Why won't Cunard / Carnival save the QE2 ?

[Rob Lightbody]

Even without the branding or ownership, she is instantly recognisable as a Cunard ship.

If she is scrapped, which will be a drawn-out process, many current Cunard guests will be upset and there will be signifcant publicity.

Why would they allow their most ship ever, the best possible advert for Cunard, to be lost?

SS Rotterdam Cruise Hotel has proved that in the right location, done well, a former liner can be a very successful Hotel.

What have they got to lose?

So, Carnival, get her back.  

Do something lovely with her.

She'll be a superb advert for your brands, and will promote trips on the current Cunarders.

[cunardqueen]

Better to have egg on their face now and be seen to attempt to do smething, rather than the other stuff when it hits the fan, and when that happens there no knowing where it will end up !

  If she is scrapped, which will be a drawn-out process, many current Cunard guests will be upset and there will be signifcant publicity.
   

Look what hapened when she was sold, there was the initial out cry, it died down, when the fleet was reflagged, again an initial outcry and it died down, every time QE2 is mentioned in the press there is the outcry , with the usual ramblings bring her back to the Clyde or Southampton and again the fuss dies down.

What if QE2 was to be scrapped ? yes some guests might be "upset" but thats about it  !  But you know what they will still sail Cunard, In spite of it all, theres only a few people l know who havet sailed since that day in 2008, and in the grand scheme of things we are only a very small voice. Heck even the mailings have stopped. And Cunard it seems are not bothered, the Marketing department could have done something to "entice the old brigade back" I suppose a ship visit shouldnt be dismissed, but are more content to welcome the new brigade of cruiser and give them some onboard credit to keep them happy.

 For some Cunard is still the name in Cruising and a great many of their passengers havent even sailed on QE2, and are quite glad to accept if its Cunard on the side then its all singing and all dancing and wonderful inside. And who is to say if they are right or wrong ?

Dubai through it all have remained reasonably tight lipped, and wont say what they are planning, and really why on earth should they tell us, they paid handsomely for an iconic ship and its upto them (with some input from Carnival as to yea or nae) just exactly what they can or should do with QE2. 

If l was in charge at Carnival HQ  l would be very very careful about how to handle this very hot potato, like a sleeping dog, you risk wakening up something which in all probablility could very well bite your arm off, with a resulting expensive bill.

We do need to view QE2 not from an emotional subject of the heart, of which some of us are still dearly attached to, but from a logical well thought out point of view, trouble with that is the lines are a bit fuzzy.

Well thats my thoughts, as usual off topic ..
     

[June Ingram]

Hi Rob -

I totally agree with your post.  Carnival must get her back.  If Carnival got QE2 back, the good will would be immeasurable.  Good will equals money in the pocket (Carnival's pocket).

June

[Brandon Sterkel]

Just keep in mind that Carnival was never selling the ship.

[June Ingram]

Hi Brandon -

Carnival is the parent company of Cunard and many other cruise lines and shipping companies.

June 

[QE2forever]

So, Carnival, get her back. 

Do something lovely with her.

She'll be a superb advert for your brands, and will promote trips on the current Cunarders.

Honestly I'm not sure it would be a viable option for Carnival to take QE2 back. Coldly and logically speaking, out of any emotional thoughts, she's now probably too old and too expensive to refit/run as a cruise ship.

However, what I'm convinced they can do (and should do!) is to prevent her from being scrapped.

Should her current owner make this lamentable decision, they could give a boost or pull some strings in some ways so that she can be preserved, e. g. to help or participate in an existing preservation scheme such as QE2 London. This would make excellent publicity, for sure.

But what if they don't?

[Rob Lightbody]

I definitely didn't mean to imply a return to Cunard service, just that they should assist a rescue from Dubai or worse.

[QE2forever]

I totally agree with you, Rob.

By the way, do we know if Holland-America/Carnival helped the SS Rotterdam project in any way?

[Lynda Bradford]

When Cunard/Carnival announced the sale of the ship in 2007 recognition was given to QE2 as Cunard's longest serving ship and the most famous ship in the world.  The fact that the plans for QE2 in Dubai would give her a future where she would still be recognised as an international luxury icon gave us hope.

This year Cunard are celebrating their 175 year anniversary and the future is not looking good for their iconic ship.  It is time that they spoke up and ask Dubai why what is happening to QE2 is so far from what was planned when they agreed to the sale of the ship.  To say it is not longer their problem is not good enough.

Extract of letter from Cunard to Passengers onboard QM2 in 2007 regarding the sale of QE2. 

"As you are a valued guest, I wanted to write personally to tell you that 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 5 and a half 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 translantic liners.  After such an illustrious career we 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 Islithmar, 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."

[Brandon Sterkel]

The question is, what would Cunard/Carnival do with the vessel once it has left Dubai?

[Lynda Bradford]

The question is, what would Cunard/Carnival do with the vessel once it has left Dubai?

Cunard would do nothing with the vessel.  They would just need to speak on her behalf to ensure there is a future for the ship and save her from the scrapyard. 

[Stowaway2k]

Honestly I'm not sure it would be a viable option for Carnival to take QE2 back. Coldly and logically speaking, out of any emotional thoughts, she's now probably too old and too expensive to refit/run as a cruise ship.

This is true.  What Cunard could do is what was planned for QE2 post-retirement in the first place. 
A permanently-docked hotel/dining/convention/museum venue,  CUNARD-branded and managed. 

It may seem odd, but if Cunard PR were upfront and honest it could work.

"Queen Elizabeth 2" is arguably our most well-loved ship.  She is a British national-treasure.  Though she is now too old and expensive to operate in our fleet of "The World's Most Famous Ocean Liners", there is no reason why she shouldn't continue doing what she has always done, albeit permanently-moored here in Britain.  It's time to bring her home and keep her home where she is loved and cared for."

What a master-stroke that would be. 

Carnival could now buy her back for far less than what Dubai paid for her.    Actually, CUNARD doesn't even have to purchase her outright, they could simply be the lease-holder/operator such as is the case with the Queen Mary in California. 

She could even serve as the so-called "White Star Academy", a training ship for future on-board staff and crew.

Lease her from Dubai, put CUNARD back on her superstructure, and she's back in business for decades to come.

[Brandon Sterkel]

This is true.  What Cunard could do is what was planned for QE2 post-retirement in the first place. 
A permanently-docked hotel/dining/convention/museum venue,  CUNARD-branded and managed. 

It may seem odd, but if Cunard PR were upfront and honest it could work.

"Queen Elizabeth 2" is arguably our most well-loved ship.  She is a British national-treasure.  Though she is now too old and expensive to operate in service as a cruise ship, there is no reason why she shouldn't continue doing what she has always done, albeit permanently-moored here in Britain.  It's time to bring her home and keep her home where she is loved and cared for."

What a master-stroke that would be. 

Carnival could now buy her back for far less than what Dubai paid for her.    Actually, CUNARD doesn't even have to purchase her outright, they could simply be the lease-holder/operator such as is the case with the Queen Mary in California. 

She could even serve as the so-called "White Star Academy", a training ship for future on-board staff and crew.

Lease her from Dubai, put CUNARD back on her superstructure, and she's back in business for decades to come.

I can actually see this idea working.........as long as she is brought back to Britain.

[Bob Flett]

My feeling is that if it was Cunard calling the shots, I think there would be a strong likelihood that this would happen. They were in the process of taking back The old Queen Elizabeth until CY Tung  stepped in, slightly different circumstances , I Know but at least it showed they cared about its future
However with Carnival in control, they are in the business of making money with little regard to sentiment.
I still can't help likening this situation to the Norway. After the boiler explosion it was generally acknowledged that her sailing days were over. NCL didn't want her and there were loads of  ideas of turning her into a Queen Mary like attraction, with all sorts of supposed interest in her. However at the end of the day NO ONE came forward, no one wanted her, presumably because of the huge financial outlay , with no guaranteed returns. I just hope we have not reached this stage with QE2 !

[Brandon Sterkel]

My feeling is that if it was Cunard calling the shots, I think there would be a strong likelihood that this would happen. They were in the process of taking back The old Queen Elizabeth until CY Tung  stepped in, slightly different circumstances , I Know but at least it showed they cared about its future
However with Carnival in control, they are in the business of making money with little regard to sentiment.
I still can't help likening this situation to the Norway. After the boiler explosion it was generally acknowledged that her sailing days were over. NCL didn't want her and there were loads of  ideas of turning her into a Queen Mary like attraction, with all sorts of supposed interest in her. However at the end of the day NO ONE came forward, no one wanted her, presumably because of the huge financial outlay , with no guaranteed returns. I just hope we have not reached this stage with QE2 !

Its interesting to know that Cunard was actually trying to save the original Queen Elizabeth.
Hopefully they can save our beloved QE2.