QE2 photos from Dubai 2018

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 at Port Rashid with a different angle, photo taken in January 2018 thanks to Sergio Fereirra

[Rob Lightbody]

QE2 at Port Rashid with a different angle, photo taken in January 2018 thanks to Sergio Fereirra

Thanks, nice to see her bow for a change!  Any idea what the black is on her starboard side where her lookout bar windows were?

[Liam Fjellstedt]

Here is another view showing painters at work on her port side.

[Liam Fjellstedt]

Thanks, nice to see her bow for a change!  Any idea what the black is on her starboard side where her lookout bar windows were?

Here is a closeup on that I took

[Rob Lightbody]

Here is a closeup on that I took

Looks to me like they've cut a large three-window section out, which is now lying at the side of the 'box'

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Looks to me like they've cut a large three-window section out, which is now lying at the side of the 'box'

Well spotted, Rob! And well taken, Liam.

[Peter Mugridge]

They've created an al fresco terrace haven't they?

[Chris Thompson]

If anything they should restore the forward observation bar......

[Louis De Sousa]

If anything they should restore the forward observation bar......

It wont happen...

[Thomas Hypher]

If anything they should restore the forward observation bar......

I have to politely, but strongly disagree with this as QE2 would be at risk of becoming a poor facsimile of what she was originally and how she has ended up through her service life - not to mention that the forward galley may be used in her new role. I am very against modifying her to this extent in places or at all and applaud Dubai's current sympathetic as possible conversion. Alas this is just my personal opinion and I think it's good to debate this sort of thing.

[Thomas Hypher]

Looks to me like they've cut a large three-window section out, which is now lying at the side of the 'box'

I wondered back in December whether this is just a large black tarpaulin but what they've done and the purpose will remain unknown for now I suppose, unless anyone has more information.

Edit: I've just looked again and it seems they have indeed cut a three-window section out. I did wonder if the work done here is to facilitate easier access to the foredeck for hotel guests (think events) etc?

Further edit!: Louis has just told me that it's likely to just allow more sunlight into the forward galley (it didn't get any before unless the shell door was open) in that area, large waves not being an issue (obviously) etc etc anymore.

[Rob Lightbody]

Further edit!: Louis has just told me that it's likely to just allow more sunlight into the forward galley (it didn't get any before unless the shell door was open) in that area, large waves not being an issue (obviously) etc etc anymore.

The galleys were brightly lit even when I was there. but if that's the reason, why not just remove the actual window panels themselves and replace the glass (as it was originally) ?   ... Hopefully that's what they are doing, but they needed a new panel for some reason in order to achieve it.

The other option is that it was to allow them to remove/insert large equipment easily.   

Re-instating the lookout bar would be lovely, but shouldn't be high on the priority list for them, given all the other hurdles they need to overcome first.  I walked through this space in 2011 - the galley is huge, you walk quite a long way forward through the galley, before you reach what used to be the lookout bar.  To reinstate this space would be a big job, and would need all the side windows re-instated too.

     The galley expansion which saw them remove the lookout bar, was to allow them to serve meals to 1800 passengers, simiultaneously.  This won't happen again, they won't need it configured like this.

[Thomas Hypher]

Re-instating the lookout bar would be lovely, but shouldn't be high on the priority list for them, given all the other hurdles they need to overcome first.  I walked through this space in 2011 - the galley is huge, you walk quite a long way forward through the galley, before you reach what used to be the lookout bar.  To reinstate this space would be a big job, and would need all the side windows re-instated too.

Would this also involve removing the galley "box"? If so I would be against it for reasons I stated above, but again that is just my personal opinion/view.

For context, my view in this regard stems from thinking that the post 1967 to 1971 conversion elongated windows of QM's forward superstructure somewhat spoil her forward superstructure's appearance (as they were originally square windows), I wouldn't like QE2 to be modified to this or a greater extent - retaining aspects of her ocean liner role (as much as possible) I think is important even though she'll never be seagoing again. Also if they are going to turn back the clock so to speak, I don't think it should be done here and there, in patches, as she'll become something she really never was - they'd need to do it properly in which case that would take a prohibitive period of time, effort, and money. Also, I think she matured over her service life (warts and all so to speak - good and bad) and that should be respected as much as possible. Again, just my opinion/view on the matter for debates sake - not meant to cause trouble!

[Louis De Sousa]

QE2 last night at Port Rashid,look whats is back

https://instagram.com/p/Bf_d8BrnQAk?hl=de&tagged=qe2

[Rob Lightbody]

Not a fan, makes her look like a cheap Florida party ship.

However I'll not be losing any sleep over it!

Nice photo.