MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

'Queen Mary 2' calls in Ushuaia after ten-year absence

Passengers after landing at the Ushuaia jetty, with the Queen Mary 2 anchored in the bay

One of the world's largest and most iconic cruise vessels called at Ushuaia, extreme south of Argentina, on Thursday following an absence of over ten years. Given the size of the 'Queen Mary 2', she anchored in the bay and those passengers of the 2.600 on board who decided to land were brought ashore in tenders.

Tens of coaches were waiting to carry the visitors on tours, national parks making it one of the busiest days of the season for the city which is considered the most austral of the world.

The last time the 345 meters long Queen Mary called in south Argentina was on February 2006 when cruising along the Beagle Channel. At one time ruler of the seas, a new generation of cruise vessels such as the Allure of the Seas or the Oasis of the Seas, have displaced her impressive presence. Nevertheless her splendor and symbolism makes her quite different from the massive cruise industry.

With 1.310 rooms, she can carry 2.6120 passengers and a crew of 1.300, and displays ten restaurants, shopping malls, five pools, spa, golf, paddle and basketball simulators, an impressive gymnasium, a planetarium, the largest dancing arena with world class entertainment plus a beautifully provided library.

Queen Mary 2, left late in the day and is heading for Valparaiso, Chile, before calling at Pio XI glacier. On her return to Europe Queen Mary 2 will embark on a new chapter of innovation as she undergoes an extensive 25-day dry-dock between 27 May and 21 June 2016 at the Blohm + Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.