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Fireworks to Mark Meeting of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth Ships

Free admission to the Queen Mary and fireworks will celebrate the meeting of the two vessels.

A fireworks celebration will mark the meeting of the historic R.M.S. Queen Mary with the modern day version of her counterpart, the Queen Elizabeth, in Long Beach Harbor March 12.

According to organizers, the March 12 "royal rendezvous" will mark the first time the two ships have ever met. However, the two vessels, at least in name, have a long history together. 

In the height of transatlantic ocean travel, the Queen Mary would regularly pass the original version of the Queen Elizabeth as the two ships crossed the Atlantic Ocean in opposite directions. The last time a meeting occurred between the two was on September 25, 1967, organizers said. 

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"This wonderful oceanic interlude was relished by passengers, captains and crew alike for there was no finer sight than to witness the largest and most beautiful ships of the ere in their natural element," Cunard, the cruise line that owns the Queen Elizabeth said in a release.

The event is also not the first time the Queen Mary has been visited by other Cunard Line ships.

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In the 1980s, the Cunard Princess visited the Queen Mary and in 2006, Cunard's flagship, the Queen Mary 2 paid a visit as well. In 2011, the Queen Victoria also made a stop in Long Beach Harbor.

The arrival of the 90,000 ton modern day Queen Elizabeth on March 12 will be celebrated with a free fireworks show beginning at 7:30 p.m. In addition, free admission to the Queen Mary will be offered from 4-9 p.m. to offer spectators a chance to witness the meetup.

The Queen Elizabeth is expected to arrive in port at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit the event's official website.


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