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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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The Queen for Colombo by Karel Roberts Ratnaweera The most famous and luxurious ship afloat today, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth II will dock in Colombo harbour on March 18. The 'floating palace' will be making its vovage from Singapore to Colombo when the local market will get a special deal. The ship which was launched by Britain's Queen Elizabeth, docked in Colombo more than a decade ago carrying world personalities among whom was one of Britain's most famous dance band leaders, the legendary Joe Loss who would often be invited to play at some of Britain's royal residences by command of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother whose favourite band it was. This writer had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Loss on board the QE II while the ship was in harbour. On the last occasion two years ago, when the QE II was cruising to Colombo, a major bomb blast forced it to head for the port of Cochin, South India, instead. The ship began its world cruise on January 5, 2003, starting from New York and touching the Latin American countries, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Seychelles and Mombasa in Kenya. With a passenger capacity of 1778, the ship's length is 963 feet, with a width of 104 feet. It has four categories of accommodation, with different restaurants befitting each category. Chairman, Gabo Travels and Holidays, Gabo Peiris, said that selling the various categories was within reach of the Sri Lankan market. The Sri Lankan -African Safari package would have four nights in Kenya with internal flights to Nairobi and Dubai. The ship will cruise in the Bay of Bengal before putting into Colombo on March 18. Pricing for the 11-night Colombo, Mombasa and Nairobi fly/cruise program departing Colombo on the 18 evening starts from Rs.232,900. The Queen Elizabeth II offers formal and casual restaurants where diners would wear full evening dress, as in the Queen's Grill Restaurant, and casual clothes in the Mauritania and Caronia restaurants. Every conceivable type of entertainment ranging from classical music concerts, jazz jams, night clubs and discos will be on hand for everyone to enjoy. Gyms, jacuzzis and deck games will make the days enjoyable while the nights will come alive in the cocktail bars, fine dining areas such as the Queen's Grill and the ballrooms. Pieris related how a delegation from his firm who are independent representatives in Sri Lanka for Cunard Line Limited were doing the famous Southampton-New York run on which tragedy struck the ill-starred Titanic, the Captain of the QE II made an announcement on the public address system that the ship was passing over the spot where the Titanic sank in April, 1912. Pieris said that most Sri Lankans who are famous for make last-minute bookings, to reserve early to be QE II dream cruisers to make their arrangements in time. The ship will be in Sri Lanka on March 18 from 7.00 a.m. till evening. |
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