THE STORY BEHIND VERONA
(A year full of adventure!)
Dreams really do come true, you’ve just got to make them happen! And 2009 was a handful of dreams come true! It has been more of an advertising and marketing year for Verona… telling the world about her and exploring many ships and meeting lots of great people from across the globe! But less of a year for designing and developing. At least until now, as we come to the end of 2009.
The beginning part of the year was a good start, with work experience set by Stephen Payne. He set me two tasks to do. Task one was to do an analysis of the Royal Caribbean ship ‘ Oasis of the Seas ‘. I had to count all the cabins, find prices, and work out how much she would make each cruise! Task two was to re-design part of a deck plan on a Holland America Line vessel. It was an interesting and enjoyable experience, however it was challenging at times.
Harry Cotterill with Stephen Payne (QM2 Designer)
During the two weeks of work experience I appeared on the local BBC News show, BBC Look East. You can view it here on Youtube > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqf_rtW_-pY
The following day I featured in the local newspaper too, which you can read here > http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/local/colchester/4359313.Harry_has_his_sights_set_on_becoming_a_ship_designer/
Harry Cotterill with Eurodam. May 10th 2009
This summer was an amazing few months! May 10th was the first significant date. I am often at Harwich International Port watching the cruise ships and on May 10th 2009 the Eurodam was due to dock at the port. Knowing this terrific ship was due at the port I done a large drawing of her. After school on the day the ship was berthed at Harwich my parents and I went to view the vessel from the quayside and cruise terminal at the port. I wanted to give the drawing I had done of the Eurodam to the Captain, but obviously I had no way of handing it over myself. Thankfully I managed to catch a close contact of mine within the port, who had just come off the gangway from the ship. I asked him if he could possibly take it aboard. He then so kindly escorted me through security, along the gangway and finally aboard the ship! Sadly I didn’t get to meet the Captain personally but we phoned through the the bridge and left the drawing with the Second Officer who came down to greet me. Afterwards when I was on the dockside photographing the vessel a lady came over to me and gave me a gift from the Captain. I then realised it was in fact a lady who I had e-mailed the year before, about visiting another ship at Harwich. She knew who I was but I didn’t know who she was until she said! The Captain had asked her to bring down this fantastic china plate to me as a gift in return of the drawing. It was a nice gift to receive back.
Harry Cotterill with the Master of Costa Luminosa
Later over the course of the summer even more of my drawings went aboard the various cruise ships that called at Harwich, including…Costa Atlantica, Costa Magica and the new Costa Luminosa, which I got to tour and also hand the drawing to the Captain directly. Ocean Majesty, which arrived late on the day I toured her due to rough seas, so I was very lucky when the Captain invited me aboard. Jewel of the Seas, where I met the Captain, toured the bridge as well as the numerous passenger venues. Thompson Spirit, where I was invited aboard again, was taken up to the bridge and even had lunch on board in the buffet. The Captain even framed my drawing and displayed it in the reception area! Celebrity Constellation, which was the best by far. The Captain invited me casually by shouting from the bridge wing as the ship was leaving. Both my parents and I toured the ship and meet the Captain, his family and his crew, twice! He’s promised to meet again in 2010 and said that we’ll have lunch together this time! And finally… Discovery, which I had to work very hard to get aboard during her last call of the season, but I still made it aboard. I then appear in the local newspaper again due to my summer of activities > http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4568747.Designs_on_naval_architect_career/
My gosh! I’ve exhausted just typing this all! It truly was an experience and a half and I’d like to thank everyone at Harwich International Port for making it possible. So thank you!
Not only did drawings of mine go aboard the ships at Harwich but also 3 others too! In July a good friend of mine so kindly took a drawing aboard the Queen Mary 2 to the Captain, which happened to be Captain Nick Bates at the time of his voyage. I received a lovely letter in return, which came as quite a surprise to me. During November of this year, another drawing went aboard the Queen Victoria. However I’m still awaiting a response as of yet.
Probably the most exciting part of this year has been watching the Royal Caribbean ship ‘ Oasis of the Seas ‘ progress and finally arrive in Port Everglades in November. And yes you guessed it, I also got a drawing of mine taken aboard to the master of the revolutionary vessel, Captain William Wright. Another friend of mine who is a travel agent and works in the U.S. took the drawing aboard for me and was invited onto the bridge and handed the drawing over. From first impressions apparently the Captain was quite pleasantly surprised. He also apparently said he will e-mail me directly. I haven’t had an e-mail yet but I’m sure within time Captain Wright will contact me, most likely when he’s back ashore in late January of 2010.
So… that sums up the year of 2009 really! I tried to make it as short as I could, but it’s hard to fit everything in. Just one more photos too…
Captain of Constellation shouting Goodbye to Harry from the ship!
Hope you enjoyed the read and that is wasn’t too long.
Harry
Designer of Verona
President of Dream Designs Colchester
At the time of the going press Verona is still under going the design process and where necessary we reserve the right to alter any designs, layout or plans without notice. Please note that Verona is only a design concept and not an actual ship under construction, YET!
