When this flagship vessel sets sail in late 2003, she will be the largest passenger vessel ever built - over 345m long, 45m wide and 72m tall - making her five times longer than Cunard’s first ship, Britannia. All 45 on-board entertainment systems will be designed by Nautilus Entertainment Design (NED), based in La Jolla, California. Since designing its first lighting systems for Carnival Destiny in 1996, NED has built its capabilities to not only include lighting systems, but audio, rigging, video, broadcast and large-format projection systems as well. NED’s QM2 project manager Bill Havens and the NED design team will be working closely with Harbor Marine Systems (HMS), the French-based entertainment contractor selected by the Shipyard to install the entertainment systems. HMS has previously installed entertainment systems for cruise ships constructed throughout Europe. This includes systems onboard Carnival Cruise Lines and upcoming vessels for Holland America and Costa, which were also designed by NED. Highlights of the public spaces aboard Queen Mary 2 include the Main Lounge, with three-deck-high seating, as well as a public area unique to this vessel, the 505-seat Auditorium. This venue will be equipped with the latest in lighting, audio, and projection systems for both video and film. The Queen’s Room, a ballroom running the full width of the ship, is also designed for a variety of functions, most notably nightly big band performances. Also unique is the multi-purpose ‘College at Sea’. Used for corporate meetings, presentations and exhibits, it will contain independent audio-video projection systems in each of seven spaces, along with the ability to combine any or all of them. Additional areas include five main restaurants, numerous lounges, computer centre, health centre with spas, saunas and gyms, as well as business and meeting rooms. Already two years in planning, construction of Queen Mary 2 will commence in early 2002.
