Cunard's Queen Mary on maiden arrival in NYC, 1936

Queen Mary 2 Public Viewing (in PDF)
Cunard's Queen Mary 2, the first new trans-Atlantic ocean liner in 35 years and the largest passenger ship ever, will arrive on its inaugural visit to New York harbor on April 22 and berth at the New York Cruise Terminal (formerly Passenger Ship Terminal).

The most spectacular views may be when both Queen Elizabeth 2, on her final visit to New York, and Queen Mary 2 depart the harbor on Sunday, April 25 between 7:30 and 9:30, with a pause for fireworks at the Statue of Liberty at 8:30 p.m.

However, there will be several opportunities to see QM2 in New York. The public is invited to view QM 2, as she passes through New York harbor on the following schedule (Note: Times are approximate):

• April 22: QM2 will arrive at Statue of Liberty at about 6:45 a.m. and sail up the Hudson River to the New York Cruise Terminal (formerly Passenger Ship Terminal) for 8 a.m. arrival. FDNY Fireboats will escort the ship with colorful water display
  
  
• April 23: QM2 will depart the cruise terminal at about 11:30 a.m.
  
  
• April 24: QM2 will arrive in the harbor close to 6 a.m. and at the cruise terminal by 7 a.m.
  
  
• April 25: both QM2 and QE2 will depart from the cruise terminal, at 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. respectively, sail down the Hudson River and slowly pass the Statue of Liberty at 8:30 p.m. with a fireworks display by Grucci.

The best views of the ship will be from the Hudson River Park, along Manhattan's Westside, as she passes along the Hudson River waterfront. Good viewing will also exist along the south Brooklyn waterfront and Staten Island as QM2 leaves under the Verranzano Bridge.

The Hudson River Park, Battery Park City and Battery Park afford great spots to watch both the ship passing, and the historic 2-ship firework show on Sunday, April 25. This map highlights several of the best spots for viewing.

The public is not advised to view QM2 while in berth at Pier 92. Security precautions prohibit roaming within the Cruise Terminal unescorted, and the terminal structure itself will make it difficult to see the ship. The Intrepid Museum, at 12th Avenue and 42nd Street, may provide a better option for viewing the ship while docked at the cruise terminal.

Cunard's Lusitania in New York

Cunard in New York
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 represents the continuation of both Cunard's historic

role in building mail-carrying ocean liners in the world--often the fastest-- and New York's historic role as the gateway to America for passengers on trans-Atlantic voyages. For over 150 years, Cunard has brought each new vessel--first powered by wind and steam-driven paddles-- to New York as the government's registered mail carrier and primary link between America and England. Cunard's first New York home was Pier 51 on the North River. Later, as all liners outgrew existing piers, Cunard and the competing lines moved up to Piers 84-92, which had been created at 1,000' long.

The first Queen Mary arrived in New York in 1936, and completed trans-Atlantic service in 1967. Meanwhile, the maiden voyages of the Queen Elizabeth in 1947-after service in WWII, and Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 signaled the continuing strength of Cunard's reputation for fast and elegant ocean passage to Europe.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2, the first new trans-Atlantic liner in 35 years and the largest passenger ship ever, will arrive on its inaugural visit to New York harbor on April 22 and berth at the New York Cruise Terminal (formerly Passenger Ship Terminal). For four days, Cunard will celebrate this new ship and Cunard's historic relationship with New York spanning 150 years. This event has been anticipated since the announcement five years ago that the ship would be constructed to replace the Queen Elizabeth 2 and home-ported in New York. Over 10, 000 guests will pass through the terminal over this four-day event. Additionally, Cunard has invited the local press and television, including the Today Show, to participate by showing off the new ship and all of its amenities.

The QM 2 will operate from New York for a portion of this year, serving the trans-Atlantic itinerary, as well as wintertime trips to warmer destinations.

This $800 million ocean liner is a reminder that the entire notion of crossing the Atlantic by ship, once thought to be irrelevant by the age of the jet airplane, is alive and well and is, in fact, part of a steady increase in the cruise industry generally.

As the New York Time Editorial wrote on January 6, 2004, "…One of the more poignant sights of 2004 promises to be that of the first new ocean liner in a generation as it makes its way up the Hudson and past the mothballed Concorde…"

Facts

• Mayor Bloomberg will welcome the ship to New York, her U.S. homeport, in a ceremony at the New York Cruise Terminal, following her arrival in the harbor with fireboat escort.
  
  
• Sunday, April 25, 2004 will mark the first time that two Queens berth side-by-side in New York since 1940.
  
  
• QM 2 is the largest (151,400 tons), longest (1,132 feet/345 meters), tallest (236 feet/72 meters), widest (135 feet/41 meters) and most expensive ($800 million) ocean liner ever built.
  
  
• QM 2 was named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a gala ceremony held in Southampton, England on January 8, 2004.