In 1839, Samuel Cunard was awarded the contract to operate the first British transatlantic steamship mail service, the following year forming the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company which managed and operated the  line’s four pioneer paddle steamers on the Liverpool–Halifax–Boston route. For the next 30 years, Cunard held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage. In the 1870s Cunard fell behind its rivals, the White Star Line and the Inman Line. To meet this competition and to raise capital for his investment program, the firm was re-organised in 1879 to become the Cunard Steamship Company.

Today, Cunard line remains the most recognisable cruise ship and liner brand and is now a major part of the UK based Carnival UK company, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation based in Miami USA. Cunard Line will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2015. Cunard home port is Southampton, also with strong connections with Liverpool. Its ships are regular visitors to the Solent.

RMS Queen Mary 2
Launched:	23/3/2003	Call Sign:		ZCEF6	Draught:	10 m
Built:	Chantiers de l’Atlantique	Class:			Speed:	30 knots
City:	St. Nazaire	Tonnage		148528	Decks:	17
Country:	France	Length:		345 m	Passengers:	2620
Cost:	$460,000	Beam:		135 m	Crew:	1253
RMS Queen Mary 2 (also referred to as the QM2) is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line. The new ship was named Queen Mary 2 by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary, completed in 1936. Queen Mary was in turn named after Mary of Teck, consort of King George V. With the retirement of Queen Elizabeth 2 from active duty in 2008, Queen Mary 2 is now the only transatlantic ocean liner in line service between Southampton and New York, which operates for part of the year. The ship has a cruising itinerary including an annual world voyage.
Recognition features:			The RMS Queen Mary 2 is a unique spectacle and a rare attempt to blend the old with the new. The bow and front up to the bridge is shaped to cope and cut through the most demanding seas whilst its generous terraced aft open decks space ensures that all passengers get ample space around them.

MS Queen Victoria
Launched:	15/1/2007	Call Sign:		ZCEF3	Draught:	8 m
Built:	Fincantieri	Class:		Vista	Speed:	23 knots
City:	Marghera	Tonnage		90,000 GT	Decks:	16
Country:	Italy	Length:		294 m	Passengers:	2014
Cost:	£350,000	Beam:		32 m (36.6 at Bridge)	Crew:	900
Named after Queen Victoria, she is sister ship to the MS Queen Elizabeth. Queen Victoria sports lavish facilities including Seven restaurants, thirteen bars, three swimming pools, a ballroom, and a theater befitting of London’s west end. MS Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall on the 10th December 2007 in Southampton.
Recognition features:			Queen Victoria is sister ship to the MS Queen Elizabeth. Both having generally similar hull shapes based upon the Vista class cruise ships which are more widely deployed to Holland America Lines based in Seattle USA, another Carnival Corporation company.MS Queen Victoria being slightly longer with a more pronounced ‘clipper’ bow. The main visual distinction from her Cunard sister ship is the stepped terraced aft cabins and the orientation of the Grill restaurant aft of the funnel on the top deck.

MS Queen Elizabeth
Launched:	5/1/2010	Call Sign:		ZCEF2	Draught:	8 m
Built:	Fincantieri	Class:		Signature	Speed:	23 knots
City:	Monfalcone	Tonnage		90901	Decks:	16
Country:	Italy	Length:		294 m	Passengers:	2547
Cost:	£350,000	Beam:		32 m (36.6 at Bridge)	Crew:	900
Named after HM Queen Elizabeth, she is the most recent sister ship to the MS Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth sports lavish facilities including Seven restaurants, thirteen bars, three swimming pools, a ballroom, and a theater befitting London’s west end. MS Queen Elizabeth was named by HM the Queen on 11th October 2010 in Southampton.
Recognition features:			Sister to the MS Queen Victoria. Both having almost identical hull shapes with the slightly extended bows. The class evolved into Signature class as the ships started to be assembled in Monfalcone rather than Marghera. The main visual distinction from her Cunard sister ship is the steeper line on the stern which enabled an increase in the number of cabins. In addition, the orientation of the Grill restaurant aft of the funnel on the top deck is the reverse.

Queen Mary 2 at Stokes Bay17 July 2016

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Southampton Cruise Ship Schedule