Happy Birthday QM2!

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 celebrates her 10 year anniversary this year and there will be celebrations in Southampton…

Friday 9th May 2014

QM2 is the flagship of Cunard and was christened by Her Majesty the Queen back in 2004 when she launched.

The ships will start to arrive approx 5am to begin a day of spectacular celebration, with an early morning Birthday Salute, a special reception and lunch on board Queen Mary 2 for invited guests in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, and a spectacular firework send-off in the evening before Queen Mary 2 leads the three ships in convoy down Southampton Water.

Sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria will take the lead up Southampton Water, followed by a firetug with waterjets which will herald the arrival of birthday girl Queen Mary 2.

All 3 queens will arrive in Southampton early morning approx 5.30am  & I am going to be lucky enough to be in Southampton to see this magnificent event – I am so excited! Don’t think I’ll bother going to bed the night before.

As Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria take a bow-to-bow position just 30 metres apart by the Queen Elizabeth II terminal, Queen Mary 2 will slowly sail past her sister ships. As a 10th Birthday Salute, ‘Happy Birthday’, rendered on ships’ whistles will sound out across the water.

Myself & 2 of my colleagues are sailing out on Saturday 10th May on board P&O Azura so thought we would go the day before so we can see the 3 Queens.  We are lucky enough to be going onboard Queen Elizabeth for a look around – shame it’s the QM2 as would love to say ‘Hi’ to Prince Phillip as I think he is a lovely man!

During the day there is not much going apart from all the lucky passengers embarking their ships ready to sail later in the evening. So why not sample some shopping & enjoy a nice lunch – this is what we’ll be doing!

Ships usually sail approx 5pm but not today – the ships will gather at 8pm ready to take up position for the sail away. Queen Elizabeth will move down the berth at Queen Elizabeth II Terminal while Queen Victoria sails from City Terminal to take up position behind her, so that the sister ships are bow-to-stern just 30 metres apart. Then at 9.30pm, Queen Mary 2 will reverse out of her berth by Ocean Terminal and will hold her position in the water, creating a curved array of the Three Queens, ready for the first fusillade of fireworks.

We will be around for the Firework Display being held at 10pm and will last for 10 mins so 1 minute for every year to celebrate QM2’s 10 years!

Here is the location map of where you can see the ships & at what time & also the best places by the port to see the firework display!

It sounds like it’s going to be a great day and I am so pleased I get to be part of it – I will let you know when I return from my mini cruise on board Azura next week.

So if you live near Southampton why not head down to the port and join in what is going to be a fantastic day!