• Home
    • Accessibility
    • Acknowledgements
    • Bibliography
    • Help
    • Privacy
    • Terms
  • Background
    • Cunard Resources
    • Cunard Queens
    • QE2 Background Timeline
  • Design
    • QE2 Design Explorer
    • QE2 Dimensions
    • QE2 Landmark comparison
  • Construction
    • QE2 in Numbers
    • QE2 Construction timeline
    • QE2 Whistles Video 1
    • QE2 Whistles Video 2
  • Service
    • QE2 Directory
    • QE2 Ports of Call
    • QE2 Service timeline
  • Retirement
    • QE2 Comparison
    • QE2 Retirement timeline
  • Virtual Experience

Queen Elizabeth 2 - A farewell tribute to the World's most famous ocean liner

 

Welcome

Introduction

Photograph of the QE2's final arrival into Southampton

Over forty years the QE2 earned a reputation as the world's most famous ocean liner, regarded with great warmth and affection the world over. The QE2 sailed on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on 2 May 1969. The QE2 has served her country in both peace and war, carrying troops to the Falkland Islands following the outbreak of war in 1982. During her career the QE2 carried 2.5 million passengers and sailed over 5.8 million nautical miles. She has completed 25 world cruises and crossed the Atlantic 803 times before her retirement in November 2008. On 11th November 2008 the QE2 departed Southampton for the last time, en-route to Dubai where it was planned to convert her into a hotel and tourist attraction.

Virtual Experience

Photograph of the QE2's final arrival into Southampton

Enjoy our virtual experience of the QE2 and discover her interior spaces and exterior decks. The Virtual Experience allows you to explore the QE2, moving from deck to deck. Her restaurants, bars, cabins, public rooms, entertainment venues, on-board facilities, lobby spaces, staircases and external deck spaces are all illustrated by 120 panoramic photographs, alongside additional photographs illustrating other key areas of the QE2. The Virtual Experience contains the largest online collection of panoramic photographs of the QE2. The photographs, taken during June, August and October 2008, show the QE2 during her final year of commercial service.

  • Launch our QE2 Virtual Experience

QE2 Photographs

Southampton Arrival

Photograph of tugs escorting the QE2 up Southampton Water Photograph of the QE2 on Southampton Water during her final arrival into the city Photograph of the QE2 on Southampton Water with Fawley Refinery in the background Photograph of the QE2 sailing up Southampton Water on 11 November 2008 Photograph of tug Svitzer Sussex leads the QE2 up Southampton Water
Photograph of tugs turn the QE2 towards the Queen Elizabeth 2 Terminal Photograph of a bow-on view of the QE2 on Southampton Water on 11 November 2008 Photograph of the QE2 turning in Southampton Water on her final arrival in the city Photograph of a port side view of the QE2 as she arrives into Southampton Docks Photograph of the QE2's final arrival into Southampton on 11 November 2008

Port of Bilbao

Photograph of the tip of the QE2's bow viewed from Bilbao's dockside Photograph of the forward superstructure of the QE2 Photograph of the QE2 docked during her visit to Bilbao in August 2008 Photograph of the bridge and mast of the QE2 Photograph of the forward superstructure of the QE2
Photograph of the Cunard name of the QE2's starboard side Photograph of lifeboat number nine on the starboard side of the QE2 Photograph of the QE2's lifeboats and funnel Photograph of the starboard side hull and superstructure of the QE2 Photograph of a stern view of the QE2 docked in Bilbao during August 2008

Stavanger Harbour

Photograph from the dockside of the bow of the QE2 Photograph of the QE2 during her last visit to Stavanger in June 2008 Photograph of the Cunard name of the QE2's port side Photograph of the forward superstructure of the QE2 Photograph of the QE2's iconic red and black funnel
Photograph of the starboard side of the QE2 during her last visit to Stavanger in June 2008 Photograph of the port side superstructure and lifeboats of the QE2 Photograph of the stern of QE2 docked in Stavanger in June 2008 Photograph of the stern of QE2 docked in Stavanger in June 2008 Photograph of the Red Ensign flying from the stern of the QE2

QE2 July Timeline

Timeline

  • 5 July 1965: The keel of Cunard's new flagship is laid at the John Brown Clydeside shipyard in Scotland.
  • 27 July 1967: The Queen Mary is sold by Cunard to the City of Long Beach in California, in the United States.
  • 22 July 1990: The QE2 takes part in celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the Cunard Line.
  • 22 July 1990: The QE2 completes her fastest diesel-propelled transatlantic crossing, averaging 30.16 knots.
  • 24 July 1990: The QE2 makes her maiden arrival into Liverpool, the home town of the Cunard Line.
  • 2 July 2012: The QE2 is promised to be converted into a 300-room luxury hotel at Port Rashid in Dubai.

News Archive

  • 16-10-2013: The QE2 Heritage Hotel website launches to consult on designs for the refurbishment of the QE2.
  • 15-10-2013: QE2 Holdings announces the appointment of the Chinese shipyard Cosco to refit the QE2.
  • 23-08-2013: More details of plans for the QE2 emerge as her scheduled sailing for a Chinese shipyard nears.
  • 07-07-2013: A new Dubai-based company, QE2 Holding, is formed as the QE2 prepares to leave Dubai for Asia.
  • 14-03-2013: Hong Kong or Singapore is likely to be the new home for the QE2 according to the Oceanic Group.
  • Read more QE2 news...

QE2 Weather Forecasts

Dubai