By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 (QM2) has embarked on her 200th Transatlantic Crossing after departing New York on 6 July to return to her Southampton homeport on 13 July.
The vessel, in her ninth season since entering service in 2004, marked the start of the historic voyage by sailing past the Statue of Liberty and will commemorate the milestone with various activities, performances and onboard lectures.
As part of the celebratory Cunard Insights enrichment programme, Stephen Payne OBE – who was largely responsible for the ship’s design – and Nick Owen, BBC newsreader and Classic FM presenter, will give onboard lectures.
“Queen Mary 2 embodies the attributes of a true liner, including reserves of stability and deep draught,” said Payne. “Combined with her great size, these attributes ensure that the ship can achieve a level of Atlantic sea-keeping superior to any other liner in history. No other passenger ship is as much at home on the North Atlantic as Queen Mary 2.”
Cunard will offer an onboard evening gala dinner, as well as entertainment from the Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music who will perform jazz, swing and orchestral music, provide music for an afternoon tea dance, offer lunchtime jam sessions, an evening performance in the Royal Court Theatre and give two jazz master class lectures.
“As each year in service passes, QM2 becomes even more special and we will continue to celebrate and cherish her milestones and history,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “Looking at Cunard’s earlier Queens – Queen Mary crossed the Atlantic 1,001 times, Queen Elizabeth crossed 896 times and QE2 crossed 812 times. QM2 achieved her 200th crossing in her ninth season, and has many seasons and crossings ahead.”