For the first time in three years, guests aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 see in the New Year. The open decks at the stern of the ship - including the Sun Deck Funnel Bar - were used for the party, with informal seating and a dance area. The evening included music and a video recalling the QE2's career at sea, before culminating in an impressive fireworks display to welcome in 2012.
However, unlike her former Cunard running mates, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria, the QE2 remained moored at Port Rashid in Dubai. Meanwhile the Queen Mary 2 was cruising the Atlantic Ocean between St Thomas in the Virgin Islands and New York while the Queen Victoria was cruising the Pacific Ocean between Lahania in Hawaii and Ensenada in Mexico.
The New Year's Party was the first event held aboard the QE2 since she arrived in Dubai. The QE2's last fare-paying passengers to enjoy New Year on board were sailing on a 21 day Christmas Caribbean Calypso cruise, which left Southampton on 16 December 2007, returning on 6 January 2008. During the cruise the QE2 spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at sea sailing between Bridgetown in Barbados and Funchal in Madeira.
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