Queen to Name QM2

Cunard is delighted to confirm that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company's new flagship Queen Mary 2 at a ceremony to take place in Southampton, England, on Thursday, January 8, 2004. Her Majesty will be accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The launch will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest. According to Pamela Conover, president of Cunard Line: "This will be an historic occasion in the true sense of the word. The Queen honoured Cunard by launching our current flagship QE2 in 1967, and we are delighted Her Majesty has agreed to do the same for our next transatlantic liner, Queen Mary 2. Cunard prides itself on operating the most famous ocean liners in the world and Queen Mary 2 will carry this fine tradition into the 21st century." The British-registered Queen Mary 2 - the largest, longest, tallest, widest and - at $780 million - the most expensive passenger liner ever built, will enter service on January 12, 2004, with a Maiden Voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.