IT will be a sight to remember, two of the most famous ocean-going liners in the world together in Southampton docks on the same day.

Cunard's 151,400-ton megaliner Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 will both be berthed in the port on Saturday, April 16, one of the rare occasions when the two mighty vessels are in the city's docks together.

Daily Echo readers will have the chance tomorrow to win exclusive tickets to be the guests of Cunard at the event.

Unusually, QM2, the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive passenger ship ever built, will be alongside the Mayflower Terminal in the Western Docks as QE2, which later this year celebrates the 36th anniversary of her maiden voyage from Southampton, will be moored at the normal Cunard position at 38/9 berth in the Eastern Docks.

It will be the first call to Southampton by the two liners this year after QM2 completes her winter season in the Caribbean and QE2 comes to the end of her 23rd annual world cruise. The high-spot of the day will take place soon after 5pm when QM2 slips her ropes at 106 berth before easing herself out into the port's main channel to sail close by QE2 when the two ships' whistles will blast out a salute to one another that will be heard right across the city.

Cunard spokesman Michael Gallagher said: "This will be a very special event and one that does not happen often so we hope as many people as possible will be lining the waterfront at Mayflower Park and Town Quay or on the other side of Southampton Water at Hythe and Marchwood on the day.

"Two Cunard queens passing one another will be a magnificent sight and we would like anybody who has a boat to be out on the water for a grandstand view of the sail-past and then follow QM2 down towards the Isle of Wight.''

Cunard has chartered a craft for VIP guests that will escort QM2 as she leaves the Western Docks to take up a position close to the port to watch the sail-past.

QM2 will be making her way out towards the open sea for the first of her westbound crossings of the ship's 2005 programme of scheduled passages from Southampton to New York, while QE2 is due to sail from the Eastern Docks at 5.45pm.

QE2 will be beginning a 13-night cruise that will take the 70,327-ton liner to Madeira, the Canary Islands, Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal.

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