Courtesy of Cunard Line 

Queen Mary 2, the most famous Cunard ship in service, made her maiden call to Greenock and the Clyde on Monday October 19, during a special ‘lap-of-honour’ to mark her fifth birthday.

Queen Mary 2 was the largest ship ever to have sailed up the Clyde, a river which has binding and historical ties to Cunard as over 120 Cunarders have been launched there since 1839. Cunard Line is also celebrating the 170th Anniversary of its founding in 2009, so a double celebration for the company and its flagship.

The 151,400-ton Queen Mary 2 arrived at Greenock at 0800 hours on October 19 and remained at the Greenock Ocean Terminal until 1830 hours. To mark the call there was a firework display immediately before her departure.

Commenting on the visit, Cunard’s Managing Director Peter Shanks, said:

“Most of Cunard’s great ships, including Cunard’s first ship Britannia, and Lusitania, Aquitania, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Caronia and QE2 were all built on the Clyde. As a proud Scotsman myself, born in Glasgow and having spent my early years in Troon, I can say just how proud we are of our associations with the river. It is appropriate for our flagship Queen Mary 2 to pay tribute to her Scottish forbears and this visit during Queen Mary 2’s birthday celebrations is very fitting”.

The voyage commemorated the introduction into service of Queen Mary 2 five years ago in January 2004. She is still the largest, longest, tallest, widest, and 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.

John Duffy, QE2 Hotel Manager – “Seagoing Employee of the Year 2008″
Seatrade Insider’s “Seatrade Awards 2008″

Cunard Line – “Best Cruise Line”
Australian Gourmet Traveler’s 2008 Travel Awards

Queen Mary 2 – “Best Luxury Cruise Ship”
Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards

Queen Mary 2 – “Top 10 Best Spa on a Cruise Ship”
SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards

Queen Mary 2, Queen’s Grill – 6+ Star Rating
Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation, 2009 Edition

Queen Victoria – “Best Cruise Ship”
Robb Report – Best of the Best

Queen Victoria – “Hot New Hotel” and “Hot New Spa”
Condé Nast Traveler – Annual Hot List (World Category)

Cunard Line – “Best Transatlantic Crossings”
Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards

Cunard Line – “Best World Cruise Itineraries”
Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards

Cunard Line – “#1 – Top Ten Cruise Lines”
2008 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships

Cunard Line – “Best Overall Food” and “Best Overall Service”
2008 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships

Cunard Line revealed itinerary and design plans for its newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, which is scheduled to enter service on 12 October 2010, giving one of the oldest names in shipping the strength of operating the youngest fleet in the industry. Queen Elizabeth will be the third new ocean liner to be introduced by Cunard in six years and the second largest Cunard ship ever built.

Queen Elizabeth will feature the unique Cunard traditions linking her with her sisters Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, and their predecessors. She will also debut some exciting features that will give the vessel her own style and personality, plus all the modern day luxuries Cunard’s guests have come to expect. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line is proud to announce that Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor and his band will perform during Queen Mary 2’s June 19 eastbound Transatlantic Crossing. Sailing from New York to Southampton, England, Taylor will headline two Cunard Command Performances in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre during the six-day journey. (Space is still available to book this very special voyage!) 

“We are honoured to welcome James Taylor aboard our flagship Queen Mary 2 and into a lineage of luminaries who have sailed with Cunard during our 170-year history,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “Our guests will most certainly enjoy this intimate concert experience with an American music icon.” [Read more →]