On 27 May 1936, Queen Mary began her maiden voyage: Southampton-Cherbourg-New York.
She arrived in New York at Pier 90 in New York on 1 June at 4:20 p.m. Her crossing time (Bishop Rock to Ambrose Light Ship) was 5 days, 5 hours and 13 minutes–pretty fast (particularly by today’s standards), but not a record. Actually, Queen Mary wouldn’t capture the Blue Riband until August, when she crossed from Bishop Rock to Ambrose in 4 days 0 hours 27 minutes, taking the prize from French Line’s Normandie.
Normandie would recapture the Blue Riband the following year. But in August 1938, Queen Mary would again snatch the Riband away from Normandie, completing her journey in only 3 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes. This record would last until 1952, when United States became the last liner to win the Blue Riband, traveling at a pace of 3 days, 12 hours, 12 minutes.
Queen Mary lives today in stately retirement in Long Beach, Calif. She likes to receive friends and would appreciate a visit from you.
