Her Majesty The Queen to name Queen Mary 2

L ondon, 15 October 2003 /PRNewswire/ -- MIAMI, Oct. 15 - Cunard is delighted to confirm that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company's new flagship Queen Mary 2 at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England, on Thursday, January 8, 2004. Her Majesty will be accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The launch will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest.

According to Pamela Conover, president of Cunard Line: "This will be an historic occasion in the true sense of the word. The Queen honoured Cunard by launching our current flagship QE2 in 1967, and we are delighted Her Majesty has agreed to do the same for our next transatlantic liner, Queen Mary 2. Cunard prides itself on operating the most famous ocean liners in the world and Queen Mary 2 will carry this fine tradition into the 21st century."

The British-registered Queen Mary 2 -- the largest, longest, tallest, widest and -- at $780 million dollars -- the most expensive passenger liner ever built, will enter service on January 12, 2004, with a Maiden Voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Further details about the Queen Mary 2 naming ceremony will be released in due course. For more information, consult a travel agent, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit the website at http://www.cunard.com/. AOL keyword: Cunard.

Cunard Line has operated the most famous ocean liners in the world since 1840. Cunard vessels have a classic British heritage and include QE2 and Caronia. In 2004 the line welcomes Queen Mary 2, destined to recapture the glamour of the original Queen Mary, currently a hotel and attraction in Long Beach, CA.

In 2005, another newbuild, Queen Victoria, joins the fleet.

Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

NOTES TO EDITORS: Royal Connection -- There is a strong tradition of Cunard liners being launched by members of the Royal family. Not only did The Queen name Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967, but Her Majesty also performed the ceremony for Caronia -- the "Green Goddess" -- in 1947. -- The late Queen Mother, as Queen Elizabeth, launched Queen Elizabeth in 1938. -- Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 -- and in so doing became the first monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. Features on QM2 Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620 passengers and features sweeping staircases, expansive promenades and luxurious accommodations, nearly three-quarters of which have private balconies. Facilities include 10 dining venues, including the only shipboard restaurant by celebrity chef Todd English, the only Canyon Ranch SpaClub(R) at sea, the world's first planetarium at sea, the largest ballroom at sea, the largest library at sea, and the largest wine collection at sea. The ship also features several elegant bars and showrooms, a two-story theatre, a casino, five indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a children's facility, complete with British nannies.