QM2 First Panama Canal Transit With Bill Miller

I spoke with author and lecturer William H. “Bill” Miller shortly after he stepped off Queen Mary 2 in San Francisco, at the end of a voyage that, even for him, stood out. A longtime maritime historian and Cunard lecturer, he had joined the ship in New York for the second leg of her world voyage.

This sailing marked not one, but two milestone moments for Queen Mary 2: her first full transit of the Panama Canal (a notable change of pace for a ship long associated with transatlantic crossings) and, days later, a rare meeting with the original Queen Mary in Los Angeles.

The structure of the sailing brought together passengers joining at different points along the voyage. By the time the ship departed New York, it carried a mix of travelers, some already a week into the 108-night, Southampton-to-Southampton westward circumnavigation of the globe.

Queen Mary 2 departs New York, one of her regular transatlantic gateways. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection — *Queen Mary 2* departs New York, one of her regular transatlantic gateways. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

“Your British passengers got on in Britain, sailed across, had a day in New York like a port of call,” Miller said.

There were about 2,400 passengers aboard his itinerary, he noted, with roughly 1,000 committed to the full world voyage. Many were repeat Cunard passengers, returning year after year and gradually recognizing familiar faces.

“They’re happy to go again,” he said, even if only for one port of call.

A Life Shaped by Ships

Miller’s perspective on the voyage is shaped by decades at sea, but it began much earlier. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey, within sight of Manhattan’s piers.

“As a kid, I would sit and watch the ships come and go,” he said. By the time he was 13, he had already taken his first voyage aboard the German liner Hanseatic.

That early fascination still shapes how he experiences a voyage. As part of Cunard’s enrichment program, Miller spends the voyage delivering lectures and talking with fellow passengers, a role he has held for decades.

Maritime historian Bill Miller presents onboard Queen Mary 2 as part of Cunard’s enrichment program. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection — Maritime historian William H. Miller presents onboard *Queen Mary 2* as part of Cunard’s enrichment program. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

His days on board are structured but varied, filled with activity but never rushed.

“It was a busy day,” he noted at one point during the voyage, describing a schedule that moved from lectures and gatherings to afternoon tea and evening entertainment.

The Day QM2 Entered the Canal

For Miller, the Panama Canal transit was one of the defining highlights of the voyage. In previous years, the ship would sail around South America for her world voyage.

“The voyage through the Canal was exciting and special,” he said. He described waking early that morning and heading straight to the decks, where passengers had already gathered.

Queen Mary 2 passes through the Panama Canal on her first full transit. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection — *Queen Mary 2* passes through the Panama Canal on her first full transit. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

“People love special occasions,” he said. “They love to be able to say on their next voyage, ‘Oh, I was on the Queen Mary when it went through the Canal for the first time.’”

As the ship moved through the locks, the scale of the experience became clear.

He described the Canal as a display of “engineering genius and might,” unfolding slowly as the ship passed through each stage.

Passengers remained on deck for hours, following the transit from start to finish.

Bill Miller appears on Queen Mary 2’s onboard broadcast during her 2026 world voyage. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection — Bill Miller appears on *Queen Mary 2’*s onboard broadcast during her 2026 world voyage. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

For Miller, even the logistics added another layer of interest. He noted that the toll for Queen Mary 2’s transit was about $650,000—rising to roughly $1.1 million with additional fees—which works out to around $400 per passenger.

“When the QE2 went through in 1975, it was about $75,000,” he said. “We love that kind of little added cachet to things.”

Queens Meet in Los Angeles

Later in the voyage, the second defining moment of this segment unfolded in Southern California. Queen Mary 2 called at Long Beach, where the original Queen Mary remains permanently docked.

He described the occasion as “grand and gala,” with whistles sounding across the harbor as ships gathered.

“This year, the Queen Mary 2 nosed its way in even closer than it did 20 years ago,” he said.

From the decks, passengers could see both ships at once.

“Then you had a comparison of a ship built in 1936… to the modern Queen Mary 2,” he said.

Queen Mary 2 meets the original Queen Mary in Long Beach during a rare “two Queens” moment. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection — *Queen Mary 2* meets the original *Queen Mary* in Long Beach during a rare “two Queens” moment. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

For many onboard, it became another defining moment.

“They love to be able to say, ‘I was there,’” he said.

For Miller, that is what continues to define Cunard after decades at sea.

“Cunard is living history for me,” he said. “It’s the great connector.”

Bill Miller visits the original Queen Mary in Long Beach during Queen Mary 2’s historic world voyage. Courtesy of the William H. Miller Collection

When I mentioned that my friend Jodi would soon be sailing a transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2—a trip she had long hoped to take—I asked what advice he would offer.

His answer was simple.

“Go to the lectures,” he said. “They enhance the voyage.”

Beyond this segment, Queen Mary 2 continues west across the Pacific, calling in destinations including Sydney and Singapore. The 108-night voyage concludes in Southampton on April 29, 2026.