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Work begins on the world's longest, widest, tallest, most expensive passenger ship
Construction has begun on the £550m Queen Mary 2, the largest passenger ship in history.
Being built in St Nazaire, France, Cunard's new flagship will be 1132ft long, have 19 decks and a capacity of 3,090 passengers.
The 150,000 ton ship will boast 1,310 cabins, 30 of which are specially equipped for diabled passengers. Six penthouses will be 570sq ft and receive butler service, while five duplex apartments of over 1,650sq ft come with their own gyms.
The four Forward Suites can also be combined to make one suite of over 5,000sq ft.
As well as featuring five swimming pools, QM2 will boast a 20,000sq ft Canyon Ranch SpaClub health club, with a fitness centre, Finnish sauna and steam room as well as massage and skin care treatment rooms.
Sports facilities offered on deck include a basketball court, putting green, two golf simulators, quoits, table tennis and paddle tennis.
The ship will also boast the world's only ocean-going planetarium, Illuminations, in which hundreds of images and special effects re-create 'the marvels of the cosmos'. Illuminations can also be used as a West End-style cinema, to show films and virtual reality movies such as a roller coaster ride; a 500-seat lecture hall and a broadcasting studio.
A two-level, 251-capacity nightclub, G32, is named after QM2's build number.
Cunard ConneXions offers seven classrooms where passengers can take seminars and workshops, with two of the rooms dedicated to computer learning centres.
QM2's maiden voyage will be between its home port of Southampton and Fort Lauderdale, Florida leaving on 12 January 2004. Details: www.cunard.co.uk