QE2 - What is happening and where is she now?

[Le Mans Visitor]

Just wondering what was happening to her and wondering where she is. Last I heard she was sold to Dubai and the money ran out.

Has anyone got any pictures of her in her current state, whatever that might be.

[B16JUS]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=673...

[thatone1967]

B16JUS said:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=673...

Very sad.

[Le Mans Visitor]

Such a shame.

[Super Slo Mo]

I saw it from a distance when I was there in December last year. Nothing had been done to it, as far as I'm aware it was just moored.

I'm fairly likely to be going to Dubai in a couple of week's time, so if I get the opportunity, I'll try and get a photo.

[IanUAE]

She is still in the main Dubai port. Took this picture yesterday from the viewing deck on the Burj Khalifa (helps to live in Dubai sometimes):

[Eric Mc]

Doesn't she look small next to the cruise liner?

[PLamborghini]

Eric Mc said:

Doesn't she look small next to the cruise liner?

[Simpo Two]

Except that one looks like a Spanish apartment block and one looks like a ship.


The QE2 was one of the first Airfix models I built; still remember my father helping me mix some brown paint so it looked like wood for the decks.

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Except that one looks like a Spanish apartment block and one looks like a ship.

Absolutely.

[CDP]

Eric Mc said:

Simpo Two said:

Except that one looks like a Spanish apartment block and one looks like a ship.

Absolutely.

It's down cruisers not having to cross the N. Atlantic in winter.

[hidetheelephants]

CDP said:

Eric Mc said:

Simpo Two said:

Except that one looks like a Spanish apartment block and one looks like a ship.

Absolutely.

It's down cruisers not having to cross the N. Atlantic in winter.

Not so much; they can, just not very fast and stand a good chance of incurring damage. the QE2(and QM2) can do it at 25 knots with no damage and without frightening the horses(or loosening the passengers fillings or bowels).

I think she's headed for razor blades frankly. A shame but there you are. The development plans outlined in the link above would remove any heritage worth retaining(i.e. the interiors and the silhouette), and the $1Bn guestimate isn't a bad one for a full bhoona interior rebuild to 7 star standard*, some sort of weird mini towerblock in place of the funnel, and a 100'+ hull extension(that on its own would be $100m or so). It would be less fantastic to propose refitting her for cruising again, although no more likely. Talk about fiddling with deckchairs, those guys in that link wittering about her engines; who other than sad engineering anoraks(like me, and I wouldn't pay for the privilege) are going to want to see old medium speed diesel generator sets? Her steam turbines were ripped out 25 years ago, and even turbines aren't much to look at.

• what is 7 star standard any way? I thought there were only 5 available?

[CDP]

hidetheelephants said:

CDP said:

Eric Mc said:

Simpo Two said:

Except that one looks like a Spanish apartment block and one looks like a ship.

Absolutely.

It's down cruisers not having to cross the N. Atlantic in winter.

Not so much; they can, just not very fast and stand a good chance of incurring damage. the QE2(and QM2) can do it at 25 knots with no damage and without frightening the horses(or loosening the passengers fillings or bowels).

I think she's headed for razor blades frankly. A shame but there you are. The development plans outlined in the link above would remove any heritage worth retaining(i.e. the interiors and the silhouette), and the $1Bn guestimate isn't a bad one for a full bhoona interior rebuild to 7 star standard*, some sort of weird mini towerblock in place of the funnel, and a 100'+ hull extension(that on its own would be $100m or so). It would be less fantastic to propose refitting her for cruising again, although no more likely. Talk about fiddling with deckchairs, those guys in that link wittering about her engines; who other than sad engineering anoraks(like me, and I wouldn't pay for the privilege) are going to want to see old medium speed diesel generator sets? Her steam turbines were ripped out 25 years ago, and even turbines aren't much to look at.

• what is 7 star standard any way? I thought there were only 5 available?

If they're going to scrap it lets hope they do so while they've got chance to sell the fittings in a decent condition. In other words, sooner would be better than later.

[Mattt]

The only realistic solution is to scrap it, but I think for political & respectful reasons (the UAE still has some ties to the UK) I don't think it will happen while the Queen is alive or Monarch.

[CDP]

Mattt said:

The only realistic solution is to scrap it, but I think for political & respectful reasons (the UAE still has some ties to the UK) I don't think it will happen while the Queen is alive or Monarch.

Can't they rename it the Gordon Brown and then scrap it?

[HereBeMonsters]

Accidentally bumped into her a few years ago while out on a hoon, stopped for a quick lunch.



Also saw her leave as I happened to be down that part of town.

[deevlash]

It should be back on the Clyde, if it's going to rot anywhere it should be here. The money could be found from somewhere, even as a floating museum it's a huge part of Glasgows history and would be a huge tourist attraction just like Brittania in Edinburgh.

[hidetheelephants]

deevlash said:

It should be back on the Clyde, if it's going to rot anywhere it should be here. The money could be found from somewhere, even as a floating museum it's a huge part of Glasgows history and would be a huge tourist attraction just like Brittania in Edinburgh.

The Clyde based proposals at the time she was withdrawn had merit(and still do); the old dry dock complex to the west of the Prince's dock canting basin is reasonably good for transport links and handy for a host of other tourist attractions. It would have been a new impetus for finishing the unfinished business left by the '88 garden festival. However without meaningful political backing and no tame developer with deep pockets it wasn't happening. I rather thought given the amount of money Peel Holdings have made out of the city, they should have had their arm twisted in return for the all the blatant planning blight they got past the council and inflicted on the waterfront.

[Simpo Two]

hidetheelephants said:

I rather thought given the amount of money Peel Holdings have made out of the city, they should have had their arm twisted in return for the all the blatant planning blight they got past the council and inflicted on the waterfront.

Now there's an idea - get Tesco to put a superstore on it - in return for returning it to cruising condition!

[IanUAE]

Small update, the QE2 is now open as a hotel and the wife & I will staying on her for 2 days next weekend for our wedding anniversary (she doesn't know this yet.....).

https://www.qe2.com/