Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 sets sail from New York – her 400th transatlantic crossing – and will arrive at Liverpool Cruise Terminal in early September. Tony McDonough reports
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is heading across the Atlantic bound for Liverpool after leaving New York in the last few days.
This will be the 400th transatlantic crossing for the flagship vessel. She will call at Liverpool Cruise Terminal on the Mersey on the morning of Friday, September 6, and depart the following day heading for Cobb in Ireland.
Liverpool is the port where Cunard started passenger services between Europe and North America in 1840.
Since then, Cunard ships have crossed the Atlantic every year, beginning with the paddle steamer Britannia, which departed Liverpool on July 4, 1840, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston.
Sadly, Cunard regular transatlantic cruises from Liverpool were suspended in November 1966 after RMS Sylvania left Princes Landing Stage and began her journey to New York. There have been a number of one-off cruises since.
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.
READ MORE: Will Cunard cruises ever return to Liverpool?
Queen Mary 2’s latest voyage started in New York on August 23. She arrived in Southampton on the morning of August 30. From there she will set sail on a British Isles cruise.
Next Friday’s visit marks Queen Mary 2’s eighth call at Liverpool and is expected to draw large crowds along both sides of the Mersey.
This call will also be the first by a Cunard ship in Liverpool since the spectacular naming ceremony of the line’s newest ship Queen Anne which took place in front of 50,000 spectators at Pier Head in June.
Cunard President Katie McAlister said: “Cunard’s 184-year connection with Liverpool is something truly special, woven into the history of both our company and the city.
“We’re incredibly proud of this bond and can’t wait for Queen Mary 2 to return, marking her 400th Atlantic crossing. It feels right to celebrate this milestone in the port where our transatlantic journey began in 1840.”
A special event on board Queen Mary 2 will honour the Liverpool partners who were instrumental in delivering Queen Anne’s Naming Ceremony.
Queen Mary 2 is due alongside at Liverpool Cruise Terminal at 2.30pm on Friday, September 6. Spectators are expected to line vantage points at Formby (12.30pm) and New Brighton and Crosby near the mouth of the river (1pm).
She will depart at 11.59pm on Saturday, September 7. All timings subject to change.