Vintage photos show the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship in its heyday during the 1960s and 1970s

Erin McDowellJan 14, 2024, 06:55 IST

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was a marvel of modern cruising and interior design when it launched its maiden voyage in May 1969.Bettmann/Getty Images; Nik Wheeler/Corbis/Getty Images

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was a luxury cruise liner launched in 1967.
When it completed its maiden voyage in 1969, the QE2 was a marvel of modern cruising and design.

Named for Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship is remembered as one of the most luxurious ships to ever sail the sea.

The ship was launched on September 20, 1967, by Queen Elizabeth herself, and it completed her maiden voyage the following year.

Here's a look back at what the Queen Elizabeth 2 looked like when it first launched and during its heyday during the 1960s and '70s.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was a British ocean liner and cruise ship that set new standards in luxury travel.

The QE2 is launched on September 20, 1967, at John Brown's yard, Clydebank, Scotland.TOPIX (Thompson)/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

While flying was becoming an increasingly popular way to travel, cruising was still a way to cross the Atlantic for many people.

The QE2 is launched on September 20, 1967, at John Brown's yard, Clydebank, Scotland.TOPIX (Thompson)/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

The ship was named after Queen Elizabeth II, who attended its launch.

Queen Elizabeth II and John Rannie attend the launching of the Queen Elizabeth 2.Hulton-Deutsch/Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images

The ship completed her full maiden voyage in May 1969, after her maiden voyage in December 1968 was cut short due to turbine trouble.

Queen Elizabeth 2 Sailing out of New York Harbor in 1967.Bettmann/Getty Images

Designed by Dennis Lennon, the ship's interiors were perfectly in keeping with the funky, modern design styles of the 1960s.

The interior of the Queen's Room on the QE2 liner in 1969.Keystone/Getty Images

Cruise liners like the QE2 set a new standard for luxury travel.

Passengers in the VIP lounge aboard the QE2 luxury liner in 1969.Michael Stroud/Express/Getty Images

There were multiple restaurants on board the QE2, including the Britannia Restaurant, which is still on board the ship today, and the Columbia Restaurant.

A 1968 reconstruction of a table setting found in the Britannia Restaurant on board the Cunard ship the Queen Elizabeth II.Fox Photos/Getty Images

Many celebrities sailed on the QE2 during the height of its fame.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor leaving the QE2, circa 1970.Art Zelin/Getty Images

By the 1970s, many of the modernist, space-age-inspired furnishings of '60s were replaced with simpler styles.

Interior view showing one of the cabin living rooms aboard the luxury passenger liner QE2 in 1975.WATFORD/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

The cabins were still luxurious and spacious, but not as striking as they were when the ship first launched.

Interior view showing one of the cabin living rooms aboard the luxury passenger liner QE2 in 1975.WATFORD/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

In the early 1970s, some of the ship's lounge areas were turned into restaurants and a casino in order to be more lucrative for the ship's owners.

Passengers dine aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship in 1975.Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

In 1975, the QE2 set sail from Southampton on her first world cruise.

A male tourist sits in a chair with his feet up in a stateroom aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship in 1975.Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

While the ship looks drastically different than many modern, luxury cruise lines of today, it still gave its passengers plenty of space to lounge, relax, and soak up the sun.

The pool deck of the QE2.Nik Wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images

While the ship looks drastically different than many modern, luxury cruise lines of today, it still gave its passengers plenty of space to lounge, relax, and soak up the sun.

In April 1982, the QE2 was briefly used as a troopship to carry members of the British military to the Falkland Islands during the war with Argentina.

The helipad on board the Queen Elizabeth 2, which had been requisitioned as a British troopship during the Falklands War in May 1982.JDHC Archive/Getty Images

Throughout her life as an operating cruise liner, the QE2 traveled more than 6 million miles and carried more than 2.5 million passengers.

Passengers relax on the aft deck of the Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship while leaving the port of New York City, New York, 1975.Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Interior designers share 14 of the worst trends they saw this year, so far

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Vintage photos show the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship in its heyday during the 1960s and 1970s

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was a British ocean liner and cruise ship that set new standards in luxury travel.

While flying was becoming an increasingly popular way to travel, cruising was still a way to cross the Atlantic for many people.

The ship was named after Queen Elizabeth II, who attended its launch.

The ship completed her full maiden voyage in May 1969, after her maiden voyage in December 1968 was cut short due to turbine trouble.

Designed by Dennis Lennon, the ship's interiors were perfectly in keeping with the funky, modern design styles of the 1960s.

Cruise liners like the QE2 set a new standard for luxury travel.

There were multiple restaurants on board the QE2, including the Britannia Restaurant, which is still on board the ship today, and the Columbia Restaurant.

Many celebrities sailed on the QE2 during the height of its fame.

By the 1970s, many of the modernist, space-age-inspired furnishings of '60s were replaced with simpler styles.

The cabins were still luxurious and spacious, but not as striking as they were when the ship first launched.

In the early 1970s, some of the ship's lounge areas were turned into restaurants and a casino in order to be more lucrative for the ship's owners.

In 1975, the QE2 set sail from Southampton on her first world cruise.

While the ship looks drastically different than many modern, luxury cruise lines of today, it still gave its passengers plenty of space to lounge, relax, and soak up the sun.

In April 1982, the QE2 was briefly used as a troopship to carry members of the British military to the Falkland Islands during the war with Argentina.

Throughout her life as an operating cruise liner, the QE2 traveled more than 6 million miles and carried more than 2.5 million passengers.