[Ian]

Cunard's newest transatlantic liner embarked on it's maiden voyage on January 10th on a 14 day voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Built at a cost of more than 1 billion dollars, the QM2 has been described as a luxury liner on steroids. It is the longest, tallest, widest and most expensive passenger ship ever built and inherits the elegant mantle of distinction worn for the past 35 years by her aging sister ship, the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. Like the QE2, the QM2 isn't named directly for a monarch; the digit it is the second vessel to carry the name. Ocean travellers can expect new standards of luxury. The ship houses 300 works of art (said to be worth 5 million dollars) , a planetarium, 5 swimming pools, a great ceremonial atrium and main staircases and the largest library afloat.