Everything you need to know about Queen Mary 2 and its visit to Liverpool this month

The Queen Mary 2 is set to return to Liverpool later this month.

It’s a year since Cunard’s luxury ocean liner was last in the city after making the Atlantic crossing from New York for the 400^th time in 2024.

The QM2 will be here for two nights – and here’s everything you need to know.

When is the QM2 next in Liverpool?

The flagship Cunard vessel will be in Liverpool from Wednesday, September 17, and depart on Friday, September 19.

What time will she arrive?

QM2 is set to arrive on the Wednesday evening.

Why is the QM2 here?

It’s visiting as part of a 12-night round-trip cruise exploring the British Isles and departing from Southampton. It will stop at Cobh in Ireland so passengers can visit Cork and, after Liverpool, the Isle of Mull in Scotland before berthing at Oban; Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands; Queensferry for Edinburgh, and then back to Southampton.

Not only that!

While QM2 is in Liverpool this month, travel agents will be invited on board to receive the cruise line’s famous White Star Service with drink receptions, training workshops, and a speciality dining experience designed to showcase the luxury Cunard has to offer.

When was QM2 built – and what makes her so special?

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and designed by a team led by naval architect Stephen Payne, Queen Mary 2 launched in January 2004 after being christened by her godmother, Queen Elizabeth II. It was launched as the world’s largest passenger ship and remains the largest ocean liner ever built. She is the world’s only ocean liner offering regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton.

QM2 underwent remodelling and modernisation in 2016.

How big is she?

She is 1,132ft (345m) in length with a width of approx. 131 ft (39.92m) and has a gross tonnage of 149,215. 

How many passengers can the cruise liner carry?

QM2 can carry 2,691 passengers and has a crew of around 1,173.

Staterooms and suites

Fourteen-decks tall, Queen Mary 2 has 1,353 staterooms, 983 of which have private balconies. There are 11 stateroom types, including 172 suites and penthouses, as well as two Grand Duplex apartments, each measuring 685.5 sq ft (209m²). Queen Mary 2’s aft Grills Suites – Balmoral, Sandringham, Windsor, Holyrood, and Buckingham – are all named after residences of the British Royal Family, whereas the forward suites – Queen Mary, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth – pay tribute to the four Queens from the past millennium. Since Queen Anne joined the fleet in 2024, these names also reflect the four Cunard ships.

Special features

QM2’s Queens Room is the location of lavish gala evenings and soirees held on board and boasts the largest sprung wooden dance floor at sea.

Illuminations is the ship’s luxury 3D cinema and lecture venue.

The Carinthia Lounge, an addition during the 2016 remastering, is a bright and spacious venue on deck 7. By day it’s the place for social events, quizzes, meet-ups, or a simple coffee and cake, and by night guests can gather for live music. It boasts a long wine list and an extensive port collection!

Pets are welcome

Queen Mary 2 is home to the only kennels at sea and is the only liner to carry cats and dogs across the Atlantic. Staffed by a dedicated kennel master, the kennels are fitted with a lamppost that was originally pitched outside Cunard’s former world headquarters in Liverpool, and a New York fire hydrant to make pets feel more at home.

Dining luxury

Queen Mary 2 has no shortage of dining experiences but the Britannia Restaurant is one of the most impressive main dining rooms on board, spanning two decks linked by a grand staircase. The focal point of the room is a giant tapestry of the liner in a tickertape departure from New York by Barbara Broekman. 

Other restaurants include the Britannia Club restaurant which has the same elegance but with an open dining club atmosphere; the Princess Grill, and the Queens Grill. There’s also Steakhouse at The Verandah; Kings Court which offers buffet style dining along with an area transformed into an alternative dining venue featuring menus matching the destinations Queen Mary 2 sails to, and The Golden Lion which is Queen Mary 2’s traditional British pub.

Staying fabulous and fit

Queen Mary 2’s Mareel Wellness and Beauty spa has steam rooms and a thalassotherapy pool and offers massage and specialist treatments. There’s a salon offering manicures and pedicures in addition to haircuts and blow-dries, and a barbers’ offering beard trims and shaves.

Queen Mary 2 has a fully equipped gym as well as two swimming pools (plus the Minnows pool for children). If you prefer to exercise in the open air, her Promenade Deck is almost 1,968.5ft/600m long and a perfect place for a stroll while at sea. 

Fun facts

* With 14 decks, Queen Mary 2 reaches about 62m above the waterline – equal to the height of a 23-storey building

* There are more than 50 nationalities among the crew

* Queen Mary 2’s library is the largest at sea with more than 8,000 hardbacks, 500 paperbacks and 200 audio books

* Queen Mary 2 has two 2.1m-long whistles attached to the funnel, and the starboard whistle is an original from the first Queen Mary

 * QM2 has four stabilisers, each weighing 70 tonnes and extending 6.2m from the hull, which together can reduce the ship’s roll by 90% making it one of the most stable passenger ships in the world

* Every ship is required to carry spare propellers and Queen Mary 2’s are found at the front of the ship on the Promenade Deck. They are affectionately known as the ‘Captain’s cufflinks’ and guests often mistake them for a modern art sculpture.

Find out more about the Queen Mary 2 here.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here.

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