New York Harbor served as center stage for a shipping event not seen in decades when the world’s two largest true ocean liners shared a pair of berths on the West Side of Manhattan. Cunard’s 148,528-ton Queen Mary 2 arrived first from Southampton, England on the morning of April 22^nd to berth on the south side of Pier 92, and the 70,327-ton Queen Elizabeth 2 sailed in three days later, also from Southampton, on the final leg of her around-the world-cruise. She tied up at the south side of Pier 90.

As the QE2, commanded by Captain Ian McNaught, angled into her berth, the two ships exchanged whistles. QM2’s Commodore Ronald Warwick looked down from his bridge at his previous command and the two masters’ exchanged waves.

During the busy three-day period, thousands of passengers and invited guests filed on and off the ships. Then at 5pm on the 25th, almost unnoticed, the 91,740-ton Norwegian Dawn slipped her lines at Pier 88 to begin her weekly run to Florida and the Bahamas.

(Photograph by Derek Horn from QM2)

(Photograph courtesy of Sarah & Paul Mifsud)

(Photograph courtesy of Sarah & Paul Mifsud)

(Empire State Building Webcam)
(Courtesy Jon Miller)

(Photograph John De Stefano)

Two and a half hours later at 7:30pm, Queen Mary 2 reversed into the North River to take up a position off the World Financial Center.

Queen Mary 2 begins to pass down the Hudson River
accompanied by the historic fireboat John J Harvey.
(Photograph Marjorie Dovman)

Fueling the Queen Elizabeth 2 took longer than anticipated, and instead of sailing 15 minutes later at 7:45pm, she did not begin moving until 8:10, delaying the fireworks celebration planned for 8:30 until just after 9 o’clock.

With both Cunarders holding positions off the Statue of Liberty, the night sky erupted into a spectacular display for the next 20 minutes, enjoyed by some 6,500 souls aboard the two Queens and additional tens of thousands lining the river and Upper New York Bay and watching from aboard some score of excursion boats.

Queen Elizabeth 2 begins to pass close to Queen Mary 2.
(Photograph John De Stefano)

When the last colorful burst died away in a cloud of smoke, the QE2 slid past the QM2, close enough for passengers to recognize friends and then took up the lead for a tandem six-night transatlantic crossing to England.

The mid span of Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was pulsating with security vehicles’ flashing red lights as the two liners as they passed beneath. Dropping the Sandy Hook pilots at Ambrose, the Queens then increased speed in the open Atlantic.

The later than usual departure from New York and extra early arrival at Southampton, plus a scheduled rendezvous off Cornwall, required higher than average speeds up to 28 and sometimes reaching 29 knots for much of the eastbound crossing.

Queen Eizabeth 2 at sea as seen from Queen Mary 2.
(Photograph Courtesy Cunard Line)

During the daytime, the two ships were held roughly a mile apart on parallel courses, side by side or one slightly ahead of the other. Then at night they moved to a distance of about two miles. About 7:30am each morning, one would drop behind the other and crossover to an opposite position giving the passengers and crew a variety of settings.

Queen Elizabeth 2 framed by a Deck Seven opening on Queen Mary 2.
(Photograph by Je Oh.)

Queen Elizabeth 2 as seen from QM2.
(Photograph by Derek Horn.)

On the final afternoon off the Lizard on the south coast of Cornwall, a Nimrod surveillance aircraft and a Red Arrow type jet performed several fly pasts low enough for passengers and crew to photograph the jets and the QM2 or QE2.

The two liners then proceeded through the foggy Channel to the Nab Tower off the Isle of Wight where they picked up pilots to sail into the Solent and Southampton Water. The QE2 berthed first at the Mayflower Terminal in the Western Docks and the QM2 at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal. Both were tied up by about 6am.

Queen Elizabeth 2 sails away from Southampton after passing
flagship status over to Queen Mary 2. QE2 is bound for a shipyard in Germany.
(Photograph courtesy of Peter Hewitt.)

Numerous QE2 passengers then transferred over to the QM2 for the immediate same-day return crossing to New York, arriving back very early on the morning of Friday, May 7^th. The historic tandem crossing will remain forever etched in the memories of those lucky enough to be aboard the two great liners.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE ADDED SHORTLY.