Cruise ship season is in full swing in Newport this fall. The first appearance of an ocean liner in our harbor was Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1982. Christened in 1969, the QE2 served in the Falklands War in 1982 and made several visits to Newport in the twilight of her 39 year career. Two visits were particularly noteworthy: In 1992 she ran aground off Cuttyhunk Island, near Buzzards Bay, suffering extensive damage to the hull. All of the passengers were sent to safety in Newport. At a later date she accidentally pulled up Jamestown’s electrical supply cable with the anchor while departing Narragansett Bay, leaving the island without power for days. The QE2 was retired in 2008 and currently sits dormant at Dubai.
The Queen Mary 2 was launched in 2004 and arrived at Newport that year on Independence Day during the Tall Ships celebration. At 1,132 feet, she is the largest ocean liner ever built and makes yearly appearances, including this week. Recently, we noted the first arrival of the new Queen Elizabeth, launched in 2010.