QE2 "as is" Hotel (wherever) - what will it be like ?

[Mr B]

Like no other, absolutely flawless.

[Twynkle]

Good Evening  QE2DXB

RE. QE2's Decks

Please could you tell us about the decks on QE2.
Is the teak decking really going to be:
 "Arditex NA has also been used on QE2 cruise liner to refurbish all of the teak decking areas, prior to the installation of final floor coverings Ardex AF2510 Polyurethane Flooring Adhesives"/?

http://www.buildingproducts.co.uk/company-list/Ardex-UK-Ltd/102034/9413

We look forward to hearing from you!

Rosie

P.S. Hopefully NairB's statement 'Flawless' is somewhere nearer the mark!

[Rob Lightbody]

Rosie, from my reading of this article, it could have happened ages ago ...

[Twynkle]

Oh Rob - I hope not!

I would have thought that 're-furbish' means a bit of a sanding then some proper teak oil and eventually, a good (daily) hosing. 
Just as the deck crew did very well when QE2 was a working ship.

Only...it could be quite difficult to keep the decks free from grit, dust and sand - but as Bob C says elsewhere, the Nimitz was OK after a wash down following desert conditions - so why not QE2?


https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3572922104/in/set-72157618900327594/

[highlander0108]

Oh Rob - I hope not!

I would have thought that 're-furbish' means a bit of a sanding then some proper teak oil and eventually, a good (daily) hosing.  
Just as the deck crew did very well when QE2 was a working ship.

Only...it could be quite difficult to keep the decks free from grit, dust and sand - but as Bob C says elsewhere, the Nimitz was OK after a wash down following desert conditions - so why not QE2?


https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3572922104/in/set-72157618900327594/

Seeing that the product mentioned is a latex based floor leveling compound, and the fact that the wording at the end is somewhat confusing and mentions another product for floor coverings, I will speculate that the manufacturer had two products used on QE2.  Those that were on the ship in her final days will have seen the teak decks buckled or spongy in several areas and areas where teak bungs that had popped off, exposing fasteners.  The bungs popped off due to the years of wear and sanding, leaving little teak material above the stainless fasteners.  I do know they tented the rear deck and refastened a large area of decking during the last wet dock.  If they did take up decking, perhaps this material was used in the leveling and prep of the deck plating.  I highly doubt any real work has been done or the teak decks covered with this product....whew!

I took a few shots one day of the deck condition and was frankly amazed that workers were repairing the missing plugs just prior to the ship being sold.  


[

[Twynkle]

QE2 "as is" - In Dubai

I'm not saying there were no spaces that looked old fashioned & tired, but...

....Any "tired"ness could be fixed with a wee tiny bit of TLC.

Disclaimer : assuming they're no worse than they were when i was last on board, August 08... !

Rob
Just had another look at your images on this post.
If the public rooms on QE2 still look as they did when you took the photographs - Then surely ....
She'd still be looking better than any 3* hotel in many parts of the world - possibly even a 4* one

If her owners are forced to sell her (hopefully they won't be) wouldn't it be really difficult for them to do anything other than ensure that she's not sold for scrap?
If they do sell her to be destroyed, this would be the most shameful event, it would cause dreadful and enormous publicity worldwide, and probably significantly damage the reputation of all responsible.

Hopefully, as she has so evidently been cared for - she will be allowed to work again soon.

Why not open her up to all those cruise ship visitors - there are few other Museum type exhibitions in Dubai?
Please allow the citizens of the United Arab Emirates and visitors to Dubai see why QE2 has the great reputation that she so well deserves.
Rosie

 

[Marshall]

I hold it up to you guys, you have  apair of stateroom keys i wonder what else wond up on shore and not in dubai

[highlander0108]

All the artwork had bar coded tags affixed when we were on the Farewell to the UK cruise, we presume to keep track and to prevent theft. 

Regarding opening her up "as-is" in Dubai, that would seem to be a no-brainer, but that would require a significant staff.  Is there anyone left in Dubai?  I wonder if they abandoned that idea when the Capetown deal seemed like a certainty.  I'm sure they could staff the ship if she were docked in Southampton or somewhere on the Clyde. 

Nakheel was planning a six star hotel in Glasgow but I cannot find any further news on this project.  If this project is stalled, they still could get a hotel pretty dam quick if they bring QE2 back home to the Clyde.  That would be a nice gesture.  Then, the Scots should chain her to the dock so she never leaves again!

[Twynkle]

....I'm sure they could staff the ship if she were docked in Southampton or somewhere on the Clyde. 

Nakheel was planning a six star hotel in Glasgow but I cannot find any further news on this project.  If this project is stalled, they still could get a hotel pretty dam quick if they bring QE2 back home to the Clyde.  That would be a nice gesture.  Then, the Scots should chain her to the dock so she never leaves again!

As well as providing a unique style of accommodation, QE2's great historical value cannot, nay 'must not' be denied!
Then she would have a dual role - as The QE2 Museum-Hotel.
Her current care-takers can run her in conjunction with the new transport museum beside The Clyde - Why ever not?

(Dare I suggest that her owners might wish to remove the Picasso original and sell it (pace Rob!)  - it could help to fund her voyage home!  Better to have QE2 survive, than to have the Picasso un-appreciated....Just a wee after-thought!!)

[Rob Lightbody]

(Dare I suggest that her owners might wish to remove the Picasso original and sell it (pace Rob!)

Eh?  Can you translate that for us Rosie!?

[Rob Lightbody]

Why not open her up to all those cruise ship visitors - there are few other Museum type exhibitions in Dubai?
Please allow the citizens of the United Arab Emirates and visitors to Dubai see why QE2 has the great reputation that she so well deserves.

A few problems to overcome on this front... (1) lack of local interest/knowledge about QE2.  (2) QE2 will be uncomfortably hot and stuffy inside on Dubai's many hot days, despite the extra airc conditioned air being pumped into her.  Adding hundreds of people to the equation will exacerbate this problem, they won't like it, and will risk damage to the currently mostly intact interiors.

[Twynkle]

Eh?  Can you translate that for us Rosie!?

Yo Rob!
Number one under P!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_annum#P

About 'opening her up' to visitors - I remember this was a suggestion originally made by Nakheel!
Does the 'cruise season' happen in the heat?  If so - then, I agree, it would be impossible!

However...mightn't passengers from ships that have overnight stopovers actually hope to see QE2, 'specially when they realise that it is actually her parked up at the top of the harbour wall!

My thinking came from the fact that Nakheel need money, and QE2's owners need her to be earning it - and if more people were able to appreciate her - this could go some way to helping to keep her alive!
It would also help with some positive PR, something that I imagine is in short supply in connection with Dubai at the moment! 

And yes, the carpets would need to be covered as in National Trust (UK) and English Heritage stately homes - I was imagining a sort of conducted tour, in the same vein as an abbreviated Thomas's 3 hour Heritage tour - with areas like the Library closed but still visible, same with the Bridge as well as other places that aren't 'walkable through'
Rosie

[Rob Lightbody]

About 'opening her up' to visitors - I remember this was a suggestion originally made by Nakheel!

Yes they did... and we assumed they meant in-situ in Dubai - but I think now that at the time they were actually meaning elsewhere, but just weren't saying so yet... if you see what i mean.

[cunardqueen]

and will risk damage to the currently mostly intact interiors.

hmm MOSTLY intact.... shouldnt she be all intact ??

[Rob Lightbody]

hmm MOSTLY intact.... shouldnt she be all intact ??

I can only assume that 14-15 months of Dubai heat must have had some effect... ?  I just think of that squad of maintenance people that you'd see running around touching her up constantly... that simply cannot be happening.