3rd June 2013
*QUEEN MARY 2 RECALLS THE MAIDEN ARRIVAL OF THE ORIGINAL QUEEN MARY INTO NEW YORK
– 77 YEARS TO THE DAY*
Queen Mary arrives in New York on completion of her Maiden Voyage in June 1936 while Queen Mary 2 completes another Atlantic crossing.
When Queen Mary 2 sails in New York tomorrow, Saturday 1 June 2013, she will be arriving on the 77th anniversary of the maiden call of the original Queen Mary in New York in 1936.
Queen Mary‘s Maiden Voyage began in Southampton on 27 May 1936 and she left to the sounds of bands and ecstatic crowds. On board were the famous bandleader, Henry Hall, scheduled to give a series of live radio broadcasts during the crossing; the virtuoso harmonica player, Larry Adler; and a well-known singer of the time, Frances Day, who performed a song written specially for Queen Mary by Henry Hall, ’Somewhere at Sea‘. And, much as she may have liked being at sea, Miss Day did not trust the ship’s eggs to be fresh by the end of the voyage so she took along her own chickens. Queen Mary received a rapturous welcome in New York.
Peter Shanks, Cunard President and Managing Director, said:
“Since her launch to great acclaim in 2004, Queen Mary 2 has proudly continued the Transatlantic legacy of elegance and glamour that Queen Mary personified during her long reign of service – the legend lives on.
“On this special anniversary, we are also pleased to continue to call New York our homeport in the USA, a city which has embraced our ships through the centuries and played a prominent role in many of Cunard’s historical milestones.”
77 years on, Queen Mary 2 left Southampton last Saturday (25 May) for New York. Onboard to speak is Jeffrey Weinberg, adviser to seven US Presidents, and passengers are enjoying our legendary entertainment including presentations from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). Today the eggs – all 45,000 of them – are fresh and plentiful and our legendary experiences live on.
Queen Mary would cross the Atlantic another 1,000 times during her 31-year career before being retired in 1967. Queen Mary 2 will make her 200th crossing on 6 July during this, her ninth year on the Atlantic.
For further details on luxury Cunard voyages, please contact Cunard’s largest agent globally, The Sovereign Cruise Club on 03331 22 44 66.
Jonny Green
3rd June 2013