国内英语新闻:Cruise liner Queen Mary 2 makes first China call at Shanghai Port

SHANGHAI, Feb. 15 (Xinhua)-- The luxury ocean liner Queen Mary 2 arrived at the Port of Shanghai Monday afternoon, making its first port call in China since its maiden voyage in 2004.

The world's reputed cruise carrying about 2,500 passengers and 1,200 crew arrived at the port at 1:30 p.m., and would stay for about 10 hours before leaving for Nagasaki, Japan.

Queen Mary 2 was the largest luxury liner which ever made calls at the Port of Shanghai, marking the beginning of a peak of cruise arrivals at the host city of the 2010 World Expo.

Shanghai immigration officers had flown to Hong Kong, the previous destination of the cruise, to ensure that all passengers on board could go through necessary customs procedures earlier.

"So visitors on the ship would have enough time to have a peek of Chinese Lunar New Year's celebration in Shanghai," an immigration official said.

Queen Mary 2 is one of the world's largest, longest and most expensive luxury liners, which cost two years and one billion U.S. dollars to build.

The ship is 345 meters long, 72 meters high, and 41 meters wide with a cruise speed of 30 knots

The cruise is owned by the cruise line conglomerate Carnival Corporation.