THE world’s largest liner made her first visit to Guernsey yesterday. At about four football fields long and 17 decks high, Queen Mary 2 dwarfed the dozens of local boats which sailed out for a closer look and caught the eye of many islanders in St Peter Port.

The cruise was fully booked with about 2,600 mostly British passengers, who had paid between £499 and £9,000 for their holiday, depending on their standard of accommodation. Some 1,321 international crew were on board the £550m. vessel to look after them.

The four-day Flavour of France cruise was the first one catering for the UK market and started in Southampton on Monday, arriving in Guernsey at 7am yesterday. Tenders ferried guests ashore to explore the island independently from the morning until late afternoon before leaving for Cherbourg at about 6pm.

Various excursions have been organised in Cherbourg and the city centre has been decked out in a 1930s style. All the town’s hotels are full with people to welcome the boat and 10,000 lights will be flashed to bid farewell to the vessel.

Port agent Isle of Sark Shipping yesterday invited a small group of local guests on-board, including the St Peter Port constables and Tourist Board and Harbour Authority representatives.

Deputy Judy Beaugeard presented Commodore Warwick with a plaque on behalf of the constables, which will be placed behind the steering position, in a traditional exchange of gifts for the vessel’s first visit to the port.

Commodore Warwick said that they were very pleased to be here.

‘It’s very special to come to a port for the first time,’ he said.

But while it was the Queen Mary’s first visit, Commodore Warwick has been in local waters many times in his 34 years with Cunard, including as commodore of the QE2.

Tourist Board president Geoff Norman presented the commodore with Guernsey’s maritime flag, which will be raised when the vessel is in local waters.

‘The cruise line business is a very important element of the trade. Passengers come here to have a taster and want to come back at some stage, enjoying the benefits they can have in Guernsey – and Guernsey can benefit from them too.’

Both deputies received a plaque from Cunard.

With the cruise being in the Easter holidays it attracted younger passengers than normal, including families and an usually high number of children – about 120, who were entertained by five youth staff in their own play zone. Passengers could enjoy West End productions featuring Rada actors in the 1,100-seat theatre, a planetarium, cinema, the largest ballroom at sea, a 360-degree promenade deck, five swimming pools, numerous restaurants and bars, a spa and health club and shops.

Although the QM2 arrived on time in Guernsey, passengers had a five-hour delay embarking in Southampton. This was due to a technical problem with the bow-thruster doors which occurred in Lisbon on the previous voyage, which had begun in Fort Lauderdale.

But passengers Alan and Katrina Jones, 41 and 37 respectively, from Southampton, said that the staff were trying very hard to make up for the delay.

The couple had already visited Guernsey on previous cruises but took the tender over to visit Castle Cornet.

‘We’re coming back in two weeks’ time on the Coronia. Guernsey is very nice and has very friendly people,’ said Mrs Jones, a programmer.

Another couple, Glynne and Lilian Jones, both 76 and from Swansea, had been to Guernsey by air about 25 years ago for their silver wedding anniversary and enjoyed it, especially the bluebell walk.

‘But I doubt we’ll go onshore because I’ve had a hip replacement,’ said Mrs Jones.

The QM2, which made its maiden voyage on 12 January, is not due to return to the island this year.

Its next sailing is its inaugural trip to New York on 16 April.