QE2 As Heritage Hotel
Recently, a number of news reports have emerged about the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, the former Cunard liner that was retired in November 2008. Originally, she was to be refitted and opened as an hotel and attraction on Palm Jumeirah, a group of man-made islands off Dubai but after the global financial collapse, the plans were scrapped and she remained in lay up.
In July 2013, the ship’s ownership was transferred to a consortium of investors under a Dubai-based entity called QE2 Shipping. In mid-October, there were several announcements about the liner’s on-again conversion to a luxury hotel ship. At that time, international designers were invited to submit proposals for the former Cunarder’s interiors.
It was also stated that the Cosco Shipyard in Shanghai would carry out the conversion of the vessel into a luxury floating hotel with a reported completion date in 2015.
With previously announced plans to remake QE2 as a static hotel (first in Dubai, then as a casino in Macau), or berth her as an attraction in Cape Town or near the O2 arena in London all coming to naught, many remain skeptical.
The latest project, however, does appear more advanced than those that were previously announced.
Daniel Chui, president and chief executive of QE2 Holdings and managing director of Oceanic Group, said: “The ship’s redevelopment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any interior design professional to create what will become one of Asia’s major waterfront tourist attractions.”
“The goal for the final design is to preserve the soul of the QE2 — many of the original furnishings and much of the décor will be incorporated — while creating a modern luxury hotel.”
The current plan would see the refitted ship on a three month tour of Asian ports, which, under the terms of the original sale, would likely require Cunard Line’s approval.
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Conversion. The Queen Mary was “converted” and look what happened to her…
These idiots need to realize that QE2 is already a floating hotel. No conversion is necessary…
Not to forget the last ship named QUEEN ELIZABETH that went to the Orient for “conversion”…
Whatever needs to be done to ensure survival and avoid the beach. Conversions are necessary to generate revenue, without revenue – we all know what happens then.
There are many sites that offer a glimpse, fleetingly, into what may actually be realized as the QE2’s future and perhaps her ultimate fate. These sites are not difficult to find.
Just as there are many sites for her ie: QE2 conversion, there are also many dictionary sites that offer similar definitions for the word conversion, in English.
To take a stagnant liner in and sail her to Asia and just have it become a floating hotel will certainly involve conversion, no matter what any other thoughts may wishfully be.
I wish this venture the best, however, there is always the doubt factor, the security of funds and the track record of the new owners and their integrity, not to mention the future if all should fail.
I review this as something to be very cautious of, and take with a grain of salt that not even the Dead Sea can provide. The interiors as Martin has provided are enough to make me cringe.
Is this happy, warm and fuzzy news? Wait and see.
It’s not encouraging when they get the name wrong for the press conference “QEII” instead of “QE2” but since they own her, they can (and apparently will) do anything they want to her now.
As for the design/decor, it’s the usual faceless, insipid decor of the region.. I don’t think there’s a more soul-less, vapid part of the planet than the Gulf states. Then again, Cunard did more to destroy the original wonderful QE2 than anyone so it’s not such deep pocketed foreigners mucking her up. Again. But not much here to get excited or encouraged about, it looks like a high budget variation on the ORIANA “conversion” and I think the little left that’s original 1969 QE2 will wind up in the skip.
If you want to remember the QE2, dig out your copy of the White Brochure… there’s none of that left here.
Let’s see: The statement that they are getting her diesels and plant up to spec appears to have come to nothing, the long promised October 18th departure for China is now abandoned with no revised date announced, the announced plan to sail her to Asia has now turned into a requirement that the shipyard “come and get (tow?) her, and the published designs for the conversion appear to be not much more than the responses to a bunch of RFP’s sent to various designers. I hope I’m wrong, but this does seem to be just so much baloney, and likely part of an effort to raise funds. Not much to believe in with any of it.
Or better yet, the 1969 issue of Design Magazine with QE2 on the cover. That is the Real and brilliant QE2 worth remembering!!
@David Lee: Too bad no one wants to rebuild the QE2 back to how it was when it began its maiden voyage in 1969. Those initial interiors would cost a lot of money to recreate, as well as the removal of the Penthouse suites.
Well said Kenneth Eden. Yes we’re probably all skeptical as we should be. For the QE2 to languish in Dubai for a lengthy period is bad news as any. I understand that there are many possible definitions of the word conversion but the type I would fear least would be Queen Mary’s example.
Queen Mary, for the most part has retained her original features and also a great deal of her interior appointments -could not ask for much more. I believe QE2 could only hope to see the life that QM had. I guess all that could be done is to cross our fingers and hope for the best.
To repeat your own quote, well said Glenn L.!! For QE2 to end up with Queen Mary’s fate would indeed be something we should not fear all that much. Queen Mary has had a successful life as a floating hotel for more years than she sailed as an ocean liner in her happy retirement in Long Beach, California. Not to say that the conversion didn’t do some horrific damage to the interiors, but they were mostly to the machinery areas and not the staterooms or public areas of the ship. All of Queen Mary’s original banquet rooms also remain largely intact. My biggest fear is of course what happened to her sister ship, Queen Elizabeth. I think it is far more likely that with the current economic downturn that some arsonist will just torch her like they did to the original Queen Elizabeth and we will lose the ship altogether. We can only hope that QE2’s final fate ends up more like Queen Mary and NOT Queen Elizabeth!!
Unfortunately, I have a gut feeling and I hope I am wrong,The QE2 will go the same way as the France went(NORWAY)onto some beach for scrapping/ demolition, and those of us that have had the priviledge of cruising on her will only have those memories left..and great memories they will remain.
Best wishes to the QE2
Carmelo.
Bear in mind the Kungsholm of 1928 became a hotel in the Bahamas after her retirement. Not sure why she closed. I have a brochure from this stage of her life somewhere. What we not give now to have a chance to experience this great ship regardless of what modifications had been done to her? Same goes to a QE2 with some interior renovations. Better that than the alternative. Besides, her original decor had largely vanished changed long ago and so many times she did not have the same personality from year to year.
It’s still difficult to imagine the emotion that the QE2 brings to the fore when chatting with former passengers and crew alike. It would be sad for her to end up in a scrapyard and I do hope that her buyers manage to transform her into a hotel so that many more people can experience this iconic former cunarder.
Why the B.H have Cunard got to have any say in what happens to the Beautiful Old-Girl ? they got rid of her as they didn’t want to be bothered with her, sod Cunard and lets wish the QE2 a long and happy extended retirement.
As rash as it may seem,. getting rid of an older ship, a very expensive “for sale” sign attached, precluded her outcome, maybe less harsh as it could have been.
One thing that is certain, she was grand in her day, bright and state of the art, her day has come, only halcyon days are to be hoped for, and even hey seem dubious.
A with everything man constructs, there is the inherent built in obsolescence, the build to last only as long as the lasting qualities are sound. Al else is folly, the hopes of new owners, as it be, on the cheap, trying to remake the old sows ear into something it was not to be.
As with old building, fitted out as condos or lavish apartments, conversion is expensive, and profit is a given, mandatory. Why should she, the ship of fables, legend and celebrity be any different? Why, because we will not be able to covet her as we may a dwelling or something other more touchable.
She is the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, and nothing that any new owner does to her will gladden us.
Yes indeed, for if the QE2 were to be restored to exactly as she was in 1969 and moored in some city (anywhere in the world) perfect as she was when she first entered service then there would be cries for her to sail again and to recreate her glory days. The same could be said for any of the former great liners; once they are saved and are a perfect recreation of the way they once were then one wants them out there on the oceans, after all that is what they were designed for. So indeed, whatever the new owners of the QE2 might do to her, or the owners of the United States or any ship that has invoked passion, we’ll never be pleased – unless the ships remain in service sailing, for ever sailing, perfectly as we remember them when they were new and we were young.
My opnion since back in 2008 was that the QE2 should have gone to scrap then.Seen her now at the present is so degrading for a LEGEND.They have no feelings for the ship,she was bought as a big ego nothing more.If the plan goes ahead she will be ripped out down to the metal and turned into something that will have no connection to the QE2 we love.
From my contacts in Dubai the state of the ship is in a mess.Dust and more dust all over the place.The ship will not be leaving at least this year.As for 2014 who knows but I say that today in year QE2 will not be among us anymore.
QE2 should have gone to the breakers in 2008 but Cunard got greedy and saw £ signs. What is happening now is a disgrace and if she doesn’t meet a bad end (fire or sinking) I’ll be surprised. At 40 years old (or thereabouts) she’d had a good innings. Other ships half her age have, undeservedly, been scrapped.
I agree QE2 should have gone to the breakers she will at some point any way. what happened to Queen Mary in long beach was a disgrace. QE2 should be brought back home one more time to her home port and not left to her present owners who do not care about the ship or her history.
Nigel, your comments leave me confused.
While there were things done to the Queen Mary in Long Beach that in hindsight ought not to have been done, the fact is that she is there and she is a very popular tourist attraction. Had she not been sold to the city of Long Beach she would have been scrapped.
As for the QE2; why should she be brought home one more time, what for?
If you feel that her present owners do not care for her or her history, why would they feel any need to sail her back to the UK?
Are you expecting the QE2 to some how or another be brought back to Southampton for one final nostalgic voyage so that people can line the waterfront and say “It’s disgusting the way that Cunard got rid of her.” It’s obvious that people do that anyway and yet no one came up with a sensible plan to maintain the ship in this country.
It seems to me that the real problem is that many people do not like the fact that there are people out there with vision and money and the imagination to do something – something daring, maybe even exciting. Once, back in 1969, the QE2 was daring and exciting. Well, sadly, we can’t have 1969 back again and what ever is done to the QE2 let us hope that they don’t try to recreate 1969 and yes, do something exciting and daring.
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