Hi Everyone,
I just received the following information from a friend regarding the
renovations of the QE2 in Dubai from one of his contacts:

Dear Friends

Now, the bad news....

Yesterday I could speak with some " important persons" related to the
Dubai project, and sadly and almost 90% for sure, the QE2 will
change...a lot.

I confirmed that there is the real intention to add two decks of
balconies to the QE2....

They are present checking two possibilities :-

1) Adding the two balconies decks above the ships bridge...

2) Adding the two balconies decks from the deck where the two life
boats are presently palces ( main promenade deck)...

Other ideas are:-

3) Most likely they will make a glass superstructure placed/cut into
the funnel in order to allow visitors to see the exterior/interior of
it....

4) They are presently studying the possibility of making a panoramic
penthouse on the top/middle of the ship's funnel...

5) Most of her engines will be removed, remaining only a minor part
of it with a museum purpose....the space will be occupied with types
of shops & coffe's, etc...

To be honest, if this will be her fate, as a REAL SHIPS LOVER I am I
would prefer that she had an end like my favourite ship of all times,
the magnificent SS CANBERRA of P & O...

Comments are SADLY welcome...

Kind regards

<Sender name removed by Admin.>
_________________
Because...SHIPS are a passion!

Kindest regards from Madeira island

<Sender name removed by Admin.>

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And now, my personal reaction:

Maybe Dubai World should follow the example of the SS Rotterdam. You
might want to convince Dubai World into contacting De Rotterdam,
which are the owners of the SS Rotterdam for advice. They plan to
leave the powertrain intect. The SS Rotterdam will be classified as
both a ship and a hotel.

They are the only people who could advise Dubai World than anybody
else about ship renovation. The direction that Dubai World wants to
take will cost more than the initial $100 Million budget. The
renovation of the SS Rotterdam has cost the owners close to $200
Million. I do believe that Dubai should leave the powertrain alone.
People will pay a lot of money to take a tour around that unit of the
ship.

For the ship to be classified as a building, they only have to remove
the propellers. Not the engine room. Maybe it's time for all of us to
start a massive letter writing campaign to advise Dubai not to remove
the ships' powertrain. Nor to alter the ship's exterior appearance.
Dubai is in the business of making money. Why repeat the same
mistakes as was done to the Queen Mary?

I believe that De Rotterdam should get invlove with the QE2 project
on an advisory level. I don't think that anyone wants to see another Queen Mary conversion with the QE2. If Dubai World wants a convention center, and a maritime museum, then they could build that alongside
the ship, in the form of a cruiseship terminal that would house it. Aside from the interiors and forward exterior appearance, the QE2
should be left alone.

As for the various shops, Dubai should place most of them offshore within the mock cruise ship terminal.


Why spend $100 Million for a ship if they intend to tear out and alter? Wouldn't $100 Million be enough just to build a near replica of the hull and modified it to their specification? I am not sure if this message I have received is true or not. But it would be a terrible waste if it is.

<Edited to remove identifying information of email author.>

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LisaP,