Launched by Queen Elizabeth, the spectacular Queen Mary 2 liner – the tallest, longest and most expensive passenger ship ever – is set for its maiden voyage on Monday. And as the monarch toured the mammoth vessel, which is twice as large as its predecessor, the Queen Mary, the world got a sneak peek at what passengers have to look forward to.
Photos released this week show the splendour of the 150,000-tonne ship, which is as high as a 23-storey building and boasts half a dozen restaurants, five swimming pools, a theatre and a cinema. The 4,000-capacity QM2, which has a passenger to crew ratio of around two to one, combines luxury with elegance, featuring an art deco interior with massive chandelieres, brass banisters and a curved a grande descente staircase, as well as hundreds of works of art and five duplex flats.
The £550 million Cunard vessel, the first major liner from the company in more than 30 years, will set off on Monday from her Southampton home port for her inaugural trip to Florida. Prices for a six-day voyage start at £999, and up to £20,000 for an apartment, which come with an array of exclusive services, including a private butler.
Photo: PA
Photo: AFP
