Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Cunard's Flagship 'Liner' Visits Irish Sea Port of Liverpool and Makes Once off Visit to Cobh this Season

10th September 2024
Making an impression, Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line’s ‘liner’ dominates the scene at Cork Deepwater Quay, where it made a call as part of the Port of Cork’s season, which continues until late October. The liner first visited Cork in 2009 and has also called offshore of Dun Laoghaire and Dunmore East.
Making an impression, Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line’s ‘liner’ dominates the scene at Cork Deepwater Quay, where it made a call as part of the Port of Cork’s season, which continues until late October. The liner first visited Cork in 2009 and has also called offshore of Dun Laoghaire and Dunmore East. Credit: Port of Cork-facebook

Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s impressive flagship and the world’s only ‘liner’ made a once off call this season to Cobh, Cork Harbour, where the town welcomed visitors ashore, writes Jehan Ashmore.

At 345m in length and towering 72m from keel to its distinctive funnel, Queen Mary 2 with the assistance of tugs berthed yesterday at Cobh’s Deepwater Quay with the backdrop of the scenic coastal town.

With a capacity for 2,691 guests and 1,173 crew, and at 148,528 tonnes the Queen Mary 2 is the longest, tallest, and widest of any passenger liner built. This involves trans-Atlantic ocean voyages between Southampton and New York, however, the liner does also operate in a cruise ship role.

At the weekend, Queen Mary 2 visited Liverpool to celebrate the milestone of its 400th transatlantic crossing, having berthed at the city, the original homeport and headquarters of the Cunard Line.

Constructed between 2002 and 2003, Queen Mary 2 at a cost of €549 million was floated-out at the famous shipyard of Chantier de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, western France. The QM2 remains the only ocean liner left in service.

As to be expected, the Cunarder liner possesses all the luxury and expansive facilities, which include a range of 15 restaurants and bars, a theatre, ballroom, casino, five swimming pools, and even the first planetarium at sea.

After yesterday’s visit, Queen Mary 2 set off last night from Cobh and was bound for Southampton. At the time of writing, the liner this morning is midway between Land’s End, Cornwall, and the Isle of Scilly.

Earlier in the season, the brand new build cruise ship Queen Anne in June, was christened in Liverpool amid much celebration and fireworks. This was followed by an overnight passage through the Irish Sea as the new Cunarder again made its impression as the 113,000 gross registered ton Cunarder arrived on its maiden Irish port of call to Cobh.

Published in Cork Harbour
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

Email The Author

Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Cork Harbour Information

It’s one of the largest natural harbours in the world – and those living near Cork Harbour insist that it’s also one of the most interesting.

This was the last port of call for the most famous liner in history, the Titanic, but it has been transformed into a centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

The harbour has been a working port and a strategic defensive hub for centuries, and it has been one of Ireland's major employment hubs since the early 1900s. Traditional heavy industries have waned since the late 20th century, with the likes of the closure of Irish Steel in Haulbowline and shipbuilding at Verolme. It still has major and strategic significance in energy generation, shipping and refining.

Giraffe wander along its shores, from which tens of thousands of men and women left Ireland, most of them never to return. The harbour is home to the oldest yacht club in the world, and to the Irish Navy. 

This deep waterway has also become a vital cog in the Irish economy.

‘Afloat.ie's Cork Harbour page’ is not a history page, nor is it a news focus. It’s simply an exploration of this famous waterway, its colour and its characters.

Cork Harbour Festival

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór and Cork Harbour Open Day formerly existed as two popular one-day events located at different points on Cork’s annual maritime calendar. Both event committees recognised the synergy between the two events and began to work together and share resources. In 2015, Cork Harbour Festival was launched. The festival was shaped on the open day principle, with Ocean to City – An Ras Mór as the flagship event.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown from strength to strength. Although the physical 2020 festival was cancelled due to Covid-19, the event normally features nine festival days starting on the first week of June. It is packed full of events; all made possible through collaboration with over 50 different event partners in Cork City, as well as 15 towns and villages along Cork Harbour. The programme grows year by year and highlights Ireland’s rich maritime heritage and culture as well as water and shore-based activities, with Ocean to City – An Rás Mór at the heart of the festival.

Taking place at the centre of Ireland’s maritime paradise, and at the gateway to Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork is perfectly positioned to deliver the largest and most engaging harbour festival in Ireland.

The Cork Harbour Festival Committee includes representatives from Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Port of Cork, UCC MaREI, RCYC, Cobh & Harbour Chamber and Meitheal Mara.

Marinas in Cork Harbour

There are six marinas in Cork Harbour. Three in Crosshaven, one in East Ferry, one in Monkstown Bay and a new facility is opening in 2020 at Cobh. Details below

Port of Cork City Marina

Location – Cork City
Contact – Harbour Masters Dept., Port of Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 4273125 or +353 (0)21 4530466 (out of office hours)

Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831023

Crosshaven Boatyard Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4831161

Salve Marina Ltd

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831145

Cork Harbour Marina

Location: Monkstown, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)87 3669009

East Ferry Marina

Location: East Ferry, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4813390

New Cove Sailing Club Marina

(to be opened in 2020)

Location: Cobh, Co. Cork
Contact: 087 1178363

Cork Harbour pontoons, slipways and ramps

Cork City Boardwalk Existing pontoon

Port of Cork 100m. pontoon

Cork city – End of Cornmarket St. steps and slip;

Cork city - Proby’s Qy. Existing limited access slip

Quays Bar & Restaurant, Private pontoon and ramp for patrons, suitable for yachts, small craft town and amenities

Cobh harbour [camber] Slip and steps inside quay wall pontoon

Fota (zoo, house, gardens) Derelict pontoon and steps

Haulbowline naval basin; restricted space Naval base; restricted access;

Spike Island pier, steps; slip, pontoon and ramp

Monkstown wooden pier and steps;

Crosshaven town pier, with pontoon & steps

East Ferry Marlogue marina, Slip (Great Island side) visitors’ berths

East Ferry Existing pier and slip; restricted space East Ferry Inn (pub)
(Mainland side)

Blackrock pier and slips

Ballinacurra Quay walls (private)

Aghada pier and slip, pontoon & steps public transport links

Whitegate Slip

Passage West Pontoon

Glenbrook Cross-river ferry

Ringaskiddy Parking with slip and pontoon Ferry terminal; village 1km.

Carrigaloe pier and slip; restricted space; Cross-river ferry;

Fountainstown Slip

White’s Bay beach

Ringabella beach

Glanmire Bridge and tide restrictions

Old Glanmire - Quay