BREVARD HISTORY: Historic Ocean Liner QE2 Made Her Inaugural Visit to Port Canaveral in 1980

inaugural visit to Port was December 8, 1980

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – More than four decades ago, one of the most iconic ocean liners of the 20th century, the SS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), made history when she docked at Port Canaveral for the first time.

The date was December 8, 1980, and the sleek, towering Cunard liner berthed at what is now known as North Cargo Berth 2, marking a milestone moment in the Port’s growing reputation as a gateway for both cargo and cruise vessels.

The QE2, often described as “the last of the great transatlantic liners,” made her second visit to Port Canaveral on December 12, 1981, attracting international attention and local crowds eager to glimpse the British flagship. In the decades that followed, she would call at the Space Coast three more times, with her final visit in January 2001—just a few years before she retired from active service.

Originally launched in 1967, the Queen Elizabeth 2 was commissioned by the Cunard Line to replace the legendary Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. At the time of her debut, she symbolized luxury, speed, and technological advancement.

She also held a special place in maritime history as the last oil-fired passenger steamship to regularly cross the Atlantic in scheduled liner service. That distinction ended in 1986–87, when she underwent a major conversion to a modern diesel-electric propulsion system, extending her service life well into the 21st century.

During her nearly 40 years of service, QE2 carried more than 2.5 million passengers, completed over 800 transatlantic crossings, and logged more than 5.6 million nautical miles—the equivalent of sailing to the moon and back more than a dozen times.

While she began her career as a transatlantic liner between Southampton and New York, she later became a global cruise ship, undertaking annual world cruises that reinforced her reputation as a floating ambassador of British maritime excellence.

For Port Canaveral, her visits were more than ceremonial. They underscored the Port’s rise in prominence as a destination capable of welcoming the world’s most prestigious ships, a role it has since expanded as one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

After her retirement in 2008, the QE2 was sold to Dubai interests and is now permanently moored as a floating hotel, dining, and entertainment venue at Port Rashid, Dubai—a testament to her enduring legacy and timeless design.

Though her time in Port Canaveral waters was brief compared to her long career, the QE2 remains fondly remembered by maritime enthusiasts and Space Coast residents who witnessed her towering presence along Brevard County’s shoreline.

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