Cunard scraps part of the 10th Anniversary Celebrations

I’m of to Southampton on Friday for the 3 Queens Celebrations and read this morning that part of the celebration was going to be a balloon release (10,000 of the blighters!) which has now been cancelled due to a campaign started on Facebook.

The campaigners stated that they were concerned about the impact this balloon release would have on the local wildlife as, in their words, ‘what goes up must come down’.

Cunard made the announcement about the planned balloon release only to then be blasted by hundreds of Facebook users posting links to pictures and articles explaining the damage they can have on birds and marine wildlife.

I have to say, being an animal lover, I do agree and I’m glad that Cunard have taken the decision to cancel the balloon release. This is what they had to say:

Cunard’s Statement

There is plenty more going on to keep us all entertained on the day thanks to Cunard:

Next Friday, we will be celebrating Queen Mary 2’s 10th Anniversary when our three Queens arrive into Southampton for a day of festivities. Our flagship Queen and her younger sister Queen Elizabeth will be returning from their 2014 world cruises, and Queen Victoria will be back in Southampton after her Canary Islands sailing. 

All three ships will arrive together at 5:30am when we’ll be marking Queen Mary 2’s 10th birthday with Happy Birthday whistles! At lunchtime there will be a VIP event on board including some of our most-travelled passengers, dignitaries, celebrities and crew from 2004, in the presence of our Royal guest of honour, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. There will then be marching bands and at 10pm, a 10 minute fireworks display – one minute marking each one of Queen Mary 2’s 10 magnificent years before our three Queens set sail in convoy…

Sounds like an exciting day!  I’ll post pictures and details when I get back!

What are your thoughts on the balloon release? Do you think Cunard made the right decision or do you think it’s a bit OTT?  I’d love to hear your views.