DATE
CORRECTION: Cunard’s
Queen Mary 2 Celebrates Fifth Birthday
January 9, 2009 –
Cunard Line’s press release dated January 8, 2009,
incorrectly stated that “Queen Mary 2 will undertake a ‘lap of
honour’ around the UK departing from Southampton on October
10, 2009.” The correct date is October 15, 2009, and refers to
the liner’s new
Grand Around the
British Isles itinerary, which departs from
New York on October 9, 2009.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
January 8, 2009 -
Queen Mary 2, the grandest
ocean liner
ever built and, since the retirement of QE2, the fastest
passenger ship
in the world, celebrates her fifth birthday on January 12,
2009. And with 2009 fares for Transatlantic Crossings starting
from just $745 per person, there is no better time to join the
half a million other guests who have so far enjoyed Cunard’s
flagship.
Queen Mary 2 entered service in
January 2004 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 104
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. She
will spend her fifth birthday in the Caribbean.
Since becoming Cunard’s 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 almost 170 years ago.
“This is an important milestone for
Queen Mary 2 and we are very proud of her many achievements,”
said Carol Marlow, president and managing director of
Cunard Line. “In her young life, Queen Mary 2 has
attracted thousands of well-wishers in many ports around the
world, achieving iconic status.”
To mark her fifth birthday, Queen
Mary 2 will undertake a “lap of honour” around the UK
departing from Southampton on October 10, 2009. This will be
her first voyage around Britain, a journey that became so
popular for QE2 to undertake as crowds came out to welcome her
in every port. It is expected that Queen Mary 2, as the
flagship of the British merchant fleet, should continue this
Cunard tradition. This voyage will feature maiden calls for
Queen Mary 2 at Greenock and Liverpool - ports which have
close historic ties with Cunard.
"Cunard is one of the oldest names
in shipping; however, we currently are sailing the youngest
fleet in the industry which we are poised to continue upon the
new
Queen Elizabeth’s debut in 2010," Marlow added.
For more information and to book a voyage aboard Queen Mary 2,
consult your Travel Professional, call toll-free
1-800-7-CUNARD or go to
www.cunard.com.
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