Local History

Have you sailed on the QE2? What are your memories of the liner? What do you think about her sale to Dubai?

Alan Heathcote
I agree that the ship should not have been sold. Indeed what should have happened is that Cunarders like myself and others should have been offered the chance to buy shares in this great ship. Safer than the banks in the current crisis don't you think?Then it could have been kept in service for a few more years. It's final resting place should have been in the UK Greenwich perhaps or Southampton. Indeed it should be here for the 2012 Olympics.Farewell to a great ship that I have had the good fortune to sail on many many times.Alan

Emma Thrower
I am a resident of Dubai, and at the moment I am watching the magnificent fireworks for the arrival of the QE2. I am shore that the marvellous ship will be wonderfully looked after in dubai. I will be one of the first to visit the new and improved ship.

Zoe
I worked on the QE2 for 5 fantastic years. She truly is the most beautiful ship in the world and always will be. I have amazing memories from being onboard, i also met my husband whilst working on there and have since sailed on her afew times as passengers.I am very sad to see her leave british waters but i'm sure she will be looked after very well in Dubaii, it's better than her being scrapped! God bless her ! She will be sadly missed.

Martin Denker from Hamburg/Germany
My wife and I have sailed five times on the QE2. We got engaged aboard, spent our honeymoon there, travelled when my wife was pregnant and in 2008 you could hear the laughter and happiness of our four years old boy on the Queen of the seas. During the farewell cruise around the British Isles we often had a lump in our throats and tears came to our eyes. Why is it not possible to find a place in home waters where this national monument - a British Queen with her German heart- could retire gracefully?

Rachel
It has always been my dream as a little girl to go on the QE2. Thanks to my parents my dream and those of my sister and brothers came true. We sailed on her in Nov/Dec last year and the feeling on being on such a famous liner is indescribable, it truly was an memorable cruise. The QE2 is now a bit outdated and needs to be retired but at least she is going to have a good life and not end up rotting away somewhere. She will be missed.

Paul Stockwell
I was at Southampton for the Queen Mary's last voyage. I think its better to scrap them than preserve them. QE2s history is likely to be a patchwork of deterioration and funding worries while she slowly rusts in dock. In 40 years time she will simply be quaint. Scrapped they pass into history and legend like the Normandie, the Queen Elizabeth and Titanic.

Brian Palmer, Sydney, Australia.
During my first voyage on QE2 I remarked to an elderly fellow passenger, who spoke with broad northern accent,how the QE 2 was a great cruise ship. "This is an OCEAN LINER NOT A CRUISE SHIP" was his immediate response as he turned away from me. Earlier this year I was aboard QE2 as it crossed the Pacific and when asked why there were so many formal nights, Captain McNaught responded to the female passenger in not too a dissimilar fashion as the elderly man I had met some years earlier. How right they were - a truly GREAT OCEAN LINER. may she R.I.P. on a job well done.

Sven Herring
I was lucky to have the occasion to sail on her three times. She will be in my heart forever. I hope that the ney owners will keep her beautiful interior, including the traditional items such as models, paintings and so on, just as they are. So her enchentness will hopefully survive.

Sharon Poole
The last of her kind - a true ocean liner. If only she could have remained in her home port or country. I have had several wonderful voyages on her. Nothing could match the exhilaration of being on the deck of QE2, transatlantic, at full speed. I am going to miss her so much.

Marjorie Chandler
I'm very pleased to know she will only be retired not buried - maybe I will be able to visit her one day and give her a pat as I have in Melbourne Australia from time to time!

Sandra Lee
I have sailed on the QE2 3 times and I have beautiful memories and met wonderful friends. There will never be another ship like " The Queen of the seas"

Richard and Barbara
Have loved the ship since she was built and recently returned on last Eastbound crossing from New York with her - crew and ship absolutely excellent. Pleased she was saved from scrapping but would have preferred her to be preserved at Greenwich Maritime Museum, London, as a floating hotel and OCEAN LINER museum (SOMETHING THIS MARITIME NATION DOES NOT HAVE) in full Cunard livery as the last British built ocean liner and also a memorial to the Falklands veterans who did not return home - owned by Dubia if necessary - would have attracted many, many visitors over many, many years in our capital city - particularly during the 2012 Olympics/Paralympics -where else should a capital ship and ship of state rest in her retirement? We lost that chance with Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, sad we have lost it with QE2 also - or have we?? Thanks for the memories lovely lady, may you sail on safely in our memories. God Bless you.

Norman Taylor
Greatest ship in the world.

Ken
Its a unique part of British History, it should have stayed in the country for the public to enjoy.The government is happy to give 500 billion to bail out incompetant bankers, but is it prepared to pay such a small sum in comparison to preserve this irreplacable part of our history and culture?

Dennis & Jackie
Sailed on the QE.2. for Trafalgar 200 in 2005, now again soon in Sept/Oct 2008 for a farewell trip round the british isles. She's a grand old ship the likes of we most likely will never see again. She should be well looked after in Dubai and spend her final days in regal splendour. A fine ship and very pleasant memories. 3 cheers for the QE.2.

Sharon
It's a shame that she will be leaving her home for Dubai, i sailed on her 18 months ago and it was a wonderful experience. Until then i had suffered from motion sickness and had always been unable to sail, i'm pleased to say that the QE2 helped me to conquer that, something which i will always be grateful for.

Jason Sloan
I worked on QE2 for 5 years on and off from 1990 and many other cruise ships all over the world. My cruising days ended in 2002 and of all those years and over 40 ships QE2 was my first ship and with a sense of Ironly my last, as I live in Dubai and intend to sail her from my old home to my present one. I do understand the sense of pride to lose this iconically British ship and the last of her kind, however Dubai will care for her of that I am sure and it is assuring she still has a future as a ship and not ripped apart and scattered. God bless her!

Capt. Toby Freeman
Yes we have sailed onboard her in the Panama Canal. We now live in Dubai so it will be great to have her near us again and all the other Brits in the UAE

Emily
I am a 14 year old and i love looking at the QE2. I think i shouldn't have been sold because i loved looking at it when i am waiting for the Red Funnel.

Paula Jones
I feel I have grown up watching the liners sailing along the Solent when on holiday on the Isle of Wight every year & will miss seeing the QE2 a lot. My ambition was to sail on her to New York & fly back on Concorde, sadly never to be now. She is a beautiful ship & I will watch with pride when I see her sail from Southampton for the last time. God Save the Queen!

Edd. C
She should stay in the u.k. where she belongs, this shipbelongs in southampton docksso her history stays in the u.k.

John Miller
I think the QE2 should not be sold. She is in workingconditon. We should be keeping a legendery lines.Why cant she live in UK

Ed.D
Having read the comments of others I agree that it is a shame that the QE2 will be leaving the shores of the UK permenantly. I now live in Dubai and know for certain that this old lady of the sea will be well looked after here in the UAE. Dubai is set up for 5 star celebraties and will be bestowed with 'A' list treatment. We look forward to her arrival and the chance to visit the historic decks that have seen thousands enjoying her charm. Visitors always welcome.

socrate's
i an a much loved teddy bear who has sailed on the QE2 five times with my owners joan & david bebbinton,i sat in the porthole each trip and never saw one dophin.

Helen
I've been lucky enough to sail on QE2 more than 10 times and I'm still only just over 40 myself! Its a great shame she could not have been preserved in Southampton and I am gutted at what Carnival have done.

B Clark
We sailed on her in 2007 and also booked for 2008 she is an old lady of the sea she is a beautiful ship with sleek lines and what a terrible shame for her to go for sale to Dubai she still has many years left in her life she should be left in Southampton for retirement as a memorial of a truly great ship.

Nadine
I sailed on the QE2 with my sister, mom and dad in 1973 to New York. It was fantastic and a memory I will cherish always. I can remember dining in the posh lounge and walking the decks. I look at the photos and recall the day we moved to Canada leaving family behind. Now back in the UK she is now leaving me.

Derek
Growing up in Southampton, i learned to sail in the waters of the Solent, inc. Southampton Water itself. The old Queen was often to be seen in the docks as I sailed my little wooden dinghy. Now living in Perth, WA, it's ironic that as I fly back to the UK to visit family and friends via Dubai. I'll be flying over that grand old dame.

Jonathan.s
I live on the Solent and have often seen her. I think it most regretable she has been sold to Dubai. She should have been found a home in the UK. Portland for the Olympics maybe?

Vicky
I think she is an old lady in need of some TLC, I sailed on her last year - I have also been to Dubai - following a much needed refit she will sit beautifully on the coast - and the combination of the two together will be magical.

John Daniel
I was a passenger on the first commercial sailing on 22nd Arpil 1969. We sailed at 4.45pm. amid a very moving send off from bands and crowds. My first impression was of a very exciting and bold design for the future. Exciting and bold as critics had said she would never be a success in the jet age. How wrong they were! A few settling down problems as with anything new. I remember vividly the result of using polythene varnish to seal the teak decking. It made the teak very dark and smart looking. Fine until we got to the Las Palmas where the decks became hot and melted the mastic deck corking sealer. This was then forced out into little messy mounds on the deck, which got on shoes and promptly taken inside to the new carpets! When I visited the ship again in October the decks were standard teak!I shall always remember this beautiful ship and she will stand alongside The Queen Mary as a truly British ship

George Samaklis
Qe2 is the most beautiful and exciting liner ever. I feel very very sad for her early withdrawal.Oceans and ports will look poor and empty from now on.Queen Victoria, a tupical cruise ship with not an original design,as she already has 5 sisters,CAN NOT replace her!Let's wait for the new Queen Elizabeth.

John
I've sailed on QE2 about 25 times and she always lives up to expectations. Her recent 40th Anniversary Cruise was magnificent - well done Cunard! One has to accept she is an aging lady and she is reaching her final year. I am pleased she is to be rennovated in Dubai and her treasures maintained. I did hear she is to sail after 2009 from Dubai on special charters. Carnival are correct to build new modern ships and I look forward to QV and the new QE in 2010. However, a plea - please retain the character, charm and elegance of QE2 in the new Queen Elizabeth design. QM2 is spectacular, she was designed by a Brit. Fortunately, I managed to secure a cabin on QE2's final voyage to Dubai, the journey will be tinged with sadness but I will feel honoured to record my part in Britain's maritime history.

Terry Tuck
I am ships enthusiast and been to see the QE2 at her berth in Southampton for many years she has always been my favourite ship I have just been to see her on her 40th birthday on the Clyde.The QE2 is the ours she is the best of British design and for me it will be a very sad day when she leaves our shores.Thousands of the public turned out to see her on the Clyde, this proves how much she is loved by people of the UK.

Jessica
Im 13 years old from scotland 16/09/07 i went to see the Queen Elizabeth which was due to sail into the river tyne, near newcastle at 5.00pm , where she was going to spend the night. There were huge celebrations up and down the river. The ship was huge! I wish that i had the chance to sail on the liner as it would have been miraculous. I hope when the QE2 is set up in Dubai i can go and stay in the floating hotel. My mum's grandad was part of the making of the QE2! that was the last great liner he ever had the chance to work on in southampton because of the company dropping all its workers and closing the boat yard.

Ann and Kevin Rose
We met on the QEII she is a great ship and we think she will be well looked after happy endings all round.

Karin Williams
Have sailed three times - something I had always dreamed of doing when I was young but never thought I would achieve. The ship is beautiful and exhudes a feeling of friendliness, helped by the lovely staff and crew. I am pleased she will still exist as a hotel - I just hope that being a luxury hotel/liner will not put prices so high that ordinary people will no longer be able to afford to visit (unless we stay "baggage class" like the old days! My favourite area was the Cocktail Lounge where I tasted a Singapore Sling for the first time - it was the only cocktail I knew the name and contents so that's what I ordered. It lived up to my expectations!

Josh M
It is such a shame that THE LAST TRUE BRITISH ocean liner is being sold off to Dubai. She will be mist by me very much having only recently got off her for the 3rd time. its such a great feeling when she is cruising at 27knots over taking other modern cruise liners, she may be old but she is the fastest ship afloat today. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

Liz Bowman (nee Taylor)
I am 48 and when I was 8 I watched this beautiful liner being built at John Brown shipyards - my uncles worked on her I was at her launching and now 40 years later I am travelling to Liverpool tomorrow to show my chidren to her but also to say my goodbyes. I've always referred to her as 'my other baby'. The launching was quite an event with bets galore that Her Majesty was going to name her The Princess Anne!!! There was quite a stir when she was named the QE2. I am so sad that she is going abroad there goes my dreams of ever boarding her! A sorry state of affairs. Why couldnt she be berthed in Liverpool give that city revenue from her!

brogan
im 19 years old living in melbourne australia. Have been going to see the qe2 for 14 years when she arrives in our city. My dad and i are going on her for the first time in feb 2008 from sydney to singapore on its world cruise. We are very excited and very sad that she is nearing the end of her days at sea. She will be missed by all who admire her.

Ann Sparling
Having lived in Southampton as a girl I often saw the big liners and it was a lifelong ambition of mine to travel on the QE2 and I wasn't disappointed when I sailed to New York from Southampton with my husband. We recently completed another voyage to Norway and she is the best as far as we are concerned. It is sad to see her go to Dubai.

MR CLIVE SMITH
I sailed aboard the QE2 1987 - 1988 as a chef . I boarded her in barbados on christmas eve 1987. great memories of the world cruise 1988 transversing the panama canel both ways . Fantastic reception as we entered Auckland NZ as well as in Sydney it was the 200 aniversary of the founding of australia. We visited many countries including China , Japan , Bombay [ India ] Singapore, and many more. she was a great ship then the largest ship afloat and i have only great memories of working aboard her its sad to see her go and i think cruising will never be quite the same as she had that quality that no new ship can provide .

Viv and Deirdre
We have been on the QE2 once before, and we are thrilled to be booked on the Celebration Cruise next week,as a 30th Wedding Anniversary treat.

Christian Reay
Me and my Mum sailed on the QE2 to New York at the start of January - and it goes without saying that Queen Elizabeth 2 truly is "The Last Great Liner"

John Bianco Sr.
My wife and I sailed the QE2 2001.She was magnificent. She is the last of a beautiful breed of old world ocean liners.

sharon dunn
well my favoiute liner was the canberra and qe2 they were the liners what looked like liners with a nice bow and front but more people what bigger ships for more people to travel but the other liners are not the same with out the back or front of the canberra or the qe2 wont see again its a shame that southampton didnt keep her or ports mouth it would have been nice

joan & david bebbington,gold members
a dear friend of ours who worked for many years on the first Queen Elizabeth as cabin steward came with us on QE2 in 2000,we had a great time on the cruise but sadly he died shortly after,so this cruise on QE2 has happy memories and sad ones too,a super ship in its day and special for us.

ann passingham
We went on the QE2. Nov/Dec 2006.for my 70th.birthday and our Golden W/A.it was for a whole month, what a adventure, just wonderful,I kept having to pinch myself, that I was really on, such a great ship. I think it would be crimenal, for it to go, to another country to retire, we should find a way, for it to stay here, not too many people, will be able to afford, to go to Dubai, to stay on her. Ann.

Chris Bratcher
I was on the Queen Elizabeth 2 the Iceland and Norway Cruise. whren we heard about the news i was very upset and the capton and crew did not know about the ship was leaving when they hard on Sky News.i wil miss her very Munch from the cunard line.

chris whittle
i was on the maiden voyage in 1969 i work in the galley as a young boy i hope to be on the last as apassenger

joan bebbington,gold member
sailed on QE2 five times,each cruise was better than the last,very glad she is going to be looked after and loved.