Exclusive QE2 Onboard Photos October 2017

[Louis De Sousa]

Normally this thread should be in the QE2 after Cunard topic but because its open to public I decided
too added it here to a section where only forum members can see.

These photos here are exclusive photos from onboard taken in October 2017,I do ask you all
NOT to share it at all without permission please

The first photo is the new renovated Midships Lobby

[Louis De Sousa]

One more of the Midships Lobby

[June Ingram]

Awesome photos !  Thanks, Louis, for posting !  Our QE2 looks like herself !   

[Thomas Hypher]

Dubai's great recent work finally seeing the light of day. Maybe humble pie will be eaten by some after all  .

[Rob Lightbody]

Fascinating photos.

New carpet. The ceilings been redone. The lights are very bright!  But basically that space is intact and just refurbished.

[cunardqueen]

cushions..dont forget the new cushions.. or perhaps these were removed from elsewhere onboard

[Thomas Hypher]

Fascinating photos.

New carpet. The ceilings been redone. The lights are very bright!  But basically that space is intact and just refurbished.

The new lights could be LEDs for energy saving purposes hence the bright, cool white light. We know she had her outside lights replaced with low energy equivalents (LEDs?).

[Louis De Sousa]

The new lights could be LEDs for energy saving purposes hence the bright, cool white light. We know she had her outside lights replaced with low energy equivalents (LEDs?).

The lights can be dimmed

[Twynkle]

Louis - Thank you very much for posting these.
Lots of Questions, hopefully you won't mind my asking - and obviously, nothing is critical or personal here!
The Midships Lobby just looks extra-fresh - as if straight out of a box!

Have you been able to speak with the crew on board regarding the work that's been done - and how it's been made?
It's difficult to tell whether all the surface 'woodwork' has been replaced in the Midships Lobby - and rather like the 'woodwork' on QM2 (Photographs, put onto metal then "varnished"!), maybe it's not varnished proper wood (as in the original?),  it looks as if it might be photographs too!
It rather looks as if it's a sort of model of the original, if this makes sense...
Do you know whether the designers might have seen the VADS 1969 Journal?

http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

[Thomas Hypher]

Louis - Thank you very much for posting these.
Lots of Questions, hopefully you won't mind my asking - and obviously, nothing is critical or personal here!
The Midships Lobby just looks extra-fresh - as if straight out of a box!

Have you been able to speak with the crew on board regarding the work that's been done - and how it's been made?
It's difficult to tell whether all the surface 'woodwork' has been replaced in the Midships Lobby - and rather like the 'woodwork' on QM2 (Photographs, put onto metal then "varnished"!), maybe it's not varnished proper wood (as in the original?),  it looks as if it might be photographs too!
It rather looks as if it's a sort of model of the original, if this makes sense...
Do you know whether the designers might have seen the VADS 1969 Journal?

http://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=244&year=1969&article=d.244.39

The woodwork (veneer) is the same as it was in the end with Cunard. See my rather poor Midships Lobby photos from July 2008 (one below). The wood veneer is not original in/to the Midships Lobby. Also if I remember correctly it's a Walnut veneer:

QE2 Mediterranean cruise, July 2008 (my last trip on QE2) by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

[Thomas Hypher]

Maybe it's "varnished" photographs as you say QM2 has (and I recall when onboard QM2) as the Midships Lobby with the woodwork dates from the 1994 Project Lifestyle refit. What were SOLAS regulations etc. like back then?

[Rob Lightbody]

I don't dislike the new carpet, but Thomas' photo there reminds me of how glorious the previous carpet was. Rich and deeply coloured, and custom designed for the space so that the pattern follows the room' shape.  The old carpet was an actual feature of that space.  The new one is, well, less special.

[Lynda Bradford]

I do not dislike the new carpet as long as it is plush. In a strange kind of way the green of the carpet reminds me of the green of the original Midship Lobby and Twinkle's post with the link to VADS emphasised this for me. 

My first memory of stepping on the ship as a passenger was embarkation at the Midship Lobby where the harpist was playing and the feeling of sinking into the plush carpet.  I like the look apart from the cushions, but these can easily be changed. 

[Louis De Sousa]

When you look back to what Benoy design had planned this looks much better

[Brandon Sterkel]

Wow! The Midships Lobby looks great! Thank you so much for sharing these photos, Louis.