Home»All my photos»The Cunard Queens»Queen Mary 2 to New York June 2011

My first double transatlantic crossing began at Southampton, England on 24 June 2011. In the early morning I walked from our hotel to the docks, and soon saw the world's largest ocean liner towering above the city. The rising sun was against me but when I took a round trip on the Hythe ferry across the River Test, I gained a splendid view of the ship in the morning sunshine, facing out of its Ocean Terminal berth. We boarded at midday and set sail at 4.40 pm: there are some pictures of landmarks on Southampton Water and the Isle of Wight.

On a sunny day (with a calm sea) in the middle of the Atlantic, I took some pictures of the outside areas of the ship.

Finally, we had the enormous good luck to be sailing right into the Manhattan ship terminal in New York, rather than being exiled to Red Hook in Brooklyn. Up at 4 am on Friday 1 July, I watched her sail under the Verrazano Narrows bridge shortly afterwards, than right through New York Harbour. There was no light for photography until we had passed lower Manhattan, but there were some spectacular views as we finished our journey up the Hudson River. Our marvellous seven day crossing was to be followed by five exciting New York-based days before returning. Within a few hours of arriving, I was taking the first pictures for the next collection, 'Queen Mary 2 departs New York July 2011'.