20 Years of Queen Mary 2 – Cunard QM2 milestones in review.
I don’t know about you, but it’s kind of hard to believe that the Queen Mary 2 is 20 years old but on the 12th of January 2024 it’s 20 years since the ship set sail on its maiden voyage. Queen Mary
2 is a pretty remarkable ship, she’s the only true transatlantic liner in service today, the only transatlantic liner built in the 21st century, and the first true ocean liner built in a generation. The ship when it entered service was the largest, the longest, the tallest and the widest passenger
Ship ever constructed, and even to this day she still remains as the largest ocean liner ever put to sea, eclipsing the likes of Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth Normandie in pretty much every measurable aspect. And the road to Queen Mary 2 wasn’t necessarily an easy one, it required Cunard
To be acquired by the Carnival Corporation and Carnival’s money to build Queen Mary 2, a pretty ambitious project at the time overseen by the Chief Naval architect Dr Stephen Payne. So with Queen Mary 2 now celebrating 20 years in service I thought it might be nice to look back at some of
The highlights of the ship’s history over the last 20 years. Queen Mary 2 was first announced to the world as Project Queen Mary shortly after Cunard was acquired by Carnival in the late 1990s, that they were studying the viability of building a new transatlantic liner the first one to enter service
In a generation. The marketing at the time spoke about the creation of a ship for a new generation of passengers to allow them to ‘Experience the Golden Age of travel because they’d missed the first one.’ And this ultimately led to the ship being formally announced in the year 2000 she was
Built Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France and the first steel was cut in 2002. The ship was floated out for the first time in 2003 and by December 2003 she was ready for hand over to Cunard under the command of Commodore Ronald Warwick. She sailed to Southampton and on 8th
Of January 2003 she was christened by her majesty The Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, at a Gala Ceremony in Southampton alongside. The ship then stayed in Southampton for provisioning before she set sail on her Maiden Voyage this departed Southampton Cunard’s home and the home of Transatlantic
Express Services since the 1920s; but rather than going on the express run across to New York, Queen Mary 2’s maiden voyage was actually to Fort Lauderdale in Florida in the United States, and this seems like a bit of a strange place to send the largest ocean liner ever to be built but
At the time Cunard’s head office was based in Miami and so Florida and the United States was very important to the company. When Queen Mary 2 entered into service ultimately in April of 2004 she would meet with QE2 in New York and undertake a tandem Transatlantic Crossing with the two ships
Sailing side by side. When they arrived in Southampton Queen Mary 2 became the flagship of the Cunard line and was presented with the Boston Cup a symbolic solid silver cup (about 2.5 ft tall) that had been carried on board QE2 for her entire service career and this symbolized the
Transition from QE2 to Queen Mary 2 as Cunard’s Flagship. In 2004 the ship was also used for a very special purpose she was sent to Piraeus the port for Athens for use as a floating Hotel during the Olympic Games, and there she played host to a number of sporting teams including the
US men’s basketball team as well as politicians and dignitaries including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President George HW Bush. The ship’s been used also for more whimsical purposes and in 2005 she carried a large trunk with the first signed copy of ‘Harry
Potter and the half-blood prince’ which sailed across the Atlantic from the UK to the US or its inaugural presentation in New York uh aboard Queen Mary 2. In 2006 whilst departing Fort Lauderdale, the Queen Mary 2 made contact with the pier which damaged one of her pods and this led to a number
Of ports being cancelled on a voyage down to Rio De Janeiro. This ultimately resulted in a passenger sit-in which was a pretty tense experience for those on board and quite a difficult time for Cunard and for the crew on the ship, but ultimately she was repaired. That same
Year the ship rendezvoused with the original RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach California where she met her namesake and the two ships exchanged whistle blasts Queen Mary 2 actually carries one of Queen Mary’s original whistles on her funnel [WHISTLE BLAST] so in some respects it was almost as if
The Queen Mary was saluting herself which is a bit of fun as well. In 2007 Queen Mary 2 undertook her first ever World Cruise being the largest Cunard ship to ever do so. This resulted in a number of
Very spectacular events including her maiden call in San Francisco with thousands of people came out to see the ship she sailed across the Pacific and arrived in Sydney where she was met again by huge crowds of people uh to see the ship arrive in the Australian city. I was on board that particular
Voyage and it was remark able to see huge crowds of people come out early in the morning about 6:00 to see QM2 arrive in the Harbour City. She stayed alongside at the Naval Base but
That afternoon the QE2 arrived and the two ships rued in Sydney Harbour and this is one of the most remarkable events that I’ve ever seen because as QE2 was making her way into the harbour, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Sydney to see the two ships rendezvous in the
Harbour and it led to massive crowds but there was also thousands of boats in the harbour which led to a huge impact for people who were travelling and commuting around Sydney, the boats blocked the harbour which then didn’t allow the ferries to depart, so people were late home from work,
There were people on the roads which blocked the cars, there was delays on the trains, all sorts of chaos um because there were such huge crowds there to see the two ships and I don’t think that the planners had expected such massive crowds, but as someone who loves Maritime History
And the Cunard Line it was a very proud moment to see everybody coming out to see these two awesome ships together. The beginning of the following year QM2 met QE2 and the newer Queen Victoria and another meeting of the Queen’s events took place this was QE2’s last year in service so it
Was quite an emotional experience and there’s some great photographs that were taken of the three ships together. In 2011 there was the first time that the three current Cunard Queens met when Queen Elizabeth was added to the fleet and the three Cunarders rendezvoused during that year,
This has been repeated on a number of occasions and always draws a big crowd. In 2013 the ship completed its 200th Transatlantic Crossing which interestingly enough she will make her 400th Transatlantic Crossing this year, so she really has been transiting the Atlantic quite
Regularly and keeping in mind of course that this was impacted by the global crew shutdown, Queen Mary 2 has maintained a remarkable presence on the North Atlantic as the last liner that’s operating on that transatlantic service. 2015 was Cunard’s 175th anniversary and of course
Queen Mary 2 was a central focal point the ship led the three Queens into Liverpool uh for a rendezvous outside The Cunard Building and this was a spectacular event again hundreds of thousands of people on the banks of the River Mersey to see the three ships with the Queen
Mary 2 right there in the centre as the flagship of the Cunard fleet the following year QM2 was given a significant refurbishment dubbed as ‘QM2 remastered’ and saw some internal rebuilding of many of the public spaces and also some very thorough carpeting changes and soft-furnishing
Changes throughout the ship; incidentally Queen Mary 2 has just completed another big refit uh in 2023 so she is looking absolutely spectacular at the time that this video comes out. In 2019 the Queen Mary 2 undertook a transatlantic Crossing in honour of the 100th anniversary of
Cunard relocating its services to Southampton, I was very fortunate to be on board that particular voyage as one of the guest speakers and the ship encountered very very heavy seas and strong uh weather conditions during that voyage but was full of people who were passionate about the history of
The ship and also the history of Cunard on the transatlantic run, but despite the celebrations in 2019 in 2020 like all (cruise) ships around the world the Queen Mary 2 was put into warm layup, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Queen Mary 2’s World Cruise was cancelled in Fremantle in
Australia and once again I was on board for that particular voyage and was there when the ship’s voyage was cancelled. It was a very emotional experience, QM2 sailed home with a handful of passengers everybody else had to leave the ship and fly home and of course the crew sailed with
The ship all the way back to Southampton, and for the next 18 months or so and the ship remained laid up for the rest of 2020 and into 2021, as part of the global crew shutdown. However Queen Mary 2 re-entered service and is once again on the transatlantic crossings uh connecting
The two continents Europe and America by sea, something that Cunard has been doing since 1840, as I mentioned Queen Mary 2’s just recently had a refurbishment and she’s now just setting sale on her world cruise and will once again circumnavigate the globe making in calls in all
Parts of the world because she is most beloved everywhere she goes uh just like the QE2 before her, and has a reputation akin to the original Cunard Queens. She is a spectacular ship, she’s one of a kind, the largest and most expansive ship that’s ever been put into service for Cuanrd,
The largest ocean liner to ever serve uh globally, and of course the last of the great transatlantic liners at the time that this video is made; Queen Mary 2 is the only true liner operating line voyages around the world, and I think if you’ve ever thought about having an opportunity
To sail on board Queen Mary 2 if you’ve ever thought it’s something on your bucket list, take a voyage on board this ship it is so spectacular to be there in the middle of the Atlantic where
There’s nothing but ocean around you and you are on the, the, the Queen Mary 2! This ship that is the the bridge between the Americas and Europe. So that’s just a few highlights of QM2’s 20-year career to date I know there’s many, many more that I haven’t covered on and I know
That many of you would have had your own special experiences on board the ship and been part of historic voyages on board the ship that I haven’t covered here, so let me know what your favourite QM2 experience was in the comments below. Happy birthday Queen Mary 2 congratulations to Cunard
And to the team there on board the ship Captain Hall, Captain Hashmi, and everybody who works on board Cunard Flagship congratulations on 20 years of service here to many many more years in the
Future. Thanks so much for watching and until next time I hope to see you on board – Queen Mary 2!
Queen Mary 2 has just turned 20. The ship has completed almost 400 transatlantic crossings, sailed around the world numerous times and remains the last of the great transatlantic liners. In this video we explore some of the QM2’s many milestones over its 20 year Cunard career.
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Image Support:
Andy Fitzsimmons,
Pam Massey,
Henderson & Cremer and
Cunard Line / Cunard Image Bank.
Other Image References:
Fort Lauderdale – Yanjipy – CC BY SA 4.0 – License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Lauderdale_Aerial_Shot.jpg
Queen Mary 2 in San Francisco – Brocken Inaglory – CC BY SA 3.0 – License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RMS_Queen_Mary_2_in_san_francisco_bay.jpg
QM2 in Sydney – Pete Smiles – CC BY SA 3.0 – License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qm2_sydney.jpg
Three Queens Southampton – Chris 7990 – CC.0 – License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:QM2,_QE2_and_QV.JPG
Three Queens Southampton – Chris 7990 – CC.0 – License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:QV_in_Southampton.JPG
Tags: #Cunard #CunardLine #QM2 #QueenMary2 #QE2 #QueenElizabeth2 #CrusieNews #Cruising #CunardShip #4queens #Cun4rd #3queens
40 Comments
Was on QM2 in July 2023. It was very sad to see the teak deck rotting. It needs to be properly cleaned and oil to bring it back to a golden brown.
Great video Chris we love QM2 .Did our first crossing to NY in December 2018 so a bit late discovering our love of this ship, we're about to embark on our third voyage sailing out of Fremantle to Sydney leg of the world cruise on Feb 17th 2024.
We were in the crowd all those years ago when Sydney ground to a halt to see QM2 and QE2 in town.
I wonder if in the future, due to the concern over the pollution of Air Travel, if we will see a small comeback of the ocean liner?
What a magnificent tribute to my favorite ship of all time. I've sailed the Mary nine times so far but my fondest memories will always be with my dearly departed folks on her Maiden Transatlantic Eastbound Tandem Crossing with QE2 in April 2004. A dream come true with memories that continue as blessings!
we were on the QM2 on her 10th anniversary westbound crossing with the fireworks and whistle blowing between the three queens in southampton
The last of the Ocean liners we should all treasure her we wont see the likes of QM2 again ships today are built for fun fun fun more's the pity.
What's your favourite memory of QM2?
Great summary Chris. She is indeed a very special ship and just disembarked friends last night reported 10m plus seas transatlantic with negligible ship motions. That’s the “liner” difference!
Words cannot describe how much I love this ship.
The first time I saw her was in 2016. I was on a class trip to Hamburg when the QM2 was in the shipyard. But at this moment I didn't know, that she was in Hamburg. And when we went down to the Landungsbrücken I just saw the big red funnel over the city and I was so excited to see my favourite ship 😊.
In 2018 I made my first voyage on her from Hamburg to Southampton. In 2019 I did this voyage again with my dad and once more in 2022 with a friend.
But I can't wait to make a Transatlantic Crossing on her. And this year it is finally happening. I will make a double transatlantic crossing from Hamburg to New York and back to Southampton. And the voyage to Southampton will also be the 400th crossing of QM2.
Fantastic video Chris….we can't wait to board her in Fremantle in February
I Only cross ones… It was booked in 2020 for my 40th birthday but It actually happend in june 2022 ! It was just a dream for 7 days. I waited so long and I can't wait to do it again !
In my opinion, currently is the best ship all over the world.
QM2 is a very special ship indeed. I remember watching the documentary of her construction in 2008 as a child and begging my parents to go (we were already cruising on another Carnival brand, Princess) – we did a short four night trip to Hamburg, and on the same cruise, booked a transatlantic crossing.
Since turning 18 I've continued to travel on this amazing ship on my own, always feeling proud to be onboard. Now travelling with my partner, who coincidently, I met on QM2 – so that makes her a little more special for me personally as well.
It seems fitting that on her 20th birthday, she was crossing the atlantic through 8.5 meter waves, exactly what she was designed & built to do.
Great video, Chris. We're really looking forward to your talks on the Queen Anne Maiden Voyage. Hopefully see you then!
What a terrific summary Chris – superb knowledge succinctly presented.
Well done
Remember meeting you during the hurricane winds on the crossing Chris. Great video and still my favourite ship.
Thanks so much, Chris. About to book my next QM2 cruise ! I was on board this past July; so, curious about the current upgrades. Mark
ill be going on the QM2 for the 1st this year, A transatlantic crossing of the 23rd june & again in nov to Norway, been waiting 20 years for this dream to come true. 🙂
❤❤❤when is going to retire
Happy birthday QM2
I was born on the exact day the ship was completed so it’s easy for me to keep track ahaha
I was born too late to sail on the original Queen Mary and was too poor to sail on the QE2 but was able to take my first Transatlantic crossing on the QM2 in 2017 and have done many crossings on her since then. I hope the QM2 sails for many more years. Thank you for the excellent video.
What a great tribute to the QM2
Happy 20th QM2! 🎉 It was always a dream back in my teens to sail on the QE2 across the Atlantic! In 2004 in my 50’s my dream came true when I was able to sail on the QM2 during its 10th Anniversary year on a Transatlantic Crossing with special family members who made it happen! I’ll never forget it! Looking forward to another adventure on one of the Queens someday! 🍾👑👸🏻
Thank you for your video. As a rather precocious young kid I love to collect cruise brochures and airlines schedules. One of my favorite brochures was Cunard and the QE2. I dreamed about going on that ship. Well, my parents were simply not the kind of people to take me on one of those ship. However, many years later for my 60th birthday I finally got to sail on QM2 to Norway last August. It was a dream bucket list cruise for me. It was so special. The ship was elegant and regal, yet not stuffy. It was the modern-day version of what cruise used to be in the golden age of ships of the past. I love it so much I booked the 400th transatlantic sailing of the QM2 this coming August. Love live QM2!
My friend and I decided to go to New York for my 30th birthday back in 2010 and, even though neither of us had ever been on a liner or a cruise ship (or knew there was even a difference 😂), we thought it “would be fun” to do it on QM2. So we did – and it was amazing!!! And started my love of Cunard and my love of cruising! She is a special lady.
I have been on board QM2 many times including two back to back transatlantic crossings. My next trip on here is in March 2025. A long wait but I will be on Queen Victoria and Queen Anne in 2024. I was in Liverpool for the 3 Queens and the 175th celebration at the Cathedral.
QUEEN Victoria is also on a 111 night world Cruise
What a ship!
Happy Birthday Queen Mary 2!
I have sailed 9 times on QE2 and QM2, transatlantic – wonderful experiences!
Chris, a grear QM2 birthday treat. We've had the pleasure of 2Caribbean Christmas cruises on QM2, fantastic experiences. The first was Christmas 21, her 1st voyage after the pandemic, while the cruise was impacted by Covid, we weren't affected, unfortunately we missed all the ports except Barbados where all the American based passengers had to fly back from afrer the new year. We sailed back to Southampton with appox 600 passanger, it felt like our private ship. The crew where so attentive throughout on what was a difficult time for them to. Christmas 22 was as advertised, a life time experience, a shame we couldn't do it for 2023 however 2024 is looking possible 😊
Great presentation Chris. We love the ship and have been on her four times. First time was when she was only 2 Months old
I was born on January 25 2004… so me and QM2 basically grew up together!
It may be a bit hard to believe she's 20, but at the same time, it's pretty hard to believe that I'm 21 now lol
I'm actually nearly done with a book about the QE2 that I've been writing for close to 6 years now, which tells QE2's story through her eyes. The fifth and final chapter which I am currently working on is about the April 2004 tandem crossing with QM2, the first time those two ships met. It is definitely my favorite chapter so far, as they have a very wholesome dynamic with QE2, the outgoing veteran Queen of the seas passing on the flagship title to QM2, the brand-new Queen of the seas and heir to a fantastic legacy. Fingers crossed I can finally have it done sometime this month.
Happy 20th Mary! Here's to many more decades of sailing around the world to come! 😀
Great video Chris.
Do you know when you will be lecturing on QM2 next? We are doing a Southampton to NY round trip next August. Was hoping you might be on there.
I have had the great good fortune of crossing the Atlantic aboard QM2–for 15 nights! It was a roundtrip journey from New York Harbor and returning again. It was just amazing! One word of advice that videos such as this don't often mention: take some warm clothing with you. We traveled in August–and fully expected hot weather–but in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it can get quite brisk, even in the dog days of August, so take a jacket or something warm in order to enjoy a couple laps around the promenade deck.
The 2 window solo cabins are the best cabin that I have sailed in (45 cruises, 7 cruise lines). QM2 is a beautiful ship. Sailing a western Transatlantic crossing was on my bucket list. 🚢
Thank you so much for these highlights, Chris. I was fortunate to have QM2 be the ship that introduced me to cruising and she remains my favorite ship. I attended one of the Three Queens Rendezvous in NYC and it was magnificent. I just got back from a holiday voyage on QM2 and she is, indeed, in beautiful shape. A crossing is in my future, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing that.
amazing, can’t wait to step aboard her one day🙌🏻
what the – 20 years? seriously wow where did that go