Background timeline
1964
19 Aug 1964 - Cunard invites tenders to build new Cunard liner to replace the Queen Mary and Elizabeth.
1964
30 Dec 1964 - Cunard and the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde sign contract to build Cunard's new flagship.
1967
8 May 1967 - Cunard announces the retirement of both the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth.
1967
27 Jul 1967 - The Queen Mary is sold by Cunard to the City of Long Beach in California, in the United States.
1967
31 Oct 1967 - The Queen Mary begins her final voyage from Southampton to Long Beach, lasting 40 days.
1968
5 Apr 1968 - The Queen Elizabeth is sold to 'The Queen Corporation' group of Philadelphia businessmen.
1968
5 Nov 1968 - The Queen Elizabeth begins her final voyage from Southampton to Port Everglades, Florida.
1968
5 Nov 1968 - The Queen Elizabeth makes her final transatlantic crossing to New York before her retirement.
1968
8 Dec 1968 - The Queen Elizabeth arrives in Port Everglades after her final voyage in November.
1971
19 Feb 1971 - The Queen Elizabeth sails from Port Everglades to Hong Kong following her sale to CY Tung.