The QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 at Greenock's Ocean Terminal

QUEEN MARY 2 to make historic visits to the Clyde and Mersey
Cunard recognises heritage of Clyde and Mersey with visits in 2009...

Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2, the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive ocean liner ever built, will make an historic call at Greenock on Monday 19 October 2009. The call is part of a special British Isles voyage marking the fifth anniversary of the introduction of Queen Mary 2 in January 2004. Queen Mary 2 will arrive at 0800 hours and berth alongside the Ocean Terminal until her departure at 1800 hours. Thousands are expected to turn out and greet the largest vessel ever to call at Greenock.

Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:

“We are delighted to be announcing this historic call at Greenock. Since it’s founding in May 1839 – the 170th anniversary of which we celebrate in 2009 – Cunard has owned over 220 ships. Of those 125 were built in Scotland, with the vast majority of those being built on the Clyde. They range from the tiny Unicorn, to the first superliner Lusitania, the palatial Aquitania and the famous Queens Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2. We felt a visit by our flagship Queen Mary 2 to acknowledge our deep ties with the Clyde, Greenock and Glasgow was well overdue! If previous visits by our beloved QE2 are anything to go by then Queen Mary 2 can expect an emotional, warm and historic welcome”.

QE2 has called at Greenock seven times since she entered service in May 1969 – including a return visit on 20 September 2007 exactly 40 years after her launch.

QE2 will make one final call at Greenock on Sunday 5 October 2008 before leaving Cunard service in November.

As well as recognising the importance of the Clyde to Cunard's history, the ship will also pay respects to what Cunard call's its 'ancestral home', Liverpool.

"Cunard Line was founded in the city in May 1839 and our Head Office remained there until 1967, so our ties with the city are deep. " Carol said and added, "... there was no better time for our flagship to call at our birthplace for the first time." She expects a warm welcome "in true Liverpool fashion”.

QE2 has called at Liverpool eight times in her career and was the vessel selected to officiate at the opening of the City Cruise Terminal in September 2007. QE2 will make one final call at Liverpool on Friday 3 October 2008 before leaving Cunard service in November.

Cunard's beginnings on the Clyde and Mersey are inextricably linked. Whilst the line's home was Liverpool, the company itself was set up by Cunard, and shipping, shipbuilding and engineering firms on the Clyde when it was formed as British & North American Steam Nav Co . The company's first ship, the BRITANNIA, was registered in Glasgow. The UNICORN was an earlier vessel built for one of the partners of the firm, G&J Burns of Glasgow, in 1838 and entered service with Cunard in 1847