The Queen Mary once served as Cunard’s most famous ship. In recognition of that auspicious history, Captain Inger Thorhauge and over two thousand Queen Elizabeth passengers will make a rare harbor visit – July 4 – to salute the iconic Queen Mary and draw attention to a new visitor attraction set to open on the Queen Mary the following day.

The Cunard Story comprehensively presents the luxury line’s remarkable 179-year old history and illustrates Cunard’s influence on immigration and maritime policies overall.

Told through artifacts, photographs, film and video – the Cunard Story encapsulates the legacy of a brand responsible for many innovations seen today in modern day cruising.

As when the Queen Mary launched in 1934, today’s elegant Cunard ships and passenger services are world-class. The Queen Elizabeth, her passengers and crew, having just completed their first season Alaska and call at San Francisco, will toast the past and reflect the future as they participate in Long Beach Harbor’s July 4 celebration before berthing at the Port of Los Angeles Cruise Ship terminal for a rare overnight stay. On July 5, Queen Elizabeth departs Los Angeles and will sail south to Mexico, transit the Panama Canal, sail up to New York, and dock in Halifax on July 26 to meet her sister ship Queen Mary 2 in the company’s ancestral home, before continuing onward to Southampton, England.

THE CUNARD STORY: The Cunard Story will be formally dedicated, July 5. Shipboard ceremonies on the Queen Mary will begin at 10 a.m. Cunard’s first female Captain, and Master of Queen Elizabeth, Inger Thorhauge will represent Cunard and all the officers, crew and passengers having contributed to the company’s unparalleled history.

  • WHERE: M Deck, Forward (Bow) The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy Long Beach, CA 92802

  • WHEN: Friday, July 5 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

TICKETS: The Cunard Story will be free to the public from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. After 12 p.m. Guests can visit and experience The Cunard Story with the purchase of a ship admission ticket.

  • Adults (ages 4+): $40

  • Children (ages 2-11): $20

ALL-AMERICAN 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION & ROYAL RENDEZVOUS: The Queen Mary’s annual All-American 4th of July red, white, and blue ship-wide event offers multiple stages of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, patriotic-themed food, a vintage aircraft flyover, and culminating with one of SoCal’s top 4th of July fireworks displays above America’s “shining seas.” This year, the Cunard’s namesake Queen Elizabeth will greet the Queen Mary in the harbor for a “Royal Rendezvous” before the fireworks show. This reunion will mark the fourth time Cunard ships have crossed paths with the Queen Mary since she left Cunard’s service and permanently docked in Long Beach in 1967. 4th of July festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with the iconic 15-minute fireworks display at 9 p.m. Advance tickets and hotel packages are available at queenmary.com.

WHERE:

  • The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy Long Beach, CA 92802

WHEN:Thursday, July 4

  • All-American 4th of July: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Royal Rendezvous: 8:30 p.m.

TICKETS: Guests can visit and experience the All-American 4th of July Celebration and Royal Rendezvous with an admission ticket.

  • General Admission: Adults (ages 4+): $49 | Children (ages 2-11): $29

  • VIP Admission: Adults (ages 4+): $119

JUBILEE YEAR: In 1934, RMS Queen Mary launched on Scotland’s River Clyde – making her Maiden Voyage in 1936. Over 1.5 million still visit the ship annually. Queen Mary is the only vessel of her class still active on the public stage. September 2019 marks the beginning of Queen Mary’s 85 Jubilee Year – the dedication of the Cunard Story appropriately begins the celebration.

PARKING:

On-site parking starts at $18 per vehicle.

About the Queen Mary

Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary, an Urban Commons property, features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary’s signature restaurants include Sir Winston’s, Chelsea Chowder House, Promenade Café, Observation Bar, as well as, a weekly award-winning Royal Sunday Brunch served in the ship’s Grand Salon. History buffs enjoy the ship’s museum with various daily tours, and currently the ship is featuring their newest exhibition, Their Finest Hours: Winston Churchill and the Queen Mary. The Queen Mary features 35,000 square feet of event space in 13 remarkable Art Deco salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000-square- foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 347 staterooms including nine suites. For more information or for reservations, visit www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.

About Cunard

Cunard is the operator of luxury cruise ships Queen Mary 2®, Queen Victoria® and Queen Elizabeth®. Renowned for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment, all three Queens offer luxury accommodations in Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill Suite and Queens Grill Suite staterooms. Cunard is the only line to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic service between New York and London, and it continues to celebrate the freedom of travel on exciting World Voyage and Grand Voyage itineraries that visit Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Awarded ‘#1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line’ by Travel + Leisure’s 2018, 2017 and 2016 World’s Best Awards and ‘Best Service,’ ‘Best Onboard Enrichment’ and ‘Best World Cruise’ by Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2018 Readers Choice Awards, Cunard is a proud member of World’s Leading Cruise Lines, a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the largest cruise vacation company in the world. Together Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) operate 102 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 226,000 lower berths.