AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
From the QE2’ s first trans- Atlantic crossing in May 1969 to her final voyage in November 2008, she attracted a loyal and passionate following. In fact, numerous passengers and crew who travelled on QE2’ s first voyage were also on her last. The ship sailed over 5.6 million miles and carried 2.5 million passengers during her 39 ½ -year seagoing career.
From the mid-1970s, QE2 became known as the “last of the great ocean liners.” Her design allowed her to endure and flourish while traditional ocean liners were withdrawn, retired, and scrapped. From early on in her career, QE2 was no stranger to the spotlight, making headlines for both the right and the wrong reasons!
One such occasion was in 1972, when the ship was the subject of a bomb scare. The incident was so serious that the British government sent a bomb- disposal team to rendezvous with QE2 while she was still at sea! Fortunately the incident was a hoax, but the ship’s dramatic encounter remained in the headlines for days.
In 1982, QE2 was sent to aid the British forces in the Falklands War. Hastily converted into a troop transport, she departed Southampton with 3,000 troops under the command of a brave volunteer Cunard crew.
QE2 successfully delivered her troops to the South Atlantic and returned to Southampton with survivors of three Royal Naval vessels: HMS Ardent, HMS Coventry, and
HMS Antelope. Her exploits during the conflict anchored her place in the hearts and minds of the British public.
But it wasn’t just the British who adored
QE2. Her cruising design allowed her to visit countries all over the world. New York was the ship’s second home, with regular calls during the trans-Atlantic season. But QE2’ s annual World Cruise saw her make regular stops at Los Angeles, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Auckland, Sydney, and Cape Town. This led the ship to attract a distinctly international following.