Since the RMS Britannia crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 1840, bringing Sir Samuel Cunard into the spotlight, famous figures have become a common sight on Cunard ships.

Charles Dickens was one of the first passengers of the cruise line, and so great was the novelty of a transatlantic steamship service that Sir Samuel received more than 1000 dinner invitations after the inaugural voyage of Britannia.

The ships Umbria and Esturia of Cunard, presented in 1884, were the largest, fastest, and most elegant transatlantic liners of their time.

The Esturia had Winston Churchill as a passenger on several trips. Churchill was well known for his preference for sailing on Cunard's Queens, particularly on the Queen Mary, while President Eisenhower traveled to Europe aboard the Queen Elizabeth in 1951.

The ship was used as a hotel during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, with George H. W. Bush, Tony Blair, and Jacques Chirac staying aboard in Piraeus.

However, it is its famous transatlantic crossing between Europe and America that continues to attract most celebrities to the Queen Mary 2.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu traveled from Port Louis, Mauritius, to Cape Town, South Africa, aboard the Queen Mary 2 in 2010.
This trip had a similar importance to the 1998 voyage of the Queen Elizabeth 2 between Durban and Cape Town, when Nelson Mandela sailed on board.
In the ship's guestbook, he wrote: "Traveling on QE2 was an unforgettable honor and pleasure."

Elizabeth Taylor is just one of the many celebrities who developed a special love for Cunard ships, even boarding the Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s for her honeymoon. She traveled regularly on the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and later on the Queen Elizabeth 2.

Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, and Clark Gable are among the myriad of stars who have sailed on the already iconic Transatlantic Crossing, while comedian Bob Hope can boast of practicing his golf swing on the deck of the Queen Mary.

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from New York has always been a special occasion enjoyed by travelers of all backgrounds and origins.
When Walt Disney sailed with his family on the Queen Elizabeth, he would reserve a table for dinner by the windows to allow a perfect view of the Manhattan skyline as the ship departed the city.
Similarly, comedian John Cleese and actors Carrie Fisher and Jane Seymour are among the notable stars who have traveled on the Queen Mary 2.