QE2 in Dubai

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 was one of the most successful passenger and cruise ships ever built - the last of her kind or so it was feared at the time she was delivered to Cunard in April 1969. She was the last big Clyde-built liner and the pride of the British merchant navy.

QE2 had the longest career of any Cunarder so far - 39 years that came to a close in November 2008 when the former Cunard flagship was handed over to local owners who intended to turn the QUEEN into a new tourist attraction and hotel the same way QUEEN MARY has been kept in Long Beach since 1967. However, nothing has happened since that time and the QE2 is still waiting for plans to give her a new lease of life as an hotel ship where ever it may happen.

My friend Bill Miller photographed her on 17 April in her lay up berth at Port Rashid, Dubai, from the decks of Cunard's QUEEN ELIZABETH on the world cruise. By now QE2 looks forlorn and sad. What is going to happen next?

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Cunard comemora 175 anos

A Cunard está a comemorar os 175 anos da fundação, em 1840, quando o vapor de rodas BRITANNIA iniciou a actividade da companhia, largando de Liverpool para Boston com passageiros, correio e alguma carga. Na imagem de cima, registada em Fevereiro último, o QUEEN ELIZABETH visita o seu antepassado QUEEN MARY de 1936 em Long Beach, onde se encontra desde 1967. O actual QUEEN ELIZABETH efectuava a volta ao mundo.

O antigo QUEEN MARY atracado em Long Beach, Califórnia, onde se encontra desde Dezembro de 1967, depois de comprado pelo município local à Cunard.

O antigo QUEEN ELIZABETH de 1940 a sair de Nova Iorque pela última vez a 30 de Outubro de 1968, quando foi retirado do serviço e vendido a interesses americanos para ser transformado em atracção turistica em Port Everglades, o que não teve o mesmo sucesso do QUEEN MARY na Califórnia.

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 (1969-2008), fotografado em Durban por Tevor Jones durante um cruzeiro à volta do mundo na década de 1980, ainda com a propulsão original a vapor. O QE2 encontra-se no Dubai desde Novembro de 2008.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

QE2 docking in Lisbon

Since QE2 first call in Lisbon in April 1969 I always tried to see and photograph her on her many visits to the river Tagus. In this photograph from about 1990, the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is being assisted to berth at the Alcântara passenger terminal by the tug PIONEIRO, a handsome motor tug converted from a French-built steam tug and purchased from Companhia Colonial de Navegação in the late fifties.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

QUEENS...

My friend and books co-author Bill Miller has been celebrating "Over 50 Years of Travel, Travel by Ship & Travel Photography". Here it is another of Bill photographs and respective caption:"I was presented to Her Majesty The Queen during her farewell visit to theQE2 at Southampton. The date was June 2008. It was a marvellous occasion," remembered Denny Farmer, a longtime Cunard passenger and widow of Willy Farmer, a noted Cunard engineer. "The Queen, who is quite small, had to crane her neck to look at two tall gentlemen. But the Queen and I were eye level. So it was easy to chat. She seemed interested, almost very interested. She actually asked why I enjoyed cruising. I noticed she had the most flawless complexion and twinkling eyes in blue-gray. She wore a mauve outfit and carried a gleaming handbag. Her hair was done to perfection. Her lady-in-waiting discreetly stood nearby, but behind. Captain Ian McNaught was nearby as well, but then suddenly got a kiss from a passenger. The Queen turned and smiled. Then she nodded to me. It was a sign that she was moving on." This photo of the QE2 is dated April 1973. She is at Pier 92 with the smaller Sea Venture on the left, but most unusually berthed at Cunard's former cargo pier, Pier 94. The Sea Venture was having "wet dock" repairs & provisioning. 

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright Bill Miller. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

QE2 to go East as hotel ship

O grupo Dubai World acaba de tornar público que o famoso paquete QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 vai finalmente ser transformado em navio-hotel com 500 camarotes e posicionado numa grande cidade da Ásia, que tudo indica seja Hong Kong. Abaixo reproduz-se a nota à imprensa de hoje.

The Dubai World Group has informed today that their passenger ship QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is going to be positioned in Asia for use as an hotel ship. It seems her next base will be Hong Kong. Here is the press release and website details at the bottom. 

GRAND DAME OF THE SEA QE2 SET FOR RELAUNCH AS A LUXURIOUS FLOATING HOTEL IN ASIA 

Iconic cruise liner to be restored to the former splendor of her glory days after refurbishment into elegant five-star 500-room hotel:  Dubai, Thursday, January 17, 2013 – QE2 Dubai, has the pleasure to announce that MS Queen Elizabeth 2 known popularly as QE2 will be moved today to Drydocks World Dubai for undertaking classification checks prior to her renovation as a luxury floating hotel. Before her retirement to Dubai on 11th November 2008, the QE2 took regular cruises around the world as well as operating a scheduled liner service across the Atlantic Ocean between Southampton in the UK and New York. She carried 2.5 million passengers, sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings during 39 years of service for Cunard.
QE2 Dubai has created a large consortium to convert the QE2 into a five-star hotel with 500 rooms managed by a prestigious international hotel as an operator. The Oceanic Group, a group of deeply-experienced advisers to cruise operators and managers in Asia, will take the lead in managing this project while Drydocks World Dubai will carry out extensive technical and operational checks prior to her move into Asia.. The vision for the QE2 is for her to become a landmark cultural and tourist attraction - a beacon of luxury, glamour, quality and tradition - in the heart of a leading Asian city that shares her rich maritime heritage and is prepared to give this very special ship the prominent waterfront home she so richly deserves. The consortium will lavish many millions of dollars on this magnificent ship to restore her to the splendor of her glory days as an icon of the very best the world has to offer.
A number of Asian cities have expressed interest in securing this historic attraction. We have firmed up with an international tourist city in the Far East as her first destination. The chosen city shares the passion of the partnership for preserving the history and reputation of this great ship that holds a special place in the collective memory of the many a million passengers that have sailed on her during nearly 40 years of service. The renovations and upgrades planned will respect and safeguard the immense heritage embodied in her fine lines and luxurious fittings. Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World & Maritime World, said "We are greatly privileged to be part of this move to create history with this project, which is perhaps one of the most defining moments in maritime travel. This prestigious project will no doubt be another milestone in not only Drydocks World but in Dubai's expanding portfolio of world-leading attractions. We are pleased to be in partnership with the QE2 consortium and the Oceanic Group in the very challenging project. I have no doubt that together we will achieve total success in this endeavor." Mr Daniel Chui, Managing Director, Oceanic Group, said: "The QE2 is starting the next exciting journey of her long and illustrious career. We feel truly privileged to be part of the consortium that will take responsibility of this incredibly important piece of maritime history. We are honored that we have been chosen to manage this project to restore a truly historical icon to the days of her former glory. We promise to give the world a truly spectacular attraction." Plans for the upgrading of the QE2 also include a shopping mall with the finest world leading brands, a QE2 Café offering meals similar to those served during cruises, three Michelin-starred restaurants, convention and meeting facilities. There will also be an onboard maritime museum displaying QE2 memorabilia and her rich history, along with a collection of treasures of Dubai. ENDS For further information about the future of the QE2, please visit our website at www.qe2hotels.com 

First QE2 photo taken off Lisbon in April 2006: second and third pictures taken also in Lisbon on 29 October 2008, all by L. M. Correia.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

QE2 tema de rumores

Apesar do seu exílio árabe e inactividade desde Novembro de 2008, o famoso paquete QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 continua a ser fonte de rumores e notícias, repetindo uma prática que sempre acompanhou este grande navio desde a década de 1960.

A semana passada foi noticiada a venda do navio para sucata para a China por cerca de 20 milhões de libras, mas tal noticia não tem confirmação oficial. O que se passou concretamente foi a substituição dos 40 elementos da tripulação do navio, que está em Port Rashid, no Emirado do Dubai, por uma outra tripulação de 20 elementos de nacionalidade chinesa. Consta que o QE2 será docado mais uma vez em breve e poderá ser transferido para Singapura. 

Entretanto em Londres uma iniciativa denominada QE2 LONDON está a procurar adquirir o antigo navio da Cunard para servir de hotel flutuante no Tamisa, projecto com potencial para gerar 2000 postos de trabalho.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

On board four Cunard QUEENs

I caught the Queen Mary 2 inbound at San Francisco, Jan 2007. But a recollection of those great Cunarders: Living quite near Southampton, the great British seaport, Philippe Spanner wanted to go to sea, to see the world. So he joined the Cunard Line in 1966 as a 17-yr old. 

"It seemed a way to see the world, but on a bargain. I started on the grand old Queen Mary as a bellboy. I had a special uniform and even wore white gloves. In those days, family & friends were allowed to come aboard and see off the passengers. I delivered Champagne, canapes, even bon voyage telegrams. The ship itself was magnificent, a world of wood panelling and beautiful carpets and fine furnishings. My dream had come true --- I enjoyed it all from the start. Later, I was moved to the Queen Elizabeth, where I became an elevator boy and then a commie waiter. A commie waiter is an assistant in the dining room and where you do all the running around. It was still all very grand, and the rich and famous were still there. And there were some great tips. I lived in a 4-berth cabin in the crew quarters. Next, I was transferred to the Franconia, which was on the continuous 6-day New York-Bermuda run. She was actually my favorite Cunarder, but because of her weekly trips to Bermuda. I loved diving and Bermuda was perfect for that. We'd have overnight stays in New York and, on Friday nights, I used to go to the British Seamen's Club on West 48th Street to watch a movie & have a drink."

Philippe was selected in the spring of 1969 to join the brand new QE2. "By then, I was working in the kitchen and as a full waiter. Captain Warwick was in command. She was absolutely and totally different than the other, earlier Cunarders. She was light years away from the original Queens. The crew loved her, however. But all of them felt she'd never last --- that she was too plastic and the not the quality of the old Queens. During a New York layover, just before the ship's first Christmas cruise, there was a dinner for the crew. The officers helped serve and Captain Warwick served me my Christmas dinner. I also remember that Count Basie and Tony Bennett came on as entertainers on that first Christmas cruise down to the Caribbean. I stayed with the QE2 for a year-and-a-half, but then met a nice young girl and felt it was time to say goodbye to the sea. I was very, very fortunate to have had those times with Cunard, sailing on the liners. Recently, I returned --- crossing on theQueen Mary 2. I really am lucky --- in my life, I've sailed on the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth 2 & Queen Mary 2!"

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright Bill Miller. Favor não piratear. Respeite o nosso trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

The three QUEENS

I did the narration from the bridge of the Queen Mary 2 as the then three Cunard Queens met at Southampton in Apr 2008 ... the QE2 is being overhauled (prior to her sale in six months to Dubai) while the new Queen Victoria is in the far distance. It was an afternoon of bellowing whistles, cheers, music ... yes, indeed, Rule Britannia!

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright Bill Miller. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CUNARD ships to be flagged out?

It has been rumored recently that Cunard Line is considering the flagging out of their ships in order to reduce crew costs and other operating costs allowed by registers such as Bermuda or Malta. 

This likely move is in fact a lowering of the standards of the most famous of British passenger shipping names still trading. The official excuse to change registrations of the Cunard QUEENS is the present inability to have weddings performed at sea by the ship's captains and the respective loss of extra revenue.

Cunard ships have graced the oceans for 171 years, always under the British flag, and this tradition was kept after Carnival took over Cunard 13 years ago, although since the 1980s Cunard operated most of their cruise ships under the Bahamas registry. Only the famous QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 sailed under British registry but when Carnival took over one of their ships, VISTAFJORD was renamed CARONIA, refitted and registered in UK.

All this scenario is part of today's glorious globalization at a time when what rules is money and the biggest profit. People is a commodity and or a consumer. Europe's and Britain's maritime heritages have dispersed and the interest of the average European citizen in maritime matters is now second to zero. 

Despite its international liberal operative ways, Carnival Corporation has always been sensitive to the importance of tradition and European flags and registers have been kept or rejoined whenever possible. It was Carnival who promoted the return of Holland America ships and Costa ships to their home registries, with the respective ships registered in Rotterdam and Genova. However P&O and Princess Cruises have been managing the ship registries the other way with ships flagged out to Bermuda. P&O's newest cruise ship, the AZURA was christened in April 2010 and at first sailed under Southampton registration, but this past February she joined the registry of Bermuda.

The prestige of Cunard and their QUEENs fleet will be tarnished by the change of registries to a more convenient flag such as Bermuda or Malta. It would make sense to change UK laws instead to allow British shipping to remain competitive... Will it be too late? What is the point of having the British Royal Family christening prestigious ships such as QUEEN MARY 2, QUEEN VICTORIA or QUEEN ELIZABETH and then soon have those ships sailing under foreign flags?

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

DUBAI QUEENS

Dubai Queens: on 31 March 2011 the new cunarder QUEEN ELIZABETH called at Dubai on her first world cruise meeting with the most famous QUEEN of all six, the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 of 1969...Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in 1975

My first photo of a most beloved ship, the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, taken a long time ago, exactly in the morning of 3 June 1975. It was a busy day, I had already photographed at the other terminal - Alcântara - the GALILEO GALIEI and the ROYAL VIKING STAR. The light was better on the first two, but I really enjoyed the QE2. Later that day I returned to the river to cover her departure, this time with slide film in my camera.

To check for more QE2 photos by LMC click here...And last bur not the least, do not forget my QE2 and Cunard blog here...

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Chaminés tipo QE2

Um dos aspectos revolucionários associados à estética do paquete inglês QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 foi a sua chaminé extremamente original. O impacto foi tão grande que depressa influenciou outros navios, com destaque para os gémeos da Royal Viking Line de 1972-73, cujo primeiro paquete, o ROYAL VIKING STAR é agora o BLACK WATCH da Fred. Olsen, cuja chaminé fotografámos no Tejo a 16 de Janeiro último, à largada na sua escala mais recente.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Cais de Alcântara, 3 de Junho de 1975

Paquete ROYAL VIKING STAR em manobra de atracação ao Cais de Alcântara no dia 3 de Junho de 1975. Pela popa vê-se o GALILEO GALILEI, do Lloyd Triestino, e entre os dois navios, a pilotar no Bom Sucesso, o QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, que depois foi atracar ao Cais da Rocha.
O Cais de Alcântara apresentava ainda a sua configuração original, com diversos armazens de carga junto ao Entreposto de Alcântara Sul e para juzante, a Estação Marítima de Alcântara junto à muralha. Na década seguinte, com a reconstrução do cais entre a Rocha e Alcântara esta paisagem mudou substancialmente e conquistou-se ao Tejo mais um terrapleno que depois deu origem ao terminal de contentores da Liscont.

The Norwegian cruise ship ROYALVIKING STAR docking at the Alcântara Passenger Ship Terminal, in Lisbon, on 3rd June 1975. Already fast at her berth is the Lloyd Triestino liner GALILEO GALILEI on one of her final round the world voyages and between them the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is sailing past the Bom Sucesso Pilots and later berthed at the Rocha Passenger Terminal. One of my early b&W photographs taken 33 years ago... Of the three ships in the picture, the GALILEO is long gone, the ROYAL VIKING STAR still cruises as the BLACK WATCH and the QE2 is doing her final world cruise prior to her sale to Dubai with delivery next November. Click in the photo to enlarge it.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CUNARD QUEENS IN LISBON 2008

The famous Cunard passenger ships QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, QUEEN MARY 2 and QUEEN VICTORIA are scheduled to pay 13 calls in Lisbon in 2008.

The veteran and classic QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 visits Lisbon nine times during 2008: 7 May (8h00 / 16h00), 23 June (7h00 / 16h00), 4 July (8h00 / 17h00), 22 July (8h00 / 16h00), 14 August (8h00 / 17h00), 29 August (8h00 / 17h00), 10 October (7h00 / 16h00), 14 October (8h00 / 17h00) and 29 October (8h00 / 17h00).

The Cunard flagship QUEEN MARY 2 docks in Lisbon on 24 June (7h00 / 16h00) and 19 September (7h00 / 16h00).

Last but not the least, the new QUEEN VICTORIA pays two calls to Lisbon in April 2008: at the end of her world cruise on 19 April (8h00 / 24h00) and on 29 April (8h00 / 17h00).

It will be great to see the QUEENS in Lisbon again. I only wish the new QUEEN VICTORIA could visit Lisbon more often...

Text and images copyright L.M.Correia, unless otherwise stated. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Thanks for your visit and comments. You are most welcome at any time - Luís Miguel Correia