Line, as an international brand, is really very important.
I believe that Cunard Line and New York City share a
very bright future . . . .It is a very proud time for us in New
York City. The brand and the company are doing well but
really the partnership that we have with New York City is
absolutely unique and something we intend to build on more
and more in the future.
met in New York City. As part of the events surrounding this
occasion, Peter Shanks, President and Managing Director of
Cunard Line, spoke to the press at Pier 88 in the Manhattan
Passenger Ship Terminal where the new Queen Elizabeth was
berthed. The following is excerpted from his remarks.
It's a very exciting day for Cunard Line - - three queens in
town and of course, the Queen Elizabeth here for the very first
time.
I love New York. I came to New York as a 17 year old
I was working for Eastern Airlines selling tickets to 17 year
olds. As a 17 year old, New York made a real impression on
me and I thought I'd like to come back.
Cunard Line loves New York as well. You may not
know it but Cunard Line first sailed into New York in 1845 on
a ship called the Hibernia with 126 first-class passengers. It
was a wooden boat, a paddle steamer. That was the beginning
of Cunard Line coming to New York. We made an impression
on New York and New York made an impression on Cunard
Line and that is why we keep coming back.
And then there is something in the name Elizabeth and
that is why this fine new ship and everything to do with
Elizabeths is such a special part of Cunard Line. In 1949,
unfinished and painted battleship grey, our first Queen
Elizabeth sailed into New York harbor under guise of a [troop
ship]. That ship and her sister [the first Queen Mary], took
over one million troops to the war effort in Europe. And, more
important than that, took an awful lot of morale as well. She
went on to make over 400 calls here in this city.
Then in 1969, our most famous Elizabeth, the QE2,
sailed into New York for the first time and became very fond
of this fair city. Over 1.3 million people sailed into New York
on the QE2 when she made over 700 calls.
That is why I am so proud that our new and largest ever
Queen Elizabeth makes her maiden call here [today] in New
York City and is accompanied by Queen Mary 2 and Queen
Victoria.
The sun always shines on Cunard Line. On the 11th of
October, Her Majesty the Queen, with wonderful pageantry
and occasion in Southampton, England, named this ship. I was
able to tell her that this ship was her ship. And so this
wonderful monarch, who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in
2012, this is her ship for evermore. So Queen Elizabeth will be
coming to New York in her name for many, many years.
How much does Cunard Line love New York? I was
working out this week that just on our Queens, we have
brought over five million people to New York. It is estimated
that since 1845, Cunard Line has brought over 10 million
people to New York. Many of them came to stat a new life in
North America. So we have a very special relationship with the
City.
Yesterday morning, I went out for a walk at breakfast
time and I came across, for the first time I have to admit, 35
Broadway. Many of you may know it was the original Cunard
Line building and one of New York's finest art deco buildings.
It still bears the name Cunard in stone and [has] beautiful brass
doors with Cunard Line. If we keep on growing as we are, I
may take her back. It was wonderful to see how fantastic that
relationship is between ourselves and the City.
But, of course, even more important than the heritage,
today represents the future of Cunard Line. You will hear
very shortly [from other speakers] how our industry is enjoying
very solid growth particularly in comparison to other travel
sectors. We are now positioned, believe it or not, with our
170 years of history, with the youngest fleet in the world. We
have built three new liners in the past six years. That just
shows what you can do if you are confident about a historic
brand and mix that with the very latest in terms of ocean liners.
Queen Mary 2 continues to have a very special
relationship with New York. She is at Red Hook [in Brooklyn]
today. She does about 20 transatlantic crossings every year.
New York is her second home. So whilst the Queen Elizabeth
and the Queen Victoria come infrequently, Queen Mary 2 will
be here in New York City for many, many years to come.
The transatlantics are a fast growing business for us.
Remember last April when the ash cloud came to Europe,
Cunard Line was once again the only way to cross. We had a
voyage with over 1,800 people on the waiting list. The one
fortunate part of that ash cloud was the reminder of the
importance of ocean liner travel.
We are also proud to be part of the Carnival Corporation,
which has helped us [by investing] in our growth. This
afternoon at four o'clock, we are going to ring the closing bell at
the New York Stock Exchange. This fine bell here I collected
from Queen Mary 2 this morning. The bell itself is the original
ship's bell off the bridge of the original Queen Elizabeth. So
Commodore Warner will be ringing this bell at four o'clock at
the stock exchange. It is really marvelous for Cunard Line.
This evening, at around 6:45, we are going to position Queen
Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth right in between
Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty and fire off our
fireworks to celebrate our Three Queens event here in New
York City.
And a thing that is really special to me - - and many
thanks to the City of New York - - this evening in Cunard's
honor, this evening the Empire State Building will be in Cunard
red.
Although such a small business in comparison to many
other travel [businesses], for Cunard to achieve such
recognition by something as important and substantial as New
York City makes us immensely proud to build our relationship
with the City in the future.
I am also proud today to have two of our captains with us
- - Captain Julian Burgess of the new Queen Elizabeth and it is
a great honor for me to introduce to you the first ever lady
captain for Cunard Line, Captain Inger Olsen of Queen
Victoria. It is a sign of the times that there is a lady captain
taking control of one of the finest ocean liners in the world.
She has worked her way through the company to take
command of Queen Victoria.
Also, Queen Victoria arriving in New York today, is the
first time that we have dedicated a ship just to the North
American market. So whilst Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary
2 depart this evening to go right around the world on their
world voyages. Queen Victoria will be sailing from here, down
through Fort Lauderdale to Los Angles, out to the Hawaiian
Islands and back. We have therefore dedicated Queen Victoria
to the American market for the very first time. We will look at
basing one of our liners in the North American market next
year for the winter as well. The North American market for
Cunard Line, as an international brand, is really very important.
I believe that Cunard Line and New York City share a
very bright future . . . .It is a very proud time for us in New
York City. The brand and the company are doing well but
really the partnership that we have with New York City is
absolutely unique and something we intend to build on more
and more in the future.
Mr. Shanks displaying the bell from the original
Queen Elizabeth. Later that day, this bell was rung
at the New York Stock Exchange to mark the end of
trading for the day.
Queen Elizabeth. Later that day, this bell was rung
at the New York Stock Exchange to mark the end of
trading for the day.
Commodore Bernard Warner accepted a proclamation
issued by the City of New York making 13 January
2011 "Cunard Day" in New York.
issued by the City of New York making 13 January
2011 "Cunard Day" in New York.
Captain Julian Burgess of the Queen Elizabeth
giving a television interview.
giving a television interview.
In town for the festivities was Micky Arison,
Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation,
Cunard Line's parent company.
Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation,
Cunard Line's parent company.
Cruise ship article - Cunard - Remarks of Peter Shanks - New York January 2011
Two popular former Cunard masters were also in
New York - - Captain Ray Heath (Queen Elizabeth 2,
Coronia) and Commodore Ronald Warwick (Queen
Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, Cunard Countess).
New York - - Captain Ray Heath (Queen Elizabeth 2,
Coronia) and Commodore Ronald Warwick (Queen
Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, Cunard Countess).