Queen Elizabeth sails into Liverpool

This will be Queen Elizabeth’s seventh visit to Liverpool – Cunard’s spiritual home. Her latest call marks the 80th anniversary of the launch of Cunard’s second Mauretania at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead in July 1938.

To mark the occasion a special sail away show will take place on the Cruise Berth, at Princes Dock on Monday 23 July at 16.30. The show will have a variety of musical performances including award winning opera singer Joanne Dennis, followed by a confetti show and a fond farewell as she sails onto her next adventures in Dublin and Guernsey before returning to Southampton on Friday 27 July.

For spectators wishing to come along to the Sail Away Show, all are welcome. A viewing area will be at Princes Parade (the public realm that runs parallel to the Cruise berth).

A Cunard visit always plays a highly significant role in Liverpool’s Cruise Season, as Cunard was founded in Liverpool in 1839 and the city was home to their Head Office for nearly 130 years.
The second Mauretania was the first ship to be built for the newly formed Cunard White Star Line and was laid down on 24 May 1937. She was the largest ship ever to be built in an English shipyard at the time.

Head of Cruise & Maritime Operations at Cruise Liverpool, Peter Murney said;
‘To have Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth visiting us on the anniversary of the Second Mauritania launching at Cammell Laird shipyard is extremely special for us. We’re incredibly proud of our maritime heritage and our strong connection to Cunard.

This Cruise season is in full swing and we couldn’t be happier to be able to welcome thousands of passengers and crew to our beautiful city. The sail away show for Queen Elizabeth is one you won’t want to miss.’

Vice President of Marketing at Cunard, Angus Struthers, said;
“This will be Queen Elizabeth’s seventh visit to the Mersey. We are immensely proud that her return to Liverpool gives us the opportunity to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the launch of our second Mauretania from Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead. It promises to be another great day for Cunard in our spiritual home.”