Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth

USPA NEWS - Majestic, fantastic, brilliant and spectacular were some of the words that could be heard throughout the Halifax Waterfront as thousands gathered to witness Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 and sister ship Queen Elizabeth do a tour up and down the harbour prior to departing for sea.

The Cunard Line holds a special place in the hearts of Haligonians as the founder, Samuel L Cunard, was a resident of Halifax. Cunard's legacy can still be seen throughout the city today with a street, a building and a monument honoring his many contributions to the port city. The special send off was to pay tribute and recognize the special bond that the Cunard Line will always have with Halifax.

The Cunard Line was founded in 1840 as the British and North American Mail Steam Packet Company. In 1879 the company name was changed to  the Cunard Steamship Company Limited.

Prior to this event, Lane Farguson, the Manager of Media Relations for the Halifax Port Authority released the following statement on their website and social media. "July 24, 2019, Halifax, NS ““ A rare evening sail away involving the Cunard vessels Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to take place in the Port of Halifax. Following a day of celebrations commemorating the fifth Annual Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity on July 26, 2019, a special sail away will take place in Halifax harbour. Queen Elizabeth will depart the Halifax Seaport at 6:00 p.m., followed by Queen Mary 2. The attached chart provides highlights of the departure route, which is a counter clockwise tour of the harbour. Queen Elizabeth will first sail past the east side of Georges Island heading north, and that is where Queen Mary 2 will meet up with her. The two vessels will then continue their tour of Halifax harbour before their final departure. The sail pass will take approximately 90 minutes, beginning at 6:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to see the two Cunard Queens in all their glory as the vessels pays tribute to the historic connection between Cunard and Halifax."

The Cunard fleet  currently consists of three ships. Their flagship, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Victoria. Easily recognized by the red and black funnels, these ships symbolize luxury, excellence and beauty turning heads where ever they visit.

Looking to the future, Cunard will be celebrating their 180th Anniversary in 2022 which will include the delivery of a fourth ship and the celebration of a journey nearly two centuries in the making.