Finally. Plans to turn QE2 into a luxury hotel in Dubai going ahead.

Finally Cunard's iconic ship Queen Elizabeth 2 will have a life after her retirement. Plans have been announced to turn the ship into a hotel.


The QE2 after many years languishing in Dubai after the Financial Crisis scuppered plans that the buyer, who had paid $100 million for the ship, originally had for the ship are being revisited. A formal announcement was made today (2 July 2012).

PORT RASHID TO BE NEW PERMANENT HOME OF QE2, DUBAI MARITIME MUSEUM PLANNED

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 2, 2012:- Istithmar World, DP World and the QE2 management today (July 2) announced the iconic QE2 is to have a permanent home at the heart of Port Rashid, the hub of cruising in the Middle East.

The vessel will be moored next to the original cruise terminal at Port Rashid and converted into a 300 room luxury hotel, with top quality lifestyle facilities, while the terminal itself will be developed into a maritime museum.

Once converted, the QE2 will once again display the ship’s collection of art works and other historical assets acquired during nearly four decades as one of the world’s leading ocean-going cruise liners.

The 293-metre long vessel, which in its heyday could accommodate more than 2,900 people, together with the connected maritime museum, will be a leading tourist attraction at Port Rashid and add further to the attractions it offers as the leading cruise destination in the Middle East. DP World has been expanding Port Rashid’s capacity to cater for the growing demand for cruise tourism.

HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Istithmar World, said:
“The QE2 will be at the heart of Dubai in its permanent position at Port Rashid and contribute to the growth of Dubai as the city continues to develop and expand as a top tourist destination. The vessel is truly iconic and has a huge following around the world. Our vision is to enhance the facilities on board but retain the very strong sense of history that is a fundamental part of her attraction. Having the QE2 moored as a floating, top class hotel, right on the waterfront in the centre of Dubai, will also add further life and activity to the surrounding area.”

Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region said:
“We are delighted that the QE2 will be the centrepiece of Port Rashid. Together with the planned Maritime Museum, it reinforces Port Rashid and Dubai’s status as a leading cruise and maritime tourism destination. We are excited about the potential for Port Rashid to further develop as a tourist destination in its own right.”

Leili Gerami, Spokesperson and Project Director, QE2, said:
“Even in its retirement the QE2’s majestic profile continues to attract much attention and there is considerable interest and enthusiasm for the next phase of her long life. It is our desire to tap into the continued public fascination for the great passenger

liner and its amazing history as a cruise ship with unrivalled luxury, style and prestige. We believe the hotel on board the QE2 will be one of the finest anywhere.”

She added that the museum and redevelopment of the QE2 are expected to be completed within 18 months. In the meantime, the QE2 will continue to operate as an exciting venue for exclusive events. 

Want to read more, check these articles:

• Wall Street Journal Report on the Press Conference
• Southampton Echo

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CUNARD QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 IN DUBAI. VIDEO TAKEN FEBRUARY 2010 SHOWING SHIP IN GOOD CONDITION

CUNARD QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 IN DUBAI. VIDEO TAKEN FEBRUARY 2010 SHOWING SHIP IN GOOD CONDITION

QE2 QUEEN ELIZABETH REVIEW, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

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I was looking though some old reviews and postings that I had not yet put on this blog, and came across this one from an amazing crossing on the now retired QE2...


This was our first time on the QE2. We had booked the winter transatlantic crossing as we wanted to both experience the QE2, and also a crossing on this ship. Now that the QM2 is doing the regular crossings now, our only chance was this one which is the first leg of the 2005 World Cruise.


We were in Queen's Grill in 8006, which is a Q2 Penthouse Suite. The crossing (as was winter)was rough at the beginning, which meant the ship was quiet for the first few days as many people stayed in their cabins feeling ill!


As many people have done reviews on this historic ship, I thought I woudl post some of our thoughts and observations:


GOOD:


· The experience of being on the QE2 and being part of the history. Being on a winter trans-atlantic crossing was a great adventure to have done. Highly recommended!


· It was a fabulous experience. Even with the rough weather at the start (which I am sure the QE2 weathered better than any other ship could have). I am so pleased to have done it. It is definitely an experience versus just another trip.


· The "Queens Grill" experience, especially as we did in Q2, is very special. The restaurant is beautiful, the food amazing, the service outstanding. The pampering by the 3 butlers good. Having the Queens Grill Lounge to retreat to is quiet and handy, especially at tea time.


· Our cabin (8006 on the penthouse signal deck level with balcony) was tastefully decorated, and very cosy at night. It is a good size at 350 square feet. It was (however) noisy as it creaked a lot in the rough weather, and the air conditioning was noisy. The people next door did not get much sleep for those 2 reasons. They were added as prefab units and that is possibly why.


· The ship on the outside is glorious. It looks stylish from a distance in spite of the age (35 years). On the decks it looks great with the teak decks, levels at the back. I really enjoyed being out on deck watching the QE2 ploughing through the sea. It was always quiet out on deck and so you had it pretty much to yourself!


· There are some beautiful internal rooms that are classics and hold their own in spite of their age, like the Queens Lounge, Queens Grill Restaurant, bookshop and library, Yacht club bar and the Midships lounge.


· The staff on the QE2 make a real effort to treat you well, get to know what you like and you do feel like individuals even though there are around 1200 of you on board. We both felt we had got to know the people we came in contact with a lot (the room butlers, restaurant staff), and that they had taken care to understand what we liked.


· The gym facilities are good and the equipment modern. It is a good size and was never too busy (although the rough weather may have helped that!)


LESS GOOD


· Most of the ship inside looks dated, and does not have as much style and glamour of a "by-gone age" that the brochures and the image conjures up. It comes as something as a surprise at just how old fashioned an impression you get on entering the ship and seeing the decks like one and two deck which look like an old hotel, and then the stairwells with their red carpets and paintings of the royals etc. We had watched videos and read books and so it was less of a surprise, if we had not I think we would have been almost thrown by it. After a while you appreciate its look and style more, but it must be a shock for people (like the ones sitting at the table next to us) who had not researched the ship before coming.


· The ship is clearly in (sadly) in the twilight years. There were often signs of her aging, such as towels around leaking windows to the deck, chairs with signs of threadbare arms, sun faded portraits, outdated and pretty rowdy air conditioning and unpredictable plumbing (hot water from the cold and toilet problems on the entire penthouse for a full day). You tend to take them for granted and as part of what the QE2 is, but it does flag up the fact that the QE2 is nearing the end of her time. A fact even the crew acknowledge.


· It was much more "Butlin's Holiday Camp" than we had expected. We had expected based on the advertising and the image that one has of Cunard and the QE2 a different kind of passenger to other cruise ships. The program of events and related entertainment was much more bingo, karaoke, pub quiz kind of stuff than we had expected. We had fun doing them (of course!) but had expected more variety based on the wide cross section of people the QE2 attracts. The people at the table next to us complained there was nothing for them to do, as they did not like the bingo, etc stuff.


· It was older passenger wise, and the entertainment was (therefore) biased that way. The music quiz for example full of questions about 1950s singers and nothing from after the 70s!! I think though that this may be more driven by the cruise entertainment team than what the passengers would be happy with!


· Some of the facilities and rooms are very badly in need of some change. The shops were not so good. Very dated in design and not very inspiring merchandise. I had expected an amazing Cunard branded shop, but there was not a lot to excite and we struggled to buy mementos for friends at home. The spa was very shabby.


The ship is working out its last years. And I think you can feel it.


The regulations coming into force mean the QE2 cannot sail much past 2007 without a massive change to the inside. The inside - in addition to the regulations about wood etc - would really need such a massive job to make it relevant both in features and design for the new generation of cruise and crossing passengers. Something Cunard with the QM2 and the Victoria coming in 2007 are unlikely to do.


But in spite of the comments, I want to stress that we had a glorious and fabulous time. The QE2 is fantastic. Going on the QE2 on a winter transatlantic was amazing. You feel you are taking part in a real travel experience. It was such an amazing and pampered 6 days.


Would we go on the QE2 again? Yes! Although we are likely to go on the QM2 first to try that out and compare that first! But we will be back on the QE2 before her final days!!!


See all my photos from the crossing on Flickr: click here


PHOTOS OF THE SUITE WE STAYED IN

Queens Grill Suite 8006 on QE2

Queens Grill Suite 8006 on QE2

VIDEOS SHOWING HOW ROUGH THE SEA WAS ON THE CROSSING:




WATCH A SLIDESHOW OF ALL MY PHOTOS OF THE CROSSING

Qe2 Transatlantic 2004 Slideshow: Gary’s trip to Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom was created by TripAdvisor. See another Southampton slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

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CHRIS FRAME, HIS PASSION FOR CUNARD AND HIS CUNARD BOOKS

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Through my interest in Cunard, some years ago I came across sites that a chap called Chris Frame had developed. They were packed with information and passion and started following the work he was doing.


He has recently started to also write books about Cunard ships, which are excellent. So I asked him to write a post about his interest in Cunard and the books, and here is what he wrote for the blog:


My interest in Cunard and Ocean Liners started when at age 11 I stepped aboard QE2 for the first time. We took a short cruise from Auckland to Sydney and I was hooked. Even at that young age I was fascinated by the history and prestige of that magnificent ship and the company that owned her.


Over the years my interest grew and in 1999 I launched “Chris’ Cunard Page” as a small website about QE2 and Caronia. The website has since grown to cover the three modern Queens as well as QE2, the original Mary and Elizabeth and every major Cunarder from Britannia to Royal Viking Sun.


In 2007 I sailed aboard QM2 from San Francisco to Sydney and during the voyage discussed with Bill Miller a idea for a photographic QE2 book, a sort of Photographic Tour through the ship. In fact, Rachelle and I had already started the manuscript for the book which was then titled QE2: A Photographic Tour.


Bill was very supportive and said that if we send him the completed manuscript he’d read it and help us find a publisher. It was an added honour when he agreed to write the foreword.


The QE2 book evolved when Cunard announced that QE2 was to be retired. Rather than just a photographic tour it became a tribute to QE2 in pictorial form. Renamed QE2: A Photographic Journey it was published by The History Press in time for QE2’s farewell season and started being sold aboard in August 2008. It has over 200 unique photographs taken by Rachelle and myself covering all areas of the ship including all public rooms, cabins, restaurants, lounges, bars, The Bridge, Engine Room, Stores and images of QE2 in ports around the world. The photographs are supported by narrative describing the rooms.


The book was a great success and we were very fortunate to be aboard QE2 in September 2008 to sign copies (I was lecturing aboard). Due to the success of the book our publisher commissioned us to extend the series and with this we’ve since written QM2: A Photographic Journey and Queen Victoria: A Photographic Journey. While these ships are still in service, the books follow a similar format in that they celebrate the Cunard Queens in pictorial form. Most of the photographs within the books are taken by us.


We have just been signed to write Queen Elizabeth: A Photographic Journey which will be released in 2012.


It’s been a lot of fun, and the positive feedback from passengers, customers and enthusiasts alike has been overwhelming. We’ve had such a wonderful time photographing the ships, researching their histories and sailing aboard.


Aside from our own Photographic Journey series, we’ve written two books for “The Story Series”. This series offers a concise history of famous iconic things, such as Concorde, Titanic, Apollo or in our case, QE2 and QM2. The QE2 Story was released in 2009 while The QM2 Story will be released this October. A third addition, The Cunard Story has just been commissioned and we’ll have this one written by 2011 for release later that year. It is a great challenge to write the Cunard story in 120 pages, but one we’re very keen to tackle!


All the books can be seen at: 
http://www.chriscunard.com/cunard_books.php


You  can get a taste of his photographs at: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscunard/collections


You can follow him on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/chriscunard/

If you want to order the books via Amazon USA:

To order the books via Amazon UK:

Cunard QE2 likely to be sold off by her Dubai owners, as plans to turn her into hotel collapse due to Dubai crisis.

QE2 Lifeboats and Deck: Crossing the Atlantic, originally uploaded by garybembridge.

The Sunday Times newspaper reports today that the Cunard QE2 is likely to be sold off by her Dubai owners, as plans to turn her into hotel collapse due to Dubai crisis.

Read the full article: click here

In the article they say:

"CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, the Canadian circus group, and the QE2 cruise liner are among a raft of Dubai-owned assets being prepared for sale as part of a huge cash-raising exercise by the debt-laden emirate.

Advisers to Dubai World, the state-backed conglomerate, plan to offload a portfolio of trophy assets owned by Istithmar, its private-equity arm. The money raised will be used to pay off some of Dubai World’s $22 billion (£14 billion) debts. The group has about 100 large creditors, including British banks.

It is understood that advisers will attempt to sell each asset individually rather than find a single buyer for the whole portfolio...."


On the QE2 they go on to say:

"Other assets have failed to live up to expectation. A bold plan to turn the QE2, which Istithmar bought for $100m from Cunard in June 2007, into a luxury, floating hotel berthed at the man-made Palm Jumeirah island has never materialised"

TWO GREAT CUNARD FAN SITES

I received an email with a link to 2 great Cunard sites by a fan:

This from Richard:

I'm very interested in ships including the QE2. I was lucky enough to travel aboard her so put together a website of my own which I thought you might be interested in.

http://maritime.elettra.co.uk/qe2/

If you think it might be of interest to you readers I'm happy for you to post a link


I can see from your site you've also been to Long Beach. If you are also interested you might like to visit:
http://maritime.elettra.co.uk/queenmary/

Kind regardsRichard

Queen Elizabeth maiden voyage sells out in record time

this on:http://news.carrentals.co.uk/queen-elizabeth-maiden-voyage-sells-out-in-record-time-3425828.html
Tickets on the maiden voyage of the Cunard Line’s newest ship Queen Elizabeth, which went on sale earlier this week, sold out in less than 30 minutes - 29 minutes and 14 seconds to be exact.

This is a new record, making the cruise the fastest selling voyage in Cunard’s 170-year history. Tickets sold out more quickly than those for the final voyage on the QE2, which were all spoken for within 36 minutes of going on sale in June of 2007, according to reports by cruise specialists.

In addition to the maiden voyage on the Queen Elizabeth, over half of the places on the other six voyages for the first sailing season - from October to December 2010 - sold in the first two hours.

“This is an impressive record set by what will be an impressive ship and speaks volumes about the Cunard brand as well as for the resilience of the cruise sector as a whole in these challenging times,” said president and managing director of the Cunard Line, Carol Marlow.

Queen Elizabeth has a passenger capacity of 2,092 and cost approximately £365 million to build. It will be Cunard’s second-largest ship ever.

The ship’s maiden voyage will depart Southampton on 12 October, 2010, and sail to the Atlantic Isles.

Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

QE2: Final farewell to the world's most famous cruise ship

Read the full article at the telegraph.co.uk site: CLICK HERE

t is almost unheard of for a ship leaving service to bring a city to a standstill.

But then, the QE2 is not just any ship. Tomorrow evening, the most famous ship afloat sails from Southampton for the last time, heading to Dubai where it will become a floating hotel.

It was due to leave its berth at 5.30pm, but Cunard has agreed to delay departure until 7.15pm because of city council concerns about thousands of farewell-wishers descending on Southampton at rush hour.

The council is already worried that Mayflower Park, the main vantage point in the city with room for 10,000 people, is not going to be big enough. They may be right.

Weather permitting, one million poppies will be dropped over the ship to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and at 1.40pm, there will be a fly-past by a RAF Harrier. The Duke of Edinburgh will have a farewell lunch on board, and in Mayflower Park, a giant video screen will show live and archive footage of the vessel.

It is an extraordinary send-off considering that this is a 41-year-old ship giving up its globetrotting days, not a shiny new vessel embarking on its maiden voyage.

QE2: A Photographic Journey: Chris Frame & Rachelle Cross

This new addition to the many books written about Cunard's iconic and symbolic ship the Queen Elizabeth 2 is from 2 passionate fans of the ship.

The book has over 200 pictures that seem to largely be from their own collections that were taken on the many trips that they have taken on the ship, and there is very limited text and some short but interesting sections by William Miller and QE2 Captain Ian McNaught.

The thing that I liked about this book is that is does what it says!

I like the fact that it covers basically every public room and each of the accommodations in neat sections. with photographs showing what the ship looks like. I would love to have had this book before I did my first (and only!) crossing on the ship back in 2004. It is a simple idea for a book and one that will be of benefit to past and new fans of the ship. It may also prove to be an interesting record of what the ship looked like before it gets converted into its new use in Dubai. And if rumours are true, then changes to the ship may be drastic and dramatic to convert it into the new use.

The book covers: Accommodation, Restaurants, Bars & Lounges, Public Areas, Crew Areas and then some topics covering the external aspects of the ship. Every section has a photo or series of photos and as they are personal photographs they have a sense of real to them, versus glossy professional stylised photos. They show some of the warts of the ship!

There is some text with each section which is crisp and short, and later in the book some fun facts and things which do not work quite as well as there are many well told sea jokes/ anecdotes but are not a big distraction.

I enjoyed this book and was glad I have added it to my collection of Cunard books. I have a lot of Cunard brochures from over the years and when I sell them on eBay it seems the main reason want them is for the photos of the ship interiors - this book now solves that. Annoyingly!

If you want to buy the book or find out more you can buy it through the links below

BUY FROM AMAZON UK

BUY FROM AMAZON USA

Port to bid farewell to the Queen Elizabeth 2

This article appeared on the Mount Desert Islander site

An extract from the article follows:

"BAR HARBOR — The Queen Elizabeth 2 is scheduled to make her final stop in Bar Harbor on Friday, Sept. 19. The QE2 is expected to arrive at 7 a.m. and make her final departure at 6 p.m. The royal nautical legend is going to be revamped as a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment center at a luxury resort in Dubai after she arrives there in November.

The 40-year old ship first visited Bar Harbor on July 23, 1981 and has been here almost every year since with the exception of her involvement in the Falklands War and another year when there was a plan to decommission her that didn’t materialize.

Earlier this year, the ship’s owner, Cunard Line, announced that it was nearing time for the QE2 to retire. The ship was sold for $100 million to Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, a company owned by the government of Dubai.

The QE2 will be delivered to Dubai World, where she will relinquish her assignment as an ocean-going passenger vessel and be refurbished and customized for her new home in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2009, the vessel will be berthed at a specially constructed pier at The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island.

Palm Jumeirah was opened in 2001 and is the centerpiece of a series of man-made islands off the coast of Dubai. Palm Jumeirah has been called the eighth wonder of the world. The complex of reclaimed lands was created by state-owned development company, Nakheel.

The island has doubled Dubai’s existing coastline and also doubles the number of beachfront hotels in the city.
For 35 years QE2 was the flagship of the Cunard Line until replaced by RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. Built in Clydebank, Scotland, she was considered the last of the great transatlantic ocean liners prior to the construction of the QM2. Before the QE2 was upgraded with a diesel power plant in 1986, she was also the last oil-fired, steam passenger steamship to cross the Atlantic in scheduled liner service.

The ship has a gross weight of 70,327 tons and is 963 feet long. She had a top speed of 32.5 knots using her original steam turbine powerplant, which was increased to 34 knots when she was refitted with a diesel electric powerplant.

In her civilian capacity, the QE2 carries 1,900 passengers and 1,015 crew.
The QE2 participated in the Falklands War in 1982, carrying 3,000 troops from the British Fifth Infantry Brigade and 650 volunteer Cunard crew to South Georgia Island in the south Atlantic.

Read the full article:
http://mdislander.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7297&Itemid=37

Final farewell to QE2’s distinctive red funnel?

This article appeared on Daily Echo today.

Part of the article says:
"QE2 has been sold for £50million to a Middle Eastern development company which will transform the Cunarder into a floating hotel at the centre of Dubai.

Fears are growing among shipping experts and former passengers that QE2, regarded by many as the last remaining true ocean-going liner, will be altered to such an extent that her style and classic lines will be lost forever.

This also comes amid disappointment that QE2 will arrive and depart on her last day in her home, shrouded in darkness.

QE2 will leave the port on November 11 when the liner will fly the longest paying-off pennant ever by a Cunard liner.

Once moored at her new berth in Dubai, QE2’s new owners are expecting to spend millions on refurbishing the liner and changing the lay-out, turning it into a hotel, tourist destination and shopping complex.

The new owners are examining schemes for QE2 including removing the funnel and repositioning it on the quayside where it would be converted into a reception and information centre.

Plans also exist to remove the liner’s engines and create a new glass-fronted mock funnel that would be seven decks high and contain ten luxury suites.

John Lillywhite, chairman of the Southampton branch of the World Ship Society, said: “We have also heard that it is likely all the ship’s davits and lifeboats are to go. "



Read the full article at: Final farewell to QE2’s distinctive red funnel?

The Masters of the QE2 address her regular passengers

The Masters of the QE2 address her regular passengers, originally uploaded by Rob Lightbody.

This is from Rob Lighbody on Flickr, who has many great Cunard pics

"Dear Guest,

Welcome aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, in all likelihood for the final time before she departs for Dubai to be admired by future generations. Being two of her very fortunate captains, we have grown immensely fond of this iconic liner who has served the fleet so impeccably over 39 years. We are also incredibly proud of our own hugely enjoyable service on arguably the most famous shipin recent maritime history.

For us, one of the greatest pleasures of every Cunard voyage has been meeting up with old friends and making new ones, as QE2 has always been an especially sociable ship and there is a wonderful feel of community woven into her elegant public rooms. Indeed, you often tell us that seeing all the friendly faces among the ship's company and your fellow guests is a huge part of QE2's immense character.

But as this Cunard chapter closes, an exciting new era beckons. In Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, you will discover two of the most luxurious ships on the seas today. Many of you have already sampled their unique pleasures; for others this will be a new experience - albeit a familiar one. Like QE2, each magnificently upholds our proud traditions as lavish public rooms host glittering formal nights, elegant ballroom dancing, time-honoured afternoon tea and impeccable dining all presented with the famed hospitality opf our White Star Service. Through our extended Cunard Insights programme, you can share the wit and wisdom of many noted luminaries - and you may even encounter a few other familiar faces among the crew and your fellow guests.

We hope you have the opportunity to experience Queen Victoria or Queen Mary 2 very soon and further more, book your next voyage on board and you'll receive extra benefits as detailed on the back cover.

Best wishws and enjoy your voyage on QE2

Captain Ian McNaught & Captain David Perkins "

Spectacular final send-off for the QE2 from Scotland

An article appeared on "The Herald" website about the last visit of the QE2 to Scotland.

The opening of the article comments:
"The QE2 has been promised a "spectacular and fitting" send-off for her final voyage in Scottish waters.
The liner will make her last voyage in Scotland on October 7 and large crowds are expected to gather on either side of the Firth of Forth to wave her off.

The send-off will include a fly-past by jets from RAF Leuchars, tugs, a water display and a flotilla of yachts."

To read the full article:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2434545.0.Spectacular_final_sendoff_for_the_QE2.php

QE2 NEW HOME ANNOUNCED

An article appeared in this week's cruisepages.com (http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/cruiselines/index.asp) about the new home for the QE2 and some worrying news for people hoping the integrity of the ship will be maintained....

This is what it said:

"According to Nakheel, the real estate company in charge of building the development in Dubai where QE2 will end up in November, the former ocean liner will serve as the anchor of a luxury marina development on the eastern trunk side of Palm Jumeirah.

Purchased last year by Nakheel's parent organization Dubai World, QE2 will embark on her ultimate journey from Southampton, England to Dubai in November. Nakheel will commence construction on her eventual home in September.

Plans for the QE2 include its transformation into an ultra-luxury floating hotel, featuring public promenades, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, as well as a heritage museum displaying artifacts from the QE2 and maritime history.

It will be interesting to see how much of the current QE2 survives the conversion into a "ultra-luxury floating hotel". While ship enthusiasts were hopeful following the initial announcement that stated the project would "...aim to recreate QE2's original interior décor and fittings..." it is unlikely that this can be done while at the same time creating a luxury hotel. One clue as to QE2's future appearance might be found in the initial renderings released by Nakheel, where the converted QE2 bears a striking resemblance to Cunard's Queen Mary 2, with at least three decks of new balconies.

"The arrival of QE2 is one of the most anticipated events of the year and Nakheel is proud to be the custodian of such a historic treasure. The world's most famous ocean liner will form the focal point of an exciting new development that will be a must-see attraction on Palm Jumeirah," said Johann Schumacher, Director of Palm Jumeirah.

QE2 is one of the world's most famous ships. She has circumnavigated the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers including kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, astronauts and The Beatles. She survived a 95 ft wave during Hurricane Luis, carried 3,000 troops to the Falklands War and helped evacuate 500 passengers from a burning ship.

Reclamation for the pier is expected to finish by the end of 2008, with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2011."

Links
Sign up for the cruiseclub.com newsletters:
http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/deals/cruise_club_form.asp

A birthday fit for a Queen

This on http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk

"THE BEACON of Clydebank’s shipbuilding heritage, the QE2, paid her penultimate visit to the Clyde last week to celebrate her 40th birthday in home waters.

Thousands of delighted spectators gathered on the banks of the river at Greenock’s Esplanade to pay homage to the world’s most famous ship built at John Brown’s.

Despite disappointing weather, visitors travelled from across Scotland and beyond to mark the return of Cunard’s most successful vessel to Clydeside.

To mark the occasion, around 300 former shipyard workers, special guests, and dignitaries were invited on board the QE2 for a special tour, meal and champagne reception.

They were treated to a rapturous and colourful display by the Red Arrows who proudly flew above the ship in a spectacular performance.

At precisely 2.28pm the liner sounded its horn to mark the 40th year to the second since she was launched by Her Majesty the Queen in Clydebank.

Clydebank Provost Denis Agnew told the Post he was proud to be invited on board and represent the birthplace of the QE2.

Councillor Agnew worked in John Brown’s as a store boy when the Cunard liner was being built and he said it was a poignant moment for him being able to celebrate its birthday.
He said: “I had never been inside it before and it has had two refits since then so I don’t know if there is much original work there.

“This is the last real boat built that was launched on the Clyde. It was a pity it couldn’t be brought up to Clydebank.

“To be in such a significant and magnificent boat was a real honour.

“It is the best of Scottish engineering built in Clydebank and that makes me very proud.”
Former John Brown’s worker Bill Kean also caught a glimpse of the QE2 of which he was an integral part of the construction team.

He travelled to Greenock along with his son, but despite not being invited on board, he was privileged to be able see her after 40 years.

Mr Kean said: “We got very near the ship and we managed to take some photographs.
“There were thousands of people who had never been on the boat lining the shores, it was terrific.

“I have never really seen her since she left John Brown’s and my last picture of her is the ship going down the Clyde.

“It was a great day.”

Clyde Taylor from Clydebank, who also visited the ship says he was disappointed that the ship was slightly obscured in the dock.

He said he was glad to see the vessel and even passed his “ship lines” on to a friend who was going on board.

Mr Taylor told the Post: “We got there at 6.30am but they had put the ship in such a place that we couldn’t get any photographs.

“But it was still impressive to see her.”

The QE2 will return to Greenock next year when she celebrates her farewell voyage.

Cunard QE2 Opens Liverpool's New Cruise Liner Terminal, Completes 40th Anniversary Cruise

This from http://cruises.about.com

" can't think of a better ocean liner than the classic Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) to open the new cruise terminal in Liverpool.

The QE2 is completing her 40th anniversary cruise, which began in Southampton on September 15, and included stopovers at several ports of call in the UK.

The classic ocean liner was launched by Her Majesty the Queen on September 20, 1967. Since then, the ship has traveled 5.6 million nautical miles, which is further than any ship ever. Her career has included 25 circumnavigations of the globe, 801 transatlantic crossings, 705 calls at New York and 697 at her homeport of Southampton, and 2.5 million passengers.

Earlier this year, the QE2 was sold to Dubai World, where she will become a floating hotel in retirement. However, she has more than a year of cruises left in her before the November 2008 transfer.

Cunard was based in Liverpool from 1839 to 1967, so having the QE2 be one of the first ships to tie up at Liverpool's new cruise ship terminal is very appropriate. The celebration in Liverpool on September 21 included a concert and fireworks.

Late this afternoon, on her final day at sea en route back to Southampton, the QE2 will pass her newer sister Queen Mary 2 outward bound for New York - the first time two Queen liners have passed at sea since Queen Mary passed Queen Elizabeth in mid-Atlantic for the last time 40 years ago on 25 September 1967. Guests on both ships are expected to be out on deck for this historic occasion"

QE2 souvenir book to treasure

This from http://www.dailyecho.co.uk

"FOR decades she has been a familiar sight on the Southampton waterfront but now her days on the oceans are numbered as liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is to be withdrawn from service next year.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the liner's launch by the Queen in 1967 the Daily Echo has produced a unique publication that traces the history of QE2 from its inception and build, through the troubled times which forced the delay of her maiden voyage, her multi-millionpound re-engineering during the 1980s, the many ups and, quite a few, downs during an unequalled career, the like of which is unlikely ever to be seen again.

The book, QE2, A Celebration of Forty Years Service, contains dozens of photographs taken over the decades and held in the Daily Echo archives as the ship criss-crossed the seven seas carrying the name of Southampton, emblazoned on her hull, to all corners of the globe.
Crammed with fascinating facts and figures about the most famous liner in the world, the glossy 148-page publication, a strictly-limited edition, is to become highly sought-after once QE2 leaves Southampton for the last time on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 to become a floating hotel in Dubai.

The book takes readers on a tour of the liner, recounts the stories of the famous, and infamous, characters who have travelled on the ship and remembers the time the ship was targeted by an extortionist who claimed explosives had been planted on board, resulting in a crack team of SAS bomb disposal experts parachuting into mid-Atlantic to ensure QE2 was safe.

Then there was the time in September 1995 when a 96ft rogue wave struck QE2 fullon, the full-scale alert when IRA explosives were discovered on board in Southampton, and Frank Sinatra's private telephone calls to arrange a discreet dinner with Princess Margaret.

All these stories, and many more, are contained in this special commemorative publication, costing £15, which can be obtained from Daily Echo offices at Redbridge, Southampton's Hanover Buildings and Eastleigh.

Or contact 023 8042 4544.
10:58am Friday 21st September 2007

QE2 back on Clyde after 40 years

This from bbc.co.uk

The QE2 arrived on the Forth earlier this week
The QE2 has marked the 40th anniversary of its launch by returning to the stretch of river where it was built.
The liner, which has been on a celebratory tour, will be given a gala reception at Greenock, on the Clyde.
It is the world's most travelled liner, having notched up 5.6 million nautical miles while carrying 2.5 million passengers.

The vessel was launched from the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank on 20 September 1967.
It berthed at Ocean Terminal, Greenock, on Thursday and at 1428 BST the ship's whistle will blow to mark the exact moment of her launch

About 100 workers involved in the construction of the QE2 will watch on as guests of honour.
The QE2 will be delivered to Dubai in November 2008, where it will cease its role as an ocean-going passenger vessel, to be refurbished to create a luxury floating hotel

'Being on board is just magical... people hear QE2 and get excited'

This from: http://www.theherald.co.uk

She was almost home again. As the Queen Elizabeth 2 glided through the North Atlantic yesterday, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the legendary Clyde-built ship, not a single person on board was unaware of the tremendous sense of occasion.

It was a fiercely cold day, but a clutch of hardy souls were up on deck, braving the elements on the last leg of the journey from South Queensferry to Greenock. Inside, in the warmth, window seats were at a premium as passengers gazed out at the distant Scottish coastline.

Tickets for the special eight-night voyage around the UK sold out within a week of going on sale in April last year. For many, being here marked the culmination of a life-long ambition.

Myra Hunter, a retired teacher from Glasgow, has waited 40 years for the trip. She had tickets to tour the ship before its maiden voyage to New York in 1969, but gave them to her parents.

"I told them I would come and see it for myself one day," she said. "This ship is extra special. Being on board feels like being part of a big family and the birthday girl is the ship. This ship belongs to the Clyde. I've watched from the shore before as the QE2 arrived. To be on board will be wonderful."

Of the 1628 passengers aboard, 1300 have travelled on the ship before. Among them are Maureen and David Anderson, originally from Glasgow and now living in Oxfordshire. This is their sixth time.

For Mr Anderson, the 40th anniversary is particularly poignant. His late father was one of the thousands who helped build the ship at Clydebank's John Brown shipyard. Now 65, Mr Anderson attended the launch in 1967 and has fond memories.

"I remember everyone in the crowd getting soaked as the chains went into the water when the ship was going down the slipway," he said. Mrs Anderson, 61, said: "Being on board is magical. People hear the name QE2 and they still get excited by it. It has such prestige."

Dressed, as ever, in his tracksuit, Sir Jimmy Savile was taking the air on the boat deck. He joined the ship at Scarborough on Sunday in the most unconventional fashion, commandeering a 50-year-old fishing trawler to sail alongside the QE2 and then scrambling up a rope ladder to climb aboard through the pilot's door. The veteran DJ has an enduring passion for the QE2, sailing on her more than 30 times.

Sir Jimmy, 80, who has a home in Glencoe, had hoped to convince Cunard, owners of the QE2, to make Loch Linnhe a port of call - but said today's arrival will more than make up for it. "To see the ship sail into Greenock will be a joy," he said.

Some travelled from across the globe to be part of the celebrations. Karl Johnstone, 46, a set dresser from Los Angeles, said: "I'm very excited. I booked 18 months ago and have been looking forward to it ever since."

On the bridge, Captain Ian McNaught was in good spirits. Born and raised in Tyneside, he has proud Scottish roots. His father is from Possilpark in Glasgow, and worked in the John Brown shipyard before pursuing a career at sea. "I feel very proud and excited," he said. "We are taking this great ship back to its birthplace. There are still so many people around who were involved in the building of the ship. We are arriving in Greenock very early because of the tides, but I think even at 7am there will be a lot of people waiting to welcome this ship home."

After leaving South Queensferry on Tuesday, the QE2 travelled up the east coast and through the Pentland Firth before passing the Western Isles. This morning, she will make the final approach towards Greenock.

There will be a flypast by the Red Arrows and a lunch on the ship to be attended by ex-John Brown workers.
At 2.28pm today - marking the exact moment of the launch in 1967 - the QE2's whistle will sound and a recording of the Queen's words as she named the ship will be played. There will be entertainment on the mile-long walkway at Greenock's Ocean Terminal, including pipe bands, a carousel, numerous stalls and displays.

The QE2 is due to leave Greenock at 6pm tonight to undertake a high-speed, measured mile off Arran. That formed part of the ship's original sea trials back in 1968. She will call at Liverpool tomorrow and return to Southampton on Sunday.

Today's arrival will mark the ship's penultimate visit to Scotland - she is still due a farewell voyage. Her final chapter will begin next year, when she becomes a floating hotel in Dubai.

All at sea for 40 years
QE2 has sailed 5.6 million nautical miles, including 801 transatlantic crossings.
It's still the fastest passenger ship in the world , with a top speed of 32.5 knots.
It has had 2.5 million passengers, including the Queen, Nelson Mandela, and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
The QE2 made its maiden voyage to New York on May 2, 1969, completing the transatlantic crossing in four days, 16 hours and 35 minutes.

On September 11, 1995, the ship encountered a 96ft wave in the North Atlantic but sailed on almost seamlessly. Most passengers slept through it.

Her final voyage will be from Southampton to Dubai on November 11, 2008. Afterwards, berthed permanently at the Palm Jumeirah as a luxury hotel.

REVEALED: CLYDESIDE PILFERERS WHO HELD UP QE2'S 1ST CRUISE

This historical story from: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk

"SCOTS shipyard workers stole so many fittings from the QE2 that the giant liner was not ready for passengers in time, a TV programme reveals.

Carpets, mattresses, doors and bed linen were among the pilfered haul which caused a three-week delay to vital sea trials. And some workers vandalised baths and toilets.

The QE2 was built at John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde for owners Cunard and launched by the Queen in September 1967.
At least one man was prosecuted for theft at the time - but now 40 years later, the true extent of the stealing is revealed in a BBC Scotland documentary about the ship. Maitre d' hotel David Chambers, who was a 22-year-old waiter at the time, helped other crew take supplies on to the ship at the dry dock in Greenock, Renfrewshire. Now 61, he says he watched amazed as mattresses and other items were stolen. He said: "There were about 20 of us carrying hundreds and hundreds of mattresses on board. "I remember somebody pointing to the other end of the quay and asking 'look down there, why are there mattresses going off the ship?'. "Somebody was purloining them and taking them off again.

"They were coming off almost as fast as we were bringing them on board. One man said he was taking them because they were the wrong size, but they were being stolen. "It wasn't just mattresses - people took doors home. "Some people carpeted their homes it was said, while I remember clearly others took sheets and pillow cases with Cunard written across them. "When we were in Southampton, we heard one man was prosecuted in Scotland, but there were many more people at it."

David added: "Some workers saw it as a perk of the job. Not a lot of it came to light until the crew started talking one day in the crew bar, and we all shared our stories."

The QE2 had to be complete, including her luxury interiors, before sea trials could start off Arran. And David reveals some workmen were so concerned for their jobs after the QE2 was completed that they reacted by smashing up fixtures and fittings. David said: "One weekend, we were stood down. And when we returned on the Monday, all the baths and toilets on one deck had been smashed because the workmen just didn't want to let the ship go.

"You could understand it from their point of view because it was their last big ship. "She was the last big liner to be built and they knew they weren't going to get another one so they were trying to save their jobs. "We used to go to a pub near Central Station at night, and all they talked about was the QE2 going and the fact they would all be out of work.

"The Glasgow shipyards were renowned and there was great pride that the ship was built there. "But it was serious. They were desperate."

Historian Ian Johnston added: "When the QE2 left Clydebank in November 1968, she was on time, which was a proud boast. "Prince Charles was on the bridge with John Ranny, the shipyard manager, and Sir Basil Smallpiece, chairman of Cunard. "But so too were several hundred joiners who were working on the cabins which were incomplete. "When they got to Greenock, there was a tremendous effort to try to conceal the fact that the ship wasn't quite finished."

The 70,327 tons, 963ft liner - which made its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York - was the flagship of the Cunard line until she was succeeded by the Queen Mary 2 in 2004. The QE2 is still one of the fastest passenger vessels ever built, with a top speed of 34 knots. She has cruised six million miles and will be retired next year.

She will return to Glasgow on September 20 as part of her 40th anniversary cruise.
QE2 - The Last Great Liner will be aired on Monday on BBC2 Scotland. "