An inaugural royal visit to the Port of Quebec October 3, 2011 The prestigious Cunard Line’s all-new cruise liner, the Queen Elizabeth, recently visited the Port of Quebec for the first time in its short but already famous history. Flying the British flag, the imposing 294-metre-long vessel with a gross register tonnage of 89,500 tonnes is the Cunard Line’s second biggest ship, just behind the Queen Mary II. Crédit photo: Quebec Port Authority The Queen Elizabeth, with a maximum capacity of 2,172 passengers, is about to undertake the final leg of a voyage that began September 12 in its homeport of Southampton, England. For some of the passengers on board, the adventure will have lasted 24 days, the duration of the complete circle tour that will take them back to Great Britain on October 6 when the ship returns home. “It is a real privilege to welcome such a prestigious cruise line as Cunard. When a Cunard liner is in port, the excitement can be felt all over town. I am also pleased to announce that the Cunard Line has already confirmed its presence at our wharves for next season,” said Mario Girard, president and CEO, Quebec Port Authority (QPA). The Cunard Line boasts a fleet of three cruise liners: the Queen Victoria, the Queen Mary II, and the Queen Elizabeth. This year the QPA welcomed two members of the Cunard trio, as in addition to the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mary II will be visiting Quebec City on Oct. 3. The international cruise industry on the St. Lawrence River generates direct economic spinoffs of nearly $80 million for the province of Quebec. The Port of Quebec recorded its best season ever in 2010, welcoming 102,274 passengers and nearly 35,000 crew members.