Do you remember the iconic opening scene of Disney’s 1998 re-make of The Parent Trap? Played to the tune of Nat King Cole’s L-O-V-E, actors Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson danced and drank their way through their honeymoon aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth II (or commonly referred to as the QE2) ocean liner. It truly captured the past grandeur of the ship which sailed through the Atlantic with high-end clientele and premium amenties from the late 1960s to 2008. Eventually, the Cunard-owned ship closed down, docking at its home base of South Hampton, and leaving the past in the deep blue sea.
This year, it is exciting news to report that the ship has been converted into a luxury floating hotel by PCFC Hotels. Based in the United Arab Emirates, BBC News has reported that the hotel group promises “a unique experience capturing all that was grand about her 40 years of service.” It has been transported from its home base and now sits in a permeant spot in Dubai, where the group expects a resurgence of its splendor, making it a hot spot in the city.
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The new and improved QE2 has converted all existing cabins into hotel suites (with 224 of 800 rooms ready for service). There is also an additional new ballroom, an exhibition area showcasing the ship’s history, an English-style pub, a cabaret club, and 13 restaurants. Respecting its history, PCFC has not let go of the memorabilia and art works that once adorned the ship’s walls. They have remained intact during renovation, including all the original porthole windows.
BBC spoke with Chief Executive Hamza Mustafa about bringing the ship back to life to its original 1969 build. He explained that walking into the ship will give visitors “a sense of nostalgia”, adding that this was what the ship was famous for. The QE2 runs 293.5m (963 ft) long and has completed 800 cross Atlantic journeys with approximately 2.5 million passengers. It was originally built in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth for $80 million, as way to showcase British innovation. Today, PCFC Hotels has made ultimate efforts to restore the ship to its former glory, spending 2.7 million man-hours on its renovation on it thus far. The hotel is expected to be fully operational by October this year.
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Scroll down to see perspectives on how the Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) will look after renovation. Photographs courtesy of the official QE2 Heritage Hotel website…
