QE2 To Leave The Cunard Fleet In November 2008
18 June 2007
Queen Elizabeth 2, the most famous ship in the world, will be leaving the Cunard fleet in autumn 2008. QE2 has sailed the world’s seas for almost forty years, and has travelled over 5½ million miles in the process; that is further than any other ship in history. She is the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history, and she has outlasted all other transatlantic liners. After such an illustrious career, Cunard feel that the time will be right for her to leave the fleet next year.
However, she will not disappear. She has been purchased by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World and a wholly owned company of the Government of Dubai. She will be delivered to Dubai in November 2008, where she will cease her role as an ocean-going passenger vessel, and be refurbished and adapted to become a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination at The Palm Jumeirah.
Cunard President Carol Marlowe said: "We think it very important that QE2 should end her ocean–going career with dignity. We are, therefore, very pleased to have secured a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history".
QE2 was launched by Her Majesty The Queen in September 1967, forty years ago this year, and since she came into service in 1969, she has carried over 2½ million passengers, undertaken 25 World Cruises, and crossed the Atlantic over 800 times. And like many of her Cunard predecessors she has been a major attraction at ports around the world.
She will remain with the fleet until November 11th 2008, when she will leave her homeport of Southampton for the last time, to commence her final voyage to Dubai. This cruise was one of the fastest selling in recent cruising history, when it went on sale in June 2007, selling out within 35 minutes of bookings opening.