Queen Mary 2 Recalls the Maiden Arrival of the Original Queen Mary into New York - 77 Years to the Day

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02 Jun, 2013, 18:28 GMT

SOUTHAMPTON, England, June 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

When Queen Mary 2 sails in New York tomorrow, Saturday 1 June 2013, she will be arriving on the 77^th anniversary of the maiden call of the original Queen Mary in New York in 1936.

It is interesting to compare the prices for these two voyages:

                    Queen Mary          Queen Mary 2
                    GBP18 10 shillings  GBP1,199
    Lead-in fare    (Third Class Cabin) (inside Britannia cabin)
                    GBP102              GBP9,016
    Highest Fare    (Main Deck Suite)   (Balmoral Duplex Suite)

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 200^th crossing on 6 July during this, her ninth year on the Atlantic.