QE2 remains high and dry in Dubai (From Daily Echo)

Broken news as it happens.

After posting I clicked the "return to the article" link - which takes me to the BBC Hampshire page. Is this a new feature of the site?

Disgrace these people bought her just because they could becuase we wouldn't have her.

another part of our heritage gone

They have ruined our football they have been stripping this country bit by bit so in the end there will be nothing unique about our country or our City they keep throwing so much money at us its so hard to say no.

What next the Royal Family the crown Jewels or perhaps all of our heritage sites

Shameful

" ...QE2, once the most famous ship in the world... "


Eh ??, 'once' ?!
Nice one Keith, she is arguably still the most famous and loyal followed !!

Ross Burnside wrote:
" ...QE2, once the most famous ship in the world... " Eh ??, 'once' ?! Nice one Keith, she is arguably still the most famous and loyal followed !!

You've opened up a can of worms there Ross, how about the Titanic, or Noah's Ark, HMS Victory, HMS Hood, The Bismark, Lusitania, USS Constitution, The Queen Mary or The Mayflower?

peachy1 wrote:
Disgrace these people bought her just because they could becuase we wouldn't have her. another part of our heritage gone They have ruined our football they have been stripping this country bit by bit so in the end there will be nothing unique about our country or our City they keep throwing so much money at us its so hard to say no. What next the Royal Family the crown Jewels or perhaps all of our heritage sites Shameful

As Gordon Brown has reduced this country to beggar status, all the family silver will go sooner or later.

Duncan Disorderly wrote:

peachy1 wrote: Disgrace these people bought her just because they could becuase we wouldn't have her. another part of our heritage gone They have ruined our football they have been stripping this country bit by bit so in the end there will be nothing unique about our country or our City they keep throwing so much money at us its so hard to say no. What next the Royal Family the crown Jewels or perhaps all of our heritage sites Shameful

As Gordon Brown has reduced this country to beggar status, all the family silver will go sooner or later.

Just like the treasures in the art gallery

Lone Ranger wrote:

Duncan Disorderly wrote:

peachy1 wrote: Disgrace these people bought her just because they could becuase we wouldn't have her. another part of our heritage gone They have ruined our football they have been stripping this country bit by bit so in the end there will be nothing unique about our country or our City they keep throwing so much money at us its so hard to say no. What next the Royal Family the crown Jewels or perhaps all of our heritage sites Shameful

As Gordon Brown has reduced this country to beggar status, all the family silver will go sooner or later.

Just like the treasures in the art gallery

What treasures?

Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2'
The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners.
With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard
These are the facts of the matter.

Ben Doone wrote:
Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2'
The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners.
With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard
These are the facts of the matter.

Well said Ben.
One fan of QE2, Isabelle Prondzynski, wrote: “These truly magnificent pictures made me draw in my breath because of their splendour"
Isabelle, it's a ship FFS, nothing more, please get a life.

Miles Way wrote:

Ben Doone wrote:
Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2'
The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners.
With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard
These are the facts of the matter.

Well said Ben.
One fan of QE2, Isabelle Prondzynski, wrote: “These truly magnificent pictures made me draw in my breath because of their splendour"
Isabelle, it's a ship FFS, nothing more, please get a life.

Was Isabelle actually shown a picture of the ship?
She could have been shown various pictures of Queen Liz in all her jewellery and meerly commenting on that!

as a child i was taken on a school trip to soton docks to see this ship before she sailed on her maiden voyage, and even then as a little boy all i could think about was how much it was worth as scrap! its not as important as sfc its not a national monument its got nothing to do with southampton as it wasnt built there, its severall pieces of steel from all over the world welded together to form a ship, manned by foreigners, no one from soton. so scrap it as it has nought to do with southampton.

timjim wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

Ben Doone wrote: Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2' The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners. With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard These are the facts of the matter.

Well said Ben. One fan of QE2, Isabelle Prondzynski, wrote: “These truly magnificent pictures made me draw in my breath because of their splendour" Isabelle, it's a ship FFS, nothing more, please get a life.

Was Isabelle actually shown a picture of the ship? She could have been shown various pictures of Queen Liz in all her jewellery and meerly commenting on that!

Go to the website ( the qe2story.com ) and see for yourself as the Echo have not put up the best of the pictures.

The QE2 is being given a full paint job to her hull and upper decks and she does look spectacular.

These pictures have been around on the net for a few days now, I am surprised the Echo have not printed them before today!

And for those of you that have no interest in this beautifull ship, I amongst others would appreciate it if you would not bother to make any comments regarding her as it just makes you sound stupid and ignorant!

your the one thats stupid and ignorant! what has this piece of scrap got to do with you personally!.
do you have a phillipino aunty or uncle who worked on it? did you do anything on it? well i did, and it still remains as a piece of junk to me.
the first time i ever went below decks i wanted to throw up as it was disgusting and full of vomit from the crews over indulgence the night before! the passengers never got to see any of this.
dont comment on something you know nothing about, it makes you look STUPID.

cori yer dias wrote:
your the one thats stupid and ignorant! what has this piece of scrap got to do with you personally!. do you have a phillipino aunty or uncle who worked on it? did you do anything on it? well i did, and it still remains as a piece of junk to me. the first time i ever went below decks i wanted to throw up as it was disgusting and full of vomit from the crews over indulgence the night before! the passengers never got to see any of this. dont comment on something you know nothing about, it makes you look STUPID.

'What has this piece of scrap got to do with you personally'

Well lets start than yeah, my grandfather worked for Cunard for 51 years, he went upto to Clydebank in 1969 to join QE2 and was very proud to join the then new liner. He retired in 1975 and QE2 was his last serving vessel. He was a restaurant manager and a well respected one at that.

I was a 4yo child there on the day of her maiden voyage to New York in April 1969 and was fortunate enough to go aboard her before she sailed and was at the Ocean Terminal to witness her departure.

In 1972 as a 7yo I was taken on a voyage to New York with my grandparents on QE2.

My father worked in the Port of Southampton for nearly 40 years and I had the chance to go onboard her many times as a child.

In 1982 I witnessed her departure to the Falklands and was there to witness her arrival back from the Falklands conflict. I was also at the quayside on 8th August 1982 to see her first departure after her Falklands service.

In December 1982 I took a cruise on her.

In September 1983 aged 18 I joined QE2 , in May 1984 I was promoted to the Pursers Office and and at that time became Cunards youngest serving Petty Officer, something I was very proud off and still am.

In 1986 I went to Germany for her major overhaul untill her return to service in 1987.

On our return to Southampton in April 1987 I was fortunate to meet Princess Diana onboard.

During my career on QE2 I met many celebritys and have wonderfull memorys of the voyages undertaken and many ports around the world.

As much as people moan about foreign crews the standard of service was far superior once Cunard took on those crews. Contrary to belief QE2 did retain a lot of her previous crews but on a different contract.

I left QE2 in 1987 to join the cross channel ferries so I could be closer to home for personnal reasons. I had a seagoing career of 15 years.

After a lengthy break, in 2006 I returned to Cunard. I went onboard several times in her final year of service and I am proud to say I am on first name terms with the senior officers including the captain.

I was there on the quayside on that cold November evening amongst many other QE2 devotees to witness her final sailing from her long standing home port of Southampton.

I have had a love affair with QE2 from my early childhood and she has been a major part of my life in every sense.

When serving on her I always felt so proud that every port we visited she attracted so many admirers and was proud to know a little bit of Southampton was there with me as she was registered here and had Southampton on her stern.

Now for ignorant people like yourself who just go from day to day and do not appreciate the finer things in life, well thats upto you but not for me. I have all those lovely memorys plus having had the chance to follow in my grandfathers footsteps, something not many people can say they can achieve these days!

So your answer to your ignorant question is, yeah I have every right to feel sentimental about the QE2, I can assure you I am not alone!

Yeah she was getting old, arent we all, she is a much loved ship by many people throughout the world and a national treasure, something to be proud off.

So who is the STUPID one, and you have the nerve to to say 'dont comment on something you know nothing about'.

I can only assume you were on her for a very short while and had no previous connection with QE2 or Cunard.

I am sure if we ever met in person I could explain it in more detail, but then I dont really like ignorant people who think they know what they are saying but in actual fact know nothing!

BTW was it YOUR over indulgence and vomit or cant you handle the 'channels'!

cori yer dias wrote:
your the one thats stupid and ignorant! what has this piece of scrap got to do with you personally!. do you have a phillipino aunty or uncle who worked on it? did you do anything on it? well i did, and it still remains as a piece of junk to me. the first time i ever went below decks i wanted to throw up as it was disgusting and full of vomit from the crews over indulgence the night before! the passengers never got to see any of this. dont comment on something you know nothing about, it makes you look STUPID.

I forgot to mention, I will of course be showing your comments to those that know me well and can assure you that we will all be laughing at yours!

Sean, the sentiment in your post is obvious and one shared by those of us who have a long association with the sea.
One point in your post I wasn't aware of, any reason, you know of, why 'QE2' sailed from the Ocean Terminal and not the purpose built QE11 Terminal on her inaugural sailing?

Ben Doone wrote:
Sean, the sentiment in your post is obvious and one shared by those of us who have a long association with the sea. One point in your post I wasn't aware of, any reason, you know of, why 'QE2' sailed from the Ocean Terminal and not the purpose built QE11 Terminal on her inaugural sailing?

Thank you very much Ben, the sea is in my blood especially when Cunard is concerned.

As regards to the QE11 passenger terminal at berths 38/39, this terminal opened in 1966 as a passenger/cargo terminal with no overhead gangways and was primarily used by Chandris Line, P&O, French Line amongst others and is named after HRH Queen Elizabeth 11.

The Queen Elizabeth 11 Terminal was not purpose built for Cunard Line but was constructed as a multi purpose terminal for fast turnarounds by various passenger shipping companys.

The former Ocean Terminal at berths 43/44 was built in 1950 as the main Cunard terminus, repalcing pre war buildings that sustained severe bomb damage during the second world war.

This terminal was the home to the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and QE2 untill spring 1980 when it was closed for passenger traffic and Cunard moved there passenger terminus to the Queen Elizabeth 11 terminal.

QE2 made her maiden voyage from the former Ocean Terminal and continued to do sail from there up untill it closed.

In the spring of 1982 the Queen Elizabeth 11 Terminal finally got an overhead gangway and was refurbished with the passenger check in area and customs exits improved.

The over head gangway was a refurbished gangway that was previously in use for Swedish Lloyds Patricia at berth 3 in the former Princess Alexndria Dock now known as Ocean Village.

The newly constructed Ocean Terminal is opposite to where the origional Ocean Terminal was situated and is at berths 46/47

Of course there is the Mayflower Terminal at berth 106 and City Cruise Terminal at berth 101 but in the mid 60s the Port of Southampton had many passenger terminals but they were a bit archaich and were more of a cargo terminal with passenger facilitys unlike those that we have today.

Well done Sean, its good to see someone stand up to those cynics who like to depress us all with their narrow-minded views. Perhaps they will go back to their toy bricks and keep themselves amused.

EbmeAlan wrote:
Well done Sean, its good to see someone stand up to those cynics who like to depress us all with their narrow-minded views. Perhaps they will go back to their toy bricks and keep themselves amused.

Thank you very much.

I am glad your on my side, too many on here are cynical about everything, if someone has not got an interest in QE2 or anything else they seem to complain about I just wish they did not feel the need to be so obnoxious.

I see the person who made the statement never made a comment back!

Sean
Thanks v much for the info on the cruise liner terminii. Certainly wasn't aware of the QE2 calling at the OceanTerminal for a few years before moving over to the QE11 Terminal. Thought latter was purpose built for the QE2.
I used to be involved with the Chandris ships in the mid 70's, which used the QE11 Terminal, and always thought the overheads were in use then, but obviously not. Seem now to recollect that the passengers were checked in upstairs and moved down to the quay by escalator to board the ship from quay gangways.
The £10 assisted passage Aussie ships, operated by Chandris (and smaller vessel by Sitmar, I think)were only about 30,000 tonnes but took over 2,000 passengers and, with friends and relatives then allowed in the QE11 terminal lounge, the place would be packed. Remember it was particularly challenging in the very hot summer of 1976.
Also your details remind me that, outside of the passenger season, the downstairs area was used for cargo purposes and recollect the Aznar Line operating ships to the Canaries Islands. These ships were in Liverpool originally but relocated to Soton. They carried tomatoes which then transferred into dedicated reefer ships which still call at the Terminal in the Western Docks

Ben Doone wrote:
Sean Thanks v much for the info on the cruise liner terminii. Certainly wasn't aware of the QE2 calling at the OceanTerminal for a few years before moving over to the QE11 Terminal. Thought latter was purpose built for the QE2. I used to be involved with the Chandris ships in the mid 70's, which used the QE11 Terminal, and always thought the overheads were in use then, but obviously not. Seem now to recollect that the passengers were checked in upstairs and moved down to the quay by escalator to board the ship from quay gangways. The £10 assisted passage Aussie ships, operated by Chandris (and smaller vessel by Sitmar, I think)were only about 30,000 tonnes but took over 2,000 passengers and, with friends and relatives then allowed in the QE11 terminal lounge, the place would be packed. Remember it was particularly challenging in the very hot summer of 1976. Also your details remind me that, outside of the passenger season, the downstairs area was used for cargo purposes and recollect the Aznar Line operating ships to the Canaries Islands. These ships were in Liverpool originally but relocated to Soton. They carried tomatoes which then transferred into dedicated reefer ships which still call at the Terminal in the Western Docks

Hi Ben

As you worked in the port during the 70s I am surprised that you were unaware of Cunard using the Ocean Terminal or not even seeing QE2 alongside. Ocean Terminal in the Ocean Dock was always home to the Atlantic liners. The dock itself being built for White Star in 1911.

The Chandris vessels would have been Australis, Britanis, Ellinis and Queen Frederica. The Sitmar Line vessel would have been the Fairstar, the Fairsky had been laidup at berth 45 during 1972 and was then transferred to Australia untill she hit a reef off Java in 1978 and was scrapped shortly after being declared a total loss.

If your interested in Aznar Line I have just filed a lenghty report about them on www.BFenthusiasts.co
m.

I have fond memorys of the Aznar Line twins Monte Toledo and Monte Granada. It was Monte Toledo that operated the Canary Islands service from Southampton from October 1976 to April 1977 after it was transferred from London after a long dockers strike at that port. Monte Granada operated a similar service from Liverpool.

Monte Toledo then ran a Southampton - Santander pass ro/ro service untill sold to Lybia along with her sister in October 1977

In 1982 a new extension block was built with passenger check in and customs exit downstairs which meant that the QE11 Terminal was no longer open plan downstairs.

Since the origional overhead was installed in 1982 two others have been installed, the most recent was when the terminal had another makeover in preparation of the arrival of QM2 in December 2003

It is a shame you can not post pictures on here as I have some of the Monte Toledo unloading her fresh produce at the QE11 Terminal on 18th October 1976.

Btw do you remember the walls in the upper lounge at the QE11 terminal, they had carpet up them in some places, as a young lad I was intrigued by this!

Anything you want to ask about the Port and its history feel free to reply!

I think we are on the same websites as your name sounds familar

Sean
Your posts are always interesting as you are obviously well informed.
Certainly my memory was not up to scratch on the Qe2's early relationship with the old Ocean Terminal, so it is good to establish the correct info.
Re Chandris, certainly remember the Australis/Britanis and Ellinis. Think the Queen Frederica was a less regular caller. Certainly the transformation of Chandris into Celebrity has seen a massive change in quality but, of course,the brands were set up to serve different markets.
Point of detail on which I would welcome your further comment.
I know someone who was involved in the design work on the downstairs extension to the QE11 Terminal in 1997 (altho' Bert Moodys Port History book notes this work being undertaken in 1995). I understood this work provided for downstairs check in etc, later to be further enhanced in 2003 when the check in/security area was increased in size and a new visitors waiting area provided ahead of intro of QM2.
Would be interesting to note what the changes were in 1982.
Am I right to assume the Canaries Fruit operation relocated from 38/9 shed in 1991 when the trade was transferred to the purpose built shed at 104 berth?
Your comments on the wall carpeting brought back memories!!
Incidentally bit of anecdotal info. Apparently the current passenger lift serving the Lounge area was built to specifically cater for a visit of the late Mum several years ago as the one originally installed was deemed to small and her Maj wouldnt take the escalator!!

Miles Way wrote:

Ben Doone wrote: Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2' The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners. With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard These are the facts of the matter.

Well said Ben. One fan of QE2, Isabelle Prondzynski, wrote: “These truly magnificent pictures made me draw in my breath because of their splendour" Isabelle, it's a ship FFS, nothing more, please get a life.

I hate ignorant morons such as yourself who tell other people to 'get a life' just because their feelings and interests don't match your own, presumably narrow-minded, view of things. Therefore I suggest that it is not Isabelle but YOU who needs to 'get a life'. What with you and the equally blinkered 'cori yer dias' there are some sad little people here.
Back on topic, it's good to see the old ship getting a paint job and some tlc.

Thank you to those who have wished me "a life"! Fortunately, I am having a good one, and am glad to say that QE2 is very much part of it. Nobody is obliged to love her or to wish for her to return to Southampton. I am sure that most of the British population are entirely indifferent to her fate!

But for those who still have a soft spot for her and would like her to be cared for and looked after during this phase of her life, TheQE2Story Forum is a good place, since we stay in touch with the freshest news, and also look back together at her construction, her service life, our memories of her, and our stories about her.

Other people follow football, or enjoy a pint, or love their cars or their music -- and we too enjoy what we are sbout. I have appreciated the stories and memories of QE2 written in the comments above, and would very much like to read some more!

cori yer dias wrote:
as a child i was taken on a school trip to soton docks to see this ship before she sailed on her maiden voyage, and even then as a little boy all i could think about was how much it was worth as scrap! its not as important as sfc its not a national monument its got nothing to do with southampton as it wasnt built there, its severall pieces of steel from all over the world welded together to form a ship, manned by foreigners, no one from soton. so scrap it as it has nought to do with southampton.

QE2 is part of Southampton built by British workers she is the best of everything British. To say she is nothing to do with Southampton shows you no nothing of our maritime heritage, how come thousands said good by in November last year to a lump of steal?

I think that some of the comments people have left on this site are sad and ignorant.

Having spent 17 years of my life on the QE2 i feel that the ship really is part of me... Now, i didn't work on the ship but my father did, after working up the career ladder from cadet to staff captain he became the 25th and last captain of the QE2 in May 2006. The QE2 is and was a major part of his life, and although he intermittently spent time on other ships - QE2 was always his favourite ship.

I'm sorry but how sad do you have to be to tell someone to get a life, when they are talking about a major part of their life?????? Seriously, you are the one who needs to get a life, and not comment on stories that you know nothing about or have nothing to say anything nice about!!!!
cori der yias wrote;
"its severall pieces of steel from all over the world welded together to form a ship, manned by foreigners, no one from soton. so scrap it as it has nought to do with southampton." - errr several???? more like a few thousand!!! The QE2 was one of the last major ships to be built in the UK before the yards had to shut down!! and actually - quite a few people from the southampton area did work on the ship. and the foreigners bit is just down right rude!!!

I hope you take my comment into account..
Much Love to QE2 lovers!

Propercynic wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

Ben Doone wrote: Is it fair to blame the Govt/Local Council et al for the sale of the 'QE2' The ship was owned by Carnival Corp of Miami and given an extended operational life when Carnival purchased Cunard Line several years ago, after Cunard had suffered years of less than wonderful management, from both British and Foreign owners. With the 'QE2' being over 40 yrs old, and needing a substantial amount of investment to keep it going, Carnival received a very good offer from a Dubai owned company which provided Carnival with a good return and allowed the ship to saved from the scrap yard These are the facts of the matter.

Well said Ben. One fan of QE2, Isabelle Prondzynski, wrote: “These truly magnificent pictures made me draw in my breath because of their splendour" Isabelle, it's a ship FFS, nothing more, please get a life.

I hate ignorant morons such as yourself who tell other people to 'get a life' just because their feelings and interests don't match your own, presumably narrow-minded, view of things. Therefore I suggest that it is not Isabelle but YOU who needs to 'get a life'. What with you and the equally blinkered 'cori yer dias' there are some sad little people here. Back on topic, it's good to see the old ship getting a paint job and some tlc.

Me get a life, me an ignorant moron, you know what m8 what the hell do you do then to make 'a life'!

I wasnt commenting on Isabelle, she obviously shares the same passion as me, it was the negative comments made by 'cori yer dias' if you care to read back and see what she had wrote. My reply to her was indeed worth writing even though I dont expect everyone to share my opinions I wanted to put her straight as to my personal interest in the QE2.

For your information I have a great life, just came back from my 89th visited country and 46th capital city, thats how I enjoy my life, seeing the world and taking it all in not just sitting here making stupid comments!

So as you say 'get a life'.

Isabelle as you obviously read my comments regarding QE2 you will of course have realised we both share a common passion for her and nothing was intended towards yourself but the negative comments made by 'cori yer dias'.

I first read Isabelle's comments on the QE2 story forum as well as the pictures of QE2 in dry dock well before they were printed on here and was pleased to see how excited she was, so I think propercynic man you got my comments mixed up.

Btw I wish you well Captain Perkins, good to see you have made a comment on here, as an ex captain and one who I sailed under I bet you get very annoyed with all the negative comments you read on the Echo site.