According to Nakheel, the real estate company in charge of building the development in Dubai where QE2 will end up in November, the former ocean liner will serve as the anchor of a luxury marina development on the eastern trunk side of Palm Jumeirah.

Purchased last year by Nakheel's parent organization Dubai World, QE2 will embark on her ultimate journey from Southampton, England to Dubai in November. Nakheel will commence construction on her eventual home in September.

Plans for the QE2 include its transformation into an ultra-luxury floating hotel, featuring public promenades, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, as well as a heritage museum displaying artifacts from the QE2 and maritime history.

It will be interesting to see how much of the current QE2 surives the conversion into a "ultra-luxury floating hotel". While ship enthusiasts were hopeful following the initial announcement that stated the project would "...aim to recreate QE2's original interior décor and fittings..." it is unlikely that this can be done while at the same time creating a luxury hotel. One clue as to QE2's future appearance might be found in the initial renderings released by Nakheel, where the converted QE2 bears a striking resemblence to Cunard's Queen Mary 2, with at least three decks of new balconies.

“The arrival of QE2 is one of the most anticipated events of the year and Nakheel is proud to be the custodian of such a historic treasure. The world's most famous ocean liner will form the focal point of an exciting new development that will be a must-see attraction on Palm Jumeirah,” said Johann Schumacher, Director of Palm Jumeirah.

QE2 is one of the world's most famous ships. She has circumnavigated the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers including kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, astronauts and The Beatles. She survived a 95 ft wave during Hurricane Luis, carried 3,000 troops to the Falklands War and helped evacuate 500 passengers from a burning ship.

Reclamation for the pier is expected to finish by the end of 2008, with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2011.

Renderings of QE2 in location:

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Originally posted by eroller:
Joe,
I'm starting to wonder if those in Dubai have any clue what ship they actually bought? The images are clearly doctered images of QM2 and not QE2.

Ernie

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Originally posted by eroller:
Joe,
I'm starting to wonder if those in Dubai have any clue what ship they actually bought? The images are clearly doctered images of QM2 and not QE2.

Ernie

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Unfortunately, I don't think it matters to them. They just want a picture that shows what they are shooting for...

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Originally posted by PamM:
Manfred Ursprunger is in charge of this project. I think he knows full well the ship purchased and those from Dubai have been round her enough in Southampton. Either the renderings are complete nonsense or they really are going to do something like this.. although she looks QM2, there are bits of QE2 there too, most odd.

Pam

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There is no question this is QM2. Even the lifeboat arrangements and hull hole balconies are there. Yes they photoshopped out the aft funnels and took the cranes off the bow, but clearly this is QM2. I really don't see any of QE2 to be honest.

If they want to build a replica of QM2 then do so. It would hardly make sense to create "hull hole balconies" in QE2 or try to make QE2 look like QM2.

My guess is these renderings are complete nonsense, but I would imagine Manfred Ursprunger approved them since he is in charge. ????

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Originally posted by etruriaguy:
i actually really like the mix of qe2 and qm2.

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Well at least I am not the only one, but would they actually build a ship like that ?

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:
the point of this press release was to show WHERE the QE2 would be and showcase the new marina and hotel complex - NOT to show what was being done to the QE2.

Tim

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
That is true but why the artistic licensee w/the ship? I doubt she will be altered to that extent but I wonder why they bothered.

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I think we CT'ers ask ourselves that question everytime a news release comes out that almost always incorrectly identifies a ship, cruise line, statistic, questionable fact, or rumor.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

That is true but why the artistic licensee w/the ship? I doubt she will be altered to that extent but I wonder why they bothered.

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Exactly...

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:

Exactly...

Someone took the time to modify an image of QM2 in the same manner for all three views. Why not just cut and past either QE2 or QM2 into the images?

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Because the developer told an ad agency to include a ship - a graphic artist was told to search for a photo of the Cunard Queen. The artist liked the photo he or she found of QM2 and altered it because he or she, being an artist, thought that their redition looked best.

The powers that be took one quick look at the photos and approved them for distribution.

That's how it happens.

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:

Because the developer told an ad agency to include a ship - a graphic artist was told to search for a photo of the Cunard Queen. The artist liked the photo he or she found of QM2 and altered it because he or she, being an artist, thought that their redition looked best.

The powers that be took one quick look at the photos and approved them for distribution.

That's how it happens.

Tim

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That's probably true, but idle speculation based on limited information is always more fun.

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
Little known fact - idle speculation and people uploading their cameras to online galleries accounts for 95% of all Internet activity...

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