QM2’s Whistle
Queen Mary 2 is famous for having one of the most powerful and recognisable “voices” at sea. Although modern ships typically carry only one or two horns, QM2 is equipped with five whistles in total: two mounted on her funnel, one positioned atop the bridge near the mast, and two smaller units on her bow for manoeuvring and close‑quarters signalling. The star of the set is her heritage whistle, an original 1936 steam horn taken from RMS Queen Mary herself. Restored and converted to operate on compressed air, it produces the same deep, resonant tone that echoed across the North Atlantic in the 1930s and 40s.
When entering service, as QM2 sounded her whistle, you could actually identify the historic Queen Mary horn: it was the one on the funnel that visibly expels a plume of vapour when activated, mimicking the look of a steam‑powered blast.
Sadly, this function has not worked for some time now.
Her primary whistles are tuned to an A note, two octaves below middle A, giving them an extraordinarily low frequency that can carry up to 10 miles in ideal conditions.
The result is a sound that is not only heard but physically felt, and a direct acoustic link between the golden age of ocean liners and Cunard’s current flagship.
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Queen Mary 2 Print
This 1:480 scale portrait of Queen Mary 2 by The Cruise Maps is a true celebration of the last great ocean liner. This drawing originated from the painstaking work of the world renowned ship artist, Julien Garnier, whose signature appears on every print. Complete with delightful fine details of this famous ship, this scale portrait is the ultimate collector’s item and is also signed by Stephen Payne OBE, the lead designer of Queen Mary 2. This print will capture the imagination of art lovers and the most erudite of naval modellers alike.
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