QE2 surrenders cup to QM2

SOUTHAMPTON, England, May 1 (UPI) -- Britain's iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner surrendered her flagship status Saturday to the newly launched Queen Mary 2.

British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, once a steward on the Cunard Line, attended a ceremony in Southampton as Master Captain Ian McNaught handed over the Boston Cup to QM2 Master Commodore Ron Warwick before invited guests.

The cup was given by U.S. citizens to Cunard founder Samuel Cunard in Boston after his 1840 Liverpool to Boston crossing in the vessel Britannia -- the first scheduled steamship transatlantic crossing.

The QE2, which has held the flagship title for 35 years, departed from New York along with the QM2 last week, amid pomp and ceremony culminating in a firework display.

The sister vessels kept close together as they sailed across the Atlantic, before arriving Saturday morning at their home port of Southampton.

The 150,000-ton QM2 is the largest and most expensive ocean liner in history.

The QE2 will get a refit in Germany and then continue to cruise.