Last voyage of Queen Elizabeth II.

[H.Johnson]

The event of the last voyage of the Cunarder QE2 went almost unnoticed on the international stage yesterday, but she left Southampton for the final time en route to Dubai where she is to become a floating hotel. Embarrasingly, she grounded on a sandbank (apparently they don't dredge the docks anymore) but eventually got underway after an air display by a Harrier, a shower of poppies (both to commemorate the good work she did in '82) a firework display and some reasonable nostalgic celebrations. A summary of her 40+ year career as a queen of the seas here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7723073.stm

I remember watching her predecessor burn in Hong Kong harbour - I hope a similar fate doesn't await this fine lady of the seas. Last of a breed, in some ways...

 

[Vanessa]

I had hoped to stay on each of the Queens before they were retired, but it looks like I'll never make it to this one. I have zero plans to make it to Dubai anytime soon.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I had hoped to stay on each of the Queens before they were retired, but it looks like I'll never make it to this one. I have zero plans to make it to Dubai anytime soon.

But they have a non stop flight from LAX to there now.....

field trip!

 

[dhermann1]

They plan to take the funnel off her and place it on land, in front of her. They will replace the funnel with some sort of tower with luxury suites. The entire insides will be basically gutted and new larger rooms put in.
A lot of traditionalists are horrified by some of the plans. Others see them as necessary. We'll see.
Meanwhile the SS United States rots away at her berth in Philly.
The oldest liner currently in service, the Regal Empress, originally the Olympia, has been retired and will go to the breakers soon. The SS France/Norway is in pieces at Alang.
Those great ships were glorious in their time, but they tend to meet sad and ignominious ends.
I was lucky enough to see the meet up of the QE2 and the new Queen Mary in New York harbor a couple of years ago. Memorable.

 

[Vanessa]

All the more reason to celebrate the preservation & restoration work being done for the Queen Mary. One glorious ship saved.

 

[RedPop4]

Sad to say that saltwater is a real killer.

 

[RetroPat]

It's sad to see this great ship making its last voyage. When I was 12, my family was on a New England vacation and drove to NYC to see the QE2 launch for South Hampton. I got to go on the tug boat that would eventually lead the ship out of port. As someone who loves ocean liners, this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I hope the QE2 is as successful as the Queen Mary in being a floating hotel.