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What to do with QE2

By Shogun , November 8, 2006 in Cunard Line

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One day I would like to cruise on the QE2 but what will happen to her when her working days are over.

I think she should return to the place of her birth, be dry docked and kepted for all to see.

Whats your thoughts.

yours Shogun

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guernseyguy

The QE2 was built as a machine to make money. When she stops doing that she should retire - and in my view, join the great majority of her predeccesors, like the Mauretania and Aquitania and be scrapped. I write that as a fan of the QE2 - in truth, when no longer crossing the oceans, she will be a dead thing anyway - better give her a decent burial, than a slow lingering exit. Worst would be being sold on to some other line - a gambling ship in Asia, for example. The option you suggest of preservation would be worth considering - if there was much original worth preserving - the 1960s QE2 would be a design icon - but the much refurbished 2000s version has little left that is original, or worth preserving. So, enjoy her while she's here - and when her time comes, let her go.

AMEN! When the time comes, RIP.

Would make Ken C's day as well.

Much as it will grieve me I think that "retirement" (scrapping) is the best she can hope for. I think the idea of selling her to another line might be a good idea - one like Saga, not a line that wouldn't know how to treat such a gracious lady.

Would make Ken C's day as well. David.

Unless he wants to buy her to moor off the end of Brighton Pier and open a guest house!;)

I agree with Peter & Malcolm. It will be sad to see her go, but I agree that she should go to her end the way her great ancestors have. I only hope that this could somehow be done in some non-public way that will respect the dignity of this great ship. I fear that her status as the world's most famous ship will draw constant media attention during the scrapping process and that her dismemberment will become a photographic feast for the frenzied media. While I would love to see her go on, she would not be QE2 anymore under Saga's banner, however good they may be. Indeed, she lost much of her cachet when she ceased being a regular transatlantic liner. As much as I love her, she has become in many ways a parody of her own self. I look forward to my upcoming world cruise with her and as many future cruises as my finances and health will allow. I am also certain that when her exit time comes that she will make just as many "final appearances" as Frank Sinatra did!

End of sermon.

I am also certain that when her exit time comes that she will make just as many "final appearances" as Frank Sinatra did!

I think you'll get your wish.

Remember her "final" departure from New York?

She's been back...how many times since? :rolleyes:

...I think the idea of selling her to another line might be a good idea - one like Saga...

I suspect that the QE2 is, right now, a highly profitable ship (she appears to be close to fully booked with high per-diem passengers).

Nevertheless, Carnival will want to maximise the proceeds from an eventual sale so they will probably sell the ship while she still has a remaining useable life.

I agree that Saga, eventually, would be the most interested potential buyer. The QE2 might be an excellent fit for them. There is already a 'Saga Rose' and 'Saga Ruby' --perhaps we shall live to see a future, slighty jaded, 'Saga Realm'.

I wonder, what would be the QE2's "scrap" value? And how many of us old time fans of her's would it take to buy her at that price? Then we could happily spend our spare time for the next forever years restoring her to be ... the QE2!

perhaps we shall live to see a future, slighty jaded, 'Saga Realm'.

God forbid. I rather have cufflinks fashioned from the remains of her hull!

captain_rad

Just think of the Queen Mary in Long Beach. A noble idea to keep the lady as a rembrance of yester year, but with to little cash she is dieing a slow death. My wife and I love the original Queen Mary and get on her every chance we get. She is the reason we now sail on the QE 2. As much as I would like to keep getting on the QE 2 in her retirement, I think that when the time comes, it would be better for her to do one last Spectacular 365 day world cruise, and then sail off into the setting sun one last time. Never to be seen again, just live on in the hearts and thoughts of all that were lucky enough to sail on her.

I rather have cufflinks fashioned from the remains of her hull!

Put me on the waiting list - I want a pair of those:) (although not for a long time)

The thought of bits of the QE2 being sold off on E bay for years to come would be a very sad ending for this or any ship.

Likewise to think of her as a feature in a fun park would be just as bad,

or to become a casino in Asia some place.

What about putting her next to the ship that her name sake sailed so much on HMS Britannia so would have the Ship QE2 and ship that QE2 sailed on side by side.

Or take her out into the middle of the Atlantic and give her a burial at sea

I would not do this as i) its environmentally questionable and ii) Carnival shareholders should get back some of the money they have invested in her - even as scrap. She was built as a machine to make money - that how she should end.

I would not do this as i) its environmentally questionable and ii) Carnival shareholders should get back some of the money they have invested in her - even as scrap. She was built as a machine to make money - that how she should end.   Peter

She may well have been built as a machine to make money, but she's so much more than that now! I've heard that she could be retained by Carnival and tied up in Southampton, to be used as an in-house hotel for pax for the Mary and the QV, and of course, any interested members of the public. What do you all feel about that?

Transatlantic Tom

I think you'll get your wish. Remember her "final" departure from New York? She's been back...how many times since? :rolleyes:

A year or so back, Peter speculated that when that sad time arrives - QE2's final days - Cunard/Carnival could very well have her do an abbreviated Final Transatlantic "season"...If I remember his idea correctly, something like 6-8 crossings.

I still think (a) it's a great idea, and (b) that it's not entirely out of the question...

One can hope !!

A year or so back, Peter speculated that when that sad time arrives - QE2's final days - Cunard/Carnival could very well have her do an abbreviated Final Transatlantic "season"

Great idea... but she already had a "Farewell Transatlantic Season." It should be marketed as "Queen Elizabeth 2 - The Encores." Under this marketing scheme, there would be an encore series of transatlantics, Northern European cruises, caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises, culminating in, of course, the "Grand Encore World Cruise," during which she would visit all the continents.

If QE's finale is marketed as such, be it known that it was authored on these boards by me, and if Cunard uses my idea, I will expect as compensation a Queen's Grill suite for all of these voyages in return for my marketing strategy. :rolleyes:

Or take her out into the middle of the Atlantic and give her a burial at sea.

I too thought of this. It has attractions.

However, whatever WE think, the end will be determined by the balance sheet.

Unless he wants to buy her to moor off the end of Brighton Pier and open a guest house!;)   Peter

pnhmrk...malcolm : are you sure you are sailing on Dec18th? We are booked on the same cruise but we sail on Dec 17th...hope you don't miss the ship.

Are you sure you are sailing on Dec18th?

I put the wrong date in when I set up the counter:o When I realised it was too late to change it and I've never got round to making a new counter! It is the 17th not the 18th that we go.

There is a roll call here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=344138 . It's not that active at the moment but it would be nice to meet some of our fellow CCers.

Nah ... too many two star hostels and rusting things in Brighton as it is!!!

And that's just the residents!

I hear the accomodation is even worse! ;)

Cunard Cruiser

I must respectably disagree with those who think QE2 should be scrapped like her predesccors. When her predecessors were given their death sentences by being sent to the breakers, ocean liners were as common as the today’s jumbo jets. However, QE2 is the last British built liner who also server as a troop ship and is a true definition of an ocean liner with her sleek lines and no appearance of apartment house balconies to top her off.

When Concorde, last of its breed retire, not one Concorde was scrapped because they are so unique. Like QE2 they can be copied by never duplicated!!

I must respectably disagree with those who think QE2 should be scrapped like her predesccors. When her predecessors were given their death sentences by being sent to the breakers, ocean liners were as common as the today’s jumbo jets. However, QE2 is the last British built liner who also server as a troop ship and is a true definition of an ocean liner with her sleek lines and no appearance of apartment house balconies to top her off.   When Concorde, last of its breed retire, not one Concorde was scrapped because there are so unique. Like QE2 they can be copied by never duplicated!!

So what do you want to do with her then?

The British Concordes are a disgrace. They have been plundered of their systems to ensure they don't fly again.

Air France keep one near enough flyable. The hydraulics are exercised twice weekly. It is almost enough to get revenge for Trafalgar.

Concorde doesn't belong on the ground. QE2 doesn't belong to the land.

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By NJBill , April 28, 2006 in Cunard Line

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I have sailed a few times on other lines and was thinking of trying the QE2. I was looking at the pricing structure, and it seemed a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be, given the luxury of the ship. Am I missing something? Is food included like other cruise lines? Do they charge for things that most others do not?

Thanks for the information.

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... given the luxury of the ship.

That is the point - the QE2 is luxurious. However she is a) 40 years old; and b) a liner not a cruise ship. If you want a floating gin palace (you'll guess I don't!:) ), all glass, mirrors and atriums then she's not for you, you wouldn't consider her luxurious. If however you want to experience a boat that was built to cross the Atlantic in all weathers, you want the patina of years of fine living, you want a ship with character, then the QE2's the finest ship afloat.

To answer your question - everything's included that you'd expect to be included, there are no nasty surprise, she's just an elderly lady with the end not too far distant - that's why her cabins are cheap.:(

What catagory were you interested in?

I have sailed a few times on other lines and was thinking of trying the QE2. I was looking at the pricing structure, and it seemed a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be, given the luxury of the ship. Am I missing something? Is food included like other cruise lines? Do they charge for things that most others do not? Thanks for the information.

There is no other comparable experience because there is no other liner in the world like QE2. And that is probably the essence of the difference. QE2 is a liner, built to cross the Atlantic at a rate of knots (remember the QE2 can travel backwards faster than most ships can go forwards) and in her heyday was the epitome of ocean travel.

The world has moved on. Cruising is now a multi billion dollar industry with each shipping company vying for trade. Ships are glitzy floating hotels with all associated amenities.

The QE2 is nearly 40 and she may show her age in some ways. But I guarantee that sailing her will be an experience that you'll be unable to replicate on any other ship. The food is excellent, service incomparable and the sense of 'living' history on board is indescribable.

As far as I'm aware, services etc on QE2 included in the price are the same as for other cruise liners. All food, including room service meals if you don't want to eat 'out', tea and coffee whether with a meal or if you're sitting in a public area at any time, water, orange. There's an exquisite white glove afternoon tea served in Queens ballroom at 1600 each day. Sandwiches and cakes served by impeccably dressed staff.

No, you're not missing anything. But if you don't book within the next year or so, you may lose the opportunity to sail on a legend. And I guarantee that chance will never come again. Go for it and enjoy!

dougnewmanatsea

Well, I'm not sure I'd say that QE2 is that much more luxurious than other ships... At least not in the lower categories.

She has a reputation for being a "luxury" product but in reality I think only the Grills (that's Q and P grade cabins) fit into that segment of the market. Caronia and Mauretania grades, IMHO, are "premium", in the same market segment as e.g. Holland America, and they are priced accordingly.

So if you expect a product that is a lot more luxurious than other ships, you may be disappointed. That's not to say that she's Spartan - far from it - but she is not a "luxury" product (except in the Grills). However, the public perception of QE2 (or QM2) as being far more luxurious than other ships is not necessarily true these days.

All that said, I agree with the other posters... QE2 is a very different ship from any other, and she is really something "to be experienced". I would not say that she's for everyone - the average mass-market cruise passenger would miss the atrium, the balconies, the alternative dining, etc. - but she is a living legend with an atmosphere, grace, and style that the modern ships just can't match. So in the end - go for it! She may not be with us that much longer, and there will never again be another ship like her.

Another warning, her cabins are tiny and quirky, compared to most modern ships. However, the beds, pillows, and duvets are exceptionally comfortable, and the service will be excellent. I had one of the smallest singles (78 ft sq, including bath and closet) but would not hesitate in the least to book that same inside cabin. The closet and drawers are more than adequate. No sofas or lounge chairs, to say the least!

Expect more wood paneling than on modern ships, which is a sign of her age. There is plenty of public space and the two main public decks have chairs and tables along the windows on both sides, with the dining areas and bars mostly in the middle of the ship, so you have a lot of choices to sit and read a good book if the weather is bad.

She is truely an historic legend and you may regret never having experienced her.

Another warning, her cabins are tiny and quirky, compared to most modern ships.

Well... Certainly quirky, but they need not be tiny if one chooses well!

The key with QE2 is to choose a specific cabin and choose it carefully - even in the M grades, one can get a very nice cabin.

If you choose carefully, you can wind up with a cabin that is actually larger than those aboard most newer ships.

And of course, as you said, all of her cabins have storage space that puts newer ships to shame.

Bramcruiser

Although I haven't sailed on the QE2 I think its important that if anyone wants to see the glory days of ocean travel then they should definitely look into the ship. It may not be flashy and come with all the trappings of a modern cruise ship but it certainly is the most famous of the last of its kind.

The 1970's were the glory days of ocean travel? - that's interesting ..... perhaps you are referring to the bunk beds still in some M grade cabins???

The 1970's were the glory days of ocean travel?

I think QE2 represents "the twilight years of ocean travel" rather than "the glory days".

If you want to see the "glory days", go to Long Beach and take a look at QUEEN MARY!

Unfortunately, people born after WWII are too young to have experienced the "glory days"... Twilight was already setting in by the late '50s and by the time QE2 came around, she was really just a magnificent dinosaur.

Which of course is what she is. Even the high-tech QM2 is sort of like, I don't know, a carbon-fiber fountain pen - she uses the latest technology, but in a sense is still totally obsolete!

.....If you want to see the "glory days", go to Long Beach and take a look at QUEEN MARY! .......

Couldn't agree more and have done so twice ..... it's what I keep telling people when they rave about QE2 being ... well you know what without me saying!!!

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