Author Topic: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)  (Read 5567 times)

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Online Rob Lightbody

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This topic is for reviews of visits to the QE2 Hotel, Dubai.
« Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018, 07:44 PM by Rob Lightbody »
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #1 on: Apr 20, 2018, 06:15 PM »
A great write-up here of a visit to QE2 by a QM2 passenger.

Includes photo of the Chart Room -not sure how they got there though!

https://davidscruise.wordpress.com/
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Online Thomas Hypher

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Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #2 on: Apr 21, 2018, 01:30 AM »
A great write-up here of a visit to QE2 by a QM2 passenger.

Includes photo of the Chart Room -not sure how they got there though!

https://davidscruise.wordpress.com/

I can see at least some of the books from the Library in the old cruise terminal, wonder if the MV Prinsendam "Burning Cold" book I read years ago is there (where I first learnt about her loss) too!
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Chris Hodges

Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #3 on: Apr 21, 2018, 06:48 AM »
Also interesting was mention that the life boats will be restored and refitted...quite why this would be done at such a late stage is curious, but nonetheless encouraging to hear.

Offline QE2forever

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Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #4 on: Apr 21, 2018, 08:00 AM »
Very interesting, indeed. I'm crossing fingers that it's not just a rumor.

With lifeboats back QE2 Hotel would definitely reach excellence.

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #5 on: Apr 21, 2018, 08:33 AM »
Also interesting was mention that the life boats will be restored and refitted...quite why this would be done at such a late stage is curious, but nonetheless encouraging to hear.

I'm sure that whoever he spoke to is mistaken. Rumors and untruths spread like wildfire amongst cunarders, and it will be worse if for example a QE2 guide answers something incorrectly....  They've cut off every trace of the Davits etc, and spent time and money realigning the boat deck railings to widen the deck - they wouldn't have done that if they had intention to replace them.
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Barumfox

Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #6 on: Apr 22, 2018, 03:24 AM »
Nice to see some of the old paintings / prints on display - including two by Simon Fisher - Aquitainia leaving Pier54 and The Queens Passing - that I have limited edition prints of. Sight of the large painting of Queen Elizabeth originally on first QE is welcome - hopefully that of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip from second Caronia is also still intact.

In relation to the history of the ship displays in the terminal they have the wrong date for the QM2 taking over as flagship - May 1 2004 not 4th April - after leaving NY together on 25th April. The photo of the two ships leaving NY is from the final departure on 16th October 2008.

Not sure about the carpet and seating colour in the Chartroom - not only very different and changes character of room but does not fit with the walls which are more familiar - good to see North Atlantic chart behind the bar. With the lighter colour carpets seen in other areas compared to 2008 maybe they think that the areas would be too dark and needed to be lightened?

I do not believe the lifeboats will be returned on board unfortunately for the reasons Rob stated above - have seen a report that they be put in different places round Dubai to publicise the hotel - which would not be a good idea for their long term preservation.

Overall I am pleasantly surprised by what we have seen and heard so far - await the full opening with interest.

Gary Petersen

Offline Chris

Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #7 on: Apr 24, 2018, 01:58 PM »
Trip advisor has its first two reviews.
Not great but then again very early days yet!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g295424-d13982495-Reviews-Queen_Elizabeth_2-Dubai_Emirate_of_Dubai.html?m=19905
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Offline Chris

Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #8 on: Apr 24, 2018, 02:01 PM »
I'm sure that whoever he spoke to is mistaken. Rumors and untruths spread like wildfire amongst cunarders, and it will be worse if for example a QE2 guide answers something incorrectly....  They've cut off every trace of the Davits etc, and spent time and money realigning the boat deck railings to widen the deck - they wouldn't have done that if they had intention to replace them.


Light weight fibre glass replicas on inboard davits (like QM2’s davits) would be the best of both worlds. I love that QE2 is being restored but can’t get used to seeing her stripped of her boats!
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Online Thomas Hypher

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Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #9 on: Apr 24, 2018, 02:20 PM »

Light weight fibre glass replicas on inboard davits (like QM2’s davits) would be the best of both worlds. I love that QE2 is being restored but can’t get used to seeing her stripped of her boats!

Personally I think that would look odd when on Boat Deck as QE2's catamaran tenders were the only boats to use such davits and those davits lack the distinctive arch of the Taylor Gravity style davits that helped give character to her Boat Deck with their associated machinery etc. All or nothing in my opinion as any approximations now will turn her into something she never was, a facsimile. Just my opinion however and not meant to offend/trouble anyone!
« Last Edit: Apr 24, 2018, 02:29 PM by Thomas Hypher »
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Online cunardqueen

Re: Reviews of visiting/staying at the hotel (from other websites)
« Reply #10 on: Apr 24, 2018, 04:07 PM »
Quote
   Trip advisor has its first two reviews.   

Sadly Tripadvisor isnt all its cracked upto be, l work in a hotel and we are sick to the back teeth of it. I personally had one instance of a guest checking out before reception came on duty, l presented his bill , it was handed back to be l enquired Oh lm sorry was there a mistake to be told " for a reduction lm prepared to write a glowing review on Trip Advisor " l was initially stunned . I gathered my wits and advised him Im sorry sir we dont acknowledge Trip Advisor here , your bill still stands , how do you wish to pay....
That guest has since been blocked

Trip Advisor is written by idiots who think they are AA Hotel Guide Experts with the sole intention of trying by whatever means to not pay the full price . There are some out there who use the system for what it was intended, but like all things there are those that simply havent  a clue and see it as a platform for voicing their own claptrap 
   
I could go on and regail many more tails of said TA but l wont waste my energy, there are some real howlers out there. When you then enter into "dialogue"  with the guest it then becomes she said he said you said     

Rather than Guests needing to write reviews about where they say, Hotels in this day and age should be required to write reviews about Guests staying in their hotel.
Theres a lot to be said for Uber and their feedback system !   The drivers can see feedback about who they are picking up.

From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
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Offline Heather

Visited today in Dubai
« Reply #11 on: Apr 25, 2018, 05:50 PM »
Visited the dear old QE2 today in Dubai after having sailed on her 34 times. We were treated like royalty - I had my QE2 T shirt on of course!  Happy memories.

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Visited today in Dubai
« Reply #12 on: Apr 25, 2018, 07:16 PM »
Visited the dear old QE2 today in Dubai after having sailed on her 34 times. We were treated like royalty - I had my QE2 T shirt on of course!  Happy memories.

Thank you Heather, glad you enjoyed it - and jealous of your 34 sailings!  Sorry for your photo being the wrong way up - you didn't do anything wrong - and I'm putting a fix in place for this problem at the weekend hopefully.
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Online Rob Lightbody

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The surreal experience of dining on the historic Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai
The boat is more than a third of the height of the Burj Khalifa - in fact, it's so large it's easy to forget you're even on a boat

Selina Denman, June 22, 2018

https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/comment/the-surreal-experience-of-dining-on-the-historic-queen-elizabeth-2-in-dubai-1.742735
« Last Edit: Jun 23, 2018, 01:30 PM by Rob Lightbody »
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Online June Ingram

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This is a great article and I like the use of the photos.  It is written in a positive and rather exciting tone.  Although I am wondering a bit why no photos of Selina's visit are used in the article. Thanks, Rob, for posting !  :)
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