Ten years ago, Cunard Line retired the world famous cruise ship Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) after nearly 40 years of service. During that time, the ship made more than 800 transatlantic crossings, carried passengers on 25 world cruises and served as a troopship during time of war.
As larger, more modern and environmentally friendly ships began to set sail, the cost to keep the old girl afloat was not prudent. The decision to retire the longest-serving liner in the Cunard fleet did not sit well with historians and lovers of the ship with many saying a part of British history died the day her engines were shut down.
She was sold to Dubai for $100M and was to be turned into a “tourist destination” but the financial crisis that hit the country derailed plans and many thought the ship would simply rot away into history.
However, after ten years of uncertainty, the Queen Elizabeth 2 is set to welcome “passengers” once again on April 18th when she opens as a floating hotel. The ship, now owned by PCFC Hotels (a Dubai government organization), is permanently docked at Mina Rashid.
PCFC opens the ship Wednesday in what they’re calling a “soft opening” which marks the first phase of the ship’s new life. Additional phases will be completed over the next several months with an official grand opening planned for October.
Guests who visit the QE2, can stay in one of the ship’s 224 rooms and suites.
Four of the ship’s planned 13 restaurants will be open for the soft launch:
- Lido – the ship’s buffet offering breakfast and dinner
- Queen’s Grill – British fine dining for lunch and dinner as well as a tasting menu that features the exact same dishes featured on the ship’s first sailing in 1969
- The Yacht Club – afternoon tea and cocktails in the original, completely restored Yacht Club
- The Golden Lion – British pub food and drink
The ship also boasts a QE2 Exhibition, a museum that pays homage to the ship’s service from construction through to her heyday as the most celebrated passenger ship ever to sail.