At last progress for the original QE2.

With working in travel for the past twenty odd years I have had many loyal customers who really love the original QE2. One lady sat at my desk and had tears rolling down her face with so much love and affection as she told me all about the QE2’s last voyage around in UK.

A few years later I was in Dubai and was boarding our cruise when my daughter said that there is an old wreck next to us and yes it was the QE2, she was looking so sad.

So I am now happy to advise that a press announcement on the 15th October 2013 in Shanghai told us that she would be transformed into a 5 star Luxury Hotel by 2015.

The iconic liner will undergo a complete refurbishment at the COSCO shipyard in China which will see its current 990 cabins converted into 400 suites. The refit will include a lavis ballroom, 7 restaurants, 10 bars, a cinema and a shopping mall.  However it is not clear just where she will end up when the work is completed.  Reports suggest Singapore although the website  has a picture of the Hong Kong Harbour as a backdrop with the QE2 in the forefront.

Cunard sold its flagship to a Dubai investor in 2007 for £64 million  who also had plans to turn her into a floating hotel but with the economic crash they were unable to carry this out. She as been languishing in Dubai ever since.  It was feared she could even be sold for scrap or returned to the UK as a tourist attraction.

The ships redevelopment will include trying to retain some of her original features and decor whilst creating a modern luxury hotel that will become one of Asia’s major waterfront hotels.