Queen Victoria's arrival marked the first time that three Cunard Queens (she joined the world's largest liner Queen Mary 2 and the world's most famous and best-loved liner QE2) had been in service together in the company's 167-year history.
Queen Victoria, the second largest Cunarder ever built, departed on her Maiden Voyage on Tuesday December 11, 2007 - a voyage that was full within days of being announced.
Then, on January 13, 2008, she set sail from New York on her 105-day Pathway to the Explorers maiden world cruise which will call at 36 cities in 23 countries.
The cruise circumnavigated the globe in a westbound direction and, after calling at New York, transited the Panama Canal before making maiden calls at some of the world's most famous cities including Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Dubai, Athens and Barcelona.
Queen Victoria is not only a classic ocean liner, offering the very best of Cunard's heritage and traditions along with all modern luxury facilities, but also features some exciting innovations.
These include the first private boxes at sea, in the Royal Court Theatre; a Cunardia museum, housing Cunard artifacts and memorabilia; the first two-storey library at sea, with its 6,000 books and splendid spiral staircase; and a grand, British colonial-style conservatory, complete with central fountain, greenery and a retractable glass roof.
From the outside, her distinctive black and red livery and strengthened hull hints at the experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a modern-day cruise ship. This is most evident in the ship's adherence to liner traditions of the past, with elegant and classically-styled public rooms, many on a grand scale, luxuriously endowed with rich wood panelling, intricate mosaics, chandeliers, and cool marbles.
The public spaces host the many diversions that also define Cunard's liner heritage, as guests enjoy stylish entertainment and informative talks that suggest a more civilised era of travel.
The ship also features the line's celebrated luxury Grills accommodation and dining, further enhanced on Queen Victoria with exclusive deck terraces and an al fresco dining option.
And, of course, the ship has been constructed with impressive sea keeping qualities that will enable it to travel easily and efficiently through the demanding waters of the world's oceans.
om, an authentic British pub, and a classic library.
