Royal farewell for Dubai-bound QE2 liner

FLOATING HOTEL: Queen Elizabeth II is to pay a farewell visit to the QEII before it sets sale for its new home Dubai. (Getty Images)

British monarch Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday will pay a farewell visit to the QE2, the world's most famous ocean liner, before it finally sets sail to become a permanently-docked hotel on the Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai.

The queen will be among 300 guests, including former prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, marking the retirement of the vessel from service in the city of Southampton, before it finally sets sail for Dubai in November this year.

The QE2, named after the queen, was launched by her in September 1964, and has since travelled more than 6.4 million miles - more than any other ship.

In its time in service, the ship has carried more than 2.5 million passengers, completed 25 world cruises and crossed the Atlantic 803 times.

Istithmar, the investment arm of the state-owned conglomerate Dubai World, in June last year purchased the ship for $100 million, which it intends to transform it into a "first class tourism destination" to be anchored at the palm-shaped islands off the coast of Dubai.

When the QE2 reaches the UAE in November, she will cease her role as an ocean-going passenger vessel and be refurbished and adapted for her new home.

From 2009, the vessel will be berthed at a specially constructed pier at the Palm Jumeirah to create a "luxury" floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination.

Istithmar has said its refurbishment programme will aim to recreate QE2’s original interior décor and fittings. QE2 at the Palm Jumeirah will also include a museum celebrating the rich history of the ship.

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