THE FAMOUS Queen Mary 2 will once again stop on the banks of the River Mersey this summer.

Arriving in Liverpool at 8am on July 16 as part of a 14-night Northern Atlantic Westbound Crossing the Queen Mary 2 will depart at 8pm that same day heading to which Iceland, Canada and New York,

Cunard say they have introduced the Mersey stop after a high demand from customers.

In 2015, the Queen Mary 2 came to Liverpool with sister liners Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth to take part in the Three Queens event to celebrate 175 years of Cunard and its links with the region.

Founded in Liverpool, Cunard's first ship Britannia set sail from the city in 1840, inaugurating the first-ever regularly scheduled service across the Atlantic.

The company’s head office remained in Liverpool for 128 years until 1968.

Its magnificent former HQ forms part of the World Heritage-listed "Three Graces" along with the Royal Liver Building and the Port of Liverpool Building - defining one of the world’s most recognised skylines.

Cunard sales director Gary Anslow, said: “We are delighted to have added a Liverpool departure in response to trade demand.

"Quite a few partners in the region asked if we would create a Liverpool departure, given our historic ties with the city and the demand they have for local departures.

"We are now looking forward to working with the trade on selling this fantastic itinerary to their clients.”

In 2016, Cunard laid on a special Transatlantic crossing from Liverpool to Halifax Nova Scotia, Boston and New York in a voyage that sparked huge demand with with berths selling for us much as £15,500.

For more information about the Cunard's North Atlantic Westbound Crossing itinerary visit https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/M921/M921