IT promises to be an unmissable sight, and one Southampton has never seen before or will ever see again, when all three Cunard "Queen'' liners gather together in the city tomorrow.

For one day only the Cunard fleet of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the legendary, Queen Elizabeth 2 will be in their home port at the same time for a historic meeting never to be repeated again.

QM2 and Queen Victoria have many long years in front of them but QE2's career, spanning more than 40 years as the most famous ship in the world, is nearing the end as on Tuesday, November 11 she will leave Southampton on her last voyage.

The liner has been bought by the Middle East state of Dubai where the Cunarder is to be converted into a luxury floating hotel and tourist attraction.

In the coming months the liners' different schedules mean this will be the first and last opportunity for Southampton, so long the centre for the Cunard fleet, to witness the three Queens side by side.

Noisy exchange At about 5pm the vast QM2 will slip her mooring ropes and move away from the city's Eastern Docks before manoeuvring to position herself near QE2 and Queen Victoria, both berthed in the Western Docks.

After a noisy exchange of deep blasts from the ships' whistles, QM2 will make her way down Southampton Water and set a course for a six-night, transatlantic crossing to New York. Queen Victoria is then due to depart for a ten-night cruise to the Canary Islands while QE2 remains at berth 105 for a ten-day maintenance period in readiness for her last summer season of voyages.

Last January the three liners did meet up in New York for what was then thought to be the only time they would be together but a change in QE2's programme meant that the trio of ships are now able to salute each other one last time in Southampton where a large crowd is expected at Mayflower Park for a grandstand view of the unique event.

In 2010 the Cunard fleet will again boast three ships as the company's next vessel, to be named Queen Elizabeth, enters service in the port of Southampton.