http://chriscunard.com/index.php

[ 07-02-2012: Message edited by: Chris ]

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Originally posted by Chris:
[QB]Breaking news from Owners of QE2 today. Summarised here with links to press release.

http://chriscunard.com/index.php

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Mail Online

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Originally posted by KenC:
Here's another opinion on this!!!

Mail Online

KenC

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I am not sure that alone will make her into a money making enterprise but I am sure it will help and will bring her back to life.

Then the question is can they market the public spaces sufficiently to build up a business trade for catering, etc.

Let's face it, the port is at the wrong end of the Old Town and miles from the new shiny developments in Dubai. Without massive investment and a better location how will she compete for business?

I believe most cruise turn arounds in Dubai involve an overnight onboard so why would pax want to pay out more to stay on QE2 in port prior to a cruise? And what happens outside the cruise season when Dubai is extremely hot - how will the old girl's A/C cope then?

Most 'fans' seem to agree that the main attraction of QE2 was when she was at sea. Frankly the interiors of a static QE2 compare badly to some of the more luxurious modern cruiseship that sail out off Dubai - not very good for marketing.

All in all this smacks of desperation to make some money back on what has unfortunately become an expensive white elephant.

But I till think there will be people who decide isn't it wonderful or romantic or whatever to spend at least one night on the QE2. Some (a very few) might be willing to fly to Dubai just for the honor of going aboard but I suspect they will be able to attract more as a pre- or post-cruse add on. And those folks won't care where the QE2 is located near or far from the city. Just like the people who go to stay on the Queen Mary which is in a gotten location that requires transport to get to anything and most southern California attractions are a long way away across multiple freeways from the Queen Mary.

As for the air conditioning .... if Dubai can have a ski jump in a mall .... I am sure they can build air conditioning for the QE2. They will have to supplement (replace) the on board system with something from shore but I am sure they can do it if they try.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
I don't disagree that this is an attempt to make some money out of a giant expensive white elephant.

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We agree on that at least

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
But I till think there will be people who decide isn't it wonderful or romantic or whatever to spend at least one night on the QE2. Some (a very few) might be willing to fly to Dubai just for the honor of going aboard but I suspect they will be able to attract more as a pre- or post-cruse add on. And those folks won't care where the QE2 is located near or far from the city. Just like the people who go to stay on the Queen Mary which is in a gotten location that requires transport to get to anything and most southern California attractions are a long way away across multiple freeways from the Queen Mary.

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I agree that there will be some who are curious enough to stay on QE2 - but I doubt there are that many who will fly all the way to Dubai to do so. But for the majority who are tempted (especially the locals) I'm sure the loction will be too isolated and unattractive. With regard your comparison, I don't think you can equate the attraction of the interiors on Queen Mary with those on QE2, the transport culture of Southern California is very different from Dubai ... and even the Queen Mary has suffered financial problems for many years.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
As for the air conditioning .... if Dubai can have a ski jump in a mall .... I am sure they can build air conditioning for the QE2. They will have to supplement (replace) the on board system with something from shore but I am sure they can do it if they try.

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Absolutely agreed - when they had money they could do anything including a ski jump in the desert, but are they prepared to spend a lot of money on QE2??? The announcement suggests not.

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
All the British press and people who groan saying she should be in the UK .... which one of them wanted to write the $100 million check to Cunard? I am sure if someone had come forward with a better offer Cunard would have happily accepted it and who can blame Mickey Arison for grabbing the offer when Dubai put that type of money on the table?

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Exactly - no one else had that kind of money to throw away on buying a ship that was never going to pay for itself after being taken out of service. Nostalgia is one thing but QE2's glory days are gone and she should have been scrapped - all that is left to her now is lingering and humiliating death by neglect.

They have said that they would like the idea of staying on the QE 2 when she opens as a hotel as they have previously stayed on the RMS Queen Mary when in Los Angeles.