1000s expected to Queen Mary(s) rendezvous...

Thousands Expected to Queen Mary(s) Royal Rendezvous 

Long Beach area residents can enjoy a shore leave lunch break on
February 23, when Queen Mary 2 sails into the Port of Long Beach for her
first-ever meeting with her predecessor and namesake, Queen Mary. The two
ships will unite in Long Beach harbor for a jubilant afternoon greeting,
from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

The historic event will be marked by singular fanfare and celebration,
including a whistle salutation between the ships that will be heard
from up to ten miles away. The first-time salute will take on even more
meaning as Queen Mary 2 carries one of her namesake's original whistles.

Commemorative festivities will take place onboard both ships and along
the coastal city's shores. The city of Long Beach has pulled out all
the stops by arranging for fireboats and a flotilla of ships, yachts and
boats to be in the harbor, as well organizing a squadron of skytypers
who will create a series of messages throughout the historic occasion.
In another nod to history, skytyper Greg Stinis will return to the skies
of Long Beach harbor for a repeat overhead performance on February 23.
Stinis had carried out the same aerial celebrations over Queen Mary
when she entered Long Beach for the first time in 1967.

"This much anticipated historic event is being made possible through a
great collaboration between many enthusiastic officials and
organizations in the City of Long Beach, to whom we are very grateful," said Carol
Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Line. "I want to
especially acknowledge and thank Customs and Border Protection and the U.S.
Coast Guard for their support."

Long Beach lunch-breakers will find a range of excellent vantage points
for viewing the historic meeting, including:


  - Bixby Park -- 130 Cherry Ave (at Ocean Blvd.)
  - Bluff Park -- Ocean Blvd, between Redondo & Lindero
  - Junipero Beach -- Beach from 15th Street to 39th Place (access is
Junipero Ave. at Ocean Blvd.)
  - Shoreline Aquatic Park -- 200 Aquarium Way (located behind Aquarium
of the Pacific)
  - Shoreline Village -- 429 Shoreline Village Dr. (best viewing from
mole road that stretches into harbor)
  - Aboard Queen Mary -- 1126 Queens Hwy (at end of 710 Freeway)

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