Cunard’s Trio of Queens to Make Historic Stop in NYC

Cunard Line will have its three ships, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the newly launched Queen Victoria, in New York City on January 13 for what the British line said will be the first and only time.

The cruise line’s three vessels will sail out of New York harbor together at 6:30 p.m. and will pass the Statue of Liberty during a fireworks display. Cunard said it expects thousands of people to gather at viewing locations around the city to watch the event.

The QM2 will depart from its homeport at Brooklyn’s Red Hook terminal; the QE2 and the Queen Victoria will depart from piers at Manhattan’s West Side cruise terminal. The QE2 will then begin its 26th and final world cruise before retiring in November 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a floating hotel.

The date will mark the first time in Cunard’s 168-year history that three “Queens” have been in service at the same time, Cunard said.