Ideal QE2 Dubai Deckplans

[Chris]

Hi there,

I was messing around with photoshop today and decided to try and work out what I'd do to QE2's three main passenger decks (Boat, Upper and Quarter) if I was running her refit into a shore side hotel, conference centre and entertainment venue.

Here's what I came up with:

Boat Deck

• Total re-arrangement of the shopping promenade to make way for a true tiered Grand Lounge - if QE2 is to be a success in Dubai she needs to have the ability to attract a crowd who don't care about Ocean Liners. This also saves her engine room.
• Addition of a Lounge & Bar aft and an area for it to spill out onto the open decks.
• Removal of the surplus cabins on Boat Deck and restoration of that area into a shopping mall.
• Removal of Queens Grill (it would be excess to requirements) and addition of more shops and some small conference rooms.
• Addition of a bar where the Wardroom once was (no need for a Wardroom when she's not sailing). Bar to be named Lookout in honour of it's predecessor.

Upper Deck

• Leave the beautiful Yacht Club as-is.
• Rebuild the Grand Lounge as a true show lounge for international shows (eg: Wicked, Phantom etc. - see comments above).
• Keep the Golden Lion and expand into Photo Gallery area. Rename "The Pub" as Cunard would probably own the trademark "Golden Lion". The pub aboard QE2 wasn't everyone's cup of tea but it is what international people expect of something "British".
• Build new Theatre / Lounge bar where the Casino once was.
• Leave the Theatre as is, renamed as Cinema, refit with state of the art projection and sound etc.
• Leave the Crystal Bar as is.
• Leave Mauretania as is - for use as a function restaurant.

Quarter Deck

• Rebuild The Lido into "The Southampton Room" for full scale conferences.
• Leave The Queens Room as is - return the bust to it's rightful place.
• Chartroom, Library and Bookshop as is
• Caronia as is for use as the Hotel Restaurant
• Rename Princess Grill "The Grill Room" as per 1969 and use for hotel guests. QE2's bell returned aboard and placed here.
• Remove Britannia Grill - unless deemed needed.

[Chris]

Anyone else got any ideas / comments / thoughts?

[Lynda Bradford]

Thanks for this Christ your plan looks very impressive allocating areas for hotel guests, conference guests and day guests (who could be onboard for a meal and a show). I also like the way you have retained the key areas that we all like such as the Princess Grill, Yacht Club and Queens Room. 

 I like the idea of the addition of a lounge and bar aft of the ship and the lookout where the wardroom used to be. 

I think you should send your plan to someone who has the power to take this forward and make it a reality. 

[Barrie Evans]

Thanks for this Christ your plan looks very impressive allocating areas for hotel guests, conference guests and day guests (who could be onboard for a meal and a show). I also like the way you have retained the key areas that we all like such as the Princess Grill, Yacht Club and Queens Room. 

 I like the idea of the addition of a lounge and bar aft of the ship and the lookout where the wardroom used to be. 

I think you should send your plan to someone who has the power to take this forward and make it a reality. 

Hi Lynda,I too think Chris has got a great re design plan for the Q E 2 decks. I have often wondered which areas of our beloved Q E 2 would remain in tact.Yes i was very impressed that Chris has planned for the Princess Grill, Yacht Club,(oh i can see Jean and myself drinking our cocktails, and enjoying listening to the piano player,and looking out to sea,totaly relaxed,such happy memories),and the Qeens room to remain.I felt very excited viewing his plan and redesign.I would love to see the Q E 2 return to the U K,and perhaps spend say three months at a time at Southamton, Liverpool, Scotland, and London.Im sure she would create  a lot of interest,and buisness.Do you know how the Queen Mary was refurbished in L A.? I think that has been a successful redesign. Im glad that you had a good round Britain cruise,and its nice to have you back on board with us again.
Kind regards
Barrie

[Chris]

Thanks very much!

Let's hope this provides some inspiration for QE2 in Southampton's King George V dock

[Bob C.]

Chris,
    You must add the Lookout Bar on the Upper Deck.  The one you depict on the Boat Deck is OK but would be better suited for corporate offices (no change to the windows).  But because the restaurant load will be significantly decreased from the normal "at sea" demand, the galley on the Quarter Deck forward can handle the load and is central to the surrounding restaurants.  Thus the original Lookout Bar can be restored. 

QM's forward bar was retained and I believe that had QE become a museum/hotel/CC, she'd still retain her's as well.  QE2's blanked over windows up there pointed so much to her predecessors and must be reinstalled. 

No proper liner should be without a bar/lounge with a view over the bow.

Also, I would think that either the Cinema or the Grand Lounge will have to become some sort of multi-purpose room.  Not sure what the draw to watch movies onboard would be (IMAX?) but the more things you can convert the room into (conference room, entertainment, banquet hall, etc.) the better.

While I'm on it, I think it would be much better to open up the aft end of the Grand Lounge to lead into the Yacht Club are.  The way to do this is to reinstall the signature curved stairs from the Double Up and Double Down rooms.

[Chris]

Agreed!

[Pat Curry]

Hi Chris

I use your deck plans on http://www.chriscunard.com/qe2_deckplans.php frequently.  Thanks for this service. 

You vision of what might be in reply x is fascinating.

I think you know my views on QE2's future. I regret I still believe Nakheel will keep her in Dubai and carve up the dear old lady to create something horrific.  Profits will be their motive. 

Since you have the plans on Photoshop do you have any further ideas for other decks?  Could you/would you care to design how Nakheel might design her??

[Chris]

Hello and thanks for the kind comment and also glad you find the deck plans on my website useful.

I think (and hope) that the current owners will give QE2 a respectful refit when the time is right. The above plans are just my thoughts on what they may do.  Hopefully the majority of Quarter and Upper Deck will remain as is if and when she's refurbished.

Chris.

[Chris]

There is a really cool website here with QE2 deckplans and a run down of cabin sizes and specs:

http://www.deluxecruises.com/cunard/cunard_information/qe2_deck_plans_and_categories_queens_grill.htm