The boat train pulls slowly into its special platform alongside the Ocean Dock, and disgorges its load of excited passengers. For many travellers from England, the journey to New York has already begun in London, at Waterloo Station, from whence the Queen Mary Special has carried them swiftly and effortlessly to within a few yards of the ship that is to take them across the Atlantic. As they spill out on to the platform, clutching their hand luggage, the thought uppermost in every mind is to obtain their first glimpse of the "Queen Mary" about which they have read and heard so much.

The effect of this moment is invariably the same, a sudden though temporary pause in the excited chatter as the huge bulk of the ship comes into view. The "Queen Mary" dominates her surroundings. She towers over the large transit sheds and dwarfs the many dockside cranes, reducing the railway lines and rolling stock to Lilliputian proportions. Not only the height of her black painted hull and white superstructure, but her length also, quite takes the breath away. It seems impossible to believe that such an enormous structure is actually afloat and is capable of moving at high speed through the water.

As passengers hurry towards the ship, the bustle and excitement on the quay increases. Stewards dressed in their new "Queen Mary" uniforms trundle large trolleys loaded with piles of expensive looking luggage towards the ship, each suitcase and trunk proudly displaying special "Queen Mary" labels bearing a picture of the ship, and giving information as to the owner's identity, cabin number, deck and class.

There are several covered gangways sloping gently up from the quay to shipside doors, their white canvas sides proclaiming the hardly necessary information that this is indeed the R.M.S. "Queen Mary". Footsteps automatically quicken as these gangways come into view. Pursers in smart uniforms stand at the foot of the gangways, smiling a welcome and checking tickets. At the top of the drugget carpeted, canvas-covered tunnels, a further welcome awaits.

Here you step into a different world, a new world. A world of luxury, of friendly service, in which for the next four and a half days, everything will be provided, and your only thought will be to enjoy yourself. Your immediate surroundings are panelled in fine woods, close carpeted and brilliantly lit, a foyer of which any luxury hotel would be proud. Helpful and friendly officials direct you to the lifts which will take you to your stateroom, stewards relieve you of the need to carry anything, and already you begin to get the feeling that you are the most important passenger Cunard has ever had the pleasure of serving.