The first of the class entered service in 2001 as Zuiderdam, followed by Oosterdam in 2003. At that moment, also the announcement was made that the ship that would be built for Cunard would be finished for P&O as their fourth Arcadia. Cunard Line wanted their next 'ocean liner' to be more diverse from this class and a new ship was ordered for Cunard that would be based on the Vista design, but would be bigger and more different then the others. So, the Queen Victoria that would set sail some years later could also be named Queen Victoria 2 (just joking).
On the 15th of januari 2007 the newly designed ship sailed out of the dock where she was built. Her trials were set for August and these were satisfactory enough so that she could be delivered to Cunard at the 24th of november.
To go a little bit back in history is a good way to see that this is the first time that a Cunard Queen is delivered the way it was planned. The Queen Mary's building was announced in 1930 and she was supposed to be delivered in 1934. The building of the ship went smoothly at first and her launchdate was set at may 1932. But because of the economic depression of the early 1930's, work was halted. There was no paint available and the workforce of John Brown was laid off.
At the 3rd of april 1934 work could be restarted after the merger of Cunard and White Star, because some more cash was available. The ship was launched at the 26th of september 1934, two years later then originally planned.
The second Queen, Queen Elizabeth, was another story. Due to the outbreak of the second world war the ship was incomplete and hurried out of dock to avoid enemy bombings. She had no official sea trials, because she went to New York for safety as soon as she got out of the dock. Her trials were carried out after her heroic warduties in 1946, six years after her unexpected launch. Her first peacetime voyage started at october 16th 1946.
Queen Elizabeth 2 would originally be delivered in may 1968, but because of labour troubles the contract was almost cancelled when the ship was nearly complete. The ship was finally launched at the 20th of september 1967 and her new completion date was november 1968. Because of serious engine trouble at her trials, Cunard refused delivery in december 1968. All her four maiden voyages were cancelled. Her maiden voyage started at the 1st of may 1969, when all problems were solved. She was one year delayed.
Finally, Queen mary 2. She was delived at the right time, but not without problems. At her trials, she lost a door that was placed in front of her bow thrusters. Also, at a special day when wharfworkers and their families visitied the ship, the 15th of november 2003, a gangway collapsed and 15 people were killed when they fell 20 meters down to the concrete floor of the drydock.
