Former master of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Captain Paul Wright retires after 45 years at sea. Today, on the bridge of the Queen Mary 2, a ceremony was held to mark the retirement of Paul Wright. Captain Wright was Cunard's first captain to command three Queens - the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1999, the Queen Mary 2 in 2003 and Queen Victoria in 2007.
Captain Wright first went to sea in 1966, completing a cadetship with Shell Tankers. He then went to work for the Canadian Pacific Line, followed by a number of years aboard vessels from container ships to hovercraft. He gained his Masters certificate in 1976. In 1980 Paul Wright joined Cunard as First Officer on the Cunard Countess. He transferred to Sagafjord as Staff Captain and later Staff Captain of the QE2.
In 1993 he was appointed Master of Cunard's Atlantic Conveyor. By August 1999 Captain Wright was appointed Master of the QE2 and on 8 January 2002 sailed the QE2 into New York, the first cruise ship to return to the city after the events of 9/11. He retires as Master of the Queen Mary 2, 31 years since joining the Cunard Line.
View all news stories »