THE first chance to sail in and out of Liverpool on the world’s largest ocean liner, Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2, will take place this spring.
This will be the first time in 45 years that passengers can sail on a Cunard liner from the Pier Head waterfront.
The cruises have been organised by Liverpool Cruise Club independent travel agency by splitting in two a northern European cruise by the 148,528 gross ton liner.
QM2, which can carry 2,620 passengers, will dock at Liverpool Cruise Terminal on Friday May 17, allowing passengers to either sail into Liverpool from Southampton or cruise back to the southern port.
The first seven night cruise departs on May 10 with coach travel to join QM2 at Southampton and will sail to Hamburg, Greenock and Dublin, arriving at Liverpool on May 17.
The second cruise will depart Liverpool on May 17, for an eight night sailing to Invergordon, Stavanger, Hamburg and Southampton, with a return by coach to Liverpool. Fares for both sailings start from £599, but there are only 200 berths available on each of the cruises.
The announcement comes straight after news that Thomson Cruises will operate three turnaround cruises from Liverpool Cruise Terminal a year later, in May, 2014. MV Thomson Celebration will compete with sailings by the current operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, which returns to Liverpool on April 21 after two years absence from the port.
John Cooper, of Liverpool Cruise Club sales and marketing manager, said: “This is a fabulous event, which we’ve been negotiating like hell to do.
“It’s a chance for Merseysiders to experience Cunard’s elegant style of five star cruising with on the world’s most famous ship.
“This will be cruising in or out of the new Liverpool Cruise Terminal for the very first time on Cunard Line.
“The fares represent incredible value. There will be nothing like it in the five star category from Liverpool.
