Queen Mary 2

Summary

RMS Queen Mary 2 (commonly QM2) is the only purpose-built ocean liner still in service, built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire and delivered to Cunard Line in 2004. Unlike cruise ships designed for warm-water leisure, QM2 was built for the North Atlantic — a deeper draft, reinforced bow, and stronger seakeeping capability than any contemporary cruise ship. She remains the principal vessel running Cunard's New York–Southampton transatlantic crossings, plus annual world cruises.

Crew perspective

QM2 crews work on a vessel that combines ocean-liner discipline with cruise-ship guest expectations. The North Atlantic crossing schedule (7 nights New York to Southampton, plus world-cruise segments) is unique in modern shipping. Officers with QM2 experience carry rare credentials in genuine ocean-liner operations — including heavy-weather routine that pure cruise ships rarely encounter. Cunard's onboard formality (white-tie evenings, strict dress codes) is reflected in crew conduct standards.

Notable incidents

• 2010-01-15: brief grounding in Port Everglades; no significant damage
• QM2 has not had a significant publicly-reported incident in nearly two decades of service — uncommon record

Sister ships

None purpose-built; closest contemporaries are mid-size cruise ships with ocean-liner heritage