New Cunard Queen Elizabeth enjoys her return to River Mersey home
It must be the first time the Liver Birds have peered down on a floating croquet lawn berthed near the Pier Head.
Cunard Line’s new £350m Queen Elizabeth boasts the first country club afloat.
The 90,901 gross ton liner not only has a croquet lawn but also a bowling green and tennis court perched above the ship’s bridge.
If that is too energetic for the 2,100 pampered passengers, then the giant outdoor chess set is just the steamer ticket for those wanting some cerebral exercise.
There is much memorabilia on board from the first Queen Elizabeth liner and her successor, Queen Elizabeth 2.
It includes Oscar Nemon’s bust of the Queen, from the QE2’s Queen’s Room, and jeweller Asprey’s solid silver model of QE2.
The onboard decor is a successful modern take on ocean liner art deco, with Viscount Linley’s huge marquetry panel of the original Queen Elizabeth as the atrium centrepiece.
Showing Liverpool its new liner, which was named in October last year by the Queen, was very important to Cunard.
The company is evermore keen to emphasise links with what it describes as “Cunard’s spiritual home”.
The liner towers over Princes Parade and her distinctive orange-red and black funnel proclaims Cunard is back in town.
Captain Christopher Wells has commanded Queen Elizabeth since her commissioning 11 months ago.
He said: “Berthing in the Mersey keeps us on our toes.
“I’ve sailed in previously on Queen Mary 2, but this is my first arrival in command.
“It is a tricky river. Going sideways at six knots is an interesting experience!”
Queen Elizabeth has replaced the much-loved QE2, now retired to an uncertain future in Dubai.
QE2’s 1990 visit, under the command of Captain Robin Woodall, of Hoylake, revived the company’s Liverpool connection for the 150th anniversary of Cunard.
To the chagrin of Merseysiders, the line had left its palatial Cunard Building headquarters at the Pier Head in 1966 to relocate to Southampton.
Peter Shanks, Cunard Line president and managing director, would not be drawn into the politics of basing a liner at Liverpool again.
He was careful to steer clear of questions about Liverpool’s bid for cruise turnaround status, which has caused such ructions in Southampton.
Speaking at the cruise terminal, Mr Shanks said: “Liverpool is a very important place for us.
“It is a huge part of our history and spiritual home, but Southampton is our base.
“Liverpool has proved itself a very popular port of call on our round-Britain itineraries like this one.
“As you know, both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 will call at Liverpool over this week, which is unprecedented. We expect we will have at least one or two calls each summer from now.
“Then, on July 4, 2015, it’s my great ambition to have all three of our Queen liners in Liverpool for Cunard’s 175th anniversary. “This is a hugely emotional aspiration for me and will be a magical event.
“We’ve got a bit of time to work out what will be a lot of complex details with itineraries and the port.”
Crowds gathered from 7am to watch Queen Elizabeth dock at 7.45am. Henry Vale, from Prescot, drove to Driffield, East Yorkshire, to bring his sister Tess Lee to Liverpool to view the ship – a five-hour round trip.
Mr Vale said: “We are both from Liverpool and have now all seen all three Cunard Queens here. It is very exciting. The more cruise liners in Liverpool, the better.”
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