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Nothing we didn't already know, but confirms the funnel is still intact...
QE2 hotel project appears to be on hold in DubaiWednesday 27th May 2009By Keith Hamilton
LOOKING forlorn, forgotten and unloved, Southampton’s former queen of the Atlantic swelters under the glare of the fierce, unremitting Dubai sun as temperatures climb to 109F.
This is how the one-time Cunard liner QE2 looked just two days ago, tied up at a berth in Dubai’s container port where she has been languishing ever since she arrived in the Emirate in November last year.
Partly hidden behind a row of container carriers, QE2 appears to be deserted.
For 40 years, she was a familiar sight at Southampton docks in between voyages criss-crossing the globe, but ambitious plans to convert the former liner into a luxurious floating hotel and tourist attraction seem to be on hold.
Dubai, like much of the rest of the world, is in the grip of recession, and has seen dramatic cutbacks and the postponement of many high-profile projects.
Little progress seems to have been made transforming QE2 since she has been in the Middle East, although her government-backed owners, Nakheel, insist that the conversion is still set to go-ahead.
Plans for QE2 include the creation of 200 hotel rooms as well as the development of 130 apartments.
Andrew
"Well at least she is intact". And the point of her being intact ? For what real purpose ? She looks bloody miserable. With respect ships are mean't to be ships, for a ship to have life she must be at sea.
I think I would rather her be at Alang than just rot away. It is going to be many years before it is likely she will be needed as a hotel in Dubai, unless they keep spending significant sums she won't be in much of a condition by then. A $100 million may seem like a small amount to loose compared to keeping her in condition for a few extra years with no money coming in.
Instead of turning her into something like the Hakon Jarl;
they can make do with the 'hotel' part of the ship as is and leave the exterior design alone.
IMO double up the outside/inside deck 4 and 5 closets and they become reasonable sized rooms.
re-create the MOD furnishings for the public rooms; remove the Mauretania Galley and put back in the observation lounge.
Will it succeed? If promoted properly and the Dubai tourist industry does not collapse.
[ 06-03-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]
quote:Originally posted by steeplechase:What is that a picture of above anyway? An old cruise ship? WHere is it?
It is the Hakon Jarl, an obsolete Hurtigruten ferry. I sailed the sister: Harald Jarl.
Hokon is moored in Antwerpen, Belgium. It is uglier in person than in photographs and desisted since it may have ruined my camera.
Point is, that disfigurement could happen to QE2
Hakon Jarl in her prime:
quote:Originally posted by viking109:Well according to local TV here in Southampton this morning, nothing is likely to happen in the near future. Concepts have not even been put forward yet. However the engines and props are turned now & agian
MMM, that is actually very interesting.
Does anyone have any idea how bad the cracking was that I seem to remember reading about ?
quote:Originally posted by jetwet1:MMM, that is actually very interesting.Does anyone have any idea how bad the cracking was that I seem to remember reading about ?
I thought the reported cracking was on one of the Queens now in service and not the Q E 2 !
quote:Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises):I thought the reported cracking was on one of the Queens now in service and not the Q E 2 !
That was Victoria.
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