Ever Wondered What Happened to the QE2?

It has been big news for Cunarders this last couple of weeks as Queen Elizabeth will be moving across the pond to offers a series of round trip voyages from international ports that offer deeper, richer and more regionally focused itineraries.

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Ahead of Cunard’s Winter 2019 launch later this month with an increasing popularity of Australasia and Pacific itineraries and the growing demand down under for Cunard line cruises and in the wake of last weekend’s ‘Royal Rendezvous in Sydney when both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 were in port, plans have been announced to base Queen Elizabeth in Australia in 2019 for 2 months

In between these home-ported deployments will be exotic grand voyages that capture the imagination and spirit of adventure in travel lovers across the world.

As the UK looks set to lose another Cunard ship (all be it temporarily) have you ever wondered what happened to the original QE2?

Southampton - England - July 8, 2007: QE2 berthed in Southampton awaiting passenger embarcation.

She had a spectacular life and was the flagship of the Cunard Line for nearly 40 years. QE2 made her maiden voyage in 1969 and was one of the last great Transatlantic liners, at the time she was one of the fastest and grandest passenger vessels ever built until she retired from service on 27 November 2008 after her final sell out voyage.

A historic event was QE2 being overflown by Concord and the Red Arrows, during her Transatlantic life passengers had the option of sailing one way on the QE2 to New York and returning on Concord until 10th April 2003 this unique partnership of two 1960s icons came to an end when British Airways announced the retirement of Concorde in October 2003

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When she was sold for £60 million it was planned  that she would go into Dubai Dry Dock for a 3 year radical rebuild and begin conversion of the vessel to a 500-room luxurious floating hotel moored at the Palm Jumeriah in Dubai

However things have not gone according to plan for this iconic Ocean Liner, once royalty and celebrities sipped cocktails on her immaculate decks, but how times have changed for the QE2 as she is now rotting in obscurity as plans for the luxury hotel conversion seem to have permanently run aground as she still sits in a Dubai dry dock scrapyard  “filthy, forlorn and neglected”

Willemstad, Curaçao – January 15, 2006: Cunard’s QE2 is docked at the Willemstad Megapier during the 2006 World Cruise

In summer 2009 it was planned that she would sail to South Africa but this was abandoned at the last minute,  in late 2012  the ship was reportedly sold to a Chinese group for a scrap price of $30 million and the most recent plan was for her to sail to China is 2013 for a £60 million makeover but this plan also fell through

The plans for her future are still in doubt as the ship has been without power for many years since the live in crew were forced to abandon her in 2008 and  the engine was turned off in 2013, the interior of the ship has deteriorated due to dust and humidity and there are no current finances in place and no significant work has been confirmed to have been carried out to date

Online campaigners would be happy to see the liner to rest somewhere associated with its history-Southampton, Liverpool, London or New York and believe that the QE2 could be saved for just £3million

Cunarders and the Cruise World still waits and watches for news of the future for this Grand Sad Old Lady, only time will seal the fate of this Iconic old Queen  – let’s hope she is salvaged before her 50th birthday in 2019!

My blog was inspired by an article by Rob Lightbody, read the full detailed QE2 Story here http://www.theqe2story.com/aboutQE2/QE2Today.php

 

 


About Me

Hello, Hola, Bonjour, Guten Morgen, 你好 ! I grew up in the 70s, I was educated in the 80s and had great fun working in a Cafe Bar and nightclub in the 90s. After my Halcyon years my bank manager and I decided it was time to get a 'proper…

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