Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 reunited with her legendary namesake off the coast of Long Beach this morning, marking the first time the two ships have met in two decades.
The historic rendezvous took place as Queen Mary 2 anchored near the retired Queen Mary during the ship’s 2025 World Voyage. The original Queen Mary, now permanently docked in Long Beach, is celebrating her 90th anniversary this year.
A Living Connection Between Generations
The reunion carries special significance beyond the shared name. Queen Mary 2’s starboard funnel actually houses a fully refurbished whistle from the original Queen Mary, creating a physical link between the two vessels.
The original Queen Mary debuted in 1936 and served as a transatlantic liner until her retirement in 1967. She was then permanently docked in Long Beach as a tourist attraction.
Queen Mary 2 entered service in 2004 and remains the world’s only true ocean liner in active service, regularly crossing between New York and Southampton.
Historic Panama Transit
The Long Beach reunion followed another milestone for Queen Mary 2, her first-ever transit of the Panama Canal.
After the rendezvous, the ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles for the first time in 17 years, staying overnight as part of her current World Voyage.
The 108-night voyage is taking passengers to more than 30 ports across the Americas, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
It’s Queen Mary 2’s first World Voyage in two years and includes overnight stays in destinations like San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Cape Town.
The retired Queen Mary now operates as a hotel and cultural attraction in Long Beach, featuring dining, tours, exhibits, and special events.
