On 4 July the keel is laid for Queen Mary 2.

2003 On 21 March Queen Mary 2 is floated out of the building
dock.

On 31 March Cunard announces that ‘The New
Cunarder’ will be named Queen Victoria.

On 12 July the keel is laid for Queen Victoria.

In December, Queen Mary 2 is handed over to Cunard
and arrives in Southampton.

2004 On 8 January Queen Mary 2 is named by Her Majesty
the Queen.

On 12 January RMS Queen Mary 2 sails on her Maiden
Voyage.

RMS Queen Mary 2 departs Southampton on 16 April on
her first transatlantic crossing to New York.

On 25 April both RMS Queen Mary 2 and QE2 meet in
New York – the first time that two Cunard Queens have
been berthed in the port since March 1940.

On 1 May both Queens arrive in Southampton – the first
time two Cunard Queens have been in the company’s
home port since 1967. QE2 relinquishes the title of
flagship to RMS Queen Mary 2. QE2 is the longest
serving Cunard flagship.

On 5 November QE2 becomes Cunard’s longest serving
express liner having completed 35 years, six months and
three days of service – taking the record from Aquitania.

- Ends -








Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9