Connecting her up to shore supplies for water, power and sewage could give problems at some places.

[ 09-28-2009: Message edited by: Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company. ]

Her future has never been secure, including at Dubai.

The Dry-docking was needed since 2006 due - at least -to a leak at one bow thruster and to keep the anti-fouldng and paint in proper order. These measure could be useful:

1) To store the vessel for a long time anchorage (it was done in the 70's for SS France when unused);

2) To keep her in working order to sail to a future use (floating hotel, exhibition center)without tow.

3) or to go to a scrapyard without an heavy tow cost. For the moment, it's not what I think, but for me her future is not secure.

China or Asia could be a final or temporary destination if some hotel spaces are needed in the close future. I don't believe at all for Europe, USA our Australia, but I can be wrong. The project Dubai was for me a foolish project (but real)and I think that Dubai Emirates have understood that - including with a very good touristic location - a ship converted or not will never be a very good investment.

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Originally posted by Chris:
I think it is highly unlikely that Nakheel would have spent so much time and effort on the refit if Scrap was a viable option. It seems extremely unlikely to dress QE2 up in a new coat of paint, simply to send her to Alang.

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Hello,

That's why I say it's not an option for me for the moment.

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3) or to go to a scrapyard without an heavy tow cost. . For the moment, it's not what I think

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But the dry-docking was mostly done to give her a long needed solution to the leaking for the thruster, to remove all the dirt located at the propellers, put a new coat of anti-foulding and to keep her attractive visually for a future use (loan or re-sale). For me, nothing else but nothing more. The ship will anymore sail with passengers because I don't believe that the contract between Cunard and Nakeel can allowed her to be a cruise-ship again and she needs A LOT of work to be SOLAS 2010 upgraded.

For me you are half right, half wrong. At the beginning, QE2 project at Dubai was "a whim of billionaires" but with a study. But the economical crisis send back to reality and even if Nakeel is a rich Company, a cent is a cent.

So they have on their arms a "valuable ship", in almost good shape (it was not the case for the Norway) and no use, no future, no more project at Dubai for the moment. What to do with QE2 and the skeleton crew present on-board, port cost etc....

When I heard and seen the Dubai project for QE2 (forget project Norway, it was only a couple of drawing not a real study), it was for me a nightmare. To be once more honest, I'm not a real QE2's lover, even if it's a beautiful vessel. But the project was disrespectful and crazy.

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Originally posted by LenKinap:
Well .. as Bob Dylan says "The Times They Are A-Changin". I must be honest, I have never been a big fanatic of static ship because for me it's a -beautiful sometimes - cold structure of metal and wood. But for me nothing else, only a ghost a of a liner. Like a static steam locomotive in a museum.

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Spend a few days on Queen Mary 1 in Long Beach. Her forward observation lounge comes alive at night with a good Jazz trio. I love to eat breakfast on the boat deck overlooking Long Beach Harbor.

I love steam locomotives as well as classic ships. I would prefer to see either one static if it keeps it out of a scrap yard. In the past few years far too many classic vessels have ended up in Alang, just as far too many steam locomotives were turned into razor blades 50 years ago.