Aquitania Celebrating Cunard's Most Beautiful Ship 100 Years After Her Maiden Voyage : Liverpool to New York

THE largest liner in the world at the time of her maiden voyage from Liverpool on May 30, 1914, Aquitania is considered one of the most beautiful liners ever built, and certainly the most beautiful four-funnelled liner ever.

Known as the 'Ship Beautiful', she became one of the longest-serving Cunarders in history - 36 years - and was one of the few big ships which saw service through both World Wars, being converted into a troop ship in 1915 and carrying 30,000 men to the Dardanelles. Winston Churchill credited her and the two Cunard Queens - Mary and Elizabeth - with shortening the Second World War by a year.

By the time she went for scrap in February 1950 she had steamed nearly three million miles and carried more than one million passengers. To celebrate the centenary of this legendary superliner, Cunard's Queen Victoria will sail back into Liverpool on May 29, 2014.

It will be her first two-day call to the city - regarded as Cunard Line's spiritual home - in almost 50 years. Queen Victoria will call at Liverpool during a 13-night Around the British Isles cruise. Each visit of a Cunard ship to the Mersey is reason to celebrate and this occasion will be no exception.

Liverpool will also host one of the biggest World War One ommemorative events in the summer of 2014, which is expected to attract visitors in their thousands. Written by Peter Elson, the Liverpool ECHO's award-winning maritime journalist, this magazine will feature stunning photographs and reveal fascinating stories behind this legendary ocean liner, as well as personal memories and rare artefacts from the archives. The departure of Aquitania 100 years ago is something to be proud of, particularly as one of Liverpool's heritage treasures, The Cunard Building, awaits a new lease of life as the city's new cruise terminal in 2015.

This 84-page magazine special is certain to appeal to all those interested in the past, present and future of a great maritime city.