Welcome
Introduction
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
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.
QE2 Photographs
Southampton Arrival
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Port of Bilbao
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Stavanger Harbour
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QE2 May Timeline
Timeline
- 8 May 1967: Cunard announces the retirement of both the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth.
- 2 May 1969: The QE2 begins her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York at 12:45pm.
- 7 May 1969: The QE2 makes her maiden arrival in New York, accompanied by hundreds of small boats.
- 17 May 1972: The QE2 is subject to a bomb hoax and $350,000 ransom demand during an Atlantic crossing.
- 3 May 1982: The QE2 is requisitioned to serve as a troopship during the Falklands War.
- 12 May 1982: The QE2 sails as part of the naval taskforce to the Falklands Islands in the South Atlantic.
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
Southampton
Southampton, UK
Temperature: 14°C
High: 14°C/Low: 14°C
Conditions: Mist
Sunrise: 5:03 am/Sunset: 9:01 pm
New York
New York, US
Temperature: 27°C
High: 29°C/Low: 26°C
Conditions: Clear skySunrise: 5:31 am/Sunset: 8:15 pm
QE2 World Clocks
Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Latitude: 25° 25' North
Longitude: 55° 26' East
Southampton
Southampton, England
Latitude: 50° 54' North
Longitude: 1° 23' West
New York
New York, United States
Latitude: 40° 44' North
Longitude: 73° 55' West
QE2 Particulars
Particulars
- Length: 963 feet
- Breadth: 105 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 70,327
- Service speed: 28.5 knots
- View more QE2 particulars
Comparison
Discover how the QE2 compares to today's Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 and the White Star Line steamship RMS Titanic.
QE2 Videos
QE2 Did you know?
Did you know?
- 336703 The QE2's official number, until she was removed from the British Registry, was 336703
- 2,622,858 The number of nautical miles sailed under steam prior to her diesel refit in 1986
- 25,427,000 The cost of the QE2, in the original tender from the John Brown shipyard totalled £25,427,000
- 677 The QE2's has 667 staterooms and suites with sea-views; there are 325 inside cabins
- 1,852 The QE2 can carry up to 1,852 tonnes of fresh water in tanks to provide potable water for use onboard
- 4 The QE2 was built no No. 4 slipway at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland
- 35 The QE2 served as the flagship of the Cunard Line for thirty-five years from May 1969 until May 1994
- 122 The QE2 Virtual Experience on this website has 122 panoramic photographs of the QE2
- 60% The QE2's Denny Brown stabilisers are designed to reduce rolling of the ship by 60%
- 14,967 The QE2 steamed 14,697 nautical miles sailing to the Falklands and back to the UK
- 6,000 The approximate number of books found in the QE2's Quarter Deck library
- 10,287 The QE2 consumed 10,287 tonnes of fuel sailing to the Falklands and back to the UK
- 70,327 The QE2's gross tonnage is 70,327. Her predecessor the Queen Mary and Elizabeth were 81,237 and 82,998
- 3,474 The number of lifejackets aboard the QE2, in addition to 30 life-buoys, for use in emergencies
- 736 The QE2's yard number during construction at John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank
- 6725418 The QE2's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) official number is 6725418
- GBTT The QE2's radio callsign is GBTT, previously held by the Queen Mary; the Queen Elizabeth's was GBSS
- 1,100 The design of the QE2 incorporated 1,100 tons of aluminium in the construction of the superstructure
- 14 The QE2 has kennels on the Signal Deck providing accommodation for up to 14 animals during a voyage
- 5,800 The QE2 was fitted with 2 five-bladed LIPS propellers, with a 5,800mm diameter, in 1987
- 2,500,000 During her commercial service the QE2 has carried approximately 2.5 million passengers
- 22 The QE2 has twenty-two lifts for the use of passengers across the QE2's twelve decks
- Port Vila The QE2's port of registry, since August 2009, is Port Vila in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu
- YJVW6 The QE2's callsign, since her August 2009 re-registration in Port Vila in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu
- Magradome A retractable, weather-proof glass 'Magradome' roof was fitted in 1983 over the Lido Deck
- 1,350 The total number of portholes aboard the QE2, in addition to a further 577 windows
- 576059000 The QE2's Maritime Mobile Service Identity number since her registry in Vanuatu
- 11,590 The QE2's deadweight - the maximum weight she can carry is 11,590 tonnes
- 803 The QE2 has crossed the Atlantic 803 times, equivalent to more than 2.3 million nautical miles
- 5,875,493 The QE2 has travelled over 5.8 nautical miles, equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 14 times
- 130,000 The horsepower generated by the QE2's nine MAN 9L 58/64 four-stroke Diesel engines
- 1,002 The total number of staterooms aboard the QE2, of which 677 are outside facing
- 4,381 The tonnage capacity of the QE2's oil storage tanks, providing fuel for 10 days sailing at 32.5 knots
- 2,252 The total number of light fixtures found in the passenger spaces aboard the QE2
- STUFT The QE2 was requisitioned as a 'Ship-Taken-Up-From-Trade' during the Falklands War
QE2 Timewatch
