Special passengers wanted for voyage

From the archive, first published Thursday 8th Feb 2001.

SOUTHAMPTON cruise line Cunard is hunting for some very special passengers to set sail on a voyage back in time.

It was 65 years ago that the legendary liner Queen Mary departed on her maiden transatlantic voyage from Southampton to New York. Now, as the anniversary approaches, Cunard want to hear from passengers who were on that first crossing.

To mark this special milestone in maritime history, Cunard is offering to take any fare-paying passengers from 1936 back across the Atlantic, this time amid the luxury of Queen Elizabeth 2, at the same price they paid more than six decades ago.

In a separate move to celebrate the anniversary, Hythe-based author and ship historian David Ellery will be leading a group of former Queen Mary crew members and passengers on a visit to see the great Cunarder, now retired and used as a hotel and tourist attraction in California.

Before leaving for the ship, now berthed in Long Beach, Mr Ellery is also organising an exhibition about the ship together with an anniversary dinner in Southampton.

He said: "We think the 65th anniversary is a landmark in the ship's history worthy of celebration. For many older people who travelled on board, worked on the ship or remember Queen Mary at firsthand, this is possibly the last major event on the vessel they will be able to undertake, which makes it even more significant."

Cunard intend to theme two passages by QE2 leaving Southampton on Thursday, May 3, and Wednesday, June 6, on the history of Queen Mary and the construction of the company's new 150,000-ton megaliner, Queen Mary 2, due to enter service in December 2003.

Cunard spokesman Michael Gallagher said: "From our research in the archives a passenger travelling third class on Queen Mary paid £70 4s (£70.20p) for a ticket on the maiden voyage.

"We want to hear from anyone who can prove they paid their own adult fare on that historic crossing, which began on May 27, 1936, to contact us and we will offer them a cabin on QE2, for either of the two voyages in May or June, for the same price as they paid all those years ago.''

During each of the two transatlantic voyages Cunard is planning a special anniversary dinner featuring a menu from Queen Mary's maiden voyage and a spectacular ball in black and white, as well as a chance for passengers to learn more about the design and construction of the future QM2.

* The shipping line can be contacted at Cunard, 52 Berkeley Street, London, WIX 5FP, or anyone wanting more information about the visit to Queen Mary can reach David Ellery on 023 8084 1113.