Queens of the seas: Queen Mary 2 salutes regal predecessor

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2006

LONG BEACH, United States (AFP) — The world's largest luxury liner, the Queen Mary 2, saluted its legendary predecessor, the Queen Mary, as the two ships met ceremonially for the first time.

The giant French-built QM2, which made its maiden voyage two years ago, sailed into the US west coast port of Long Beach, where the Queen Mary has been permanently moored since 1967, and pulled up near her namesake.

The two British queens of the sea exchanged whistle salutes as the QM2 approached the original Queen Mary, built in 1934. Thousands of onlookers had gathered to watch the spectacle that included overflights by planes and blimps.

The sail-by, hailed by organisers as a maritime milestone, took place after the QM2 sailed into the port escorted by a US Coast...