Queen Elizabeth sails into Liverpool on Monday 23rd July and we want to give her a big Scouse welcome

The Queen Elizabeth’s will visit the city for the seventh time next week (Monday 23rd July) and with Liverpool being the Cunard’s spiritual home, we can’t wait to make her feel welcome.

Her latest call marks the 80^th 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, Monday 23 July at 16.30. The show will have a variety of musical performances including award winning Liverpool 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).

Queen Elizabeth’s last visit to Liverpool

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.

Earlier in the day on Monday 23 July, Queen Elizabeth’s call and the anniversary will be marked by a special service at Liverpool Parrish Church led by the Rector of Liverpool the Revd Dr Crispin Pailing. In the congregation will be civic dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, the Master of Queen Elizabeth Captain Aseem Hashmi and other Cunard representatives. Admission is by ticket only and a small number are still available by emailing info@cruisemediaservices.co.uk or calling 0151 625 0503. The service starts at 1100.

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.”

For more on the Liverpool Cruise Terminal and on what else we can expect in 2018 head to their website here.