Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Reunites With Historic Queen Mary

Cunard marked a rare and symbolic maritime moment this week as Queen Mary 2 reunited with her legendary namesake, Queen Mary, for the first time in two decades. The reunion took place in Long Beach, California, where the original Queen Mary has been permanently docked for decades, creating a powerful visual link between Cunard’s past and present.

The occasion followed Queen Mary 2’s first-ever transit of the Panama Canal, a milestone voyage that further underscored the ship’s global reach and operational scale. After the Long Beach rendezvous, Queen Mary 2 continued on to the Port of Los Angeles, marking her return to the port after a 17-year absence. The call forms part of the ship’s 108-night 2026 World Voyage, which spans more than 30 ports across the Americas, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Launched in 1936, the original Queen Mary served as one of the most celebrated ocean liners of the 20th century, operating until her retirement from active service in 1967. Today, she lives on as a prominent cultural landmark in Long Beach, offering visitors a blend of maritime history and modern attractions. The Art Deco icon features restaurants, guided tours, historical exhibits, festivals, and overnight accommodations, drawing visitors year-round and preserving her legacy as a symbol of transatlantic travel’s golden age.

Queen Mary 2, meanwhile, entered service in 2004 and remains Cunard’s flagship, purpose-built for ocean crossings and long-distance global voyages. Designed to bridge classic liner heritage with modern luxury, the ship carries forward tangible elements of her predecessor. Notably, Queen Mary 2’s starboard funnel houses a fully refurbished whistle originally installed aboard the first Queen Mary, creating a literal and symbolic connection between the two vessels.

The reunion was celebrated by Cunard leadership as a moment that reflects the brand’s enduring identity. Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said the meeting paid tribute to the company’s legacy and the spirit of ocean travel. She noted that seeing Queen Mary 2 alongside the original Queen Mary highlights Cunard’s unique position at the intersection of history, innovation, and timeless elegance.

For Cunard, the encounter was more than a nostalgic milestone. It served as a reminder of the generations of travelers connected by the brand’s ships and the continuing relevance of ocean travel in a modern cruising landscape. As Queen Mary 2 resumes her world voyage, the brief reunion in Long Beach stands as a rare moment where nearly 90 years of maritime history converged at a single port.

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