QM2 Today - Chris' Cunard Page

QM2 Today : Making History

Monday 12 January 2004 was an historic day for Cunard Line and Great Britain. Queen Mary 2 – the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive passenger ship in history – departed from Cunard’s homeport, Southampton, on her Maiden Voyage. Fourteen days later, the new flagship of Cunard and the British merchant fleet arrived to an expected magnificent welcome in Fort Lauderdale, USA.

QM2’s first year saw the ship sail 17 transatlantic crossings. QM2’s maiden westbound crossing of the Atlantic from Southampton to New York departed on April 16th. Her maiden eastbound crossing was historic for Cunard as both QM2 and QE2 departed New York (on April 25th) for a six-day crossing of the Atlantic together. The day in New York was also the first time that two Cunard Queens had been berthed in the port together since March 1940.

The year 2004 saw QM2 offer nine Caribbean cruises, a voyage to Rio and back, five European cruises (one of which the webmaster was aboard for) and two taking in Canada and the East Coast of America. These cruises ranged from four to fourteen days.

During the 2004 Athens Olympics, QM2 played a central role providing accommodation for athletes families. Due to the Queen's presence, and various other vessels, security in Athens was the tightest it has ever been before, with constant guards and scuba divers on call incase of mishap. As expected, the ship was safe during the games.

During 2005 and 2006 QM2 undertook various other cruises and many trans-Atlantic crossings. QM2 has become an icon in the countries where she has visited. Due to her size she is unable to transit the Panama Canal, however during her 2006 circumnavigation of South America she rounded Cape Horn - and successfully repeated this voyage for her 2007 Maiden World Cruise.

A highlight in QM2's life so far was in February 2007 when, during her Maiden World Cruise, she met QE2 in Sydney Harbour. Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders gathered to watch the two ships meet. A spectacular fireworks display was put on in honour of the meeting. QM2 continued her 2007 season exploring new destinations and maintaining the grand Cunard tradition of the trans-Atlantic service.

2008 will be a historic year for those aboard QM2 as they prepare to bid farewell to their fleet mate QE2. Many of the QM2's more experienced crew started off aboard QE2 and thus, the final tandem Atlantic crossings, scheduled for October, will be particularly emotional for those members of the ship's company.

QM2 will undertake her second circumnavigation of the globe in 2009. This world cruise will be undertaken in conjunction with Queen Victoria - marking the first year that Cunard's fleet has been one of the most modern in the world.

QM2 will occupy the Cunard throne for decades to come - she is young and her history is still in the making - however in years to come, this page will be thick with stories, deep in detail and wonder.