RIP QE2?

In the year of Cunard’s 175 year Anniversary celebrations I have often wondered what happened to the iconic QE2

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 70,327 tons and 963 feet long with a top speed of 32.5 knots she is also 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.

She was acquired by Istithmar a subsidiary of Dubai World 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 

QE2 has spent almost five years moored offshore in dingy Port Rashid, it took nearly $1,000,000 a month to keep her operational with essential maintenance and one of her engines was always running to provide power for lighting and air-
conditioning for the crew on board

The Dubai group had pledged a 10-year commitment to its hotel plan but that commitment was scrapped in late 2012  as the ship was reportedly sold to a Chinese group for a scrap price of $30 million.

In summer 2009 it was planned that she would sail to South Africa but this was abandoned at the last minute

The most recent plan was for her to sail to China is 2013 for a £60 million makeover but this fell through and she is still languishing in a Dubai dockyard falling into disrepair.

In May 2015 the plans for her future are still in doubt as the ship has been without power for nearly 3 years since the live in crew were forced to abandon her in 2008, 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 

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