| What is the QE2? | What is Cunard? |
| A basic History of the QE2 | A photo of the QE2 |
The QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) is an ocean liner that currently operates as a luxury cruise ship. The QE2 cruises the world on its yearly World Cruise from January to April each year, as well as completing numerous Transatlantic crossings from New York to Southampton.
Cunard, or Cunard Line, is the company that owns and operates the QE2. The line was established in 1839 by Samual Cunard. Nearly 160 years later, Cunard boasts 5 of the worlds top 12 cruise ships, and certainly the most famous, the QE2.
The QE2 was originally built to help assist Cunard in maintaining the first class North Atlantic service, which had previously been serviced by the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
Construction of the QE2 began on July 2nd 1965, at 'John Brown's on the Clyde' in Scotland, in the same berth that was used to build the earlier Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. In September 1967, the QE2 was officially named by Queen Elizabeth 2 during a ceremony for the launch of the ship.
In November 1968, the QE2 left her fitting-out berth at Clydebank for the first time, and travelled 13 miles to Greenock Dry Dock. At the time Prince Charles was onboard and blew the horns as QE2 departed. A week later, QE2 left the dry dock for trials.
Construction was finally finished in 1969 with the QE2 ready for her maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York, on May 2nd of that year. The final cost, was a mere $69,818,400.
In 1987, during a multi-million dollar upgrade, the QE2 was converted from steam to diesel power.
The QE2 berthed at Sydney
