QUEEN VICTORIA - www.simplonpc.co.uk

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	Queen Victoria Cruise Voyage V913: Mediterranean Medley II - 17th-30th August 2009 Day 6: 22nd August - Monte Carlo
	This is the record of a 13 night cruise taken on board Cunard's Queen Victoria from Southampton on 17th August 2009. This page covers Saturday 22nd August in Monte Carlo. The good weather of mid-30s temperatures and deep blue skies with little haze continued - too hot for ambitious walking. As Queen Victoria approached Monte Carlo, we could see Ventura heading into Villefranche, whilst one of the Sea Goddess fleet was running into Nice. Thomson Destiny was already at Villefranche. We anchored off Monte Carlo at 8.00am, but Royal Princess had preceded us. We obtained a tender ticket at 9.30, but did not board it until 10.15. Passengers waiting for tenders had to wait in the Chart Room, which was too small for the numbers waiting, so they were forced to spill over into the adjacent Cafe Carinthia. Announcements could not be heard in this room, chaos reigned. and this was the most inefficient tender operation I have used since a cruise on Splendour of the Seas. I photographed Royal Princess leaving at 18.00, at which point Ventura and Thomson Destiny were seen leaving Villefranche in the distance. Whilst Ventura headed directly out to sea, Thomson Destiny turned to run along the coast towards us. She exchanged greetings with Queen Victoria as she passed across our bows. Queen Victoria departed for Livorno soon afterwards. By 19.30 Queen Victoria and Ventura were running along side by side, which they continued to do until late in the evening, Ventura looking very impressive in the dark.

SS Delphine is a yacht commissioned by Horace Dodge, co-founder of Dodge Brothers. The yacht was launched on 2 April 1921, and spans 258 feet (79 m). Power comes from three Babcock and Wilcox boilers which power two 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) quadruple expansion engines. Of all the large American-built steam yachts from between 1893 and 1930, the Delphine is the only one left in her original condition with her original steam engines still in service.

The Delphine caught fire and sank in New York in 1926, to be recovered and restored. She suffered further damage in 1940 when she ran aground in the Great Lakes, and was repaired. She was acquired by the United States Navy in January 1942 and rechristened USS Dauntless PG61, to serve as the flagship for Admiral Ernest King, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations. She was sold back to Anna Dodge (Horace Dodge's wife) after the conclusion of World War II and restored to civilian standards and service, including her original name.

Delphine changed hands in 1967 and again in 1968, changing names again to Dauntless, only to be sold again in 1986, 1989, and finally 1997 - at scrap metal prices to her current owners - who proceeded to restore her for $60 million to the original 1921 condition including interior decor and the original steam engines. She was rechristened Delphine by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco on 10 September 2003. She is now based at Monaco and is available for charter at www.ssdelphine.com(www.wikipedia.com)