CUNARD’S iconic flagship Queen Mary 2 (QM2) made a return visit to Liverpool to mark the finale of the city’s On the Waterfront festival.

The QM2 pulled into port after sailing up the Mersey estuary on a gloriously clear and sunny late summer day.

Thousands of sightseers gathered on Princes Parade, alongside Liverpool Cruise Terminal, to take pictures and get the best views of the full length of the ship.

The QM2 is one of the largest ocean liners in the world at 151,400 gross tons. The majestic visitor was only in the city for a few hours yesterday before continuing on a 22-day voyage which started in New York and continued to Southampton and around the British Isles, before returning to New York.

A fleet of coaches waited to take the holidaymakers on a variety of tours around Liverpool, such as Beatles-themed trips.

Others included visits to the two cathedrals or over the water to Port Sunlight.

The liner is carrying nearly 2,500 passengers, including many Americans, but also Canadians, Japanese and English.

Among them were a group of four female friends, all from Michigan.