Cunard Royal Rendezvous Update

Yesterday New York City really was the place to be! Cunard witnessed all 3 of its prestigious Queens line up in the harbour for only the second time in history.

Thousands of people braved the harsh cold New York City evening weather to witness the amazing spectacle which included a world class fireworks display by Grucci. A fireboat sprayed cannons of water and a flotilla of police boats twinkled with blue lights against the murky dark waters.

The Queen Mary 2 lead the procession southeast down the Hudson River followed by Queen Victoria who was in turn followed by Queen Elizabeth. At roughly 7pm two barges off Liberty Island and Ellis Island lit the fuse on a 20 minute fireworks display. The show which was synchronized to music piped on all three ships was glowing with bright reds, whites and blues.

Once the fireworks diminished all 3 ships gracefully glided passed the southern tip of Manhattan, crossing in front of Lady Liberty and then going single file under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. All ships were headed south on individual journeys of adventure and intrigue. Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth all embark on world tours with Queen Victoria staying close to U.S. waters for an American and Panama Canal cruise.

Cunard has in fact been sailing to New York since 1845, since that time it is reported the line has brought some 10 million passengers to American shores, according to Peter Shanks, Cunard President.

New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg proclaimed January 13th 2011 as “Cunard Royal Rendezvous Day”. Executives from World’s Leading Cruise Lines also closed the day’s trading at the New York Stock Exchange by ringing a bell that came from Cunard’s original Queen Elizabeth which retired back in the 1960’s.

This Royal Rendezvous marks only the second time in history that all 3 of Cunard’s Queens have met in the same American port. The first meet being in 2008.