Cunard Line’s Peter Shanks Goes For Gold at London Olympics

With the closing ceremony of the London Olympics just around the corner, I was very excited to read that one of my favorite cruise line executives had a chance to see the games live and he was kind enough to write about his experience for all of us on the Cunard Line blog.

Cunard’s President and Managing Director Peter Shanks posted an article on the  We Are Cunard blog about attending what he calls “Our Wonderful British Olympics.”  Besides his national pride, I could not help but get inspired by the connection between Cunard Line and the London Olympics.

After reading Mr. Shanks’ report about attending the Olympic Games, I was able to email some questions to him via the cruise line; and guess what?  He replied.

Q&A With Mr. Peter Shanks About His Olympic Experience

(and note that his answers are with British English spelling)

Q: Can you give me a roundup of activities from the ships regarding the Olympic Games: special meals, games, trivia, viewing, lodging?

A:. On the Cunard ships we are showing the Olympic Games in the Golden Lion Pub – very popular as the Pubs are well set up with large TV plasma screens and a real British feel to the event is created. On all three ships we also show coverage throughout the day in the Winter Garden. We are communicating the key events – and we are providing additional speciality cocktails and service. The opening and closing ceremonies are shown in the main theatre, Royal Court Theatre, and the opening ceremony was extremely well received – not least given Cunard’s own proud links to Her Majesty the Queen.

 

Q:  You mention that you have never been to a professional sporting match?  You write, “I have never been to a major athletics event and so into the stadium we went … ” Could that be true? If so, what type of sports do you like? Will you be turning to jogging in the near future?

A:  I have not been to a major athletics event until now – but I am a keen sports follower. Rugby is my favourite sport – and I often attend matches of the London Harlequins and whenever I can the England Rugby Internationals at Twickenham. It became too painful to play rugby some years back so I now play Field Hockey as Goalkeeper and our team is in the London Veterans League. Happily I am going to the Men’s Olympic Hockey Final – but sadly, Great Britain were soundly beaten by Holland in the semi-final.

 

Q: How can I link the Olympics to Cunard Line (besides the obvious British ties)?

A: Jesse Owens traveled on one of our ships back to the US after winning 4 gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936; and Queen Mary 2 was chartered by the US Olympic Team for the Athens Olympics in 2004. Cunard are proud to be British – and the London Olympics are celebrating the Best of Britain – those lucky enough to be traveling on our ships during the Olympics are relaxing whilst being able to share in some of the excitement.