QE2 Story Forum
QE2 in Dubai => QE2 Hotel Dubai (2018 onwards) => Topic started by: Rob Lightbody on Mar 22, 2018, 07:18 PM
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Please use this topic to share your photos of QE2 Hotel's interiors (once she's opened officially).
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https://instagram.com/p/BhwsnXgnTtc
https://instagram.com/p/BhvunpYB1RU
https://instagram.com/p/BhvoRA-nds-
https://instagram.com/p/BhvVCnpn_I1
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Is that the piano that was originally on the first Queen Mary - or is this the other piano?
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Is that the piano that was originally on the first Queen Mary - or is this the other piano?
This is not the Queen Mary piano that was in the Chart Room, but is a different piano (was in in the Theatre before perhaps?).
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Things look dark below 1 Deck
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https://instagram.com/p/BhwsnXgnTtc
On a January crossing leaving the Yacht club for that men's room in the upper right of that first picture, I was bounding down the opposite staircase, when the ship pitched forward and I found myself on that upper step without ever touching the landing below or the steps leading to it!
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My own sources have shown me a number of photos of the Queens Room and Chart Room. Both are fundamentally intact, but currently devoid of a stitch of furniture. The Chart Room has lost its gold ceiling and sports a neutral beige carpet, and the Queens Room ceiling and pillars are present and correct (and the ceiling is very nicely, evenly illuminated). The only snag I can see in the Queens Room is that it might have lost the uplighting on the pillars (covered by the beige carpet), but I need to see more photos to be sure.
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uplighting on the pillars (covered by the beige carpet), but I need to see more photos to be sure.
Fire Hazard?
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https://twitter.com/tanker2/status/987301378098855939
https://twitter.com/tanker2/status/987296813026865152
https://twitter.com/tanker2/status/987296453059141632
https://twitter.com/tanker2/status/987296150943358976
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Our posh bathroom with original QE2 door. Love it ;)
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Some items from museum.
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Our posh bathroom with original QE2 door. Love it ;)
Lovely! The bathroom itself looks much like 2008 (the wash basin for example).
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This is the first sight when entering midship lobby.
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Still a bit of Cunard!
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The photos are showing a great interior ! It seems almost too good to be true that our QE2 is mostly looking like herself ! :)
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Seeing more pictures of the interior makes me happy to know that the ship is coming back to life again!
It's also nice to see many artifacts of the Heritage Trail back on display (Like the 3 tapestries for example)
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With all the complaining, not QE2, not Cunard etc etc, still beautiful!!!
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Yes, there are parts that are still familiar QE2.
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What decks are not open? I am assuming 3 Deck and below.
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What decks are not open? I am assuming 3 Deck and below.
Quarter Deck, One Deck, and Three Deck and below.
Boat Deck, Upper Deck, and Two Deck are open so far.
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Thank you so much Alan and Shone for going to QE2 for us all - how thoughtful of you! - and taking these wonderful photos of our QE2!! Can't wait to hear more when you're back.
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Glad to help Rob. ;)
Also glad everybody else has taken good photos as technology is not my thing.
Here are a few of our pictures.
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Wow, some of the original carpet has survived on A stairway! I also see they've repurposed the desk from the old Tour & Travel office.
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Glad to help Rob. ;)
Also glad everybody else has taken good photos as technology is not my thing.
Here are a few of our pictures.
They're excellent photos! Great to see A stairway still has the same carpet it had in the end in 2008, with a Cunard clock! Louis has confirmed the glass door of the old wardroom is still in place (with recent photos I've seen too) and what we see in QE2 whistle's photos is the fire door in front of it!
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Great to see more photos of the interior of the ship. Thanks Alan and Shona!
Such a shame though that the Britannia Figurehead no longer stands at the top of A Stairway.
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Thank you so much, QE2 Whistle for all these lovely photographs.
It looks as if some of the old hand rails have been retained, and new ones in steel installed too.
Did you notice things relating to all the watertight doors, fire-extinguishers, and muster notices, and the luminous strips along the foot of the bulkheads along all the alleyways?
Your Port Vila life-ring - that's interesting too - must have been ready for Cape Town!
(I wonder when she was de-registered there)
Hopefully you didn't feel too sad leaving her - on the contrary, it could of been a relief!
It was wonderful to hear from you - and A Thousand Thanks, R.
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Here are a few more pictures.
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Hello Twynkle
The signs for the muster stations were still there, also the fire extinguishers too. We never got down to see the watertight doors on the lower decks but they did have a big door shut on upper deck at one stage. They must have been working behind it.
x
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Even our last night on board is still there. I remember being at the Beatles until the early hours not wanting that night to end. :'(
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Hello!
Is the corridor that is being worked on One Deck?
Thanks
Michael
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Yes Michael it is one deck. The carpets were still all covered.
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Thank you! Pleased you've been able to relive some of the magic!
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This was the ladies on E stairway.
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Yes Michael, a lot of the magic is still there. We just missed all the creaking and vibration. She was very quiet compared to her old transatlantic days. But the feeling when entering midships and around the corner on two deck brought it all back. No other ship can give you that feeling.
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This was the pictures in our cabin and the ladies on G stairway.
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Breakfast in the Queens Grill. Never thought we would get that!
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This was the ladies on E stairway.
I remember those bins! And the notice about the spread of illness! Thank you for bringing back happy memories from a personally happier time :)
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Yes, it was all those little things that made us feel so at home. As you say happy memories, and they were everywhere. :)
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Thank you so much, QE2 Whistle for all these lovely photographs.
It looks as if some of the old hand rails have been retained, and new ones in steel installed too.
Did you notice things relating to all the watertight doors, fire-extinguishers, and muster notices, and the luminous strips along the foot of the bulkheads along all the alleyways?
Your Port Vila life-ring - that's interesting too - must have been ready for Cape Town!
(I wonder when she was de-registered there)
Hopefully you didn't feel too sad leaving her - on the contrary, it could of been a relief!
It was wonderful to hear from you - and A Thousand Thanks, R.
We spotted this Dubai life ring too. Sorry about the quality as it was taken through glass.
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Here are a few of our beloved Yacht Club. We spent many a happy hour there.
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https://instagram.com/p/BhwsnXgnTtc
https://instagram.com/p/BhvunpYB1RU
https://instagram.com/p/BhvoRA-nds-
https://instagram.com/p/BhvVCnpn_I1
Love these photos! It shows the interiors have an artistic quality of their own and aren't a case of function to the detriment of form. It's a happy balance.
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Love all the interior shots!
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Love these photos! It shows the interiors have an artistic quality of their own and aren't a case of function to the detriment of form. It's a happy balance.
And the interiors in the public areas are a lot like they were (mainly new carpets). The legacy of Project Lifestyle in most cases, despite the divided opinions it causes, continues to live on!
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Here are a few pictures from the museum in the terminal.
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This was the virtual bridge in the museum.
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Here are a few pictures from the museum in the terminal.
I've never seen a photo before of the part of the piston of "Echo" diesel that was kept in the Wardroom! All excellent photos, bringing back (happy) memories even if a lot of the items are no longer onboard.
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We could not believe it when we saw this chair from the Queens Room in the museum. This was me sitting on one in 1983!
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Here is another now and then!
The drawer unit was also in the museum, and the other picture is of the one in our little cabin (2019) in 1983.
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We could not believe it when we saw this chair from the Queens Room in the museum. This was me sitting on one in 1983!
The Queens Room chair looks original too, given the wear and tear on the base! Wonder if it was used in the crew areas for many years after the 1986/7 re-engining refit (I think) it was replaced in? As happened with other items of furniture! Lasted around 50 years now and still looks great, not many things can do that (except QE2 externally herself)!
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Another now and then!
We were telling the staff about the midships lobby being navy and green on our first trip.
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Like the before and after shots.
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Another now and then!
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Thomas,
The 'Part of the piston from the wardroom' is actually the centre section of the crankcase door. It covered the opening through which the conrod, b.e. bearing was withdrawn from the crankpit. This remnant used to live on the inner bulkhead around the corner by the wardy dart board, along with a little plaque to commemorate the event - the edge of it can just be seen to the left in the photo of the bar - see attached.
The two circular builder's plates either side of the rocker cover remnant are the actual plates off the ship's whistles. I will blow up my original photos and see if I can make them a little clearer. Done!
I wonder what has happened to all the other memorabilia from the wardroom?
Skilly
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The evening lighting in Mauretania and crystal bar looks far too bright - the opposite of mood lighting. Was it as it seems in the photos? Restaurants at night need to be dimmed down...
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Thomas,
The 'Part of the piston from the wardroom' is actually the rocker cover from the top of the cylinder head. It covered the valve gear, etc, on the top of the head. This remnant used to live on the inner bulkhead around the corner by the wardy dart board, along with a little plaque to commemorate the event - the edge of it can just be seen to the left in the photo of the bar - see attached.
The two circular builder's plates either side of the rocker cover remnant are the actual plates off the ship's whistles. I will blow up my original photos and see if I can make them a little clearer. Done!
I wonder what has happened to all the other memorabilia from the wardroom?
Skilly
Thank you Skilly for your excellent information! I suspect most if not all the memorabilia from the Wardroom is in the terminal building now, since the Wardroom is no longer what it was (it's undergoing major construction work) and is being repurposed as we speak.
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Sorry to Thomas & All,
Must be too late at night (actually 0315 here). The MAN B&W emblem shown in my earlier post photo is from the centre of the crankcase door. It is the wrong shape for the rocker cover emblem. My bad!!
I have corrected the text below in my earlier posting. Gotta keep the facts right!
Cheers,
Skilly
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Sorry to Thomas & All,
Must be too late at night (actually 0315 here). The MAN B&W emblem shown in my earlier post photo is from the centre of the crankcase door. It is the wrong shape for the rocker cover emblem. My bad!!
I have corrected the text below in my earlier posting. Gotta keep the facts right!
Cheers,
Skilly
No worries! It appears to show a part of the damage the diesel received?
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I've never seen a photo before of the part of the piston of "Echo" diesel that was kept in the Wardroom! All excellent photos, bringing back (happy) memories even if a lot of the items are no longer onboard.
I am guessing from the state of that part that this is the one that put a leg out of bed?
Edited.... I just saw Skilly's later post with the picture of the plaque underneath it, which answers my question...
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Re-attaching Alan & Shona's "then and now" photos from above with fade-correction applied.
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Visited the QE2 this week and found it quite sad to be honest. Not what I remember from the 34 cruises 😪
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We could not believe it when we saw this chair from the Queens Room in the museum. This was me sitting on one in 1983!
She still had them on board by 2008? (Like stored away?)
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Visited the QE2 this week and found it quite sad to be honest. Not what I remember from the 34 cruises 😪
Can you elaborate a bit more please Heather? Do you think she'll improve as she opens up more fully in the coming months, and gets busier?
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It felt like a ghost ship. Hopefully as more people visit it may improve. We intended staying for dinner and perhaps stay overnight but to be the only ones in the Mauritania and perhaps the only ones onboard didn’t appeal to us. Very strange feeling when the engines aren’t in operation. Our tour guide kept asking us “is this original, is that original...” Most of the beautiful paintings are hung in the terminal building as are the library books. I went to a toilet onboard and the inside doors had been replaced with a cheap, not well finished one. Just me being picky I suppose. As I said I felt sad when I got off and to be honest it isn’t the old lady that we all love - I wanted to bring her home with me!!
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It felt like a ghost ship. Hopefully as more people visit it may improve. We intended staying for dinner and perhaps stay overnight but to be the only ones in the Mauritania and perhaps the only ones onboard didn’t appeal to us. Very strange feeling when the engines aren’t in operation. Our tour guide kept asking us “is this original, is that original...” Most of the beautiful paintings are hung in the terminal building as are the library books. I went to a toilet onboard and the inside doors had been replaced with a cheap, not well finished one. Just me being picky I suppose. As I said I felt sad when I got off and to be honest it isn’t the old lady that we all love - I wanted to bring her home with me!!
Thank you for confirming about the library books! I spent many hours in the Quarter Deck library over the years. I have asked the official QE2 Dubai Instagram account and they said some of the library books are in the terminal (and from photos it doesn't look like them all - at least not yet). I agree she's not fully alive anymore...but that was decided back in 2013 at the latest and is what it is despite being sad to me as well! The ship we knew really died on 27th November 2008.
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In my plan for QE2 Hotel, I was going to operate the 3 Grill restaurants, and Caronia, but not Mauretania because its simply too big - I was going to keep Mauretania free as an event/exhibition/meeting space. I wonder what they intend to do once the other restaurants are refurbished - they don't need 5 surely.
What time did you go to look at Mauretania? And was it very brightly lit like we've seen in other photos recently?
I had hoped with the air conditioning plant on board, that the ship would "hum" enough to feel like she's idling in port - I think Rotterdam does this, I remember thinking she felt like she was about to sail.
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The evening lighting in Mauretania and crystal bar looks far too bright - the opposite of mood lighting. Was it as it seems in the photos? Restaurants at night need to be dimmed down...
Rob
The lighting right along upper deck was very bright as in the pictures. It made the ship appear much more modern but the Mauretania was too bright and lacked any ambience. Hopefully it will improve with time. It seemed very much a work in progress. I agree with Heather how quiet it seemed at times, just like a ghost ship. Hopefully it will be better once she is fully open but she will never have the same feel she once had in her life as an ocean liner. Midships Lobby and two deck still had the same lighting we remember and felt more like the ship did but without the creaks and vibration she once had :(
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Apparently the bright lights are dimmable, maybe not done yet?
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I've never been in a (nice) restaurant at night with bright lighting, it's simply incorrect.
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I've never been in a (nice) restaurant at night with bright lighting, it's simply incorrect.
Likewise neither have I. Bright lighting is done to rush people along through eating and therefore service in lesser eateries...
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https://instagram.com/p/BiKNIliDANZ
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They've replaced the green carpet which used to be in front of the model with carpet from one of the staircases!
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They've replaced the green carpet which used to be in front of the model with carpet from one of the staircases!
I noticed that too, how curious?! As far as I know the Mauretania model (thought to be Lusitania in disguise and I would agree from looking up close in person) has been in this display the whole time she's been in Dubai.
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There were rolls and rolls of new unused carpets on board when i was there in 2011. Maybe they realised it was extremely high quality and worth saving...
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Recognise these rooms?
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Continued
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Recognise these rooms?
None other than old library and bookshop. Going to take some getting used to...although glad the ceiling and certain other aspects have been retained. Thankfully not the convenience shop/store!
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Comparison with the old days (my poor quality photo from August 2007):
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4584/38657013022_fb521f264d_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21TZibw)My July 2007 QE2 trip photos and a couple of videos (https://flic.kr/p/21TZibw) by Thomas Hypher (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashypher/), on Flickr
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Wow, the Library and Bookshop look almost unrecognizable. Luckily the Circle K is not taking those spaces.
I spy the beloved Silver QE2 model!
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Wow, the Library and Bookshop look almost unrecognizable. Luckily the Circle K is not taking those spaces.
I spy the beloved Silver QE2 model!
Well spotted Brandon, only just seen it! Back onboard its rightful home!
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Likewise neither have I. Bright lighting is done to rush people along through eating and therefore service in lesser eateries...
The tempo of music also plays a lot into it, Quick music and everyone rushes, slow it down and its more relaxed.
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None other than old library and bookshop. Going to take some getting used to...although glad the ceiling and certain other aspects have been retained. Thankfully not the convenience shop/store!
Which begs the question, what are these rooms going to be used for now ? Put some magazines on the tables and you have a Drs Waiting room in Hollywood.. ;) or the way the chairs are positioned it could be the start of a Friends of Bill W meeting.
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The tempo of music also plays a lot into it, Quick music and everyone rushes, slow it down and its more relaxed.
Forgot about that! Then again I have barely been to the likes of McDonald's etc. I remember the piped but suitable music on QE2, mainly in the Lido - and on QM2 subsequently.
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Which begs the question, what are these rooms going to be used for now ? Put some magazines on the tables and you have a Drs Waiting room in Hollywood.. ;) or the way the chairs are positioned it could be the start of a Friends of Bill W meeting.
I'm betting on more conference/meeting rooms. A different type of transaction will take place in the Bookshop now...
Maybe for use with events as well but strike me as too small and too restricted (each room)?
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I think the bookshop/library interiors have been done with some consideration and care - an interesting carpet, nicely toned-in furnishings and wall colours, its one of the first areas I've seen where they've actually done something totally different, but with some character of its own.
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One of the most popular photos seems to be of the view which has changed least on board.
https://instagram.com/p/Bh22r7wnsUo
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One of the most popular photos seems to be of the view which has changed least on board.
https://instagram.com/p/Bh22r7wnsUo
Effective, elegant, understated, and timeless...
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What an odd assemblage of furniture in the book shop, all set up around the edges looking at each other... Like an elevated doctor's waiting room. (Or, a terrible party.)
I wonder why they would not put the silver model back in the lobby. I loved the way it was up-lit and seemed to glow in the atmospheric Mid-Ships lobby. I was so special in that location.
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https://instagram.com/p/BiNe5y9nEh3
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https://instagram.com/p/BiNe5y9nEh3
Thankfully those extra support beams present at the event the other day have been removed along with the gantry and extra lighting they were supporting. More reflective of normal appearance I hope and if so not bad at all in my opinion!
On a side note, talk about encouraging motion sickness! :o
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Looks like they can play with the colours. Last time, it was purple, now red.
And the little steps at the edge are there... interesting to see whether they will incorporate them into the future design.
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Looks like they can play with the colours. Last time, it was purple, now red.
And the little steps at the edge are there... interesting to see whether they will incorporate them into the future design.
The illuminated bases to the columns seem to have gone or been covered over, which is a real shame as they were an intrinsic part of the design. I'd also like to see the curtains or screens replaced, to allow the room to be separated from the promenade.
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On a side note, talk about encouraging motion sickness! :o
Theres more spin in a day at Carnival HQ than shown in that view... But it was nicely done... :)
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Theres more spin in a day at Carnival HQ than shown in that view... But it was nicely done... :)
Know what you mean, lol ;)
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https://instagram.com/p/BiPRDP5gHCn
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Everyone seems fascinated by her stairwells, just as we were.
https://instagram.com/p/BiPly9-n_cK
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I see they've moved the furniture for the "Queens Gin bar" - looks much better now to me.
https://twitter.com/FBearder/status/991389645249400832
I checked my old photos, and can see now that they have indeed lost the "crystal" in the crystal bar - there was a fabulous frosted glass? backing in the bar. Wonder where it is now?
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Mentioned earlier the up lights in the Queens Lounge are covered over, but they are also covered over in the midships lobby.
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Mentioned earlier the up lights in the Queens Lounge are covered over, but they are also covered over in the midships lobby.
The lights in the floor around the central column?
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The lights in the floor around the central column?
Yes, if you look at this thread:
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.0.html
The first post shows her after the Dubai refit with a little shelf-y thing around the base of the column. And your post #9 below it shows her in service with 4 up-lights.
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Yes, if you look at this thread:
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.0.html
The first post shows her after the Dubai refit with a little shelf-y thing around the base of the column. And your post #9 below it shows her in service with 4 up-lights.
I see now! An "interesting" decision for sure...
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I'm absolutely certain that this tune will have been played in that room in the past! So nice to we her lively like this after such a long time laid up.
https://instagram.com/p/BiUf7K2nGBI
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I'm curious to see her 5 deck entrance, that is in use as well as the midships lobby entrance.
https://instagram.com/p/BiUhTaXn5ju
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Everyone seems fascinated by her stairwells, just as we were.
https://instagram.com/p/BiPly9-n_cK
Is that A stairwell?
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Is that A stairwell?
No I don't think it is from memory, looking at photos and videos. Could be E stairwell.
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I'm absolutely certain that this tune will have been played in that room in the past! So nice to we her lively like this after such a long time laid up.
https://instagram.com/p/BiUf7K2nGBI
Sounds like a fun time!
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Sounds like a fun time!
It really was, during the evening shows for example with the ship gently rolling in the ocean swells! Glad to see the Grand Lounge come back to life again too!
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Sadly It looks like the cameraman is dancing on his on :(
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Queens Room arranged for a function (click through to see the set)
https://instagram.com/p/BiWik5DnSsY
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I was just looking at some photos on Facebook taken at a business drinks reception in the Yacht Club last night (search for Dubai Design Culture). Again, I'm afraid the lighting appears terrible. The blue lighting of the sails wasn't being used for example. If someone walks into that room and doesn't immediately say "wow what an incredible space" then they're doing something wrong- and my worry with that is that she won't impress enough. She needs the wow - and silly little things like that just might make all the difference.
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The 'hotel staff' all had dinner in the Queens Room the other evening.
Just wondering whether anyone has found the photos that were taken;
unfortunately, I didn't note the webpage detail - Sorry!
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Queens Room arranged for a function (click through to see the set)
https://instagram.com/p/BiWik5DnSsY
This appears to be for the fashion event onboard as a massive marquee is also up on One Deck aft illustrating one of the reasons the pool there was removed (for much more event space).
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Mmm... mmmeh.
I’ve never looked at this room and felt disinterested before. EVEN with the wacky high-back blue chairs (That i always wondered — why? What were they thinking? How did they compliment the architecture of this room?)
But not now, no mystery here.
It kind of makes me feel sad.
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Hello all! I was onboard yesterday and managed to go on the Quarter Deck and look at the Majri (former Library), Chartroom Bar and the Queen's room. Very lovely area's that look great! Here are some pictures I took. It is not fully complete yet as well, some areas on this deck will open very soon though it seems! :D
Enjoy! I will upload more pictures later! :)
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Thanks Liam for posting the photos. I like the idea that the Queens Room could be multi functional. i.e. dining space, function space etc. However, I know this may change for the Queens Room, when all dining areas are open, just need to wait and see.
What is important is that QE2 is economically successful, which could be achieved when all areas of the the ship are fully utilised.
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I agree with that, as long as she’s earning her keep, she’ll be safe...
On Rotterdam a few years ago, a trendy fashion brand (Ugg Australia?) were holding a show on board, I though “great”, she’s relevant and earning money for her operators...
Hope the same applies to QE2...
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Liam,
Thank you for your latest photos.
We need to wait and see how they use spaces when all areas are available I suppose.
If it had been my hotel design, I'd be using Mauretania for what they're doing there in the Queens Room, leaving the Queens Room available to hotel visitors in its formal role for afternoon tea and gentle dancing and light music. The 3 grill restaurants plus Caronia would be available for dining. The Queens Room (in all incarnations with Cunard) was cleverly designed with the planters all around, creating the impression of stepping down into the "inner room" - that's been completely lost and I feel all they're left with is "those pillars and that ceiling" - the Queens Room was defined by them, but was more than them.
Every single thing they've done that I've seen so far, every area refurbished, has lost a lot and not really gained anything. The areas look clean, fresh and more modern, but less interesting and special. They need to add quite a lot of the sparkle back now that they've completed the major surgery and got her open - she needs dressed for success.
I've never complained about the outdoor pool disappearing the way that I've done about the lifeboats, I do understand (especially if they have left the basin and metalwork beneath that supported the pool etc) - and it actually creates the largest flat space on board to hold an event I suppose?
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https://instagram.com/p/Bj1Lk7jlf5c?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=ytwq7e3tfr78
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Photo 3 here :
Glad to see a frieze has made it back on board. Have the others?
https://instagram.com/p/Bj0RCHoHfDr?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=b3n9sc7f7vxi
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Someone on Instagram just said that being on board QE2 reminded them of The Shining! I'm afraid I've just a large belly laugh for a few minutes off the back of it, it somehow captures my feelings about her.
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Someone on Instagram just said that being on board QE2 reminded them of The Shining!
Iv stayed in a couple of hotels in the USA , some of which when your walking down the long corridors, it does bring the Shinning to mind, One hotel The Silver Legacy in Reno had that same look. l took precautions at night before l went to bed..Just in case....
That same hotel, at night time when viewed from a distance reminded me of The Emerald City in The Wizzard of Oz... The carpets were a very busy design....
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After seeing The Shining (and, by the way, the book is even scarier), many long, carpeted corridors bring that to mind !
This is off topic, but who tends to like a book better than a movie of the same ? And who tends to like a movie better than the book ?
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Someone on Instagram just said that being on board QE2 reminded them of The Shining! I'm afraid I've just a large belly laugh for a few minutes off the back of it, it somehow captures my feelings about her.
....Mine Too!
The very thought of an empty ship, unable to save herself - I'm terrified - spooked, even.
Although some might say it was for all the inappropriate reasons!
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Someone on Instagram just said that being on board QE2 reminded them of The Shining! I'm afraid I've just a large belly laugh for a few minutes off the back of it, it somehow captures my feelings about her.
Blood will soon start to run down the corridor. ;D
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Because all the big pictures that were in the stairwells are now in the museum ashore, others appear to have been used...
https://instagram.com/p/BmyZ6nfAa7b?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=tn6kv9fz7nm7
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Because all the big pictures that were in the stairwells are now in the museum ashore, others appear to have been used...
https://instagram.com/p/BmyZ6nfAa7b?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=tn6kv9fz7nm7
Not quite the same...
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It definitely does not look the same. The one little picture looks lost. It would almost have been better to not have just one picture.
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Not looking great...I think we’ll try to get back on board ASAP after the full opening and see what’s what then...it’s the only way to get a proper impression of how she’s doing.
I’ll try to do a proper before and after of the photos I have at some stage, the interiors have been overly “cleaned up”, a lot of character has been lost...
My job involves restoring historic houses, where the skill is not doing this...
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Overly cleaned up sort of says it all. She looks a bland shadow of her former self, in every area.
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I agree that the only way to judge is to go and visit QE2 Hotel and see for yourself, which is what I will be doing next year.
I would rather see the ship overly clean than in the dirty state she was in a couple of years ago. This is a new beginning for QE2 and we should support her and not be too critical of the effort that has been done to get QE2 shipshape and ready for business.
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I agree that the only way to judge is to go and visit QE2 Hotel and see for yourself, which is what I will be doing next year.
Yes but then please make a honest judgement......not like some others do
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Yes but then please make a honest judgement......not like some others do
Davina, I am surprised that you would suggest that I would make anything other than an honest judgement, considering that you know how much QE2 means to me.
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I would rather see the ship overly clean than in the dirty state she was in a couple of years ago.
Lynda, I agree with you 100%.
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Davina, I am surprised that you would suggest that I would make anything other than an honest judgement, considering that you know how much QE2 means to me.
Lynda yes I know you wouldnt sadly some other dont give that honest judgement
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Yes but then please make a honest judgement......not like some others do
Hi Louis. I'm curious... Who is it that you think isn't being honest?
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I think, perhaps, Louis is simply referring to the reviews we have been discussing . Louis, please correct me if I am wrong.
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Yes but then please make a honest judgement......not like some others do
The trouble these days is that everyone thinks they are an AA inspector or a Restaurant Critic or worse both. Sadly the likes of Trip advisor does a lot of harm. Where else can you write a complete pile of horse pucky and its accepted as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Granted owners have the chance to respond but why respond to complete lies. Personally l have zero time for Trip Advisor
Imagine how QE2 fared. You have two people on deck five in an inside cabin. One person being an Ocean Liner fan, the other expecting 5 star service from the most famous ship in the world. You will get two very diferent reviews.
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I would rather see the ship overly clean than in the dirty state she was in a couple of years ago. This is a new beginning for QE2 and we should support her and not be too critical of the effort that has been done to get QE2 shipshape and ready for business.
Lets look at The Queens room as an example, a classic timeless room , Ideal for oboard a ship, but as a Hotel Venue pretty useless in the original format. What they have done needed to be done to turn the room into a multi purpose venue. Granted perhaps some of the magic might have been lost, but theres still a lot of it there.
She isnt the QE2 that we know, we need to let that sink in, accept it and move onto the new Hotel QE2. We may not like what they are doing. But the owners need to attract people to the hotel QE2. Theres a whole new world of people out there waiting to try something different, and they will lm sure find it onboard Hotel QE2.
Dont get me wrong im never going to visit QE2 , but l will support her in her new future.And l do wish her and her owners the very best of good luck in that.
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I agree it is time to move on,and accept that QE2 has new life as a hotel .
I wonder if we looked back to the past refurbs and modifications, what were the reactions to them.
It woulds be nice if the present refurb had been to an earlier condition, but which one would be acceptable to all.
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I wonder if we looked back to the past refurbs and modifications, what were the reactions to them.
When l sailed for the first time in June 1986 and then again in April 1987 on her Maiden voyage after the big refit it was quite a transformation..
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My problem isn't that i can't move on, and in fact in many cases i don't believe they've been radical enough in what they've done.
I will continue to comment with my views, despite having no intention to visit. My views will be based on listening to others who visit, and the photographs i see.
I deeply want QE2 to succeed, and for that to happen she needs to succeed or she'll be razer blades. If i see something they're doing that i think isn't right, I'm going to say so.
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I can’t move on either, it’s all a question of context, Dubai have saved the ship and I hope to be a regular visitor and support her and her team in every way I can. I am grateful to the Dubai team for this and have said here more than once that she now needs to succeed commercially to be safe in the medium term.
However as the heart of QE2’s online support community we’ve been largely left out of the process of saving her, which doesn’t encourage us to be supportive. However, I do recommend visiting, she’s still QE2, her charm and wonderfulness were strong and have survived the many changes required to make her succeed as a hotel.
We hope to be back in November...
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Lets look at The Queens room as an example, a classic timeless room , Ideal for oboard a ship, but as a Hotel Venue pretty useless in the original format.
I don't agree with that. It already was a useful multi-function room. They should have held afternoon teas in that room, in the way they always did, with live music. Not every day, maybe once or twice a week - the ship could have been famous for it as a thing to do in Dubai. What it has become now is not really anything - just a space - and not a very good space compared to a real conference venue, due to the low ceiling height (which is exacerbated by the wide space being so empty).
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There was a photo somewhere showing the room with tables . From a venue point of view and lets narrow it down there was space for a good number of tables to use as a wedding breakfast or a large scale corporate dinner. If the curtains are still in place, they would or could be used to contain the event allowing other guests to walk on either side. The lido kitchen used as a holding kitchen for the food.
The trouble with afternoon teas your quite limited, Is there enough to justify daily Afternoon teas leaving the room as it was, You really dont want to go down the road of Teas only on certain days, that just causes confussion, and a live band is only good if they are quiet, BUT They could have played up on The Britishness and gone to town with a Classic Afternoon Tea Dance. For those that dont dance offer the original dance lessons before hand.( revenue) But they need to get their marketing team (if they even have one) to get their arse into gear and get organised.
QE2 reopens fully sometime in October and what do we know of that.... simply nothing but hearsay and claptrap
My fear is that her owners have simply no idea what they are doing. They bought a World Icon ten years ago. The world has moved on, and if they dont get their act together pretty darn quick they are going to miss the boat .
They must realise there is such a lot they can do with QE2..I could think of several things right away ..But they do need Bums on beds and people on seats..NOW
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BUT They could have played up on The Britishness and gone to town with a Classic Afternoon Tea Dance. For those that dont dance offer the original dance lessons before hand.( revenue)
Myles - Forget the Britishness, the marketing team need to link into an international audience. Dance lessons and dancing while you enjoy afternoon tea/or a ball in the evening, where they could demonstrate what they had learned, could be a huge marketing success.
With the success of Strictly Come Dancing throughout the world, many people have been introduced/reintroduced to ballroom dancing. Onboard Cunard ships there are many Japanese people who book the cruise so that they can dance in the Queens Room. I also spoke to women from America who booked on Cunard through a Dancing at Sea Travel Agent. People would book on QE2 for a unique experience. A package to stay onboard QE2 for a few nights with dance lessons included, then either the afternoon tea dance or a glamorous evening ball sounds like it could sell staterooms.
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I think one of the challenges for QE2 today is that her original configuration, for a full compliment of passengers just offers too much capacity for a sparsely populated hotel. Restaurant after restaurant, multiple entertainment spaces just aren’t required for the hotel, she needs events, not only to fill her bedrooms, but also food and entertainment venues. We saw this for the fashion event and various Ramadan activities, she just needs more!
It’s the same story on Rotterdam, her original lower deck restaurants are two spaces I’ve never seen used on her.
They are playing the British card, which might lead to afternoon tea events etc, we’ll have to see...
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The discussion on SS Rotterdam continues here :
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=3232.msg99692#msg99692
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1886/44523836522_8829576e68_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqipQ)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqipQ) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
From the opening day
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1891/44523834872_fef9ceaa13_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqhVo)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqhVo) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1899/43854772424_c05c270cf8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29PiaXW)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/29PiaXW) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1866/44523827122_6a74e46955_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqfBL)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqfBL) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1859/44573300791_2215b2353d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aUMPq4)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/2aUMPq4) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
I enjoy this picture!
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1841/44523825422_27a2390ac2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqf7s)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/2aQqf7s) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
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(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1851/43854772934_bfcfe9a014_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29Pib7J)QE2 (https://flic.kr/p/29Pib7J) by swedishnuke (https://www.flickr.com/photos/92146135@N04/), on Flickr
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Thanks for sharing the photos Liam. Is the Maruetania Restaurant now open as a restaurant?
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Thanks for sharing the photos Liam. Is the Maruetania Restaurant now open as a restaurant?
Great to see your photos on Flickr, Liam! The Mauretania is now used for teaching classes according to recent Facebook posts such as ones from a school that visited the ship.
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The thing i don't get about the Queens Grill restaurant, is that as a space, it actually wasn't as good as the two grill restaurants downstairs (was it?), with their floor to ceiling windows. They also had the advantage of being closer to the other public spaces
These photos also remind me how the Queens Room ceiling appears to have lost its ability to be multicoloured (or if it still can do this, I've not seen a photo of it). The clever ceiling was incredible in 1968, and it's complicated brass switch panel fascinated me.
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The thing i don't get about the Queens Grill restaurant, is that as a space, it actually wasn't as good as the two grill restaurants downstairs (was it?), with their floor to ceiling windows.
We did the Queen's Grill once only, and did not enjoy it, even though we had a pleasant table, good waiters and the extensive menu. Its main advantage was that we could access it without the use of stairs, but it completely lacked atmosphere.
The two smaller Grill restaurants had a much more pleasant ambiance, and we quickly reverted to there...
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Thanks for sharing the photos Liam. Is the Maruetania Restaurant now open as a restaurant?
These are from the opening day. I have not been onboard since late May and should hopefully be onboard in a day or two and will stay over next Monday!
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The thing i don't get about the Queens Grill restaurant, is that as a space, it actually wasn't as good as the two grill restaurants downstairs (was it?), with their floor to ceiling windows. They also had the advantage of being closer to the other public spaces
I think it was amazing as a space, experience, and restaurant. The fact that it far away from the other public spaces (and you even had to walk through the Queen's Grill Lounge to get there) made it seem all the more special. It was definitely a "ship within a ship" experience.
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I think it was amazing as a space, experience, and restaurant. The fact that it far away from the other public spaces (and you even had to walk through the Queen's Grill Lounge to get there) made it seem all the more special. It was definitely a "ship within a ship" experience.
I get that it was like that when she was in service, but for a complete stranger to QE2, walking onto the hotel today in Dubai, it must seem rather an odd space I think. Whereas (again, to me) if the Crystal Bar was up and running, then down those stairs to the 2 grill restaurants, but also still being handy for the public rooms. It would also make the hotel's main areas look less deserted. My plan would have brought the PG and BG and Caronia (when required) restaurants (back online, but nothing else...
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The Queens Room is lm afraid to say hideous with the condom chair covers. Sadly these are used for virtually all wedding function set ups. with a very limited use before they are disposed of. and sadly when you see that style of coffee set we do realise they are catering for them and not us . Progress indeed :(
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Sorry if I'm being slow, has the big opening happened? Are any new areas accessible now? Does anyone know how many more hotel rooms are available, including special ones like the Captain's cabin?
We're going back, probably mid-November, I am keen to see what's changed since our last visit...
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Sorry if I'm being slow, has the big opening happened? Are any new areas accessible now? Does anyone know how many more hotel rooms are available, including special ones like the Captain's cabin?
We're going back, probably mid-November, I am keen to see what's changed since our last visit...
Hi Alex, from what we've seen the big (only 80%) opening hasn't happened yet. Also we've not seen any new areas open yet. Liam is visiting QE2 very soon so will be able to confirm either way if there is anything new to see onboard. Fingers crossed there will be reasonable progress by mid-November but I and others have our doubts (such as over Boat Deck's new decking).
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Hi Alex, from what we've seen the big (only 80%) opening hasn't happened yet. Also we've not seen any new areas open yet. Liam is visiting QE2 very soon so will be able to confirm either way if there is anything new to see onboard. Fingers crossed there will be reasonable progress by mid-November but I and others have our doubts (such as over Boat Deck's new decking).
You would be surprised on how fast they can install decking onboard. The Yacht club and pavilion decking was apparently not installed a few days before the "soft" opening. I think they could do it but it mainly depends on the heat rather than the time it takes. I will check if any new spaces are open. There is always a chance! :)
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Thanks, Liam, for the wonderful photos. Can't wait to hear more ! :)
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You would be surprised on how fast they can install decking onboard. The Yacht club and pavilion decking was apparently not installed a few days before the "soft" opening. I think they could do it but it mainly depends on the heat rather than the time it takes. I will check if any new spaces are open. There is always a chance! :)
Liam the decking outside the Yacht Club and One Deck was laid new Months before the soft opening.
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Liam the decking outside the Yacht Club and One Deck was laid new Months before the soft opening.
Something big was at least done a few days prior I believe then.
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Something big was at least done a few days prior I believe then.
Yes but not these 2 decks
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I suppose we will just have to see how things come together or not in time for next month, laying the new decking on Boat Deck included (as I would've thought that would feature in the "Grand Opening" plans). There are more cameras pointed at her than ever in Dubai at the moment so progress should be quite visible for us to see aside from Liam and other forum members visiting her.
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QE2s interiors today looks pretty much as back in April,apart from moving around some chairs and tables,nothing new has opened.The only new is if can call it is the removal of the tent on One Deck Aft.
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tent
TENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! l remember my very first outside catering event and made the great mistake of calling what we were in a Tent. l was shouted at by the organiser and was told in no uncertain way that if this was a tent it would be the most expensive ******g tent in Scotland for what he was paying and it would be filled up with Happy Campers and sleeping bags, and the correct term was a Marquee. M A R Q U E E He took great care to even spell it out.Twice
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I can't believe my eyes.
It's not beige, and is actually not boring! All it needs now to give a hint of luxury is curtains and/or blinds.
https://instagram.com/p/BpKGqS7jyPg?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=by5h3ssb21er
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Don't know if this is the right thread, but...
What use are those multi coloured plastic pipes on the quayside for?
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Don't know if this is the right thread, but...
What use are those multi coloured plastic pipes on the quayside for?
We have a topic about it. It's all the connections to the shore, they seem to have taken the opposite view to most ship conversions and put them deliberately on show. I think it includes chilled water for the AC. They're solid but with rotating elbows.
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I can't believe my eyes.
It's not beige, and is actually not boring! All it needs now to give a hint of luxury is curtains and/or blinds.
It turned up overnight. When a friend of mine on board went to bed, the previous carpet was there, and when he went for his breakfast, this had already been laid and completed.
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It turned up overnight. When a friend of mine on board went to bed, the previous carpet was there, and when he went for his breakfast, this had already been laid and completed.
Well I think it's miles better. The beige one looked temporary, so hopefully it was exactly that.
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I can't believe my eyes.
It's not beige, and is actually not boring! All it needs now to give a hint of luxury is curtains and/or blinds.
:o Pleasantly surprised here. Much more suitable! Maybe they have listened to feedback?
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The new carpets only add to the fact that the area now looks very compartmentised and like a tunnel. The old beige carperts allowed a certain plainness and your eyes followed through to the end without the interruption of the compartments .
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The library in use
This is the set up for todays event in the Queens Rooms,the meeting room is used a lot for meetings in different combinations.Check the below photo lights are off so a bit dark.
What is sad is that behind the TV is the Silver Asprey Model....thanks to Ross Simpson for the photo
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The beige carpets was becoming very stained and dirty that is most likely why the change.
I cant confirm how Upper Deck is but I think its still in beige
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It's certainly better than the beige. But is is good? ... I'm not so sure.
Isn't it just two carpets laid next to each other? If you think about the last carpet specifically designed for this hallway for Cunard, there was a gold line running down each side to either side of wooden arches with darker green beyond that and a pattern in the middle. This created a long visual line down the promenade connecting each archway and creating elegant effect. While this dual red and blue is way better than the beige, it does kind of chop it all up into sections.
Is there a interior design firm employed?
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It's certainly better than the beige. But is is good? ... I'm not so sure.
Isn't it just two carpets laid next to each other? If you think about the last carpet specifically designed for this hallway for Cunard, there was a gold line running down each side to either side of wooden arches with darker green beyond that and a pattern in the middle. This created a long visual line down the promenade connecting each archway and creating elegant effect. While this dual red and blue is way better than the beige, it does kind of chop it all up into sections.
Is there a interior design firm employed?
Agree with every word. The Cunard carpets were bespoke to the ship, and of extremely high quality, which is what she deserves.
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The beige carpets was becoming very stained and dirty that is most likely why the change.
Beige is never good with a high traffic area...one mark and they start to look filthy, dark carprts can and do hide a multitude of sins.
Given that the weather is, l imagine, usually pretty hot in Dubai they shouldnt suffer Muddy feet syndrome
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Me too, there must surely be a marine architect and interior designer involved, but we don't know who they are.
As we've said before a top architecture firm worked on Rotterdam and it shows...everywhere.
Who for example came up with the colourful pipes concept for the shore services, who is specifying the furniture and cabin interiors? These are areas where Rotterdam excelled...
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https://instagram.com/p/BpUKRz1hzsW?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=baln62bquqyk
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To me, the choppiness of the carpet is disconcerting. I think it would have looked better to have the blue run straight down the corridor with the red on either side. A straight line would enhance the look of the length as well as be more appealing to the eye.
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The top photo reminds me of a rough New York run or two!! :)
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Photos taken on board just before the tree went up.
The photographer observes that there are no QE2 branded items for sale on board, leading to the question as to whether the branding rights expired 10 years after arrival. Will try to find out more.
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Photos taken on board just before the tree went up.
The photographer observes that there are no QE2 branded items for sale on board, leading to the question as to whether the branding rights expired 10 years after arrival. Will try to find out more.
QE2 (Dubai) Teddy Bears are or certainly were sold onboard among other branded items. DP World bought the QE2 brand not just the ship as I understand it, hence the $100 million price they paid, and this would most likely have included branding rights with no time limit and did include being allowed to retain Cunard branding wherever it already existed onboard as Michael mentioned elsewhere on the forum (although DP World have been very inconsistent in this regard by removing the superstructure logos and the logos on the old Boat Deck benches now shoreside but retaining the Cunard logo at Midships Lobby and the Cunard Lion logos in several places onboard such as on the lift doors).
https://instagram.com/p/BkrfzuBnW84
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Ive seen the sale contract, and it's definitely not as clearcut as you say...
One of our members is on board very soon and will find out more. Also interesting to note the difference between QE2 and Queen Elizabeth 2...
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Ive seen the sale contract, and it's definitely not as clearcut as you say...
One of our members is on board very soon and will find out more. Also interesting to note the difference between QE2 and Queen Elizabeth 2...
The sale contract sounds as if it could be a compromise between DP World and Carnival UK then? Dubai still referring to her as QE2 for the name of their official Instagram account and their website makes any branding rules they might have to follow even more confusing to an outsider (to the sale contract) like me when using Queen Elizabeth 2 on their Teddy Bears and other items onboard as you've pointed out - if indeed that is something covered in the sale contract?
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I'll try to get an actual quote from the relevant bits...
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QE2 (Dubai) Teddy Bears are or certainly were sold onboard among other branded items.
If I may say so, I find these extraordinarily ugly... I normally take to teddy bears, but would not be tempted by these for one second...
And actually... why teddy bears? Would a QE2Story Calendar not be much more attractive?
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If I may say so, I find these extraordinarily ugly
Ditto
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Interesting Info Just done a Whois search for qe2.com on Netim Domain Finder
this seems to say qe2.com. is still ownend by Carnival
https://www.netim.com/domain-name/whois-search.html
Domain Name: qe2.com
Registrant Email: domains@carnivalukgroup.com
Admin Organization: Carnival plc
Updated Date: 2018-07-11T22:42:24Z
Creation Date: 2000-08-10T15:21:17Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2019-08-10T15:21:17Z
Admin Email: domains@carnivalukgroup.com
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-12-24T09:50:25Z <<<
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Interesting Info Just done a Whois search for qe2.com on Netim Domain Finder
this seems to say qe2.com. is still ownend by Carnival
https://www.netim.com/domain-name/whois-search.html
Domain Name: qe2.com
Registrant Email: domains@carnivalukgroup.com
Admin Organization: Carnival plc
Updated Date: 2018-07-11T22:42:24Z
Creation Date: 2000-08-10T15:21:17Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2019-08-10T15:21:17Z
Admin Email: domains@carnivalukgroup.com
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-12-24T09:50:25Z <<<
I believe that would align with my understanding. They own the QE2, but not "QE2".
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QE2 (Dubai) Teddy Bears are or certainly were sold onboard among other branded items.
Not the best photo of it on their Insta, but the teddy with the keffiyeh is actually quite cool imo.
(HMS Dragon in the background - wonder if a few of the ship’s company will be aboard tonight?)
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Nice photo! They have a great view on HMS Dragon's bridge and I'd like to think they are the little bit of Britain standing watch over QE2 which seems to happen very often with RFA and RN ships visiting Port Rashid. Not to mention, in this case, both QE2 and HMS Dragon are Clydebuilt - an extra connection!
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Cute Teddy, thanks for the photo, Conay
Good that QE2 has the company of another Clydebuilt ship, well spotted Thomas. I remember seeing sections of the ship being built at BAE Scotstoun and Govan.
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Cute Teddy, thanks for the photo, Conay
Good that QE2 has the company of another Clydebuilt ship, well spotted Thomas. I remember seeing sections of the ship being built at BAE Scotstoun and Govan.
My Dad took photos of the lead ship of the Type 45s, HMS Daring being built at Scotstoun back in October 2006 when we visited the area and family up in Scotland as well as HMY Britannia in Leith but I'm going way off topic here!
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Absolutely enjoyed the recent photos of QE2 taken earlier this year. Brings back fond memories of our trip around Britain. Although, decor etc is different, it still feels familiar and the main features remain, which is good. I remember meeting Mary Mastony on our trip. This lovely lady used to sing on the QE2 and lived aboard permanently. Does anyone have any news of her? I hope she is still well. I wonder what she would think of this beautiful ship, now?
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Gary Knight has just stayed on board and posted very many photos of QE2 (100+)
on the Facebook page of QE2 Hotel Dubai
QE2's whistle didn't manage to respond to the salute from her fleetmate QM2.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/qe2hoteldubai/305289463376537/?comment_id=305444300027720¬if_id=1548780426472945¬if_t=group_comment_follow
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My daughter is working in Dubai for a few days, she has been in & out of Dubai many times for work & I keep saying 'you must see QE2 '.
Well today (lunchtime ours) her boss took her down, she sent a couple of teasers to me -- QE2 Today
sorry 'bout the quality' photos from an ipad (don't know yet how to do that one!).
I'll post more when she gets home & shares them with me, will be interesting to hear what she thinks of our girl (or what's left of her) :-\ :-\
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Just a note the carpets on Quarter Deck has been changed again once more,it now appears in a complete light blue color...
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Glad to see that model of Mauretania is still there, but note on Page 2, in the mockup of the bridge a man in stripy top is standing beside a very old looking binnacle (I think) which I suspect is from the original Mauretania's bridge. Can anyone tell me whether Im right?
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Glad to see that model of Mauretania is still there, but note on Page 2, in the mockup of the bridge a man in stripy top is standing beside a very old looking binnacle (I think) which I suspect is from the original Mauretania's bridge. Can anyone tell me whether Im right?
I believe this is QE2's magnetic compass from her bridge roof (it certainly looks like the one she had). I will look at my close up photos to try to confirm though.
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It is the magnetic compass which was located atop her Bridge.
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It is the magnetic compass which was located atop her Bridge.
Thank you for confirming Michael :)
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A shot here of the new blue promenade carpet
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I prefer that to the multicoloured carpet that was there before!
And here is Britannia! I wonder does she like her new home :) ...
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A few panoramas from late January 2020 (it was good to see that at least some of the "Titanic" style deckchairs have survived and are still onboard - I hope they are used on Boat Deck again someday, whenever the new teak is laid down):
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The carpeting may look better in "real life", but in the photos, it looks faded.
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Not a photo I know, but have just been looking on YouTube for a particular QE2 video and have come across a few more recent videos one of which I've linked to below as it shows a cabin that is not part of the hotel and is original to 2008 (except maybe the carpet) even down to the chest of drawers dating to QE2's construction. I think this might be one of the Five Deck cabins now used by the staff but not necessarily occupied at the moment due to the pandemic, as Three Deck is a building site and I gather most of Four Deck is the same story and not something Dubai would want public for understandable reasons.
Skip to 4 minutes 12 seconds to see the cabin. They also tour the bridge and go to the "bit beneath the bridge" in the evening for some footage of the port from over her bow (as I did too) if you can get past them calling her a "boat" and other cringey or just plain incorrect statements!
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This is cabin 5033 and it seems they have been showing it during the Heritage Tour since last year. All the furnishings - carpet and bedding - are new and I think it's great they are showing something a little authentic / original QE2 but it would have been better with original furnishings and the cabin folder placed in there. They could easily get one!
It is just criminal they did not keep a sample cabin from other decks / higher grades.
It does seem odd they chose to show a basic inside as a reflection of QE2 in service.
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Interesting to see the choice of carpet in the Mid-ships Lobby - it looks like it has been taped off as a crime scene to show where the body was found.
I could almost forgive her for referring to the Boat Deck as the bridge deck as there is obviously something missing!
I think choosing to preserve a 5 Deck cabin for show may be deliberate to showcase what they have done (In their opinion) compared to what the poor passengers had to endure in her service days.
I just can't get enthusiastic about the whole concept. She's just not our QE2 any more.
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It is just criminal they did not keep a sample cabin from other decks / higher grades.
I wonder if the cabins, such as those on Two Deck, that are not used by the hotel and still have their original key based locks are rebuilt or not? Cabins such as 2044 if my memory from last year is correct - cabins just aft of one of the magnetic fire doors which is used to separate the hotel section off up forward, the same being done on the starboard side.
I think choosing to preserve a 5 Deck cabin for show may be deliberate to showcase what they have done (In their opinion) compared to what the poor passengers had to endure in her service days.
The £1000 a night for 5033 on the final voyage had me shocked to the point of laughing at how ridiculous a statement it was. It would've been roughly 10 times less than that per night, and if that's what Dubai are telling people (and not another glaring mistake by people who don't know a ship from a boat - which it could be) and they are then regurgitating it verbatim then this is yet another example where I worry about her history being revised through either ignorance or an agenda/agendas as you allude to Pete (Is the Golden Lion really the oldest pub in Dubai as another example? And the number of people who don't know better saying this is how the ship looked in 1969 in x location onboard or just in general as another example).
QE2's real history, as we all well know, is more than remarkable enough and more than fascinating enough without being messed around with and this is one of my biggest problems with the Dubai operation. The "we have to market the ship to non-fans/enthusiasts and business people too" argument doesn't wash in my opinion when it comes to simply just telling her history/story accurately - the rebuilding (not restoration as keeps being bandied about by so many) being to suit the above argument instead and therefore satisfy the business side of the operation in Dubai whether we like it or not.
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It does seem odd they chose to show a basic inside as a reflection of QE2 in service.
Totally agree. It wasn't much to ask of such a historic ship, and would still have left a huge amount of normal revenue earning space. Could also have been used for filming period TV and films, for example... Can't do that with a huge flat screen on the wall!
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I just can't get enthusiastic about the whole concept. She's just not our QE2 any more.
Same here. Low levels of interest. Just need to stay focused on how she was when we knew her, Which is hopefully easy to do on this forum!
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Actually, QE2 IS our QE2 and always will be. It is just that she has been carried off and had mean things done to her. All the more reason to hold her close to our hearts.
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Interesting to see the choice of carpet in the Mid-ships Lobby - it looks like it has been taped off as a crime scene to show where the body was found.
Despite saying I had little interest, I had to go back to look for the carpet you mention. I will say one thing for it - it appears to have been designed/made specifically for the ship - which is a first I think and a nice nod back to her awesome carpets back in the day.
Looking at the first part of the video... one wonders... why make the "terminal building" so much more interesting than the actual ship herself. She's like a poor bare shell of a thing, and all her interesting bits are in that building...
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I actually thought they had put the artefacts and furniture back on board until I realised that it was all in the terminal building. Between all of that and the lifeboats (grrr), there is more of the ship on shore than aboard.
The photos and footage I have seen so far just give me the impression of a cold, stark environment rather than the ship that was always warm and welcoming.
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The artefacts are spread between the ship and the terminal building to be fair, granted more of the artefacts are in the terminal building than onboard but they are supplemented by DP World's own P&O model collection in the terminal building too. Furniture is also spread between both, the old wardroom chairs that are the same as the ones used in the post-1987 refit Queens Room being in the terminal building but the bar stools from the wardroom now being used in the Chart Room alongside reupholstered chairs from Queens Grill. The chairs in Queens Room she finished Cunard with have been reupholstered and can be found in different places onboard including in the Yacht Club. The chairs in the Lido and Pavilion are the old ones and also reupholstered. It is not a clear cut divide nor a night and day difference as to what is onboard and what is ashore in the terminal building.
I never did establish what happened to the smaller items of Cunard memorabilia donated by the estate of a particular collector to the ship to form a sizable part of the heritage collection from the "Project Lifestyle" refit onwards. Did it all go back to his estate when V-Ships were packing such things up or is it all still behind the posters now shown in those large display units instead?
Also I could only find two maritime related books from the old library amongst the old library books now in the terminal building. I wonder what fate the extensive maritime section of library books has had? A recent livestream on Instagram by an account visiting the ship did show a new sort of lounge area onboard not too far from the bridge and penthouses and that appeared to be stocked with some of the old library books. Maybe I'm hoping in vain however...
Boat Deck is an alien place these days, it was strange and sad to walk along, and is a night and day difference to what it was and how I prefer to remember it - actually as Boat Deck!
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I never did establish what happened to the smaller items of Cunard memorabilia donated by the estate of a particular collector to the ship to form a sizable part of the heritage collection from the "Project Lifestyle" refit onwards. Did it all go back to his estate when V-Ships were packing such things up or is it all still behind the posters now shown in those large display units instead?
Crown, hired by Istithmar, catalogued and removed pretty much everything, including the contents of all the display cabinets. The only things not moved at the time were because there were too difficult to move. My 2011 photos show them all cleared, which they'd only just been. Ten years, my God...
The ship was sold, allegedly by accident, with absolutely all contents, including the display cabinets etc. Not aware of anything being returned expect the things where a deal was subsequently negotiated with Cunard - the items now on board the other ships.
I was told shortly after she opened in her current location, by a contact onboard, that everything was safe and in a nearby air-conditioned building. A lot of it is now in the terminal building but there must be a lot left too.
Far, far too much stuff is in the terminal building, and far too little stuff is on board. Most of the furniture that arrived in Dubai wasn't terribly interesting/valuable!
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I was told shortly after she opened in her current location, by a contact onboard, that everything was safe and in a nearby air-conditioned building. A lot of it is now in the terminal building but there must be a lot left too.
Apparently the two catamaran tenders are amongst the items in said warehouse, although I have never seen evidence of that, other than they were not left to deteriorate like the rest of the lifeboats and tenders in the harsh outdoor climate there. Anyway, I digress.
Crown, hired by Istithmar, catalogued and removed pretty much everything, including the contents of all the display cabinets. The only things not moved at the time were because there were too difficult to move. My 2011 photos show them all cleared, which they'd only just been. Ten years, my God...
The ship was sold, allegedly by accident, with absolutely all contents, including the display cabinets etc. Not aware of anything being returned expect the things where a deal was subsequently negotiated with Cunard - the items now on board the other ships.
Thank you for answering that niggling question :) . I hope the various items have had a good home/s since leaving the ship. It would be interesting to follow that up. How the ship was sold "by accident" with every last item is crazy given all the planning etc etc that would've happened with the sale.
If the Wardroom had been left intact and alone a number of the items now ashore would've continued to have had a home onboard and perhaps could've been added to, to create a memorabilia centre that would've tied in nicely with nearby preserved areas and areas that should've been preserved. But that would've been too appropriate, too relevant, too nautical for most "sea blind" people, and too historical (for a historical ship!!) wouldn't it? :(
Most of the furniture that arrived in Dubai wasn't terribly interesting/valuable!
I would argue that the furniture - specifically the chairs she arrived in Dubai with, whilst not valuable compared to nor necessarily as interesting as her chairs from originally entering service, have their place in her history/story nevertheless - so it was good to see a lot of them reused and not replaced by new stuff like the rebuilding (not restoration as they say officially) is doing for the most part otherwise. I hope said chairs last a long time yet onboard. I think it is a great shame that only a couple of intact examples of the original chest of drawers each cabin had (on the lower decks at least) remain to this day, and again whilst not valuable per say, they could tell many stories such as of all the storms she weathered! Or could've been part of an accurate setting for period TV or film work as you mention above. Yet another missed, to say the least, opportunity on Dubai's part to do with her history and incorporating it into their operation, in my opinion...
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Per the website, www.QE2.com, it looks like the wardroom was converted into a lounge. Not sure why it is named the "Queen's Grill (Restaurant and) Lounge since this is not near the QG. However, the windows n the photo are unmistakably the windows on the Boat Deck level, forward, which is what I understand to be (was) the wardroom.
I don't keep up with QE2 in Dubai much so apologies if this is already known.
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Hi Bob,
We knew about this a while back... this space serves as the lounge for the Queens Grill restaurant - also similarly drastically recreated.
What I have not seen, which would be useful, is a modified deckplan for this area and the restaurant, and how it all sits together now.