:Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of Cunard Line. She was constructed to replace the ageing Queen Elizabeth 2, which was the Cunard flagship from 1969 to 2004 and the last major ocean liner built before Queen Mary 2. Queen Mary 2 had the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) prefix conferred on her by the Royal Mail when she entered service in 2004, as a gesture to Cunard's history.{{cite news | title = Royal Mail employee's Courier newspaper | publisher = Royal Mail | date = August 2007}}

Queen Mary 2 is not a steamship like many of her predecessors, but is powered primarily by four diesel engines, with two additional gas turbines providing extra power when required; this integrated electric propulsion configuration is used to produce the power to drive her four electric propulsion pods as well as the ship's hotel services. The spaces for these prime movers are also split, and controls are also backed up, with the intention of preventing a single failure from disabling the ship.

Like her predecessor Queen Elizabeth 2 she is built for crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and is also regularly used for cruising. In the winter season she cruises from New York to the Caribbean. Queen Mary 2's {{convert|30|kn|km/h mph|adj=on}} open ocean speed sets the ship apart from cruise ships, such as {{MS|Oasis of the Seas}}, which has a service speed of {{convert|22.6|kn|km/h mph}}; Queen Mary 2{{'}}s normal service speed is {{convert|26|kn|km/h mph}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.com/Documents/Press%20Kits/USA/Queen%20Mary%202/QM2%20Technical.pdf|title=Queen Mary 2 Technical|access-date=8 January 2013 |publisher=Cunard}} While the hull of a cruise ship will typically have a block coefficient of 0.73 (1.0 would represent a rectangular block) Queen Mary 2 is more fine-lined, with a block coefficient of 0.61.{{cite web|last=Mathisen|first=Oivind|title=A Ship for the Sea|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-magazine/feature-magazine-articles/67-articles/15.html|work=Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Winter 2003–2004|date=14 October 2004|publisher=Cruise Industry News|access-date=26 October 2013|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913153317/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-magazine/feature-magazine-articles/67-articles/15.html|url-status=dead}}

File:QM2-1.jpg mast in the right foreground]]

{{Building and ship comparison to the Pentagon2|{{RMS|Queen Mary 2}} (pink)}}

Cunard completed a design for a new class of {{GT|84,000}}, 2,000 passenger liners on 8 June 1998, but revised them upon comparing those specifications with Carnival Cruise Line's {{GT|100,000}} Destiny-class cruise ships and Royal Caribbean International's {{GT|137,276}} Voyager class.

In December 1998, Cunard released details of Project Queen Mary, the project to develop a liner that would complement Queen Elizabeth 2. Harland and Wolff of Northern Ireland, Aker Kværner of Norway, Fincantieri of Italy, Meyer Werft of Germany, and Chantiers de l'Atlantique of France were invited to bid on the project. The contract was finally signed with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, a subsidiary of Alstom, on 6 November 2000. This was the same yard that built Cunard's former rivals, the {{SS|Normandie}} and {{SS|France|1961|6}} of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.{{cite web|url=http://thegreatoceanliners.com/qm2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426110202/http://thegreatoceanliners.com/qm2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 April 2010|title=Queen Mary 2|access-date=7 November 2009|publisher=The Great Ocean Liners}}

Queen Mary 2's keel was laid down on 4 July 2002, in the construction dock at Saint-Nazaire, France, with the hull number G32. Approximately 3,000 craftsmen spent around eight million working hours on the ship, and around 20,000 people were directly or indirectly involved in her design, construction, and fitting out. In total, 300,000 pieces of steel were assembled into 94 "blocks" off the dry dock, which were then positioned and welded together to complete the hull and superstructure.{{cite web | url = http://www.worldshipny.com/qm2pt1.htm | title = Construction of the Largest Liner in the World, Part One, July 4, 2002 ~ March 16, 2003 | publisher = World Ship Society | access-date = 16 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080419083557/http://www.worldshipny.com/qm2pt1.htm |archive-date = 19 April 2008}}

After floating out on 21 March 2003, the Queen Mary 2 was fitted out in the large fitting out basin ("Bassin C"), the first ship to use this huge dry dock since the shipyard built large tankers in the 1970s, such as {{MV|Gastor}}. Her sea trials were conducted during 25–29 September and 7–11 November 2003, between Saint-Nazaire and the offshore islands of Île d'Yeu and Belle-Île.{{cite book | title = Queen Mary 2: The Birth of a Legend | author = Plisson, Philip | publisher = Harry N. Abrams, Inc | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-8109-5613-6}}

The final stages of construction were marred by a fatal accident on 15 November 2003, when a gangway collapsed under a group of shipyard workers and their relatives who had been invited to visit the vessel. In total, 16 people were killed and another 32 people injured after a {{convert|15|m|ft|adj=on}} fall into the drydock.{{cite web | url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20031116/quennmary2gangwaycollapse_20031116?s_name=&no_ads= | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100523180208/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20031116/quennmary2gangwaycollapse_20031116?s_name=&no_ads= | url-status = dead | archive-date = 23 May 2010 | publisher = CTV News | title = Toll climbs in Queen Mary 2 shipyard accident | date = 16 November 2003}}

Construction was completed on schedule.{{Cite web|title=QM2 - History|url=https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html|access-date=9 April 2021|website=www.qm2.org.uk}} On 22 December 2003, Queen Mary 2 left Saint-Nazaire and arrived in Southampton, England, on 26 December 2003.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3349657.stm|title=In pictures: Queen Mary 2 arrives|date=26 December 2003|work=BBC News|access-date=23 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529065714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3349657.stm|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live}} On 8 January 2004, the liner was officially named by Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/3375225.stm|title=Queen launches Queen Mary 2|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2004|url-status=dead|access-date=9 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123232909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/3375225.stm|archive-date=23 January 2008}}Davidson, Carla. "[http://americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2005/4/2005_4_14.shtml Long Live the Queens]",American Heritage, August/September 2005. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507091822/http://americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2005/4/2005_4_14.shtml |date=7 May 2006 }}

File:RMS Queen Mary 2 in Trondheim 2007.jpg, 2007]]

File:RMS Queen Mary 2 lin Cape Town 2011 001.jpg, showing the Costanzi stern]]

Queen Mary 2's principal naval architect was Carnival's in-house designer, Stephen Payne.{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010205111900/http://www.cunard.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2001 |title=Cunard press pack:Future Engineers 2008 |date=October 2008 |publisher=Cunard |access-date=23 November 2009 }} He intended many aspects of the ship's design to resemble notable aspects of former ocean liners, such as the ship's predecessor Queen Elizabeth 2 and her predecessors Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. These include the three thick black lines known as "hands" that wrap around either edge of the ship's bridge screen, and at the stern end of the superstructure, which are to recall the appearance of the crossovers of the forward decks on the first Queen Mary.{{cite book |title=Queen May 2:The Greatest Ocean Liner of our Time |last=Maxtone-Graham |first=John |author-link=John Maxtone-Graham |year=2004 |publisher=Bulfinch Press |isbn= 0-8212-2885-4|page=22 }}

Queen Mary 2 has {{convert|14164|m2|ft2}} of exterior deck space, with wind screens to shield passengers in rough seas. The ship was originally constructed with five swimming pools. However, the shallow "Splash Pool" on Deck 13 was removed during the ship's 2016 refurbishment to make room for additional staterooms. Two of her remaining four swimming pools are outdoors. There are indoor pools on Deck 7, in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, and on Deck 12. The Pavilion Pool on Deck 12 is covered with a retractable magrodome.

In common with liners such as {{RMS|Queen Mary}}, there is a continuous wrap-around promenade deck (Deck 7). This passes behind the bridge screen and allows passengers to circumnavigate the deck while protected from the winds; one circuit is {{convert|620|m|-1|abbr=on}} long. The flanking promenades are created by the need to step the superstructure to allow space for lifeboats. By SOLAS standards, these should have been lower on the hull ({{convert|15|m|0|abbr=on}} above the waterline), but for the sake of appearance as well as to avoid the danger of large waves damaging the boats, Payne convinced SOLAS officials to exempt Queen Mary 2 from this requirement, and the boats are {{convert|25|m|0|abbr=on}} above the waterline.{{cite web|url=http://www.cybercruises.com/queenmary2two.htm |title=Queen Mary 2 |author=Arturo Paniagua Mazorra |date=14 September 2004 |access-date=23 November 2009}}

Payne's original intention was for a stern profile with a spoon shape, similar to most previous liners, but the mounting of the propeller pods required a flat transom. The compromise was a Costanzi stern – a combination of the two, which provides the transom required for azimuthal pod propulsors and has better seaholding characteristics in a following swell.{{cite book |title=Queen May 2:The Greatest Ocean Liner of our Time |last=Maxtone-Graham|first=John |author-link=John Maxtone-Graham|year=2004 |publisher=Bulfinch Press |isbn= 0-8212-2885-4|page=21 }} In common with many modern ships, Queen Mary 2 has a bulbous bow to reduce drag and thereby increase speed, range, and fuel efficiency.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715120844/http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=B01E9F24E41844049504B323C52C78FB "Queen Mary 2:] Built to keep alive the traditions of the great ocean liners" Professional Mariner (2003) Retrieved 11 December 2009

File:Hull blasting with DOCKMASTER.jpg of Queen Mary 2]]

While of a design similar to that of Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2's funnel has a slightly different shape, because a taller funnel would have made it impossible for the ship to pass under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City at high tide. The final design permits a minimum of {{convert|13|ft|m}} of clearance under the bridge.{{Cite news|last=Barron|first=James|title=This Ship Is So Big, The Verrazano Cringes|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York|date=18 April 2004|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E7DC103BF93BA25757C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink+}}

As Queen Mary 2 is too large to dock in many ports, passengers are often ferried to and from the ship in tenders, which can also be used as lifeboats. These are stored at sea in davits alongside the lifeboats. To transport passengers ashore the tenders pull up to one of four loading stations, each of which has a large hull door that opens hydraulically to form a boarding platform, complete with railings and decking.

Queen Mary 2 is a post-Panamax ship, too wide to use the Panama Canal before its expansion in 2016. As a result, she had to circumnavigate South America to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The decision not to constrain her width to transit the Panama Canal was taken as Queen Elizabeth 2 only transited once a year, during the world cruise. Cunard decided to pass up the convenience of the occasional passage in favour of a greater passenger capacity.{{cite web |url=http://wearecunard.com/2009/01/transiting-the-panama-canal-%E2%80%93-from-east-to-west-or-west-to-east/ |title=Transiting the panama canal-- From East to West or West to East? |author=Alistair Greener |date=22 January 2009 |publisher=Cunard (blog) |access-date=23 November 2009}}

File:Queen Mary 2, the extensive library also has a reading area overlooking the bow of the ship.jpg

As is the case with many modern passenger ships, many of the major public rooms on board Queen Mary 2 are on the lowest public decks of the ship, with the passenger cabins stacked above. Deck 2, the lowest passenger deck, contains the Illuminations theatre, cinema and planetarium (the first at sea);{{cite web|last1=Cunard|title=Cunard Frequently asked questions: What is Illuminations on Queen Mary 2?|url=https://ask.cunard.com/help/fleet/qm_illuminations |publisher=Cunard Line|access-date=26 September 2017}} Royal Court Theatre; Grand Lobby; "Empire Casino"; "Golden Lion Pub"; and the lower level of the "Britannia Restaurant". Deck 3 holds the upper levels of "Illuminations", the "Royal Court theatre" and the "Britannia Restaurant", as well as a small shopping arcade, "Veuve Cliquot champagne bar", the "Chart Room", "Sir Samuel's" wine bar, the "Queen's Room", and the "G32" Nightclub. The other main public deck is Deck 7, on which are the "Canyon Ranch Spa", "Carinthia Lounge", "King's Court", the "Queen's Grill Lounge", and the "Queen's Grill" and "Princess Grill" restaurants for higher-fare passengers. The public rooms on Deck 8 include the à la carte "Verandah Restaurant" an 8,000-volume library{{cite journal |last=Burbank |first=Richard D. |year=2005 |title=The Queen Mary 2 Library |journal=Libraries & Culture |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=547–561 |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/libraries_and_culture/v040/40.4burbank.html |doi=10.1353/lac.2005.0064|s2cid=161668517 }} (the largest of any cruise ship{{cite news|last1=Sottili|first1=Carol|title=Which cruise ship library is right for you?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/which-cruise-ship-library-is-right-for-you/2016/06/08/b8ba713a-ff45-11e5-9203-7b8670959b88_story.html|access-date=13 June 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 June 2016}}), a book shop and the upper part of the Canyon Ranch Spa. Also on Deck 8 is a large outdoor pool and terrace at the stern.[https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/inventory-assets/ships/QM/9/qm2-deck-plans.pdf QM2 Deck Plans] Cunard. Retrieved 3 June 2022 The kennels, located aft on starboard side of Deck 12, are available only for transatlantic crossings. They can accommodate up to twenty-two dogs (the kennels will also take cats) in small and large cages.{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=5547& |title=Cunard unleashes new amenities for pampered pets |date=15 February 2006 |publisher=Cunard |access-date=23 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503043042/http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=5547& |archive-date=3 May 2009 }}

File:QM2 Grand Lobby.JPG

The King's Court area on the ship is open twenty four hours a day, serving as a buffet restaurant for breakfast and lunch. The overall space is divided into quarters, with each section decorated according to the theme of the four separate alternate dining venues that are "created" each evening through lighting, tableware, and menus: Lotus, which specialises in Asian cuisine; the Carvery, a British style grille; La Piazza, with Italian food; and the Chef's Galley, which offers an interactive experience to food preparation.{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.co.uk/Documents/Press%20Kits/Queen%20Mary%202/Queen_Mary_2_Public_Rooms.pdf |title=QUEEN MARY 2 |access-date=27 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sealetter.com/Jun-04/qm2.html |title=Mazorra, Arturo Paniagua; Sealetter Cruise Magazine: The History, Construction and Design of Queen Mary 2 |publisher=Sealetter.com |access-date=27 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516115948/http://www.sealetter.com/Jun-04/qm2.html |archive-date=16 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The passengers' dining arrangements on board are dictated by the type of accommodation in which they choose to travel. Around 85% of passengers are in Britannia class, and, therefore, dine in the main restaurant. However, passengers can choose to upgrade to either a "junior suite", and dine in the "Princess Grill"', or a suite, and dine in the "Queens' Grill".{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.com/uploads/QM2FactSheet.pdf |title=Cunard:QM2 Fact Sheet |publisher=Cunard.com |access-date=27 June 2011 |archive-date=6 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106220148/http://www.cunard.com/uploads/QM2FactSheet.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/gaynor/2005-08-16-column_x.htm |title=Gaynor, Louisa Frey: The Queen (Mary 2) rules the Atlantic |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=17 August 2005 |access-date=27 June 2011}} Those in the two latter categories are grouped together by Cunard as "Grill Passengers", and they are permitted to use the "Queens' Grill Lounge" and a private outdoor area on deck 11 with its own whirlpool.Liverpool Daily Post "Queen Mary 2 Liverpool visit: The ship that offers her passengers 'trip of a lifetime'" 21 October 2009 This feature is also present on both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. However, all other public areas can be used by all passengers.{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.com/uploads/QVPUBLICROOMS.pdf |title=Queen Victoria Public Rooms |publisher=Cunard |access-date=26 November 2009 |archive-date=30 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730030330/http://www.cunard.com/uploads/QVPUBLICROOMS.pdf |url-status=dead }}

As the Britannia Restaurant takes up the full width of the ship on two decks, a 'tween deck, called Deck 3L, was devised to allow passengers to walk from the Grand Lobby to the Queen's Room without traversing the dining room mid-meal. The deck consists of two corridors that run beneath the upper balcony of the restaurant on Deck 3, and above the main dining area on Deck 2. This is why the balcony of the Britannia has tiers that step up towards the hull. This arrangement is illustrated on the hull where there is a stack of three rows of windows in the area where the main restaurant sits, the two upper and lower most rows illuminate the dining room, while the centre row serves Deck 3L. There is a similar arrangement through the Royal Court Theatre. As well, the passages that run on either side of Illuminations on Deck 3 ramp upwards to compensate for the change in deck elevation between the entrance to Illuminations and an elevator bank forward of the room.

File:Queen Mary 2 bronze sculpture by John McKenna.jpg

More than 5,000 commissioned works of art are visible in Queen Mary 2's public rooms, corridors, staterooms and lobbies, having been created by 128 artists from sixteen countries.{{cite web |url=http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=89§ion_id=547&article_id=1566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040808221124/http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=89§ion_id=547&article_id=1566 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2004 |title=The art of cruising in luxury |publisher=Nqsouthern.com |access-date=27 June 2011 }} Two of the most notable pieces are Barbara Broekman's tapestry, an abstract depiction of an ocean liner, bridge, and New York skyline which spans the full height of the Britannia Restaurant, and the British sculptor John McKenna's sheet bronze relief mural in the Grand Lobby, a seven square metre portrait of the ship fabricated in bronze inspired by the Art Deco mural in the main dining room of the original Queen Mary.{{cite web |url=http://www.onk.nl/en/qm2.htm |title=Queen Mary 2 |publisher=Onderneming & Kunst |access-date=26 November 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171718/http://www.onk.nl/en/qm2.htm |url-status=dead }} The Deck 10 Pavilion features a glass ellipse sculpture by Tomasz Urbanowicz called "Blue Sun Setting in the Ocean".{{Cite web|url=https://barwyszkla.pl/szklo-w-architekturze-tomasz-urbanowicz/|title=Szkło w architekturze - Tomasz Urbanowicz|last=Fabiańska|first=Patrycja|date=1 July 2013|editor-last=Bochacz|editor-first=Andrzej|website=Barwy Szkła|language=pl-PL|access-date=16 April 2020}}

Queen Mary 2's power plant comprises four sixteen-cylinder Wärtsilä 16V46CR EnviroEngine marine diesel engines, generating a combined {{convert|67200|kW|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}} at 514 rpm, and two General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines, provide a further {{convert|50000|kW|hp|abbr=on}}; these drive electric generators, which in turn provide the power to drive four {{convert|21500|kW|hp|abbr=on}} Alstom electrical motors located inside the podded propulsors (and thus entirely outside the vessel's hull). Such an arrangement, known as integrated electric propulsion (IEP), provides for economical cruising at low speed combined with an ability to sustain much higher speeds when required, and has been common in naval vessels for several decades. The Queen Mary 2's gas turbines are not housed along with her diesels in the engine room deep in her hull, but instead are in a soundproofed enclosure directly beneath the funnel. This arrangement allows the turbines to be supplied with sufficient air without having to run large diameter air ducts the height of the ship, which would have wasted valuable interior space.

The propulsors are Rolls-Royce Mermaid azimuth thruster type podded propulsion units,{{cite web |url=http://www1.rolls-royce.com/marine/products/propulsion/electrical_pod/default.jsp |title=Electrical Pod |access-date=3 December 2007 |publisher=Rolls-Royce Marine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020171710/http://www.rolls-royce.com/marine/products/propulsion/electrical_pod/default.jsp |archive-date=20 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rolls-royce.com/marine/products/propulsors/podded/index.jsp |title=Azimuthing electrical podded propulsor |publisher=Rolls-Royce |access-date=2 May 2013}} each with one forward-facing low-vibration propeller with separately bolted blades. The forward pair of thrusters is fixed, but the aft pair can swivel through 360°, removing the need for a rudder. Queen Mary 2 is the first quadruple-propeller passenger ship completed since the SS France in 1961.{{cite book |title=Enso-Gutzeit Oy laivanvarustajana: Oy Finnlines Ltd ja Merivienti Oy 1947–1982 |last=Karonen |first=Petri |year=1992 |publisher=Enso-Gutzeit |location=Imatra |isbn=952-9690-00-2 |pages=106–109 |language=fi }} Queen Mary 2 carries eight spare blades on the foredeck, immediately forward of the bridge screen.{{Cite web|url=https://beyondships.com/QM2-art-Watling.html|title=Queen Mary 2 - Interview with Chief Engineer Brian Watling|website=beyondships.com}} In addition to the primary thrusters, the ship is also fitted with three bow thrusters, with a power output of 3.2 MW each. These allow the ship to turn in its own length while in port, to conduct more complex docking manoeuvres.

The propulsor pods fitted to Queen Mary 2 have been prone to failure, attributed to the motors' thrust bearings, which continued to show a tendency to fail even after numerous attempts at redesign. In January 2009, Carnival, through its Cunard division, sued Rolls-Royce in the United States. The line alleged that the Mermaid pod propulsion systems fitted to Queen Mary 2 were inherently defective in design, and that Rolls-Royce knew about the design deficiencies and deliberately conspired to mislead, deceive and defraud in the course of winning the contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.ebearing.com/news2009/011601.htm |title=Specifications:Carnival Sues Rolls-Royce Over Queen Mary... |access-date=19 January 2011 |date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710165803/http://www.ebearing.com/news2009/011601.htm |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} In January 2011, the court awarded Carnival US$24 million (approximately UK£15 million at the time of verdict).{{cite web |url=http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2011/01/08/the-tale-of-the-mermaid-pods-carnival-awarded-24-million-in-lawsuit-with-rolls-royce/ |title=The Tale of the Mermaid Pods |access-date=19 January 2011 |date=8 January 2009}}

File:QM2-propeller-spares.jpg

Queen Mary 2 has a fully integrated bridge system initially designed by British firm Kelvin Hughes, which controls the ship's navigation systems, radar, dynamic positioning system, and engine monitoring system. Kelvin Hughes supplied many of the ship's components, including the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and eight multifunction display units.{{cite magazine |url=https://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter/200108/content/kelvin-hughes-bridge-209053 |title=Kelvin Hughes Bridge Chosen For Queen Mary 2 |magazine=Maritime Reporter and Engineering News |date=August 2001 |page=45 |publisher=New Wave Media}} This system was replaced by Wärtsilä NACOS Platinum suite in 2023 to bring her inline with her fleetmates.

Fresh water aboard Queen Mary 2 is supplied by three Alfa Laval multiple effect plate (MEP) evaporators, each with a capacity of {{convert|630000|L|USgal}} per day.RMS Queen Mary 2 Technical Specification. Flyer made available to passengers of the Queen Mary 2. The plants' energy is supplied primarily by steam and cooling water from the ship's gas turbines and diesel engines, or if needed by steam from the ship's two oil-fired boilers. The traditional multiple-effect distillation technology has been improved for the ship's plant, so that scaling of plates is reduced, vastly reducing maintenance required. The desalinated water has a very low salt content of less than five parts per million. Average total water production is {{convert|1100000|L|USgal}} per day with a capacity of {{convert|1890000|L|USgal}} so that there is ample spare capacity. The ship could easily be supplied by only two of the three plants.{{cite book | title= Queen Mary 2: The Genesis of a Queen |publisher=Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique, A Publication of the Naval Architect | year = 2004 | pages = 50–55}} Potable water tanks have a capacity of {{convert|3830000|L|USgal}}, enough for more than three days of supply. If the engines are running on low load (when the ship is running at a slow speed) the engine jacket cooling water temperature is insufficient to heat the seawater to run the desalination plants. In that case steam from oil-fired boilers is used to heat the sea water. This is uneconomical as generating steam is expensive. It may be cheaper, therefore, to buy water in a particular port than to produce it on board. The seawater intakes are located in the hull of the ship. Concentrated salt solution (brine) is discharged to the sea closer to the ship's stern together with cooling water from the engines.{{cite web |url=http://www.infotechfrance.com/cgi-local/affichage_signet_secteur.pl?UNI_ID=8&RUB_ID=54&SS_ID=6746&SEC_ID=25 |title=UBIFRANCE Orelis' technology to recycle Queen Mary 2's waste water |date=16 April 2004 |access-date=26 November 2009 |archive-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404193428/http://www.infotechfrance.com/cgi-local/affichage_signet_secteur.pl?UNI_ID=8&RUB_ID=54&SS_ID=6746&SEC_ID=25 |url-status=usurped }}

On 12 January 2004 Queen Mary 2 set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the United States, carrying 2,620 passengers. She was under the command of captain Ronald Warwick, who had previously commanded Queen Elizabeth 2. Warwick is the son of William (Bil) Warwick, who had also been a senior Cunard officer and the first captain of Queen Elizabeth 2. The ship returned to Southampton late from her maiden voyage after bow doors covering the thrusters failed to shut in Portugal.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/passengers-threaten-mutiny-on-crippled-queen-mary-2-340386.html |title=Passengers threaten mutiny on crippled 'Queen Mary 2' |author=Elaine Barker |date=23 January 2006 |work=The Independent |access-date=26 November 2009}}

During the 2004 Summer Olympics Queen Mary 2 sailed to Athens and docked at Piraeus for two weeks for use as a floating hotel, serving the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, French President Jacques Chirac, then United States President George W. Bush, and the United States Olympic men's basketball team.{{cite web |url=http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=89§ion_id=549&article_id=2619 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041001102749/http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=89§ion_id=549&article_id=2619 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 October 2004 |title=Queen Mary 2 will be floating fortress |publisher=Nqsouthern.com |access-date=27 June 2011 }}{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-08-16/sports/18275842_1_olympics-queen-mary-athens |last=Smith |first=Tim |title=Watch out aboard Queen Mary because ship is sinking |work=NY Daily News |date=16 August 2004 |access-date=27 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527150820/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-08-16/sports/18275842_1_olympics-queen-mary-athens |archive-date=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead }} According to Cunard, Queen Mary 2's passengers have also included jazz musician Dave Brubeck and singers Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, and James Taylor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cunard.com/en-us/the-cunard-experience|title=The Cunard Experience – Why we are different, why choose us|website=www.cunard.com}} File:RMS Queen Mary 2 in san francisco bay.jpg, California in 2007]]

One 2005 transatlantic crossing saw Queen Mary 2 carrying, in a locked steamer trunk, the first United States copy of J. K. Rowling's book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, autographed by the author. In a promotional press release for the event, Cunard said that this marked the first time a book had been transported to its international launch on an ocean liner. The signed copy was given to the West Asheville Library, located in the city of Asheville, North Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=5160&Page=3 |title=World's most famous ocean liner carries first J.K. Rowling-signed US copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince |date=7 November 2005 |access-date=26 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210084553/http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=5160&Page=3 |archive-date=10 December 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/asheville-library-to-get-first-autographed-harry-potter/83-403738581|title=Asheville Library To Get First Autographed "Harry Potter"|date=16 July 2005|website=wfmynews2.com}}

In January 2006 Queen Mary 2 embarked on a cruise to South America. Upon departure from Fort Lauderdale, one of her propeller pods was damaged when it struck a channel wall, forcing the ship to sail at a reduced speed, which resulted in Commodore Warwick's decision to skip several calls on its voyage to Rio de Janeiro. Many of her passengers threatened to stage a sit-in protest because of the missed calls, before Cunard offered to refund the voyage costs. Queen Mary 2 continued to operate at a reduced service speed and several itinerary changes were necessary until repairs had been completed after the ship returned to Europe in June, where Queen Mary 2 went into drydock and the damaged propeller pod was unseated.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1509030/Cunard-foils-QM2-mutiny-with-full-refund-offer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1509030/Cunard-foils-QM2-mutiny-with-full-refund-offer.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Cunard foils QM2 mutiny with full refund offer |author1=Andrew Downe |author2=Amy Iggulden |date=28 January 2006|work=The Telegraph |access-date=26 November 2009}}{{cbignore}} In November, Queen Mary 2 was drydocked once more at the Blohm+Voss yard in Hamburg (drydock Elbe 17) for the reinstallation of the repaired propeller pod. At the same time, sprinkler systems were installed in all of the vessel's balconies to comply with new safety regulations which had come into effect since the MS Star Princess fire. Additionally, both bridge wings were extended by two metres to improve visibility.{{cite web|url=http://www.blohmvoss-repair.com/pdf/buv_rep_allg_in.pdf|title=Blohmvoss Repair Schedule-2006|publisher=Blohmvoss|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708073658/http://www.blohmvoss-repair.com/pdf/buv_rep_allg_in.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2011}}

File:Queen Mary II at Liverpool 1.jpg, Liverpool, England, during a 2009 visit]]

After completing the journey around South America, on 23 February 2006, Queen Mary 2 met her namesake, the original {{RMS|Queen Mary}}, which is permanently docked at Long Beach, California. Escorted by a flotilla of smaller ships, the two Queens exchanged a "whistle salute" which was heard throughout the city of Long Beach.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/qm2-cruises/p-id/cruise-news/queen-mary-2-meets-namesake-queen-mary-on-february-22-marking-a-cunard-milestone/ |title=Queen Mary 2 Meets Namesake Queen Mary on February 22 Marking a Cunard Milestone |date=12 January 2006 |publisher=The Cruise Line Ltd. |access-date=26 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911094454/http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/qm2-cruises/p-id/cruise-news/queen-mary-2-meets-namesake-queen-mary-on-february-22-marking-a-cunard-milestone/ |archive-date=11 September 2009 }} Queen Mary 2 met the other serving Cunard liners {{MS|Queen Victoria|3=2}} and Queen Elizabeth 2 on 13 January 2008 near the Statue of Liberty in New York City harbour, with a celebratory fireworks display; Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Victoria made a tandem crossing of the Atlantic for the meeting. This marked the first time three Cunard Queens have been present in the same location. Cunard stated this would be the last time these three ships would ever meet,{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous |title=Royal Rendezvous : The Luxury Cruise Ships of Cunard : Cunard Cruise Line |publisher=Cunard |date=3 March 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923212023/http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous |url-status=dead }} due to Queen Elizabeth 2's impending retirement from service in late 2008.{{cite web|url= http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6656&Active=News | publisher=Cunard Line|title= QE2 to leave Cunard fleet and be sold to Dubai World to begin a new life at the palm |year=2007|access-date=20 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706160214/http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6656&Active=News |archive-date=6 July 2007}} However this would prove not to be the case, as the three Queens met in Southampton on 22 April 2008.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7361808.stm |title=Royal gathering of sea 'Queens' |author=Eleanor Williams |date=22 April 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=27 November 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7360081.stm |title=Three 'Queens' in final meeting |date=22 April 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=27 November 2009}}[] Queen Mary 2 rendezvoused with Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai on Saturday 21 March 2009, after the latter ship's retirement,{{cite web|url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qe2/qe2-history/#retirement |title=QE2 Retirement |publisher=chriscunard.com |access-date=27 June 2011}} while both ships were berthed at Port Rashid.{{cite web |url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qe2/qe2-dubai/ |title=QE2 and QM2 in Dubai |publisher=Chriscunard.com |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=11 July 2019 }} With the withdrawal of Queen Elizabeth 2 from Cunard's fleet and its docking in Dubai, Queen Mary 2 became the only ocean liner left in active passenger service.

On 3 August 2007 three men were stopped by police while escorting and piloting a replica of the first American combat submarine within {{convert|200|ft}} of Queen Mary 2, which was docked at the cruise ship terminal in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The replica was created by New York artist Philip "Duke" Riley and two out-of-town residents, one of whom claimed to be a descendant of David Bushnell, who had invented it. The Coast Guard issued Riley a citation for having an unsafe vessel, and for violating the security zone around Queen Mary 2.Makeshift submarine found in East River{{cite magazine|url=http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/robert-sullivan-my-american-revolution-2012-9/|title=Permanent Revolution|magazine=New York magazine|date=10 September 2012}}

On 19 October 2011, Queen Mary 2 had her registry changed to Hamilton, Bermuda, from her previous home port of Southampton, to allow the ship to host on-board weddings. This marked the first time in its 171-year history that Cunard has not had a ship registered within the UK.[http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4634 It's Official: Cunard Re-flags Cruise Ships in Bermuda, Launches Weddings at Sea], cruisecritic.com, 19 October 2011 Bermuda is a member of the Red Ensign Group and the ship continues to fly the undefaced Red Ensign rather than the Bermuda Red Ensign.{{cite web |title=Bermuda Shipping & Maritime Authority |url=https://bsma.bm/registry/#why_flag_in_bermuda |access-date=18 April 2025}}

File:The Boston Cup aboard Queen Mary 2.jpg

Carried aboard Queen Mary 2 is the Boston Cup. Sometimes referred to as The Britannia Cup, this artefact was created for Sir Samuel Cunard in Boston, United States, to commemorate the arrival of his first vessel {{RMS|Britannia}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.chriscunard.com/history-fleet/the-boston-cup/ |title=The Boston Cup |work=Chris' Cunard Page |access-date=16 February 2010 }} Cunard had selected Boston as the American port for his Atlantic service, which resulted in a strong connection between Boston and the Cunard Line.{{cite book |title=Queen May 2:The Greatest Ocean Liner of our Time |last=Maxtone-Graham |first=John |author-link=John Maxtone-Graham |year=2004 |publisher=Bulfinch Press |isbn= 0-8212-2885-4|pages=46–49 }} It is believed that the cup was presented to Sir Samuel Cunard sometime in 1840, but for much of its life it was missing. It was discovered in an antique shop in 1967 and returned to Cunard, where it was placed aboard Queen Elizabeth 2. In 2004, when Queen Mary 2 became the flagship, the Boston Cup was placed aboard Queen Mary 2. It is in a glass case, aft of the Chart Room lounge.{{cite web|url=http://wearecunard.com/2009/07/cunard-celebrates-a-special-anniversary/ |title=Cunard Celebrates a Special Anniversary |publisher=Wearecunard.com |access-date=27 June 2011}}

File:qm2 sydney.jpg, 20 February 2007]]

On 10 January 2007, Queen Mary 2 started her first world cruise, circumnavigating the globe in 81 days. On 20 February, she met her fleet-mate, Queen Elizabeth 2, also on her 2007 world cruise, in Sydney harbour.{{cite news|title=QM2 sails into Sydney|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/travel/qm2sailsintosydney/2007/02/20/1171733718604.html|access-date=5 October 2013|newspaper=The Age Company Ltd.|date=20 February 2007}} This is the first time two Cunard Queens had been together in Sydney since the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth served as troop ships in 1941.{{cite web|url=http://www.greatoceanliners.net/queenelizabeth.html |title=Queen Elizabeth 1940–1973 |publisher=The Great Ocean Liners |access-date=26 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213153036/http://www.greatoceanliners.net/queenelizabeth.html |archive-date=13 February 2009 }} Despite the early arrival time of 5:42 am, the Queen Mary 2's presence attracted so many viewers that the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge were blocked.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sorry-sydney-for-ship-shocker/2007/02/21/1171733803476.html |title=Sydney in meltdown as hordes crowd to see giant ships |author1=David Braithwaite |author2=Andrew Clennell |author3=Deborah Snow |date=21 February 2007|work=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 November 2009}} With 1,600 passengers leaving the ships in Sydney, Cunard estimated the stopovers injected more than $3 million into the local economy.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/super-ships-choke-city/2007/02/20/1171733718091.html Super ships choke city] Sydney Morning Herald 20 February 2007 Retrieved 11 December 2009

On 10 January 2012, the ship embarked on a three-month world cruise from Southampton, travelling south and then east around Africa, a first ever circumnavigation of Australia, to Japan, then back to Southampton along the south coastline of Eurasia and through the Suez Canal.{{cite web|url=http://www.seascanner.com/reise.php?reise=32316|title=World Cruise Cruise with RMS Queen Mary 2 on 10/01/2012 (M203)|work=seascanner.com|access-date=15 March 2012|archive-date=10 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410082433/http://www.seascanner.com/reise.php?reise=32316|url-status=dead}}

Three years after the first Cunard Royal Rendezvous on the same date, Queen Mary 2 met up with {{MS|Queen Victoria|3=2}} and the then brand-new {{MS|Queen Elizabeth}} for another Royal Rendezvous in New York City on 13 January 2011. {{MS|Queen Victoria|3=2}} and {{MS|Queen Elizabeth|3=2}} made a tandem crossing of the Atlantic for the event. All three ships met in front of the statue of Liberty at 6:45 pm for Grucci fireworks. The Empire State Building was lit up in red to mark the event. On 5 June 2012, the three met again, but this time in Southampton to celebrate the Diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/5207-3711-cunard-line-announces-2012-2013-deployment.html |title=Cunard Line Announces 2012–2013 Deployment – Cruise Industry News {{pipe}} Cruise News |date=7 March 2011 |publisher=Cruise Industry News |access-date=2 May 2013}}

Queen Mary 2 has rendezvoused with ocean rowing teams in the middle of the Atlantic. On 30 July 2010 she met up with Artemis Investments, whose rowing crew were Don Lennox, Livar Nysted, Ray Carroll, Leven Brown. Carroll had been a former engineer and was patched through via marine VHF radio and Queen Mary 2's public address system to speak to the captain and crew.{{cite news|url=http://maritimematters.com/2010/07/qm2s-mid-atlantic-rendezvous/|title=QM2's Mid-Atlantic Rendezvous|work=Maritime Matters|date=30 July 2010|first=Martin|last=Cox|access-date=13 October 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/29368|title=World record holder Carroll returns to home soil|work=Galway Advertiser|date=5 August 2010|first=Linley|last=Mackenzie|access-date=13 October 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/all-oar-nothing-how-four-men-conquered-the-atlantic-1-1368113|title=All oar nothing: How four men conquered the Atlantic|newspaper=The Scotsman|date=30 July 2013|access-date=13 October 2013}} On 26 September 2013 Queen Mary 2 resupplied solo-rower Mylène Paquette and her vessel Hermel with a replacement satellite phone, drogue anchor and groceries. Queen Mary 2 changed her course by 20 degrees and only added {{convert|14|nmi|km}} to the overall distance of the crossing.{{cite web|url=http://www.mylenepaquette.com/en/to-the-captain-of-the-queen-mary-2-and-his-wife/|title=Letter to the Captain of the Queen Mary 2 and his wife|first=Mylène|last=Paquette|date=27 September 2013|access-date=13 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005031803/http://www.mylenepaquette.com/en/to-the-captain-of-the-queen-mary-2-and-his-wife/|archive-date=5 October 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24290017|title=Queen Mary 2 comes to aid of Canadian rower Mylene Paquette|work=BBC News Online|date=26 September 2013|access-date=13 October 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://shipmonk.co.uk/2013/09/29/i-want-to-sail-the-atlantic-single-handed-says-queen-mary-2-captain-after-helping-lone-rower/|title=I want to sail the Atlantic single-handed, says Queen Mary 2 captain after helping lone rower|first=Dave|last=Monk|access-date=29 September 2013|quote=We made a 20-degree alteration to the south and it only added fourteen miles to our overall distance.|work=Shipmonk|date=29 September 2013}}

File:20161001 Queen Mary Aerial 2.jpg, Cape Breton Island, on 1 October 2016.]]

On 6 July 2013 Queen Mary 2 departed New York en route to Southampton on her 200th transatlantic voyage. On board speakers were Stephen Payne OBE—the ship's designer—and presenter and newsreader Nick Owen, who presented talks about the ship's design.{{cite web |title=Queen Mary 2 Celebrates 200th Transatlantic Crossing |url=http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/88530/queen-mary-2-celebrates-200th-transatlantic-crossing/ |publisher=World Maritime News |date=9 July 2013 |access-date=9 July 2013}} On 25 May 2015, all three Queens met, once again, at Liverpool, in order to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the shipping line. After arriving at Liverpool the previous day, Queen Mary 2 made a brief excursion to the entrance of the River Mersey to welcome her two fleetmates into port in the early afternoon. The three Cunarders then sailed, in formation, towards Liverpool. The ships spent several hours together, before the departure of Queen Mary 2 to Saint Peter Port, Guernsey.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32872777|title=Cunard shipping marks 175 years in Liverpool|work=BBC News|access-date=25 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/three-queens-liverpool-2015-key-9094540|title=Three Queens Liverpool 2015: Key times for all the weekend events |work=Liverpool Echo|date=23 April 2015 |access-date=25 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.co.uk/campaigns/anniversary-cruises/175-celebration/|title=Anniversary cruises 2015|publisher=Cunard|access-date=25 May 2015}}

On 2 July 2015, Queen Mary 2 began a 175th Anniversary Crossing in Southampton. She sailed first to Liverpool, leaving that city after a fireworks display on 4 July, the actual anniversary date of Cunard's first transatlantic voyage. Queen Mary 2 followed the route of the original ship Britannia, calling first at Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a day there, she headed first upriver into the harbor, using her bow thrusters and swivel-pod motors to negotiate the tight turnaround to come back down close to the cityfront. A 21-gun salute and bagpipe band honored the ship. From Halifax, the ship sailed to Boston and was there for a full day at the cruise terminal (Boston was the terminus of the original crossing in 1840). In the evening the ship backed out into Boston Harbor, where a fireworks display was presented before Queen Mary 2 sailed away.{{cite news |title=U.S. festivities set as Queen Mary 2 celebrates 175 years of Cunard crossings |url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trb-new-york-cunard-light-show-20150706-story.html |access-date=12 March 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=7 July 2015}} After a night and day at sea, the vessel entered New York Harbor early the morning of 14 July and docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Later in the evening the vessel sailed to the lower harbor, between the Statue of Liberty and the Battery, for the Forever Cunard Queen Mary 2 Light Show.{{cite web|title=FORever cunard queen mary 2 light show|url=http://www.quantumtheatricalservices.com/queen-mary-2-light-show|publisher=Quantum Theatricals|access-date=2 September 2015}}

In June 2016, Queen Mary 2 underwent a $132 million/£90 million renovation at Blohm+Voss over 25 days.{{cite news |last1=Machan |first1=Teresa |title=First look at Cunard's new-look RMS Queen Mary 2 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/first-look-at-cunards-new-look-rms-queen-mary-2/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/first-look-at-cunards-new-look-rms-queen-mary-2/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=3 January 2019 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |last1=Sloan |first1=Gene |title=Peek inside the last great ocean liners, from Queen Mary to the SS United States |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2018/09/04/queen-mary-ss-united-states-iconic-ocean-liners/764185002/ |access-date=3 January 2019 |work=USA Today |language=en}} Major changes include the addition of fifteen single-occupancy staterooms, additional balcony staterooms, and ten more animal cages for an enlarged kennels.{{cite press release |title=Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 to undergo major refurbishment in early summer 2016, befitting the world's most iconic ocean liner |date=15 July 2015 |publisher=CNW Group |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cunard-flagship-queen-mary-2-151500362.html |access-date=25 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130015047/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cunard-flagship-queen-mary-2-151500362.html |archive-date=30 January 2016}} According to Blohm+Voss, the refit included the installation of exhaust gas scrubbers and filters to reduce emissions.{{cite press release |title=Master refit: The Queen Mary 2 docks at Blohm+Voss on May 27, 2016 |date=23 May 2016 |publisher=Blohm+Voss GmbH |location=Hamburg, DE |url=http://www.blohmvoss.com/var/blohmvoss/storage/original/application/ea05ca9e3bab8c78463d07ae6006ba57.pdf |last=Brasse |first=Michael |access-date=25 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617053517/http://www.blohmvoss.com/var/blohmvoss/storage/original/application/ea05ca9e3bab8c78463d07ae6006ba57.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2016}} A new block of 35 new cabins that were added to the top of the ship that took the place of a little-used deck-top area that offered tennis courts, a wading pool and two hot tubs.{{Cite web |last=TODAY |first=Gene Sloan, USA |title=A makeover brings changes, but iconic Queen Mary 2 'still is Queen Mary 2' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2016/10/24/queen-mary-2-makeover/92665374/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} A majority of the loose furniture was replaced in public venues. Other modifications included the removal the panoramic glass lifts in the Grand Foyer, and reconfiguration of the King's Court, the infill of the port promenade photogallery with single staterooms, and addition of single staterooms in a portion of the casino.

File:Hamburg, Hafen, Kreuzfahrtschiff -Queen Mary 2- im Dock -- 2016 -- 3068.jpg

When COVID-19 started to spread around in the world in 2020, Queen Mary 2 was in the midst of a world cruise. In early February, Cunard cancelled the Asian leg of the voyage, and the vessel stopped in Singapore only to refuel and sailed to Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/queen-mary-2-cruise-liner-diverted-to-wa-amid-coronavirus-fears|title=Queen Mary 2 cruise liner diverted to WA amid coronavirus fears|website=SBS News |date=10 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22339-cunard-modifies-asia-itinerary-for-queen-mary-2.html|title=Cunard Modifies Asia Itinerary for Queen Mary 2|date=29 January 2020|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}} On 15 March, Cunard cancelled the remainder of the voyage, disembarked all passengers at Fremantle, and then the ship returned to Southampton.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/maiden-voyage-iona-delayed-by-coronavirus-restrictions/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/maiden-voyage-iona-delayed-by-coronavirus-restrictions/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=P&O Cruises and Cunard extend their suspension period, delaying Iona's maiden voyage|first=Katherine|last=Lawrey|date=30 March 2020|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bakercityherald.com/coronavirus/coronavirus-cuts-short-baker-couple-s-voyage/article_830ba306-75f7-11ea-8653-a3ce15f662e7.html |title=Coronavirus cuts short Baker couple's voyage |first=Jayson |last=Jacoby |date=4 April 2020 |newspaper=Baker City Herald |access-date=3 May 2020}} It stopped briefly on 2 April in Durban to disembark six South African crew members before continuing to its home port.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-03-28-queen-mary-2-awaits-clearance-to-enter-durban-port/|title=Queen Mary 2 awaits clearance to enter Durban port|website=DispatchLIVE}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/queen-mary-2-stocks-up-leaves-durban-after-dropping-off-6-south-africans-20200402|title=Queen Mary 2 stocks up, leaves Durban after dropping off 6 South Africans|date=2 April 2020|website=News24}}

Due to the pandemic, Cunard suspended all voyages of the Queen Mary 2 until November 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.cunard.com/en-au/contact-us/travel-health-advisories |title=Covid-19 – Keeping you updated |date=19 April 2021 |website=Cunard |access-date=10 May 2021}} In August 2021 Cunard announced that the ship would enter drydock in Brest, France prior to her return to service.{{cite web |url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/queen-mary-2-to-enter-dry-dock-before-restart|title=Queen Mary 2 to enter dry dock before restart |last=Kemble |first=Harry |date=25 August 2021|website=Travel Weekly |access-date=27 August 2021}}

On 28 November 2021, Queen Mary 2 returned to service after the pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Queen Mary 2 Curtails Cruise Due to COVID-19 Disruption |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/queen-mary-2-curtails-cruise-due-to-covid-to-await-additions-to-crew |access-date=15 January 2022 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}}

In 2023, Queen Mary 2 was refitted in Rotterdam, that included replacement of carpets and finished in many of the public areas.{{Cite web |title=Queen Mary 2 - Major Refit Rotterdam - Project Completion |url=https://www.atlanticmarineinteriors.com/blog/queen-mary-2-major-refit-rotterdam-project-completion/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Atlantic Marine Interiors |language=en}}

File:Queen Mary 2 and Europa Valetta Station Pier, Melbourne 2023.jpg

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Plowman-Aust Cruise Ships}}
• {{Saunders-Giants of the Seas}}
• {{Smith-Cruise Ships-2010}}

{{refend}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.cunard.com/en-us/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/9 Cunard: Queen Mary 2, Official website]
• [http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/310627000 Location tracking] at MarineTraffic
• [http://chriscunard.com/qm2/ Queen Mary 2 (QM2) on Chris' Cunard Page]
• [http://www.galutschek.at/ships/qm2/ Video Clips of QM2 at Newport and Boston]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928152848/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/cruise-ships/14805/Cunard-Queen-Mary-2.html "Queen Mary 2"]—–review by Douglas Ward in The Daily Telegraph, London.

{{Largest passenger ships}}

{{Cunard ships}}

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{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen Mary 2}}

Category:Ocean liners

Category:Ships built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique

Category:Ships built in France

Category:Ships of the Cunard Line

Category:2003 ships

Category:Passenger ships of Bermuda