May 2: Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 will mark her 36th year of service today, when she arrives in her homeport of Southampton - 36 years to the day that she sailed for New York on her Maiden Voyage in 1969. A special Birthday party will be held to honor the liner. Guests will include nine former and current Captains and John Whitworth OBE, former Managing Director of Cunard Line at the time of QE2's introduction and who was instrumental in the ship's construction. The statistics pile up: QE2 has sailed more than 5.3 million nautical miles - (equivalent to traveling to the moon and back over 11 times). She has carried almost three million passengers. Her arrival today in Southampton will be her 641st visit there and mark the completion of her 1,374th voyage. It will be her 4,856th port call. She has sailed at an average speed of 24.75 knots over the last 36 years. She has made 795 Atlantic crossings and completed 23 full World Voyages and been commanded by 23 Captains. It is also noted that on September 4, she becomes the longest serving Cunarder ever when she passes the 36 years 4 months and 2 days' record of SCYTHIA, which sailed from 1921 to 1957. QE2 was also the Cunard flagship for longer than any other from 1969 until 2004 when she handed over the role to Queen Mary 2, and in November last year she became the longest serving Cunard express liner when she passed the 35 years 6 months and 1 day record previously set by AQUITANIA which served Cunard Line, from May 1914 to December 1949.

Happy Birthday. Long may she reign!! party: party:

It's interesting how some liners end up having a long and illustrious life, like the QE2, while other vessels are retired at a very early age.
One of my favorite sites, The Great Ocean Liners, has info on a great deal of ships and their service records. Some vessels, even without mishaps common to liners, are retired very early in their lifespan. But these ships are built to last. The QE2 being a great example, or even White Star's Olympic (in service in various duties well over 20 years). But owners can be funny sometimes. A non profitable ship was often sold for scrap instead of refurbishment or instead of selling it to a smaller company that may have kept such a ship afloat.
The QE2 is indeed a Queen.

I agree Foss, I've had that website bookmarked for a long time, and it is a great site. It's funny how the most famous oceanliner of all time was in service for less than a week. The QE2 is amazing, I hope she is around for a long time to come!!

I have that book Foss and I understand what your saying. The QE2 has had a long and pround life. I hope she goes on for many more years. I have the web site bookmarked too. It is more detailed than the book but I love having it in print too. w: