Queen Elizabeth 2 Departing Dubai for Singapore and China in October 2013

QE2 in Drydock in Dubai - Courtesy Drydock World Dubai

In a news conference held at Drydocks World Dubai,  chairman Khamis Juma Buamim provided more details and status on the plans to reactivate the Queen Elizabeth 2 as a floating hotel. The current plan is segmented into 3 parts.

Part 1 - the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) will be mechanically prepared to sail for Singapore and China. She is currently drydocked at the Drydock World Dubai Facility. Work currently being completed includes over-hall of her engines, navigation equipment and structure to assure her seaworthiness.  Just recently she was provided her classification and ocean going certification. She is expected to depart Dubai on October 18th.

It is anticipated that a crew of 32 will sail the ship to Singapore where part 2 will begin. Part 2 includes the removal of artwork and historic memorbilia which will be stored in a warehouse until the accomodations are rennovated. The Queen Elizabeth 2 is expected to arrive in Singapore on November 1st and stay for three days.

Next the ship will head to Hong Kong where she will dock briefly (estimated at 3 days) before heading to a yet to be determined shipyard in China where she will be converted in an all Suite hotel. Internally she will be reconfigured to 400 suites ranging from 60 square meters to 150 square meters. The renovation is expected to cost $90 Million Dollars.

After the refit is complete, she will be relocated to a yet to be determined site in Asia, where she will serve as a stationary hotel. Current speculation has Hong Kong, Shanghai or Singapore as possible sites.

The QE2 has sit idle in Dubai for more than 4.5 years and is expected to have a royal send off as she steams from Dubai under her own power on October 18th.

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Winter Time Cruising From New York Is In Full Swing.

Queen Victoria, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.- Copyright NYCruiseInfo,com

Winter time cruising from New York is in full swing. Yesterday 1/18, three ships were docked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel, which departed promptly at 5:00 PM, and is sailing on a 2 day cruise to nowhere. The ship is expect to hug the New Jersey coast for the next 2 days and return to New York on Sunday.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem, which also departed promptly at 5:00 PM and she is sailing on a 9-Day cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Phillipsburg, St Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Samana, Dominican Republic;

Cuanrd Line's Queen Victoria which sailed at 9:00 PM on a 97-Day around the world cruise, visiting exotic destinations world wide.

It was a cold day in New York but beautifully clear.

To find a winter cruise that is right for you - browse the 2013 cruise schedule from Manhattan, Cape Liberty Bayonne and Brooklyn

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QE2 On the Road to Becoming a Stationary 5-Star Resort.

Queen Elizabeth 2 During Her Cruising Career to Become a Floating Resort in the Far East.

 
As reported on the Drydocks World Dubai Website, The Queen Elizabeth 2 is to become a 500 suite, high end hotel in the Far East - Details are below.

Dubai, Thursday, January 17, 2013 – QE2 Dubai, has the pleasure to announce that MS Queen Elizabeth 2 Known popularly as (QE2) will be moved today to Drydocks World Dubai for undertaking classification checks prior to her renovation as a luxury floating hotel.

Before her retirement to Dubai on 11^th November 2008, the QE2 took regular cruises around the world as well as operating a scheduled liner service across the Atlantic Ocean between Southampton in the UK and New York. She carried 2.5 million passengers, sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings during 39 years of service for Cunard.

QE2 Dubai has created a large consortium to convert the QE2 into a five-star hotel with 500 rooms managed by a prestigious international hotel as an operator.  The Oceanic Group, a group of deeply-experienced advisers to cruise operators and managers in Asia, will take the lead in managing this project while Drydocks World Dubai will carry out extensive technical and operational checks prior to her move into Asia..

The vision for the QE2 is for her to become a landmark cultural and tourist attraction-a beacon of luxury, glamour, quality and tradition - in the heart of a leading Asian city that shares her rich maritime heritage and is prepared to give this very special ship the prominent waterfront home she so richly deserves. The consortium will lavish many millions of dollars on this magnificent ship to restore her to the splendor of her glory days as an icon of the very best the world has to offer.
A number of Asian cities have expressed interest in securing this historic attraction. We have firmed up with an international tourist city in the Far East as her first destination.
The chosen city shares the passion of the partnership for preserving the history and reputation of this great ship that holds a special place in the collective memory of the many a million passengers that have sailed on her during nearly 40 years of service. The renovations and upgrades planned will respect and safeguard the immense heritage embodied in her fine lines and luxurious fittings.
Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World & Maritime World, said

“We are greatly privileged to be part of this move to create history with this project, which is perhaps one of the most defining moments in maritime travel. This prestigious project will no doubt be another milestone in not only Drydocks World but in Dubai’s expanding portfolio of world-leading attractions. We are pleased to be in partnership with the QE2 consortium and the Oceanic Group in the very challenging project. I have no doubt that together we will achieve total success in this endeavor.”
Mr Daniel Chui, Managing Director, Oceanic Group, said:

“The QE2 is starting the next exciting journey of her long and illustrious career. We feel truly privileged to be part of the consortium that will take responsibility of this incredibly important piece of maritime history. We are honored that we have been chosen to manage this project to restore a truly historical icon to the days of her former glory. We promise to give the world a truly spectacular attraction.”

Plans for the upgrading of the QE2 also include a shopping mall with the finest world leading brands, a QE2 Café offering meals similar to those served during cruises, three Michelin-starred restaurants, convention and meeting facilities. There will also be an onboard maritime museum displaying QE2 memorabilia and her rich history, along with a collection of treasures of Dubai. 

 Source: http://www.drydocks.gov.ae/en/news/grang.qe.aspx

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Cunard Line to Offer Renown Guest Speaker on Select Voyages

Cunard Line to Welcome Cutting-Edge Speakers from
the Worlds of Books, Business and Biology in 2013

Renowned for its award-winning Cunard Insights on board enrichment programme, Cunard Line has announced that leading luminaries in their fields – author Bill Bryson, business guru Lord Digby Jones and eminent Professor of Science and Society Lord Robert Winston – are among the featured speakers aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth beginning this spring.

“The quality of our speaker programme on board our ships is something which sets Cunard apart,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.  “We are delighted to welcome three such pre-eminent and internationally respected figures to our line-up for 2013 who will add an extra dimension to our passengers’ experience on board.”

Delving into a variety of compelling and relevant topics, Cunard Insights introduces guests to accomplished experts and visionaries who reflect the Line's legacy of adventure and prestige while sailing a luxury cruise vacation.  Sail dates for these cutting-edge Cunard Insights speakers, as well as the voyage itineraries, are as follows:

• Lord Digby Jones, Queen Victoria, Adriatic Explorer, 15 May, 17 days:  Southampton; Palermo for Sicily; Korcula, Croatia; Venice; Dubrovnik; Corfu; Messina for Sicily; Valencia, Spain; Southampton.  Fares start from $3,074 per person (including government fees and taxes), plus save $500 per person off airfare when booked by 31 March 2013.
   
• Lord Robert Winston, Queen Elizabeth, Norwegian Fjords and North Cape Explorer, 26 May, 14 days: Southampton, Stavanger, Flaam, Alesund, Trondheim, Honningsvag for North Cape, Tromso, Geiranger, Bergen, Southampton.  Fares start from $2,616 per person (including government fees and taxes), plus save $500 per person off Airfare when booked by 31 March 2013.
   
• Bill Bryson, Queen Mary 2, Autumn Colours, 15 October, 12 days: New York; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Bar Harbor, Maine; St John, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Québéc (overnight stay); New York.  Fares start from $1,999 per person.

All fares quoted are per person, based on double occupancy.

Bryson, Lord Jones and Lord Winston complement the array of speakers lined up for Cunard’s current four-month World Voyages, who include:

• Queen Mary 2 – journalist and war correspondent Martin Bell; ex-Formula 1 driver Sir Jackie Stewart; former Chief of the General Staff General Dannatt; and “Human Planet” BBC documentary producer Dale Templar
• Queen Elizabeth – Roger McGuinn, lead singer of The Byrds; Royal commentator Jennie Bond; former ambassador and high commissioner Sir Alan Collins; and polar explorer Felicity Ashton
• Queen Victoria – former politician and broadcaster Edwina Currie; author and “queen of cakes” Jane Asher; and cartoonist Gerald Scarfe

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Posted by Cruise-Guru at 1:30 AM No comments:

QE2 Reportedly Sold.

Queen Elizabeth 2 Reportedly Sold

Reports out of Dubai indicate that Cunard's ex famed Queen Elizabeth 2 of 1967 has been once again sold.

The ship was famous for sailing transatlantic from New York to England for much of her career.

The ship was originally sold to Dubai investors in 2008, who intended to convert ths ship into an attraction and world class hotel. When financial troubles hit Dubai the ship laid idle - only being used on rare occassions - such as a venue for a 2011/12 New Years' Eve party.

The ship was originally purchased by Dubai investors for $100 Million Dollars, has now been reportedly sold for $32.4 Million Dollars.

Reportedly purchased by Southeast Asian buyers - it is unclear what further plans lay in her future although some speculate she may have been sold to scrappers.

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