Queen Mary 2 arrives in New York for first time in two years

Cunard Line‘s Queen Mary 2 arrived in New York this week for the first time in two years, but with 10 cases of COVID-19 onboard.

The 10 coronavirus cases were all among passengers and were found as part of routine testing ahead of the ship’s arrival into Brooklyn.

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Queen Mary 2 had departed Southampton on December 3rd for her first transatlantic itinerary since the pandemic shut down the cruise industry globally in March last year.

She will sail to the Caribbean on Wednesday with a scheduled return to New York City on January 3rd before returning to the UK.

On her trans-Atlantic cruise, the ship was carrying 1,473 passengers, the “vast majority” of whom are from the US and UK, according to a statement from Cunard.

“Whilst the guests who have tested positive have disembarked, in line with approved protocols, all guests remaining on board will be tested again in the coming days,” Cunard said.

The passengers who had to leave the ship are being supported by Cunard’s “CARE” team during isolation in hotels in New York.

After isolation and upon receipt of a negative COVID test, passengers who disembarked to isolate who want to go back to the UK on the Queen Mary 2 can re-join the ship on January 3rd if they test negative for COVID.

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Cunard’s flagship returned to service less than a month ago, sailing her first cruise on November 28th, 2021.

Throughout the winter and spring, Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner still in passenger service and the only ship making regular trans-Atlantic runs, will make several crossings between Southampton and New York, with a handful of voyages beginning in Hamburg, Germany.

Throughout 2022, Cunard will continue to offer sailings from Brooklyn aboard Queen Mary 2, including the line’s themed transatlantic crossings that include Cunard’s annual Fashion Week at Sea; London Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards; Art and Design Week; Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra; and the first Literature Festival at Sea crossing on December 3rd, 2022.

Cunard Line has now returned two of its ships to service. The smaller Queen Elizabeth entered service this past summer in the UK, while Queen Victoria is scheduled to re-enter service on a 5-night cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam on April 22nd, 2022.