Legendary Cunard Ships Meet for the First Time in ...

It was an historic and nostalgic day on the Port of Lengthy Seaside on Monday, February 2, 2026 as two iconic Cunard liners met for the primary time in 20 years.

Queen Mary 2, as a part of her 108-night World Voyage that departed Southampton, UK on Sunday, January 11, anchored in Lengthy Seaside, California briefly to “greet” her legendary namesake in a once-in-a-lifetime Royal Rendezvous.

“This iconic rendezvous pays a strong tribute to Cunard’s enduring legacy and the spirit of ocean journey,” stated Katie McAlister, President of Cunard.

“Queen Mary 2’s reunion with the unique Queen Mary for the primary time in 20 years displays our previous, current and future, reminding us of Cunard’s distinct connection to maritime historical past and the generations introduced collectively via timeless class, innovation and one-of-a-kind journeys around the globe.”

This assembly is particularly celebratory as it’s the ninetieth anniversary yr of the unique Queen Mary, which debuted in Could 1937. She sailed for Cunard Line till December 1967, finishing 1,001 transatlantic crossings throughout her service life.

At her retirement, Queen Mary was transformed to a floating lodge in Lengthy Seaside, the place she has remained for 59 years with numerous operations not solely as a lodge, but in addition as a museum and specialty restaurant.

Whereas Queen Mary might not function as an ocean liner, a part of her legacy endures inside the hull of her next-generation sister, Queen Mary 2, which launched in April 2004.

The starboard funnel of Queen Mary 2 has a fully-functional, refurbished whistle from Queen Mary, without end connecting the 2 ships.

“Welcoming Queen Mary 2 to Lengthy Seaside throughout our ninetieth anniversary yr is a unprecedented honor, and watching the rendezvous this morning was a once-in-a-generation sight,” stated Steve Caloca, Managing Director of the Queen Mary.

“This historic second displays the enduring bond between the Queen Mary’s previous and current and continued position as a residing image of ocean journey, innovation, and preservation.”

The 2 ships actually share a storied historical past, however the comparability between them is stark. Queen Mary measures 81,237 gross tons, whereas Queen Mary 2 is 149,215 gross tons, practically twice as massive.

The 2 ships’ capacities are far more comparable, with Queen Mary welcoming 2,140 visitors per voyage throughout her heyday, whereas Queen Mary 2 can welcome 2,695 visitors per crusing. This demonstrates simply how far more public house the bigger Queen Mary 2 affords to at present’s visitors.

Queen Mary 2 can be barely quicker for her crossings, with a prime pace of 30 knots (34.5 miles per hour), in comparison with Queen Mary‘s prime pace of 28.5 knots (32.8 mph).

Naturally, each ships have all the time supplied the enduring luxurious and timeless atmosphere Cunard Line is understood for, a legacy that can proceed for generations.

Extra Historical past on the Similar Voyage

It isn’t simply the assembly of the 2 legendary queens that’s making this specific crusing of Queen Mary 2 so memorable and historic. Simply days in the past, the ship accomplished her very first transit of the Panama Canal, a grand event for any vessel.

Now, Queen Mary 2 is docked in Los Angeles (not Lengthy Seaside) for an in a single day go to, after which she’ll proceed on the epic itinerary that features ports in Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Africa, the Canary Islands, and Europe earlier than she returns to Southampton on April 30.

Learn Additionally: Cunard Unveils 195 New Voyages Across the Fleet

That is the ocean liner’s first World Voyage in two years and general contains greater than 30 ports of name. Overnights in iconic locations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Cape City give vacationers the uncommon alternative of deeper immersion and exploration of these famed cities.

Following her World Voyage, Queen Mary 2 can be providing not solely the transatlantic crossings she is so well-known for, but in addition Norwegian fjord voyages and several other brief break cruises over the subsequent few months.

Of particular word can be her attendance on the US’s 250th Independence Day Celebration in New York Metropolis, when she’s going to provide a roundtrip 7-night crusing from New York to Newport and Halifax.

With the deep connections between the US and the UK, Queen Mary 2‘s presence on that historic event can be but another very memorable second in her crusing historical past this yr.