Post Card from the QE

[Doc Vernon]

Family reunion: The current Queen Elizabeth arrives in Dubai with the QE2 in the foreground. ​

QE_QE2_Rendezvous_(hi-res).jpg

Sun Apr 17th Dubai: Boarded the Queen Elizabeth at noon, settled aboard & then sailed at midnight. Pure dreamboat – the Elizabeth is a great, great favorite. There's this warmth, a luxurious warmth if you will, about her. And, I feel, the ship just welcomes & embraces you. A comfort begins the minute you step aboard.



I am onboard the QE for 21 days & nights; then 7 days homeward (from Southampton on May 10th) on the Queen Mary 2. No quite change partners & dance, but change ships & keep lecturing. Doing 11 talks in all, between the two Cunard trips. Of course, already met lots of Cunard guests from previous trips. But unpacked, turned the cabin into a version of home and then celebrated quietly with an Indian curry dinner.



Dubai darkness: Waited up to see the QE2, berthed nearby, but – while dressed in strands of strung lights on top – looked sad, lonely and lifeless in all other ways. Those of who were watching fell silent. We all have so many memories, happy memories, in that 47-year-old ship. The QE2 might have been saying to current Elizabeth: "Please save me and take me with you!"



An outgoing lady from Scotland's River Clyde region, in fact, added: "I blew three kisses to the QE2. We are so proud of her – what a piece of engineering!"



Whispered rumor from a few onboard sources: The Queen Mary 2, due here tomorrow morning at 6:00am, would arrive early and meet as the Queen Elizabeth sailed off. And so, you would have had three Queens together – counting the QE2. Like a family reunion! (It didn't not happen, however.)



Mon Apr 18th At sea – in the Arabian Sea between Dubai & Oman: Ship 98% full – 1,920 passengers out of 2,100 beds – divided as 1,300 British, 200 Australian, 100 Americans, 100 Germans, 50 Japanese, etc.



Location: This morning, we are, more precisely, in the Strait of Hormuz and, by afternoon, ten miles off the coast of Iran. Huge tankers & containerships silhouetted on the horizon. Haze and 95 degrees.



Settled aboard & glancing over that first full-day program & offering the likes of morning lectures such as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and An African Journey, then specialty talks such as Body Sculpting Boot Camp, a Japanese Kimono Doll Workshop, How To Look 10 Years Younger, Cha Cha Class and – back to those added pounds -- Super Slimming for that Stubborn Fat, then finishing with a Creative Writing Workshop and an afternoon film (The Danish Girl).

[Captain Kong]

What a terrible waste of the best ship that Britain had. I had sailed on many world cruises on her right up to the last one.
Sold for 50 Million, many people in Britain could have bought it and never noticed the cost. The price of a footballer.
It could have been moored at the Pier Head in Liverpool opposite the Cunard Building where it was Designed. in a lagoon just like the old Queen Mary at Long Beach,.
It would have created hundreds of jobs for Liverpool, She could have had Conference rooms built into the accommodation, Offices for Rent, for local companies, Accommodation for holidays in Liverpool, a Wedding Chapel, Restaurants and many other money making features.
She should be brought back to UK soonest, I would volunteer to help to crew it.
Cheers
Brian

[vic mcclymont]

Brian, Inverclyde tried to buy her last year. It would cost at least £10M to purchase her. £10m to remove asbestos plus refit costs betting charges and permanent place. It was deemed to expensive, sadly
Regards
Vic