Three queens sail out of New York

Three queens, the world's best-known ocean liners steamed out of New York harbor together, sailing out of the same port for the first and only time in their history.

The Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2 and newly launched Queen Victoria slipped past the Statue of Liberty together under the cover of darkness as fireworks burst overhead, offering maritime history fans a unique opportunity. "This is the first time they've all met," Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line, which operates the three ships, said. "It's not only special because it's the first time we've had these three ships together, it's special because it will never happen again," she said. "This is a truly momentous occasion." The Queen Victoria, launched in December and on her maiden world cruise, and the Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004 and the largest ocean liner in the world, were both headed for the Caribbean. The Queen Elizabeth 2, which is due to be retired in November to become a floating hotel in Dubai, was headed for South America at the beginning of her final world cruise.
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