Queen Elizabeth cruises in to Zayed Port

Abu Dhabi Ports has welcomed the luxury cruise liner Queen Elizabeth to Zayed Port with a traditional Emirati greeting, to mark the second Cunard cruise ship of the season and Cunard's 175th anniversary.

The Queen Elizabeth was met by Al Ayala dancers, traditional Emirati food, a henna artist ready to decorate the cruising visitors and a falconer and his falcon.

Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Vice President Operations, and Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal Manager, Abu Dhabi Ports, presented the Queen Elizabeth's Captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge, with a cake and a beautiful model dhow to congratulate Cunard on its 175th anniversary of the shipping lines first ocean crossing and it's first 'cruise'.

Noura Rashid Al Dhaheri commented, "This is the first year that two Cunard cruise liners have called at Zayed Port in one season, a clear endorsement of the port and the city's attractions. Abu Dhabi is an exciting city with so much to see and do. This season, more than 4,700 Cunard cruise passengers have explored the emirate, taking tours, visiting our tourist attractions and enjoying some of our fabulous shopping malls."

"Abu Dhabi Ports is delighted to be able to congratulate its customer Cunard on reaching this wonderful historic anniversary and wishes the company well for its continued celebrations later this year."

Capt. Inger Klein Thorhauge is Cunard's first ever female Captain. She comes from the Faroe Islands, approximately halfway between Norway and Iceland, where historically many of the population have become seafarers. She is held up as an inspiration to women all around the world, having achieved a very prestigious position in a male dominated industry. When asked, she says that she knew from an early age that she wanted to become a seafarer because she wanted to see the world and travel and puts her success down to hard work and dedication.

The Queen Elizabeth is currently on a world tour; her previous port of call was Mumbai, India, the ship then headed on to Dubai and her final destination will be Southampton.

Queen Mary, Cunard's flagship luxury cruise liner, visited Zayed Port earlier in January. Both ships, together with Cunard's third luxury cruise liner, Queen Victoria, are now following itineraries that will take them back to Liverpool, UK, for celebrations to mark the company's 175th anniversary.

175 years ago, on 4th July, 1840, RMS Britannia left British waters bound for America. Brittania was a wooden paddle steamer only capable of nine knots and her crossing of the Atlantic took a fortnight. Britannia's trans-Atlantic crossing marked a revolution in communication in an era when mail and newspapers could take six weeks to reach their destination.
Source: WAM