IT MUST be the first time the Liver Birds have peered down on a floating croquet lawn berthed near the Pier Head.

Cunard Line’s new £350m Queen Elizabeth boasts the first country club afloat.

The 90,901 gross ton liner not only has a croquet lawn but also a bowling green and tennis court perched above the ship’s bridge.

If that is too energetic for the 2,100 pampered passengers, then the giant outdoor chess set is just the steamer ticket for those wanting some cerebral exercise.

There is much memorabilia on board from the first Queen Elizabeth liner and her successor, Queen Elizabeth 2.

It includes Oscar Nemon’s bust of the Queen, from the QE2’s Queen’s Room, and jeweller Asprey’s solid silver model of QE2.

The onboard decor is a successful modern take on ocean liner art deco, with Viscount Linley’s huge marquetry panel of the original Queen Elizabeth as the atrium centrepiece.

Showing Liverpool its new liner, which was named in October last year by the Queen, was very important to Cunard.

The company is evermore keen to emphasise links with what it describes as “Cunard’s spiritual home”.

The liner towers over Princes Parade and her distinctive orange-red and black funnel proclaims Cunard is back in town.