The World’s Most Iconic Liner Becomes a Floating Hotel

The QE2, as famous as the Titanic, but with a much longer career, spanning over 40 years, Cunard’s longest serving ship and the last to be built on The Clyde. She carried over 2.5 million passengers on 1400 voyages, including  28 World Cruises and 800 + Transatlantic crossings as well as serving time as a troop ship during the Falklands War.

Her last sailing in 2008 was to Dubai as she had been bought by the Dubai government with plans to turn her into a luxury hotel, but plans were shelved because of the financial crisis in Dubai and she languished in the port for several years going to ruin. She has now been thoughtfully restored to her former glory after 2.7 million man hours!

The 13-deck hotel is docked permanently at Port Rashid and features an interactive museum showcasing the QE2’s history. It also shares a neighbourhood with some of Dubai’s other “cultural gems”, including the Gold Souk, Dubai Creek, and the Etihad Museum.

It will have a spa and pool deck, shopping arcade, live entertainment, a theatre and a cinema, as well as three decks of executive rooms and suites. Guests staying in the smallest “cabin style” rooms will have just 17 square metres of floor space, while those in the royal suites will enjoy 76 square metres, as well as a private veranda, conservatory and dining room in addition to the luxurious bedroom.

Yesterday, 18th April was the ‘soft opening’ with just over 200 of the 800 cabins available along with 5 of the eventual 13 bars and restaurants including the popular Golden Lion pub which is also open to non residents. Features such as porthole windows, memorabilia and paintings have been kept during the renovation. An event to mark the opening of the first phase of the new hotel coincided with the arrival in the port of Cunard’s current flagship, Queen Mary 2.

The hotel is due to be completed by October this year and with rooms staring at £100 per night, is very reasonable in Dubai terms. The ship will also host events, including weddings. “Few people can share the experience of getting married on the same vessel graced by the likes of Her Highness the Queen, Julie Andrews, David Bowie and Elton John,” the QE2 site says.

What are your thoughts on this? Would you stay on her if in Dubai? Do you think she should have come home to where she was built?

Until next time.

Dee