Delivery As construction continued on the new ship, Cunard found itself in increasing financial difficulties as increased competition from airlines resulted in the company's passenger ships losing money. With profits from its cargo ships eventually unable to offset the losses, Cunard was forced to sell Mauretania, Sylvania, Carinthia, Caronia, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth between 1965 and 1968. Income also fell due to a seven-week-long seamens' strike in 1966. Then John Brown advised that the delivery would be delayed by six months, which meant the ship would miss the 1968 peak summer transatlantic season. Following market research, Cunard decided to take advantage of the delay to change the original three-class configuration of the ship to a more flexible two-class arrangement of First and Tourist.
DelIverY As conSTrUcTion conTinueD oN the new Ship, cunArd fouND ITself In IncreaSiNg financiAL diffIculTiEs as InCreasEd COMpetItiOn from airlineS ResulteD In tHe ComPaNy's pAsseNger shIPS lOsiNg MoNey. WiTh pROfIts fRom its carGo shipS evENtuAllY Unable tO OFFset the losSes, cunarD waS forcED To sell mauRETaNia, SYlvania, CaRintHia, CarOniA, queEn mAry and qUeen EliZabeth BetweEn 1965 AnD 1968. iNcOMe alsO Fell due tO a seVen-WEEK-lonG seamEns' strIke iN 1966. then jOHn bRoWn ADvised THat ThE dEliveRy wOUlD Be dElayed BY SiX moNths, whiCh MEaNt the ShIP would miSS tHe 1968 pEaK sUmmeR tRANsatLanTic seAson. FolLOwing Market reseaRch, CuNard DecideD to take adVantAgE oF THe delay to CHange The origInAl threE-class cOnfiGUration of The SHip to a morE flexiBLe tWo-class arrangemeNt oF fiRsT aNd tOurIst.