Queen Mary 2 'comes home to people who love her'

The Queen Mary 2 arrived in the city to mark the ship's 400th transatlantic crossing

Crowds of people have gathered alongside the River Mersey to welcome the Queen Mary 2 back "to her spiritual home".

The Cunard ocean liner arrived in the city at 14:30 BST in a visit to mark the ship's 400th transatlantic crossing, which started in New York on 23 August.

It is making an overnight call at the port where the company famously started passenger services between Europe and North America in 1840.

Stuart Wood, who was a senior Liverpool pilot on the Mersey for more than 42 years, said it was a significant day for the ocean liner.

The ocean liner set off from New York on 23 August

"She is the flagship of Cunard and she has sailed home to the people who love her," he said.

The Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to depart for Cobh, Ireland just before midnight on Saturday.

Cunard ships have crossed the Atlantic every year, beginning with the paddle steamer Britannia, which departed Liverpool on 4 July 1840 bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston.

Maritime expert and journalist Tony Storey said the "luxurious" Queen Mary 2 ocean liner was built specifically to cross the North Atlantic regularly.

"Cunard are the only company to provide a scheduled transatlantic service throughout the year and that's the service that started here of course in Liverpool in 1840," he said.

'On the map'

One couple from Southport, Karen and Paul, said it was "fabulous" to see the liner up close after coming to see her arrive.

"We absolutely love the Cunard's coming in and we hope one day to cruise out on one of them," Karen said.

"And it's fantastic that it's so close to the city centre so visitors can hop off and be in the city centre in five minutes. Its great for the city's economy."

Billy from Liverpool who had also come to watch the arrival agreed it was good for the city.

"It puts Liverpool even more on the map," he said.

"She was born here, I think she's magnificent."