In recently completing 35 years, six months and three days in service, Cunard 's Queen Elizabeth 2 has become the longest serving liner in the company's history, surpassing the Aquitania . The vessel has covered more than 5 million nautical miles, equivalent to sailing around the world 230 times, and has carried nearly 3 million passengers. Costing £29 million to build in the 1960s, Cunard has subsequently spent 15 times that amount on refits, refurbishing and re-engining a vessel which is expected to remain in service for many more years.