MS Queen Elizabeth

MS "Queen Elizabeth" is a new modified Vista class cruise ship announced by Cunard Line. The ship will be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard, with delivery expected in 2010. "Queen Elizabeth" will be a sister ship to MS "Queen Victoria", though slightly larger, at 92,000 gross tons. Capable of carrying up to 2,092 passengers, she will be the second largest Cunard ship ever built, after "Queen Mary 2".

Queen Elizabeth II granted Cunard Line permission to use the name "Queen Elizabeth".

The naming of the ship as "Queen Elizabeth" will see a situation identical to that between 1940 and 1948 - during those years, Cunard's "Queen Elizabeth" was in service at the same time as the Royal Navy battleship "Queen Elizabeth". In 2012, two years after this ship joins the fleet, the Royal Navy plan to introduce into service the new aircraft carrier HMS "Queen Elizabeth".

References