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CNN Live At Daybreak
Days of Luxurious Ocean Voyage Across Atlantic May be Back
Aired December 23, 2003 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: The days of the luxurious ocean voyage across the Atlantic may be back thanks to a nearly $1 billion investment by one cruise company.
CNN's Jim Bittermann has the grand details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just months after the last passenger crossed the Atlantic Ocean at supersonic speed, a cruise line company is betting close to a billion dollars there are those ready to make the crossing at a much slower pace.
Cunard Lines has built the Queen Mary 2, the first transatlantic ship to be constructed in 40 years and the biggest passenger liner ever. Three times longer than a football field, 21 stories tall, room for 3,000 passengers and 1,300 crew, five swimming pools, 10 restaurants, 14 bars and spread out over 17 decks a 1,000 seat theater, a 500 seat planetarium.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And over here we've got all of the history...
BITTERMAN: And the world's largest floating library.
MICKY ARISON, CEO, CARNIVAL CORP.: We have very, very few guests that are using it for transportation because of fear of flying. The vast majority are using it as part of their vaccination plans.
BITTERMAN: Five million of the $800 million price tag is tied up in decoration and art work, much of it nostalgically art deco in style, linked to a more romantic era.
PAMELA CONOVER, PRESIDENT, CUNARD LINES: In such a hurried world that we are finding people are very attracted to transatlantic travel.
BITTERMAN: The ship yard says more than 20,000 people were involved in building the cruise liner in the ship yards at Saint- Nazaire in western France. Five times that many turned out to see the ship off. As the control was passed from the constructors to the new owners, the French flag was lowered and a British ensign hoisted aloft. There was more than a little emotion -- pride mixed with excitement and a sad memory -- the accident five weeks ago which killed 15 family members and guests of the ship yard workers who had come to tour the liner.
The new captain, whose father was a captain on the first Queen Mary, was happy to take command.
CAPT. RONALD WARWICK, QUEEN MARY 2: And now that the ship is finished, I just can't wait to take her away to sea.
BITTERMAN (on camera): From here, the ship leaves for the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Spain for a few days of crew training, and after that to its home port of Southampton to make preparations for its first cruise on January 12 to Florida.
(voice-over): Just before the final sendoff, one of the crew got on the ship's p.a. to improvise a verse of a British sailing song. The director of the ship yards and many who built her wished the Queen Mary fair weather.
Jim Bitterman, CNN, Saint-Nazaire, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired December 23, 2003 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: The days of the luxurious ocean voyage across the Atlantic may be back thanks to a nearly $1 billion investment by one cruise company.
CNN's Jim Bittermann has the grand details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just months after the last passenger crossed the Atlantic Ocean at supersonic speed, a cruise line company is betting close to a billion dollars there are those ready to make the crossing at a much slower pace.
Cunard Lines has built the Queen Mary 2, the first transatlantic ship to be constructed in 40 years and the biggest passenger liner ever. Three times longer than a football field, 21 stories tall, room for 3,000 passengers and 1,300 crew, five swimming pools, 10 restaurants, 14 bars and spread out over 17 decks a 1,000 seat theater, a 500 seat planetarium.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And over here we've got all of the history...
BITTERMAN: And the world's largest floating library.
MICKY ARISON, CEO, CARNIVAL CORP.: We have very, very few guests that are using it for transportation because of fear of flying. The vast majority are using it as part of their vaccination plans.
BITTERMAN: Five million of the $800 million price tag is tied up in decoration and art work, much of it nostalgically art deco in style, linked to a more romantic era.
PAMELA CONOVER, PRESIDENT, CUNARD LINES: In such a hurried world that we are finding people are very attracted to transatlantic travel.
BITTERMAN: The ship yard says more than 20,000 people were involved in building the cruise liner in the ship yards at Saint- Nazaire in western France. Five times that many turned out to see the ship off. As the control was passed from the constructors to the new owners, the French flag was lowered and a British ensign hoisted aloft. There was more than a little emotion -- pride mixed with excitement and a sad memory -- the accident five weeks ago which killed 15 family members and guests of the ship yard workers who had come to tour the liner.
The new captain, whose father was a captain on the first Queen Mary, was happy to take command.
CAPT. RONALD WARWICK, QUEEN MARY 2: And now that the ship is finished, I just can't wait to take her away to sea.
BITTERMAN (on camera): From here, the ship leaves for the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Spain for a few days of crew training, and after that to its home port of Southampton to make preparations for its first cruise on January 12 to Florida.
(voice-over): Just before the final sendoff, one of the crew got on the ship's p.a. to improvise a verse of a British sailing song. The director of the ship yards and many who built her wished the Queen Mary fair weather.
Jim Bitterman, CNN, Saint-Nazaire, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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