Flagship vessel will depart the Mersey this summer on a 14-night Northern Atlantic Westbound Crossing, which includes Iceland, Canada and New York. Tony McDonough reports
Shipping line Cunard has announced its Queen Mary 2 vessel will sail to New York from Liverpool later this summer.
The vessel will depart the Mersey on a 14-night Northern Atlantic Westbound Crossing, which includes Iceland, Canada and New York. The company says it has introduced the Liverpool stop due to strong demand.
New for 2019 the voyage will combine a classic Transatlantic crossing with discovery days in maiden port Reykjavik, Iceland, and will depart Southampton on July 14, arriving into Liverpool on July 16.
Queen Mary 2 came to Liverpool in 2015 along with sister liners, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, to take part in the Three Queens spectacular celebrating Cunard’s 175th anniversary and its longstanding links with Liverpool.
The company had its headquarters in the city’s waterfront Cunard Building, one of the world famous Three Graces, from 1916 until 1967. More than one million people lined the banks of the Mersey to welcome the vessels in 2015.
In 2015, Cunard laid on a special Transatlantic crossing from Liverpool to Halifax Nova Scotia, Boston and New York in a voyage that sparked huge demand with with berths selling for us much as £15,500. Many people were left disappointed after places sold out within an hour of going on sale.
Cunard sales director, Gary Anslow, said: “We are delighted to have added a Liverpool departure in response to trade demand. Quite a few partners in the region asked if we would create a Liverpool departure, given our historic ties with the city and the demand they have for local departures.
“We are now looking forward to working with the trade on selling this fantastic itinerary to their clients.”