The full Cunard fleet will gather on the River Mersey for the first time in history. The event is expected to draw large crowds as part of major cultural celebrations.
On May 16, 2028, the city of Liverpool will host a landmark maritime event as four of the world’s most recognizable cruise ships convene on the River Mersey. For the first time in company history, Cunard’s full fleet—comprising Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and the newly added Queen Anne—will sail together in a unified formation.
This gathering serves as a poignant homecoming for the cruise line, which was founded in Liverpool in 1840. The city was selected as the event’s stage to honor its long-standing status as the “spiritual home” of Cunard. The company confirmed that this will be the first time all four vessels have come together in a single location, marking a significant milestone in its modern operations.
In addition to the fleet gathering, the event will highlight a personal milestone for the Queen Mary 2. The vessel is set to complete its first-ever transatlantic crossing from New York directly into Liverpool, representing the first eastbound arrival from New York to the city in over 60 years.
This reunion is expected to draw massive public interest, mirroring a similar event in 2015 when three of the company’s ships celebrated the brand's 175th anniversary on the Mersey. That event drew more than a million people to the waterfront, and organizers anticipate the 2028 gathering will build upon that legacy as part of a wider celebration of the 20th anniversary of Liverpool being named the European Capital of Culture.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, described the planned event as a monumental occasion for the cruise line. “Bringing together the four ships would be a rare and incredibly special moment, and a celebration of the company’s long-standing connection with Liverpool,” McAlister said.
