Cunard Rose Parade Float
January 1, 2011 saw Cunard Line making its inaugural debut on the streets of Pasadena, California at the 122nd Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, winning the prestigious Queen’s Trophy for best use of roses. Cunard’s float, themed “A Grand Celebration at Sea,” depicted the Cunard fleet of three Queens – flagship QUEEN MARY 2, QUEEN VICTORIA and the QUEEN ELIZABETH – and illustrated the ultimate sense of occasion experienced on a luxury cruise vacation aboard Cunard, including Veuve Clicquot champagne toasts, the Royal Court Theatre, ballroom dancing and big band music.
From bow to stern, “A Grand Celebration at Sea” florally portrayed signature hallmarks found on a Cunard liner, including the Grand Lobby staircase where an over-sized “floralgraph” of Cunard’s three Queens took center stage – a reference to the upcoming Cunard Royal Rendezvous on January 13, 2011 in New York Harbour when three Cunard Queens will be docked together.
In floral and architectural celebration of Cunard’s rich tradition of elegance and grandeur, the float stood at 24 feet high, 18 feet wide and 55 feet long as it made its way down the parade route. A big band orchestra and ballroom dancers animated the Line’s famed Royal Nights Themed Balls. Representing Cunard’s hallmark brand of service, eight White Star Bellmen walked alongside the floral liner.
Black Magic roses, purple phalaenopsis orchid sprays, green cymbidium orchids and hypericum, and white Casablanca lilies bordered the float, while more than 45,000 red Opium roses carpeted the steps and floors. Layers of black onion seed and crisp white sweet rice accented the distinctive shape of Cunard’s elongated bow, while shimmering deep brown flax seed replicated the rich texture of hand-polished mahogany woods throughout the architectural features. White roses, dendrobium orchids and phalaenopsis orchids swept over oceans of light and dark blue iris, delphinium and hydrangea blossoms to create the water waves of the high seas.
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The last shippiing company to enter a float in the Rose Parade was the Los Angeles Steamship Company back in 1928 (and it was award winner). LASSCO, too, had attendants walking alongside their float to escort the floral s.s.CITY OF HONOLULU down Colorado Blvd while Hawaiian guitarist strummed island melodies. Maybe Cunard/Carnival got their idea from that event back in 1928? I wonder…
It is only fitting that Cunard Line won the prestigious Queens Trophy, since they have the most pretigious Queens (at sea!).
As I noted elsewhere, the Cunard float was so special that the TV media featured the float with special coverage.
Those not familiar with the Rose Bowl Parade, it is an iconic part of our culture in the USA, and is prelude to a major football, as in North American football, game always played on January 1st annually.
One detail presented on the float, the replication of one Queens Room chandelier, it was nicely done in floral.
The Bellmen, dressed in regal Cunard Red, do serve on the new Queens, and there are some on Holland America, dressed in a dreadful green, and there were dozens of them, called mouees, on the SS France, dressed in red as well. Old posters and ads for a cigarette called Philip Morris, feastured such young men, hawking cigs.
It should be noted that this incredible float was created by the masters at Fiesta Parade Floats, simply the best in the business.
It was a very attractive float. For people not familiar w/the parade (BTW, it is not called the Rose Bowl Parade but simply the Rose Parade) the floats must be covered w/100% natural items. The work that goes into these floats (and the gorgeous flowers, seeds, bark etc., etc.) is amazing.
Gordon Ghareeb- I have not seen your name since QM days long past!
We were on the float representing Cunard World Club Members- 30 years of sailing on Cunard! The float was amazing!