Queen Mary 2 to Make Historic Birthday Call to Liverpool Largest liner ever to visit to Mersey
Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2, the most famous ship in the world, will make a maiden fifth birthday call to Liverpool on Tuesday 20 October 2009 as part of her first Round Britain voyage, thus becoming the largest liner ever to sail up the Mersey. Cunard and Liverpool have shared a long and eventful history: the company was founded in the City in 1839 and had its office there for almost 130 years. Cunard Line celebrates the 170th Anniversary of its founding in 2009, so a double celebration for the company and its flagship.
Liverpool will also become the second English port to welcome Queen Mary 2, the ship having only visited her homeport of Southampton until now.
The 151,400 ton Queen Mary 2 will arrive in Liverpool at around noon, and will be berthed at the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal until she departs at 2300 hours. A celebratory firework display is planned for 2250 hours just prior to her departure.
Other calls on the voyage, which departs Southampton on 15 October, include South Queensferry, a maiden visit to Greenock, a first-ever visit to Cobh and Cherbourg. Great crowds are expected to welcome Queen Mary 2 at each port.
Commenting on the visit, Cunard's Managing Director, Peter Shanks, said:
"Liverpool was Cunard's home for nearly 130 years and we are very proud of our associations with this great city. On the 170th anniversary of the birth of Cunard Line, it is fitting that we are bringing Queen Mary 2 home to Liverpool, another historic moment for Cunard Line and for the city of Liverpool. QE2 always received a tremendous reception each time she visited but the maiden call of our flagship is very exciting. She is going to be quite a sight as she sails up the Mersey!"
The voyage commemorates the introduction into service of Queen Mary 2 five years ago in January 2004. She is still the largest, longest, tallest, widest, most expensive ocean liner ever built and, since the retirement of QE2, the fastest passenger ship in the world. Queen Mary 2 entered service just four days after being named by Her Majesty The Queen during the most spectacular naming ceremony Southampton, her home port, had ever seen. Since that historic entry into service Queen Mary 2 has sailed almost 750,000 nautical miles, completed over 120 Atlantic crossings (the route for which she was specifically built, the first passenger ship to be built for that trade in 35 years), and made calls to 115 ports in 45 countries.
Since becoming Cunard flagship in May 2004, taking over the mantle from QE2, Queen Mary 2 has also become one of the most celebrated ships in the world and successfully continues the Cunard passenger liner tradition established 170 years ago.
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