The July 4th festivities featured an International Parade of Sail, where 47 tall ships from 20 nations navigated from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. Beyond the parade, the event included an International Naval Review of 37 allied vessels and an expansive military flypast led by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. NBC’s TODAY broadcast live from the decks of the Queen Mary 2, capturing the spectacle for a national audience.

This year’s celebration carried specific weight for Cunard, as July 4th coincides with the anniversary of the company’s first transatlantic crossing in 1840. Since the arrival of the Hibernia in 1847, the cruise line has maintained a continuous presence in the Port of New York, a duration unmatched by any other carrier. Cunard President Katie McAlister noted that the ship’s participation honored both the maritime heritage of the city and the company’s long-standing connection to American immigration history.