The Queen to bid farewell to QE2

[11th April 2008]

Her Majesty the Queen will pay a farewell visit to the cruise ship the QE2 at the port of Southampton on 2nd June ahead of the ship's retirement from active service in November.

The Queen launched the QE2 at Clydebank, Scotland in September 1967 and since then has visited the famous cruise ship on two further occasions. In May 1969 she visited QE2 just before her maiden voyage, and then again in July 1990 to mark the 150th anniversary of Cunard Line.

Full details of the Queen's visit to the port of Southampton have yet to be announced. Cunard president and MD, Carol Marlow, comments: “We are delighted and honoured that The Queen has chosen to visit QE2 to wish her farewell. Her Majesty has taken a close interest in the ship over the last forty years, and I am certain this will be a memorable occasion for all involved”.

Since her launch the QE2 - dubbed the most famous ship in the world - has travelled over 5.6 million nautical miles, more than any other ship. She has completed 25 world cruises, crossed the Atlantic a staggering 802 times, and carried more than 2.5 million passengers.

Cunard's new cruise ship, Queen Victoria, will be based at the port of Southampton for the whole of her 2009 schedule. She will make eight Mediterranean cruises of 12-16 days, as well as cruises to Norway and the Canaries.

One of the highlights of Queen Victoria's 2009 schedule will be a maiden voyage to New England and Canada which will include visits to the historic port of Boston, as well as Newport Rhode Island, Quebec City and Halifax Nova Scotia, birthplace of Sir Samuel Cunard.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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