Luxury liner completes journey three hours late

The world’s largest cruise liner, which has been hit by tragedy and problems even before it was first launched, today suffered further problems as it arrived late back to the country because of mechanical trouble.

The Queen Mary 2’s departure from Lisbon, Portugal, for the final leg of a journey from Florida, USA, had to be delayed after bow doors which cover a set of propellers failed to shut, according to a Cunard spokesman.

The liner, launched earlier this year by the Queen, arrived at its home port of Southampton, Hants, at 10.30am today, three and a half hours after its expected arrival time.

Cunard spokesman Eric Flounders said that a “small number” of passengers would have had onward travel difficulties because of the delay.

But he said any flight or transport bookings affected had been re-arranged on their behalf by Cunard.

He added that Cunard had not received any complaints from the passengers on board, the majority of which were from America.

Mr Flounders said: “We had a problem when the ship was in Lisbon. A set of doors at the very front of the ship which cover a set of propellers which are used to manoeuvre the ship failed to close properly.

“They had to repair that before it left which meant the departure was slightly delayed and it arrived at Southampton at 10.30am today.

“This is just one of those things, it wasn’t a serious mechanical failure but something that had to be dealt with before it went to sea.”

He added: “We have no record of anyone complaining of this. They were advised of what the problem was.

“A small number of people have onward flights affected but we have amended all those arrangements on their behalf.”

The 150,000 tonne cruise liner, was struck by tragedy last year when 15 people were killed as a walkway being used by shipyard families collapsed in western France.

They were on a tour of the ship in the St Nazaire shipyard where the QM2 was built by Alstom Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

Also during sea trials, two women aged in their 60s broke their legs and had to be taken off the QM2 by the coastguard.

One had been injured getting on to the ship and the other while dancing.

The QM2 is more than twice the size of its predecessor, the Queen Elizabeth 2, and can carry up to 2,620 passengers.

Until now, luxury cruise ships could only carry between 200 and 600 passengers.

Stretching 1,132ft, nearly as long as four football fields, the QM2 offers the first planetarium at sea, a Veuve Clicquot champagne bar, Chanel and Dunhill shops and a “pillow concierge” offering nine kinds of pillows.

It also has 1,310 cabins which include four royal suites and six penthouses.

The standard cabins, at 194 sq ft, are the largest of any British-registered ship and 955 of the cabins have balconies.

Prices start from about £800 (€1,215) per person for six-night Transatlantic crossings, rising to as much as £15,000 (€22,790) per person for the most luxurious suites.