Three famous ocean liners have sailed together in Liverpool for the first time to mark Cunard's 175th anniversary. The Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth saluted the city where Samuel Cunard began his transatlantic line in 1840.
Thousands of people lined the River Mersey to watch the three queens perform a synchronized sailing display. As the fleet completed its maneuvers, the Red Arrows performed a fly-past.
Captain Christopher Wells, who was at the helm of the Queen Mary 2, said it was a very special weekend.
It allows us to celebrate our anniversary in the city where the company was founded. To have that celebration is very important not only to us, but also to the city, he said.
The display was part of a three-day celebration, which ends on Tuesday, marking the company's first transatlantic crossing from Liverpool.
Sir Samuel Cunard, who founded the service, sailed aboard the RMS Britannia to Boston on its maiden voyage on 4 July 1840.
The Cunard company revolutionized travel in the XIX century with its steam ships which added speed and safety to journeys which had previously been made on less reliable sailing ships.
By the early part of the 20th Century, the company's big three” liners - Mauretania, Berengaria and Aquitania - were the primary means of passenger transport across the Atlantic
The shipping company moved its headquarters from the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront to Southampton in 1965
Some interesting facts: since the first scheduled service across the Atlantic, Cunard ships have crossed and re-crossed the Atlantic, in peace and war, without fail every year; more than 109,000 bottles of red wine are consumed every year on board Queen Victoria and the annual sugar consumption on Queen Mary 2 is enough to make eight million scones.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesYou will Never sail alone,
May 26th, 2015 - 07:02 pm 0as they say..
And the only 'Queens' SA has to offer are POLLY, The Lunatic from Chewbut (Think) and our old 'friend', hiding in Canada: Kiki Mashed Potato Head.
May 26th, 2015 - 09:28 pm 0Well done girls.
So which one is stuck in the mud in Long beach CA?
May 27th, 2015 - 07:11 pm 0I remember sneaking off into a hallway and banging my girlfriend on that one years ago :) Yes I was naughty.
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