A year after her last visit, Cunard’s ocean liner Queen Mary 2 will return to the Mersey this week for a two-night visit – and the occasion will be bittersweet with a reminder of what Liverpool has lost. Tony McDonough reports
Ocean liner Queen Mary 2 will arrive in the Mersey on Wednesday, September 17, for a two night stay, departing on Friday, September 19.
One of four Cunard vessels, and the only one built to cross the Atlantic, Queen Mary 2 is calling at Liverpool Cruise Port on Wednesday evening. Her visit is part of a 12-night British Isles voyage departing Southampton on September 14.
And while there is always a warm welcome guaranteed from the public on both banks of the river for the arrival of any Cunard ship, Queen Mary 2’s presence is a bittersweet reminder of the loss of transatlantic voyages from Liverpool.
On July 4, 1840, Cunard’s RMS Britannia set sail from Liverpool bound for Boston. Calling at Halifax Nova Scotia on the way, she arrived in the US 14 days and eight hours later.
It kicked off a golden age of Transatlantic sailings between Liverpool and the US and in the late 19th century and early 20th century Liverpool was the epicentre of the route, with Cunard and White Star Line ferrying millions of passengers.
However, even as early as the late 19th century Liverpool’s leaders were anxious that Southampton was waiting in the wings to snatch away the Transatlantic trade. Many of the passengers were well-heeled Londoners and the south coast port was obviously closer to the capital.
In an attempt to stay competitive Liverpool built a new railway line connecting the West Coast mainline with its cruise terminal on the Mersey. It meant those wealthy travellers from London could step right off the train on the quayside and onto the ship. Those rails are still visible at Princes Dock today.
Brutal end for the golden era
It wasn’t until the 1960s that what the city feared finally came to pass. On November 24, 1966, RMS Sylvania left Princes Landing Stage on the Mersey and began its journey across the Atlantic to New York.
This was an historic voyage, but not for happy reasons. Cunard Line had announced a suspension of transatlantic services between Liverpool and the US after operating the route for 126 years.
A year later, in 1967, Cunard dealt the city an even bigger blow when it moved its headquarters from Liverpool, the city of its birth, to Southampton. This truly was the end of an era.
Liverpool maritime expert and journalist, Peter Elson, told LBN in 2024 that regular passengers and crew knew the truth. Suspension was merely a euphemism for closure. RMS Sylvania received a big send-off at Liverpool. People had recognised this was an ending, not a pause.
And so it came to pass. In 2026 it will be 60 years since that voyage and for the whole of that time Cunard’s transatlantic services have operated out of Southampton, save for the odd special voyage from the Mersey.
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Although Cunard likes to trumpet its historic links with Liverpool, when it comes to how it runs its business, there is little place for sentiment. Peter said: “I would say the chance of the return of transatlantic crossings is zero.
“Southampton is very firmly the base for that service as far as Cunard is concerned. Many people fly into Heathrow and then get onto the ship and sail back to New York, and vice-versa. It is a well-oiled machine.”
Special events planned
Queen Mary 2 was last berthed at Liverpool Cruise Terminal in September 2024 after crossing the Atlantic from New York for the 400th time. In 2015 she took part in the Three Queens spectacular on the Mersey to celebrate Cunard’s 175th anniversary.
This latest call will be the third and final visit to the city by Cunard this year following calls by the company’s newest vessel, Queen Anne, in May and August. She will arrive at Liverpool following a call at Cobh, southern Ireland and depart bound for Oban, Scotland.
Spectators on both sides of the Mersey will be able to see the 150,000 gross tonne, 345m luxury liner arrive on Wednesday evening.
Provisional timings inbound on Wednesday, September 17 are: Formby 7.15pm, Crosby 7.40pm, New Brighton 8.05pm, swing off berth at 8.30pm and alongside berth at 9pm.
She will depart on Friday at 8.30pm and will pass New Brighton at 8.50pm, Crosby at 9.15pm and Formby at 9.40pm. All timings are subject to change.
And Liverpool will host a series of celebratory events to honour Cunard’s 185th anniversary. They will also mark a decade since Cunard were granted the Freedom of the City, during the Three Queens event. Highlights of the celebrations, which will take place on Thursday and Friday, include:
- A Civic Reception at Liverpool Town Hall – A formal welcome for Captain Tomás Connery and senior officers. This will take place on Thursday at 4.30pm.
- Guided tours of the Cunard Building – exclusive behind-the-scenes access for both QM2 passengers and the public across both days. To book on one of the tours click here – space is limited.
- Pop-up Liverpool Market – more than 40 stalls showcasing local food, drink, crafts and art inside the Cunard Building’s Grand Arrivals Hall for the first time, along with a small selection outside (weather permitting). Open 10am-5pm on September 18-19.
- Sail away moment – In partnership with Liverpool Cruise Port, at 9pm there will be fireworks to mark the occasion to coincide with the ship’s departure time at around 8.30pm.