1. The Queen Mary 2 Clearing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge Photos by Randy Zane Bridge Statistics Average tide is 228 feet below the bridge Longest main span of suspension bridge in North America (4,260 feet) 2 roadway levels, crossed by 60 million vehicles per year The road is 12 feet lower in the summer when the metal in the bridge expands! Ship Statistics Height: (keel to funnel) 236.2 feet Draft: 32 feet, 10 inches Length: 1,132 feet Passengers: 2,665 + 1,275 crew

2. Pam and Stacy in the center of the helicopter hover circle on deck 13 as we approach the bridge

3. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge links Brooklyn (left) to Staten Island (right).

4. Note that the Captain isn’t taking any chances – he aims for dead-center of the bridge!

5. Getting closer – and getting the attention of the guests on deck!

6. You are sure this ship fits under, right?

7. Those steel girders look pretty serious…

8. Looks like we’ll make it under, but I wonder what that guy in the 18-wheel truck thinks??

9. Looks like our mast only has a few feet of clearance, but the ship was designed to have 13 feet of clearance even at high tide.

10. Almost close enough to jump and grab hold.

11. We made it!

12. Wait – forgot about the smokestack – but it looks like it barely clears the bridge too.

13. You can just about hear everyone holding their breath.

14. Yeah, we made it!

15. Having cleared the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Andrea is happy to be heading to the Caribbean.