In a rare convergence of maritime lineage, the Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 anchored off Long Beach on February 2nd, 2026, to come alongside the permanent berth of her predecessor, the original Queen Mary, for the first time in 20 years. The occasion unfolded during Queen Mary 2’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 the liner.
The modern ocean liner, launched in 2004 and noted for her transatlantic service, moored near the retired Queen Mary, which since 1967 has remained fixed on the Long Beach waterfront as a cultural and historical attraction featuring 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 ships endures in Queen Mary 2’s starboard funnel, which houses a refurbished whistle from the earlier liner, a remnant of maritime heritage that underscores the connection between the two Queens. Shortly after the reunion, Queen Mary 2 proceeded to the Port of 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.