Cunard's Queens to come home to Merseyside

Cunard has announced it's Ocean Queens will sail into the River Mersey to mark company’s 175th anniversary.

The shipping company established the first scheduled service across the Atlantic in1840 and every year since vessels have crossed and re-crossed the Atlantic without fail

In 2015 the Elizabeth, Mary and Victoria will form the centrepiece of celebrations for the shipping line’s birthday. The iconic Queen Mary 2 will arrive at the Liverpool cruise terminal on Sunday, May 25, 2015, followed by the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria the following day.

Angus Struthers, Cunard Director, says: “Liverpool is the spiritual home of Cunard. Until 1967 the company was based in Liverpool, and it was from Liverpool that Cunard's first transatlantic crossing was made. We are therefore delighted to celebrate our 175th anniversary in 2015 with two historic events in Liverpool: a meeting of our fleet of Queens on the Mersey in May 2015 and a repeat of the original transatlantic crossing to Halifax and Boston on 4 July 2015. We look forward to announcing more details over the coming months.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, adds: "To have the three Cunard Queens back in their spiritual home on our beautiful waterfront will be nothing short of majestic. This will be an unmissable spectacle which will attract worldwide attention and draw massive crowds. It is particularly fitting given our plans to bring the Cunard Building back into use as a Cruise Liner Terminal and I am absolutely delighted by this news. Liverpool is once again making its mark as a great maritime destination."