On 13th January 2008 all three Cunard ocean liners, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the new Queen Victoria (on her Maiden Transatlantic voyage) all met for one historic rendezvous in New York Harbor. On 22nd April 2008, all three ships met for the only time in Cunard’s home port of Southampton. Then, on 16th October 2008 the QE2 made her emotional final New York farewell departure and last Transatlantic crossing in tandem with the Queen Mary 2 shortly before heading to Dubai with plans to become a floating hotel. It was the end of an era.

Briefly, the Cunard Line was founded in 1838 by shipping magnate Sir Samuel Cunard of Halifax, Nova Scotia with several business men and Engineer Robert Napier who went to the United Kingdom with a bid for the rights to transport transatlantic mail. The company was originally called the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, (quite a mouthful!) and was eventually renamed Cunard Steamship Company. Winning these rights entitled Cunard to fly a special pennant and use the initials RMS (Royal Mail Ship) as a prefix on its vessels. Still used today, over 170 years later passengers are still sailing on board the “RMS” Queen Mary 2.

By the early 1930’s with the Great Depression having worldwide effect, rivals such as Cunard and White Star Line were in serious financial trouble. White Star Line was famous for their grand liners, and of course one of the most famous of all, the TITANIC. Work had stopped on Cunard’s major new ship, hull 534, just sitting there in Scotland, rusting. To help, The British Government would provide a bailout with with an infusion of nearly 10 million pounds (Does this sound frighteningly familiar to current financial matters!?) on the condition that the two companies merge. The Cunard White Star Line was born and this funding also allowed for the completion Hull 534, The Queen Mary.

By mid 20th Century transatlantic ship travel was in a serious decline, in part due to the advent, comfort and speed of the long distance airliner. Folks could fly across the Atlantic in mere hours instead of days by Ship. By the early 1960’s the Jet airliner cut that time down even less.

The Queen Mary and her sister ship, Queen Elizabeth, were beginning to show their age and were more and more expensive to operate. The French Line had their beautiful SS France launched in May of 1960. Cunard wanted a ship that was smaller and more economical than the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth so Cunard invested $80 million to build a new ocean liner to replace the original Queens. The Queen Elizabeth 2 was built in the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. She was hull number 736, launched and named on September 20th 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, entering service on April 22nd 1969.

Fast forward to October 16th, 2008. The QE2 leaves on this day, never to return. This will be the last time she will ever see the skyline of New York, a port she visited hundreds of times during her 39 years of service.

We booked to be on Queen Mary 2 for this event as it would be the best perspective to film the Queen Elizabeth 2 for a documentary about the Cunard ships. Here was also a chance to witness maritime history first hand not only as QE2 leaves New York for the last time, but to have the opportunity to sail with her in tandem for this final transatlantic crossing.

It was a cool overcast day in New York, almost grey in mourning for the QE2. This grand farewell was similar in choreography to the Royal Rendezvous fireworks parade that occurred on January 13th, 2008 when all three Queens followed each other down the Hudson River for a once in a lifetime gathering in the Big Apple. The Queen Mary 2 started from Brooklyn, sailing around Governor’s Island then up the Hudson. She slowly turned in front of Ellis Island and waited for the lady of honor to pass. Queen Elizabeth 2 backed away from her Manhattan pier slowly making her way down River. With a fire boat and tug escort, her paying off pennant was blowing proudly in the wind. This pennant is only flown as a ship leaves a port for the last time. The red banner is 39 feet long, one foot for each year of service. A powerful and emotional horn salute sent chills through every person lining the decks of both liners, on shore, and echoed through the skyscrapers of the City. The Grand Lady would then lead the way for the last time past Miss Liberty, under the Verazzano Bridge and out to sea.

As QE2 sailed past, folks would comment that we, on the Queen Mary 2, had the better view!

Soon after, on the evening of November 11th, 2008 broadcast live on television in the United Kingdom and via the internet, viewers around the world watched as QE2 was towed backwards to the Middle Swinging Ground opposite Mayflower Park in Southampton. She held that position briefly while a message was broadcast from Captain Ian McNaught and then a Spectacular fireworks show lit the sky. QE2 began her final trip down the Solent, surrounded by dozens of small craft as thousands watched from vantage points all along the solent. Never to return to her home port.

During QE2's 39 years in service to Cunard, she sailed 5.9 million nautical miles, 806 transatlantic crossings, carried over 2.5 million guests and did 25 World Cruises.

QE2 was supposed to undergo a major conversion at some point so that she can be permanently berthed as a floating luxury hotel at Palm Jumeirah, a manmade island off the coast of Dubai. Connected by a bridge, the plan was for her to form the centerpiece of a luxury marina complex with restaurants, private homes, hotels and a full theatre. Plans have now changed and QE2 will be berthed in Cape Town, South Africa as a floating hotel for the 2010 World Cup Games, her future unknown.

Of course, the legacy of Cunard continues with the announcement of a new Queen Elizabeth, scheduled to enter service on October 12th 2010. She will become the second largest Cunard ship ever built and as the promotional material states, “she will give one of the oldest names in shipping the strength of owning the youngest fleet in the industry”.