In a rare convergence of maritime lineage, the Cunard flagship RMS Queen Mary 2 anchored off Long Beach/LA on February 2nd, to come alongside the permanently berthed RMS Queen Mary (1934-1967), for the first time in 20 years.
The occasion unfolded during QM2’s 108-night World Voyage and followed her historic first transit through the Panama Canal earlier in the voyage, marking a sequence of notable navigational achievements for Cunard's iconic liner.
The 2004-launched QM2, best known for her regular transatlantic service, moored near the retired QM, which since 1967 has remained docked on the Long Beach waterfront as a cultural and historical attraction featuring ship tours, dining and accommodations.
This juxtaposition of active and historic vessels brought together two generations of Cunard’s flagship liners, echoing the evolution of ocean travel from the Art Deco era into the contemporary age.
A physical link between the liners endures in QM2’s starboard funnel, which houses a refurbished whistle from QM, a remnant of maritime heritage that underscores the connection between the two Queens.
Shortly after the reunion, Queen Mary 2 proceeded to Port Los Angeles for an overnight stay, her first in that harbour in 17 years, before continuing her circumnavigation of the globe.
The meeting off Long Beach represents a notable moment in seafaring history as Cunard’s ocean liner tradition bridges past and present through the convergence of vessels that have each been emblematic of their respective eras of long-distance passenger service.