QE2 Hotel Dubai moves from PCFC to Emaar

[Rob Lightbody]

Not sure if you'll have picked this up elsewhere, but management of QE2 has passed from PCFC to Emaar - another government owned property. 

This gives some background to what they're up to - they're a much bigger group, which built the Burj Khalifa.  QE2 is the centerpiece of their new coastal destination.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/05/12/emaar-launches-6-8-billion-coastal-destination-in-dubai/

[cunardqueen]

But is QE2 going from the Frying pan to the fire...or were the recent management just caretakers ?

[June Ingram]

Yes, it would be good to know more about the new owners' plans.

[Thomas Hypher]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but something interesting happens at 9 minutes and 45 seconds into this video of Emaar presenting their plans whilst onboard QE2 on One Deck aft. I don't think it's QE2 as it lacks the deepness but a beat frequency seems present which would make it QE2 in this context. I hope this isn't QE2's new sound and is instead one of the local tugs berthed near her for the purpose of this presentation...

Second opinions needed I think!

[Thomas Hypher]

On second thoughts the pitch seems to match QE2's bow electro-horn (the foghorn) from listening to the Noon Whistle test my Dad captured on video in July 2008 also from the aft decks. And the ambient sound is far lower onboard now so the sound would carry further. This seems to make sense as they have had issues getting the Signal Mast whistles working again which are, of course, QE2's iconic voice.

[June Ingram]

There is definitely a beat audible in the horn, which should be able to be captured in a sound wave image (as when mastering an audio file), and the speakers paused while the horn sounded.  Can anyone make a sound wave pattern of this horn and a sound wave pattern of QE2's foghorn to compare ?  More comments, anyone ?

[cunardqueen]

  Second opinions needed I think! 

Given how much they have bastardised  changed QE2  l would say a horn is the least of it.
Dubai are masters of glitz glam and fakery, and it would be much easier to put a tug there and have that blow its whistle, besides dont tugs have slightly a higher pitch.

[Rob Lightbody]

The video is interesting, thanks for sharing here.

It can't be her whistle (isn't that the right term?), and to me doesn't sound like it... They might have installed a horn somewhere on her, but I'd be upset if they've messed with her original horn in its original location... It should either be left alone, or repaired (converted) but not changed or replaced.

[June Ingram]

Both Thomas and I were referring to QE2's bow foghorn sounding on its own.