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Queen Elizabeth to sail into Liverpool

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Queen Elizabeth on an earlier visit to Liverpool
Next Monday Queen Elizabeth will sail into Liverpool on her seventh visit to the port and Cunard’s spiritual home.

Her latest call marks the 80th anniversary of the launch of Cunard’s second Mauretania at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead in July 1938.

To mark the occasion a special sail away show will take place on the cruise berth, at Princes Dock at 16.30. The show will have a variety of musical performances including opera singer Joanne Dennis, followed by a confetti show as she sails onto Dublin and Guernsey before returning to Southampton on July 27.

Cunard founded in Liverpool

A Cunard visit always plays a highly significant role in Liverpool’s cruise season, as Cunard was founded in Liverpool in 1839 and the city was home to its head office for nearly 130 years.

The second Mauretania was the first ship to be built for the newly formed Cunard White Star Line and was laid down on May 24, 1937. She was the largest ship ever to be built in an English shipyard at the time.

Head of cruise & maritime operations at Cruise Liverpool, Peter Murney said: ‘To have Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth visiting us on the anniversary of the Second Mauritania launching at Cammell Laird shipyard is extremely special for us. We’re incredibly proud of our maritime heritage and our strong connection to Cunard.’