On January 12, 2004, the Queen Mary 2 inaugurated a new age in transatlantic cruising. This majestic ship-1,100 feet long, as tall as a 23-floor building, and weighing 160,000 tons-is the largest transatlantic liner ever built. Commissioned by the long-established and prestigious shipowner Cunard, the cruiser combines the classic Art Deco features of great liners from the past (the streamlined profile of the Normandy, the rounded facade and staggered back deck of the first Queen Mary) with the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly features available today.

In this beautiful volume of photographs, marine photographer Philip Plisson documents the building and inaugural voyage of the ship, from the cutting of the first sheet-iron plate in January 2002 to the Southampton-New York crossing two years later. More than 300 photographs are accompanied by an informative text that describes the design, construction, and mission of the Queen Mary 2, as well as the history of Cunard. This inside look at an extraordinary accomplishment in luxury transportation will have great appeal for all those interested in travel, transportation, and high-end design. AUTHOR BIO: Philip Plisson is a highly acclaimed marine photographer who in 1990 was admitted into the exclusive and historic group Peintres de la Marine (Official Painters of the French Navy). He has published 26 books in the past ten years, including Abrams' The Sea/Day by Day , The Sea: Exploring Life on an Ocean Planet , and The Sea . Gwen-Haël Denigot is a freelance journalist specializing in subjects relating to the sea. She is a regular contributor to science magazines.