Should QE2 have been taken out of service?

[Adam Ilgin]

Not sure if such a poll has already been conducted.  Any additional options wanted, please comment.

[Rob Lightbody]

She should have been taken out of service, but it was a couple of years too early. She was still very nicely profitable for Cunard but they knew they'd have to do something fairly soon...

[June Ingram]

She should have been taken out of service, but it was a couple of years too early. She was still very nicely profitable for Cunard but they knew they'd have to do something fairly soon...

It was indeed a couple of years too early.  If only Cunard had waited a bit, perhaps a more suitable provision could have been arranged for her, and QE2 would not be in the predicament she is today.

[Lynda Bradford]

I can see the economic reasons for QE2 being taken out of service.  But given the fact that she is a world icon more should have been done to make sure she was sited in the right place so that those who love and will support her can visit.  In my opinion she would have more to offer if she was in a venue in the UK but it is difficult to say when she should have been taken out of service, unless we have the full facts on where she would not have complied with SOLAS

[Adam Hodson]

No she shouldn't.

[cunardqueen]

That is a very good question. And the answer, well it depends  for all us seasoned travellers  she was a second home and we loved her for it, and while no one ever really gave her end any thought we just assumed she would carry on, the rumour mill as always had us believe another 5 or so years.
  There was always the initial rush when the brochure was published fo the single traveller to get in there and get the cabin of your choice, l doubt there was the same rush for couples.
Speaking for myself as things turned out l would have probably only cruised in 2009 and 2010. My holidays at work changed so the time off for me is now over the Xmas period  and given that QE2 would be nearing the end of her Xmas cruises and heading over the pond l doubt very much l would have travelled then. Flying back wouldnt be an option.

Perhaps it could have been handled better, but her sales always appeared strong and she didnt need to resort to this tacky onboard credit which now seems to be the norm for the new ships.

Im not sure how she would have handled the vantage fares or whatever it is they call it, and all the pros and cons that come with them. Dinner was always Second sitting, to have been first sitting would be unthinkable, and to know know till boarding would be awfull. Then again at times Cunard could never get the upgrade system into a fair method, we all lm sure know people who have booked last minute and been thumped by the upgrade fairy, and these were usually first timers, and others who never saw this mystical figure and loyal to the core.

Cunard have us believe book early and save, to some of us its always been book early and get screwed by Cunard, but hey it was QE2, we had two choices book early and get the exact cabin you want or leave it and chances are you get nothing.
Some travel agents moaned that QE2 wasnt a luxury product, and sure a cabin on 5 deck was anything but luxury.
Perhaps if Cunard had let it be known her time was limited it might have been easier. But then again How on earth do you sell the worlds  best loved and most famous ocean liner. They only had once chance with QE2. Personally for me when the news broke it was a fiasco and reservations couldnt cope with our questions,Remember some of us were booked on the affected voyages so when you hear that your holidays are affected you do expect and demand answers and at that time, they were not providing them.
As it hapened for me it was a turning point, l was to quote what Isabella said "liberated " from QE2 and free to explore holiday options which l wished l had done sooner. so much so l have neither the wish, desire or need to book with Cunard ever again.

Without a doubt QE2 had to go, it was a matter of when and by which method, and was there a right way and a wrong way. But none of us expected it just so soon. 

[Adam Hodson]

If I'm being serious now (unlike my previous post) I do think her time had come. She may have stayed is service to about 2012 if she hadn't have been sold but I doubt any longer.

[Barrie Evans]

Good morning all    As much that I was saddened when the news broke that our beloved Q E 2 was to be sold, I can now look back and reflect how lucky we were to get a booking on her penultimate cruise. Yes it was an honour and a privelige to of sailed with her on three occasion's. Sadly her time was up, but I will always will remember how she was, and NOT what is happening to her at the moment.

[Cabin 2066]

Hey folks. A couple of things to ponder.

First, the upgraded and amended laws governing cruise vessels coming into effect in 2010 would have presented a grave problem to Carnival/Cunard. The renovations needed to the QE2 to remain on the seas as a passenger liner could have amounted to at least seven figures(USD) for a forty plus year old ship, while newbuild would be far cheaper over the long run than getting QE2 in compliance for maybe another half dozen years.

Second, look at history as Carnival/Cunard most certainly did in 2007. RMS Queen Mary was purchased by the city of Long Beach, Ca. in 1967 for $ 3.45 Million USD. RMS Queen Elizabeth was even cheaper, coming into the 80/20 partnership with Cunard for $ 1.5 million USD (which rapidly failed before the ship was sold to Tung). In 2007, Dubai World makes an offer for the QE2 in the amount of $ 100 million USD. Carnival jumped at that offer and if Cunard was still independent, they would have accepted even faster given the amount of ready money offered for the ship. That C/C were permitted to keep the ship for an additional year or so for "final" cruises speaks to the interest of the new owners for the "brand" and history of the ship and, at the time, the interest in visiting her in Dubai in the future.

Third, despite all the b......g about what has happened to QE2 since docking in Dubai in 2008(I hated leaving her after that final cruise), we have to consider what these few years have meant. Had that offer from Dubai World never happened and with the threaty of 2010 coming into force, would QE2 have been moored in Southampton very much as the RMS Olympic and the RMS Mauretainia were in 1935, wainting for a buyer? What would have become of QE2.

Fact - she is laid up in Dubai, with minimal crew being transfered out and replaced by others more qualified.
She is intact. Her owners are exploring every avenue to preserve her, if only to understand that, to this date, they have in excess of $ 135 million USD invested in her, and sending her to the beach represents a huge loss to them, as well as huge loss of face in losing a "brand" and a worldwide icon that they will find a good use for QE2. Bet on it!

[Hank Hargrove]

Not sure if such a poll has already been conducted.  Any additional options wanted, please comment.

All ships are finite (However, preserved ones last much longer). The QE2 would have had to have been taken out of service eventually. The question is more of a question of "when" instead of "should." At the time, the Dubai hotel deal certainly looked promising. I would have preferred it if they had at least kept the ship in service until the 40th anniversary of the maiden voyage, or perhaps a couple years longer. It would have been a nice thing to bookend the ships life by withdrawing around that time. However, that might just be my OCD/neatness side coming out.


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[Hank Hargrove]

I can see the economic reasons for QE2 being taken out of service.  But given the fact that she is a world icon more should have been done to make sure she was sited in the right place so that those who love and will support her can visit.  In my opinion she would have more to offer if she was in a venue in the UK but it is difficult to say when she should have been taken out of service, unless we have the full facts on where she would not have complied with SOLAS

Britain would definitely have been a better place. At this point, I honestly don't care where the hotel deal is just so long as it happens and is profitable.


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[Clydebuilt1971]

Its easy to say where she should have went rather than Dubai but as has already been said "money talks" and by god it was shouting at Cunard / Carnival!! - even if (in your heart of hearts) you knew this wasnt the right thing for the old girl!

Gav

[PaulInuk]

Carnival owner snatched the money , coz I think he got than he thought he, d get, but idiot could have got her back for 80million less , crazy iuse to buy and sell for living it would be nice to sell something, then be able to buy it back 80% less. PUT HER ON THE THAMES AS HOTEL WOULD BE THE MOST FAMOUS HOTEL IN THE WORLD,