QUEEN MARY 2 CELEBRATES HER 5TH BIRTHDAY

Historic Voyages from £699 per person

Queen Mary 2, the largest, longest, tallest, widest, most expensive ocean liner ever and, since the retirement of QE2, the fastest passenger ship in the world, celebrates her fifth birthday on 12 January 2009 - five years on from her entry into service. And with Transatlantic lead-in fares for 2009 starting from just £699 per person, there is no better time to join the half a million other guests who have so far enjoyed Britain's merchant 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 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.

Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:

“We are very proud of our flagship and her achievements since she entered service and this is an important anniversary for Queen Mary 2. This ship spearheads Cunard’s fleet of the most famous ocean liners in the world which currently consists of Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. From October 2010, when the new Queen Elizabeth enters service, Cunard, one of the oldest names in shipping, will have the youngest fleet in the industry!”

To mark her fifth birthday year Queen Mary 2 will undertake a ‘lap-of-honour’ around the UK departing from Southampton on 10 October. 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, will 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.

- Ends -


Note to Editors

Queen Mary 2’s five years in service has been acknowledged online and can be accessed via http://queenmary2.cunard.co.uk/birthday 

For Further PRESS Information

Eric Flounders, Public Relations Manager: 0207 940 5390
eric.flounders@cunard.co.uk
Michael Gallagher, Public Relations Executive: 0207 940 5391
michael.gallagher@cunard.co.uk

Date Posted: 1/9/2009