If QE2 is scrapped, will it change what you think of Cunard?

[Rob Lightbody]

Let me know if you need another option!

[Michael Gallagher]

Why should people blame Cunard if the decision is taken to scrap? Such a decision is nothing to do with Cunard and hasn't been since 27 November 2008!

[Twynkle]

Rob
What if QE2 sank....
Would the feelings be the same?
Rosie

[Beardy Rich]

I haven't voted as I agree with Flagship. Lets face it, if it wasn't for Cunard there would never have been a QE2 in the first place.
Having said that, I sincerely hope she isn't scrapped... she deserves better. As always, it all comes down to money/finances though.

As for going on a Cunard cruise... I'd love to There's just a small matter of finding a winning lottery ticket first  

[Rob Lightbody]

I haven't voted as I agree with Flagship. Lets face it, if it wasn't for Cunard there would never have been a QE2 in the first place.
Having said that, I sincerely hope she isn't scrapped... she deserves better. As always, it all comes down to money/finances though.

As for going on a Cunard cruise... I'd love to There's just a small matter of finding a winning lottery ticket first  

OK I've added you & flagships option to the Poll - if you vote, that will be the currently winning answer

If it wasn't for Cunard, there wouldnt be QE2.  But I also think vice-versa is true...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Rob, I am sure I've voted exactly liike you    !

My preferred wording might have been "I am angry with Cunard for having sold her -- this does not change my feelings towards Cundard" -- or some more elegant wording to the same effect.

[Bob C.]

Cunard stopped being Cunard years ago but all along it was a business and not a maritime museum.  With few exceptions, just before and during most of QE2's life , they were struggling to make ends meet with their passenger service with the emerging jetliner age. The Golden Age of Cunard could probably be defined from the end of WWII to the mid/late 50's when trans-Atlantic tourist travel was peaking. But when the bottom line on the balance sheets turned red in the 60's, they began to cut assets including QM and QE even with their popular notariety and historical significance.  It's just busniness.

Having said that, Carnival/Cunard could have done a much better job of recognizing the significance QE2 and preserving her and the liner heritage that she represents.  Scrapping her would be like crumpling up the Constitution or Magna Carta in a ball and tossing it in the trash can because it cost to much to preserve.

[cunardqueen]

I only ever sailed on QE2 and one trip on the MSC Melody. For me it didnt matter who owned QE2, she was always  QE2.  If she is scrapped, will it change my view of Cunard NO, But l have no intention of sailing on the new ships in the forseable future. And the single cabin issues most certainly dont help
But a small part of me is pleased that they kept her going as long as she did, BUT l do think the end could have been handled better. 
 

[Chris]

I have to agree with Flagship - Cunard opted to sell QE2, not scrap her. Any future decisions are not Cunard's fault.

[Mauretania1907]

I agree, carnicunard opted to sell her, so now it is up to Nakheel what eventually becomes of her. Would I travel on a Cunard ship - yes, Q Mary die grosse interests me a lot, BUT not at double price, as I would require a cabin to myself.

[LegendOfTheSeas]

I have to agree with Flagship - Cunard opted to sell QE2, not scrap her. Any future decisions are not Cunard's fault.

I agree with this as well. Cunard sold the ship, believing she'd have a good future. If she's scrapped then that's down to the people who now own her and the fact a recession came along at precisely the wrong time (not that there's ever a good time for a recession, but I hope you know what I mean). I don't like the fact she was sold by Cunard, but the current situation's not, as I see it, Cunard's fault.

[Cruise_Princess]

I think Cunard are damned if they do and damned if they dont....can you imagine the outcry if THEY had  scrapped her   I know I for one would have shouted the loudest....truth is no devoted QE2 fan wanted her to go regardless of how...and I suppose we have to remember that Cunard are a business and as much as it pains us no business keeps anything old going just for sentimental reasons......  so I say .......but  like everyone else still take the hump cause she's not here any more......

[Rob Lightbody]

The simple fact is that QE2 should still be sailing, as originally intended. If Cunard owned her and was still operating her, then nobody could scrap her. QE2 would have looked more and more amazing over the years spanning 2008 to 2015 and would have drawn bigger and bigger crowds as all other ships look worse and worse. Marketed as a real classic liner, in the right way, she'd have been a huge hit.  She should have passed 40 due to the 1987 mega-refit, indeed she was intended to.

I profoundly disagree with the idea that Cunard has no responsibility if something awful happens to "the most famous ship in the world" that served them so well over the decades, and is the *only* reason Cunard still exists.

[cunardqueen]

She should have passed 40 due to the 1987 mega-refit, indeed she was intended to.

Surely they must have had some idea as to how long QE2 would continue, you dont invest all that money for a 21 year extension do you?? Heck even back in 1983 Sir Nigel Broackes was saying she could last as long as 25 years. And the figure of 2015 was always be banded about in recent years.

 I still think its  disgrace how two of her cruises were mucked about to "fit in" the farewell uk and both crossings.
 As some one who was booked on the original cruises before they were messed about with and reading the terms and conditions etc etc l would have thought it made more sense to do the 12 night crossing first then the round UK to fit in with the original 12 night cruise and 10 night cruise, that way Cunard could have made even more profit by not giving us the $300 onboard credit per affected voyage. Granted we had the tandem with QM2,but lm sure most of us could have seen her far enough, heck it was bad enough knowing this was QE2s last chance, let alone having the ugly cousin following us, not only there BUT back as well

 Even when the sale was mentioned trying to get a straight answer from Cunard reservations that day was hopeless, (l know its never easy to get a straight answer from them at the best of times)  But clearly it seemed everyone was caught on the hop. My confirmation was only sorted out 2 days before the voyages went on sale to the public.

 The  brochure that year said that the winder schedules would be announced in the summer of that year, so something was in the pipeline or was this to give them breathing space in case any deal fell through?
Then again as a company their loyality is to the shareholder, to heck with the vast number of loyal passengers out there who supported QE2 through thick and thin, we have been dumped, shipless

Wouldnt it be great if Cunard offered to take her back, berth her at QEII terminal and watch as the flocks of people lined up to pay to tour round the greatest ship in the world, ok they might have egg on their face, but its surely a lot nicer than having the other stuff when it hits the fan..... 

[Cruise_Princess]

Rob and Myles ....your pieces are brilliant...one minute Im seeing this from a business point of view then after reading your pieces i agree with you too.. Im on the swings and roundabouts  Admittedly  I think it it was all done in too big a hurry...I think she could have sailed for even a few years with us all knowing she would eventually go within the next 2 or 3 years...maybe would have been less of a blow...maybe Dubai owned but leased back to Cunard.
But would Cunard still WANT to operate Qe2 in the way we all know and love...i dont think so they dont want ANYTHING classic they want all singin dancin revenue making like the ugly sisters have   .....I think they would just have run her right down......Cant understand it myself as she did sell for what she was ....a Unique Ocean liner....but not enough of the younger generation maybe wanted to sail on her as no funnels to climb etc etc and the business is so competetive now.....i dont know....I just want to have her back sailing as she was and be able to say today Im going on the Qe2 this year.....but it wont  happen  how I wish it would.

As you say Myles the full itinerary was held back for that year and I questioned it to the very top (CM) and she told me on the phone that the itineraries were coming out a bit later ..that was all.....nothing unusual etc etc but I think we all knew that something was happening....as Cunard Qe2 brochures were always out early...

Had Qe2 been handled correctly as Bob says she could have been a real winner...the ONLY British built liner surviving today...what a coup for Cunard...and yes where would Cunard be today if it had not been for Qe2 and all of us sailing on her...... there would be no QM2 QV or new Lizzie....and again I can only say that Cunard would do well to remember that,

i still feel there is a possibility down the line that they will dump the 2 vista jobs and build a new LINER named Lizzie....around the same size and spec to Qe2....but sadly she wont be British built.....

I can only dream

This topic is a real goodie....good to see what everyone is saying about this .......