QE2 Timeline

• 1964
  30 Dec 1964 - Cunard and John Brown sign contract to build the QE2.
• 1965
  5 Jul 1965 - keel laid at the John Brown shipyard on Clydebank.
• 1967
  20 Sep 1967 - the hull of the QE2 is launched by HM Queen.
• 1968
  19 Nov 1968 - begins sea trials in the Irish Sea.
• 1969
  2 May 1969 - maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
• 1969
  7 May 1969 - makes her maiden arrival in New York.
• 1971
  9 Jan 1971 - rescues passengers from blazing cruise liner Antilles.
• 1972
  17 May 1972 - suffers bomb hoax during Atlantic crossing.
• 1973
  14 Apr 1973 - sails to Israel to commemorate its 25th anniversary.
• 1975
  25 Feb 1975 - becomes the largest ship to transit the Panama Canal.
• 1975
  4 Dec 1975 - completes one million miles travelled since entering service.
• 1980
  7 Mar 1980 - completes her first transit of the Suez Canal.
• 1982
  12 May 1982 - sails as part of the naval taskforce to the Falklands.
• 1982
  11 Jun 1982 - returns to Southampton from the Falklands.
• 1986
  27 Oct 1986 - start of conversion from steam to diesel power.
• 1987
  29 Apr 1987 - first diesel-powered crossing to New York.
• 1990
  22 Jul 1990 - commemorates 150th anniversary of the Cunard Line.
• 1992
  7 Aug 1992 - badly damaged in grounding off Martha's Vineyard.
• 1994
  6 Jun 1994 - participates in 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
• 1995
  14 Jun 1995 - begins her 1000th voyage, departing New York.
• 1995
  10 Sep 1995 - encounters Hurricane Luis experiencing 130 mph winds.
• 1996
  2 Jan 1996 - exceeds 4 million nautical miles.
• 1997
  20 Sep 1997 - celebrates 30th anniversary of her launch.
• 1998
  29 Mar 1998 - carries South African president Nelson Mandela on voyage.
• 1999
  3 May 1999 - marks 65th anniversary of maiden voyage of Queen Mary.
• 1999
  13 Jun 1999 - marks the equivalent of twenty years steaming.
• 2002
  29 Aug 2002 - first vessel to exceed 5 million nautical miles.
• 2004
  5 Nov 2004 - becomes Cunard's longest serving express liner.
• 2005
  4 Sep 2005 - succeeds the Scythia as the longest serving Cunarder.
• 2007
  18 Jun 2007 - Cunard announces to sale of the QE2 to Dubai's Nakheel.
• 2008
  3 Oct 2008 - commences Farewell Round Britain cruise.
• 2008
  11 Nov 2008 - final voyage from Southampton into retirement.
• 2008
  26 Nov 2008 - arrives in Dubai, completing her final voyage.
• 2008
  27 Nov 2008 - ownership transferred to Nakheel.
• 2009
  26 Nov 2009 - marks first anniversary of her arrival in Dubai.