With the sale of the QE2,Cunard did put itself in an embarrassing situation

[Ocean Liner Fanatic]

In June of 2007 when Cunard/Carnival did announce the sale of the QE2 to Dubai World I think that was an embarrassing time for the Cunard Line because in an interview in the Summer of 2006 edition of Steamboat Bill which is the quarterly publication of the Steamship Historical Society of America of which I am a member of,Cunard President Carol Marlow when asked about the future of the QE2 is quoted as saying that the 2010 SOLAS regulations would not retire the QE2,that the QE2 should be able to sail beyond 2010,and that many people choose to sail aboard the QE2 versus other cruise ships because she is the QE2.Then I have read on other websites,people being told that the QE2 is already 80% there in regarding the 2010 SOLAS regulations.My friend was last aboard the QE2 when she did her Southampton to New York transatlantic crossing in April of 2007.He said that Captain Ian McNaught did tell the passengers that they do expect the QE2 to be able to sail beyond 2010.So this is why I think this QE2 folly does result in Cunard/Carnival in having egg on their face.Don't get me wrong,Cunard/Carnival had to build the QM2 to be able to compete with other cruise companies and I can even understand why Cunard/Carnival built the Queen Victoria,though contrary to Cunard hype,Queen Victoria is not a true ocean liner but a cruise ship based on the Holland-America Vista Class Cruise Ship design.Cunard could have kept the fleet being the QM2,QE2 and the new Queen Victoria.And Cunard could have kept the QE2 sailing until 2016 and then in 2016 put the new Vista Class Cruise Ship Queen Elizabeth into service.But unfortunately in June of 2007 Dubai World went to Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison waving their $100 million check.Any comments? Regards,Jerry

[Rob Lightbody]

Sounds about right to me Jerry, and matches everything I've heard and seen.  QE2 needed a pretty big refit, and then would be good to go until 2016...

Now I could say that that means I would have gone on her some more times, but the truth is that i only finally got my finger out and booked trips on her when i knew that time was up... otherwise she stayed as a something-to-do-sometime luxury, just like QM2 has now become (although i have far less interest in QM2).  Had they changed their minds before last Novemer and kept her, however, i'd have been going regularly on her.  Once smitten...

[Ocean Liner Fanatic]

Rob, I know that the QM2 is not the identical twin sister of the QE2,because the QM2 is much larger than the QE2 and that the QM2 went into service 35 years after the QE2 went into service.Have you gone aboard her yet? If you have not give her a try and who knows you may really end up liking her.At least the QE2 and the QM2 have one thing in common that being they are both designed to be Transatlantic Liners.You can always say that the QE2 is your favorite ship. Regards,Jerry

[Rob Lightbody]

Jerry, QM2 wows me in all sorts of ways, and I'm very glad they built her, but she's not my Dad's ship, she wasn't built here in Scotland, she isn't the most famous and luxurious ship in the world, she isn't Britain's flagship and the pride of Britain the way QE2 was, and she isn't used in everyday speech... and I'll never find myself dreaming of her the way that I have dreamed of QE2 over the past 30 years!

But yes, you're right, I'd like to try her sometime, especially if its with some of my QE2 friends!

[Mauretania1907]

I have been looking at a picture of Q Mary der Grosse (QM2) showing her stern, and I think it is a very funny shape, it has a flat bit each side of the stern proper, it looks as if someone has given her a great boot in the backside. I have been told it is that shape because the pod propulsion needs a squared off stern to work properly,then she got a bit tacked on to make it look more traditional. The whole effect looks odd. I hope to have a better look at it when she arrives in Auckland soon.

[Chris]

The stern of QM2 had to be that shape in order to incorporate the Pod Propulsion System onto what would essentially be a classic rounded stern. The Pods needed to be attached to a flat bottomed hull and as such, the squareness of the aft-end of the hull was created to accommodate this.

However, to give QM2 an overall more pleasing profile, the stern was built out in a curved effect similar to QE2's (well, from the top down at least) to give QM2 a more classic appearance...

Hope this helps clarify?

Cheers,

Chris.

[Mauretania1907]

Dear Chris. Many thanks for your explanation. I do have a bit of a bone to chew with Cunard - they bang on about their glorious past in their brochures, but let  a lot of artifacts be sold with QE2. Things such as Aquitania's bell and I believe the cup given to Sam Cunard by the people of Halifax. I would have thought such things were priceless but sadly sold with the ship. I can understand art pieces especially made for her being sold, but not the Cunard heritage things. O well, money talks, I guess.

[stowaway2k]

Does Cunard have egg on it's face?
Maybe, for a short time, and only within the small community which pays attention to such things. (us?)
I believe, that for the most part, people generally don't blame Cunard for making an agreement to sell QE2 for far far more than she was otherwise worth.
As for Cunard's "Heritage", well, it's a tough world in which to do business, and a company has got to play up to whatever edge they may have over their competitors.  And Cunard does have heritage.  Those in the executive suite may not have a clear picture of what that heritage is, they may get it wrong from time to time, they do exagerate for purposes of marketing, they do look silly attempting to pass off Queen Victoria as a direct link to their heritage... and much more do doubt.

"Queen Mary 2" was a stroke of genius, in keeping an edge.  Had she been named anything else, all the hullabaloo would have been far less I believe.
I can't blame them for doing what they feel they need to do, for marketing and publicity purposes.

Regarding comments made by Ms. Marlow and Captain McNaught, I would believe that they likely didn't know at the time of their comments that QE2 was soon to be in the hands of others.  No doubt Captain McNaught was one of the last to know.

Where Cunard really do have egg on their face is from the recent comment claiming that QE2 held back Cunard from being a luxury fleet.
I have just been on Queen Victoria.  And believe me, Queen Victoria is doing nothing to foster their claim that Cunard can now be a luxury fleet.
The standard cabins on QV are anything but luxury, unless Ikea is suddenly a luxury brand.

As for the "Halifax Cup" previously mentioned, would this be the "Boston Cup"?  I'm not aware of a Halifax Cup on QE2, but the Boston Cup was moved over to QM2 in April 2004.

We probably have to wait and see just what exactly has remained on board in Dubai.  Unfortunately the Aquitania Bell may still be there, but I do know that many items of Cunard heritage were in private hands and were not staying with QE2 in Dubai.  What exactly those are, we probably have to wait until the ship is open to the public or someone who knows about such things, such as a QE2 officer,  let's us know...

[Andy F]

An interesting post Stowaway.  I also read the claim about QE2 holding Cunard back with incredulity as have always been of the opinion that it was QE2 that introduced most to Cunard not the other way around.  How many tried QM2 (or QV) first and then decided to give QE2 a try for example?  Some no doubt possibly but I'm sure for most (me included), that it was because of QE2 they decided to try out the other ship(s). 

[Mauretania1907]

OK, I stand corrected - it is the Boston Cup, and today I was told it is aboard QM2. I believe there an article about QE2's artifacts in the November 2008 Ships Monthly, written by a Mr Peter Newell. If anybody can get hold of that, it supposedly lists some of the artifacts sold with the ship. I would be interested to see what.
And the remark that QE2 held Cunard back from being de luxe was really unkind.
For the record, I saw Q Victoria yesterday. I came, I saw and was NOT conquered. Moreover, when I went back at 10pm to watch her departure, she had already left. Although advertised to leave at 10.

[NairB]

Folks,

How did Cunard go about selling our QE2? Yes...OUR QE2!!!. What other deals or options were tabled when she was put up for sale? Did they approach the British Government, the maritime museums etc....who??

Why was our nations example allowed to be sold abroad for a measly £50 million? Why has some British billionaire not see that owning her could deliver a HUGE return by making her into a hotel, museum etc, seeing her true potential.....WHY!!!!

£50 million is peanuts in my opinion to what THIS great liner is really worth. WE have made a massive mistake in selling her abroad and I ask any potential business person that reads this to THINK about what I am saying.

If I had the capital behind me, I would have her back in a second. Her potential is astronomical through not only her iconic standing but as a BRITISH center of excellence, holding business conferences, hotel, college, museum etc. There must have been a better business plan out there for her that no-one came forward with.

I wonder why Cunard let her go so easily without such considerations? Is the UK really that skint we couldn't hold on to her?

Surely, a nation needs its examples to remind them who they once where and what they might do for its future, looking at such great examples from our past. If they can see its splendor then they can say.....WE DID that. However, if it's out of sight, then it's out of mind as the old saying goes.

I'm sorry for being so political about these things, I can't help it. Achievements such as the QE2 and the other greats before her, must be kept and looked after when they retire, just like our old folk that built the liner.

It amazes me to stand in a pub and talk about the shipyards when an old guy says "Aye son, I helped build her" !!!

That guy and folk like him should all be awarded an MBE for giving THE WORLD such a great engineering classic but instead, they are scattered among us, quiet about their hard earned achievement, not saying a word until someone like me rants & raves about our great yards!!

When I meet people like him, I am standing with GREATNESS.....he and folk like him BUILT our ships....HE IS OUR SHIPS!!!!!!

Anyway, I would love to know what Cunard's options were?

-Angry NairB

[pete cain]

Unfortunately, it's not Cunard you need to feel angry with, it's CARNIVAL inc , they own Cunard as a logo or trading name or whatever, or the British government at the time whatever their colour,red/blue who let the greatest ever shipping name slip into the grubby hands of the multinationals, (it still goes on) nostalgia is seen as a weekness, however just look at the guys in the north of england who've spent 18yrs & a couple of million £s building a brand new steam loco. there's hope yet.....  pete cain  .......

[Mauretania1907]

Nah, its Carnicunard or cunardival, whichever way you cut it, the bean counter's eyes must have glowed at the offer of 100 mill US for a 40 year-old ship they would be soon discarding. They grabbed that dosh quick as winking, let someone else wear the ire from the faithful. And they are still raking in the dough, what would they care for us, mate. Nix. Now I've blown my stacks, I might just retire for the night.

[Twynkle]

PLEASE - Who might save themselves further embarrassment - and help to bring QE2 back to life?

Anyone who thought of bidding for her the first time round would be most welcome to try again.
Churchill said 'If at first you don't succeed......"!

[Cunardqueen]

You must admit though the sale was avery closely guarded secret. l do wonder exactly when it was first raised. the brochure if we recall stopped in October with a note that the winter schedules would be released in the summer of 2006. Cunard must have been covering themselves in case such a sale didnt come off. so was the sale in advanced stages by this time? and when exactly would it have been a done deal

 Which brings us back to joe public. Do they even know who owns QE2, l doubt it lm sure to most of the UK folks she was the most famous ship they have heard of, but probably dont know who owns her.

And it does say something that a 40 year old ship is more famous that any of their other so called ships. l bet that really used to annoy them