Final New York Call

QE2’s final call to New York yesterday was her last ever visit to North America. It was a historic day. She arrived early accompanied by our flagship Queen Mary 2 and the media was out in force. The sun shone on QE2 as we boarded a host of Cunard friends for a celebratory lunch, including the British Ambassador to the US, Her Majesty’s Consul General to New York, our valued travel agents, maritime historians, past Cunard staff, media and dignitaries from the Port of New York and the Coast Guards. Speeches brought a tear to the eye, as Captain McNaught Commodore Warner and Carol Marlow told of QE2’s life with us and the baton passing on to Queen Mary 2.. Our British Ambassador also paid tribute to QE2, the most famous ship in the world. Later in the afternoon crowds gathered in Battery Park to bid the ships farewell. At 5pm Queen Mary 2 left her berth at Brooklyn and made her way across the harbour, turned on a sixpence and waited for the star of the show to arrive. QE2 made her entrance at 6pm led by a spraying New York fireboat. The two Queens sounded their whistles to each other and to the substantial crowds, and as a Pipers band played Auld Lang Syne QE2 passed her young sister, and then led her out of the harbour, each Queen saluting Lady Liberty as they sailed by. The crowds watched as they glided off into the distance under the Verazzano Bridge.

Official Press Release Cunard Cruises dated 17th October 2008.