Celebration
to honor legendary liner during final call to New
York
October 8, 2008 – On Thursday,
October 16, Cunard’s
Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) will bid farewell
to America during a celebratory call befitting of
the company’s longest-serving
ocean liner. The historic occasion will
mark the iconic ship’s 706
th and final
call to New York. Escorted by FDNY fireboats and
flotilla of pleasure craft, the beloved QE2 will
depart the Westside Terminal at 5 p.m. to meet her
sister ship,
Queen Mary 2, for a
Cunard Royal Rendezvous at the
Statue of Liberty as both renowned
ocean liners embark on a tandem voyage to
Southampton, England - marking QE2’s 806
th
and final Transatlantic Crossing.
Recognised as the
most famous ship in the world and for 35 years,
flagship of the Cunard fleet, QE2 was named by Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967. During
nearly four decades at sea, she has logged 5.9
million nautical miles (equivalent to traveling to
the moon and back 13 times), carried more than 2.5
million passengers and has sailed 25 World
Cruises. With a top speed of 32.5 knots, QE2 is
the fastest
passenger ship in the world. As a
true ocean liner she can sail backwards
faster than most cruise ships sail forward. Her
service, however, has not only been one of
romanticized ports and luxury ocean travel. In
1982, she was requisitioned by the British
government for military service in the
Falkland Islands and thus joined the ranks
of such great Cunarders as
Queen Mary and
Queen Elizabeth who were also called upon
to serve in times of conflict.
"It is most fitting that QE2’s farewell to America
be celebrated in New York, the city Cunard has
called our
North America homeport since 1847. She will
always be remembered as the best loved ship in the
world and we are delighted that she will be
cherished by future generations of travelers at
her new home in Dubai,” said Carol Marlow,
president of
Cunard Line. “Her
mantle as flagship of the British merchant fleet
has proudly been bestowed upon Queen Mary 2, a
ship recognised as the grandest ocean liner ever
built and surely destined to continue Cunard’s
legacy,” Marlow added.
During her arrival in
the early morning of October 16, QE2 will fly a
traditional Paying-Off Pennant, a
maritime flag signifying the ship’s length of
service to the fleet. The pennant will be
presented as a commemorative gift to a local
dignitary during a reception onboard the ship.
Thousands of well-wishers are expected to gather
at ideal New York harbour viewing locations
including:
·
Robert F. Wagner Jr.
Park: Overlooking the
Hudson River with great views of the Statue
of Liberty. Getting there: Just south of the
Museum of Jewish Heritage. By subway: 4 or
5 to Bowling Green, or N or R to Whitehall.
·
The Esplanade:
Running the entire length of Battery Park City,
along the Hudson River from Stuyvesant High School
on the north end all the way south to Battery
Park.
·
Hudson River Park: 550 acre
park extends for five miles along the Manhattan
shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street.
To celebrate this historic occasion, a pipe and
drum corps will perform in Battery Park as a
fitting salute and final “Bon
Voyage” to Queen Elizabeth 2.
QE2 completes service to Cunard in November after
sailing a
final voyage to Dubai where she will be
refurbished and become a luxury hotel,
entertainment destination and
maritime museum.
For information and to book a voyage on Cunard,
contact your travel professional, call
1-800-7-CUNARD or visit
www.cunard.com.
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