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Dubai threw one hell of a party to receive the Queen Elizabeth 2 in November 2008 - royal flotilla in accompaniment, naval escort, Emirates Airbus 380 flyover, bands, fireworks, and thousands of onlookers. Their conversion plans sickened those who could see that its Cunard history would be stripped from her. I count one voyage out of NYC under my belt.
The ship has been idle for 4+ years. Within the last day or two, it has been announced that a last minute attempt to bring her back to the UK has failed. What about other destinations? Ft Lauderdale? Sydney? Other places in Europe? She is certainly easier on the eyes than is the old Queen Mary, permanently moored in Long Beach CA's harbor.
There is no "intermediate" level solution. The Chinese have bought her to scrap her. Sadly, the first Queen Elizabeth caught fire in Hong Kong harbor, capsizing and laying there gutted for years. Chinese or SE Asian waters - where Europe's marvels of marine engineering go to die an undignified death. This is outrageous.
Since she has been purchased for scrap, I am sure that if you offer slightly more than scrap price, you could buy her.
Turn her into a floating casino, or put her back into service, whichever you think is the best use for her.
I think the best use would have been a Queen Mary (Long Beach CA) type of use, but somewhere else in the Western world. I'm just lamenting that the most storied of all ocean liners is to be scrapped. Sorry, but I don't have that type of money and, if I did, I wouldn't be buying the QE2 with it. Someone who is in hospitality / tourism / entertainment needs to be making that purchase.
There is no solution and all of these magnificent old ocean liners are on an inevitable, one-way journey to the breakers torch at Alang, ie; France/Norway, Leviathan, Majestic, Canberra, Mauretania....even the Queen Mary is falling apart as she rots in Long Beach Harbor.
There is no solution and all of these magnificent old ocean liners are on an inevitable, one-way journey to the breakers torch at Alang, ie; France/Norway, Leviathan, Majestic, Canberra, Mauretania....even the Queen Mary is falling apart as she rots in Long Beach Harbor.
Thanks for the pictures. I have seen the pictures of the old "France" (rechristened the "Norway") being torn up at Alang. The "France" only served for 12 years, from 1962-1974. Its fate was then uncertain. It then became the "Norway," with a stupid blue hull and all it essentially did was leave Miami week after week for a canned cruise to the Bahamas. I have seen it once in the Port of Miami, as it sailed out. I was not impressed because it was tacky, unlike the very classic "France" it once was. I once spoke to a man whose honeymoon consisted of a transatlantic trip aboard the "France" from NY to Le Havre (or Cherbourg), and he said it was incredible, especially the food.
When the QE2 sailed from Southampton for the last time in 2008, Capt. Ian McNaught was interviewed and said the ship's future in Dubai was better than the "alternative." I'd agree with that. However, the "alternative" was merely postponed. I think this could have been avoided altogether.
Here's the "France" arriving in New York for the first time - tugs, fireboats spraying, and helicopters. Those were the days - when America knew how to welcome a new transatlantic liner arriving from Europe.
Last edited by robertpolyglot; 01-03-2013 at 05:28 PM..
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