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QE2 To Rule the Waves for Another Decade
Date Published: Friday 18 November 2005
By Keith Hamilton.
THE world's most famous liner, Southampton's Queen Elizabeth
2, looks set to remain in the city for at least another ten years despite
earlier fears the great Cunarder might soon be coming to the end of her career.
Today QE2, pictured above, is more popular with passengers than ever before in
her long history and the ship's owners are confident that the liner will
continue to sail for many years to come.
Cunard is to spend a large amount of money on QE2 and has a rolling programme
that continually upgrades the ship's many public rooms, restaurants, bars,
lounges and cabins.
At one stage there were concerns that time could soon be up for the legendary
QE2, that marks her 40th anniversary of her launch in just two years time, but
these worries now seem unfounded.
Earlier this year a consortium was formed locally aimed at keeping QE2 in
Southampton whenever she is finally withdrawn from service. Terry Yarwood, who
is heading the group, said yesterday: "I hope QE2 continues in service for many,
many years to come but we are pressing ahead with the consortium.
"In the next few weeks I shall be writing to the Lottery Heritage Fund to see if
in theory they would support a scheme that would save QE2 for generations to
come.'
QE2 has already entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest serving
Cunard liner in history and will undergo a multi-million pound facelift in the
spring of next year in readiness for her next programme of cruises.
Back in 1969 Cunard handed over £29m for her construction but since then Cunard
has spent a massive 15 times that amount on keeping QE2 ship-shape and
maintaining her reputation for the good life at sea.
A new set of strict safety rules comes into force by 2010 and although QE2 is
now much older than the vast majority of other liners and cruise ships Cunard
believes QE2 will comply totally with these regulations setting her on a course
that could last another ten or 12 years.
This is a testament to the rigorous high standard of craftsmanship used in her
original construction and the many advanced control systems that have been added
to the ship over her career.
Captain Nick Bates, master of QE2, said: "QE2 is doing brilliantly at the moment
and as long as passengers want to keep coming on board this wonderful ship then
we shall keep her going.
"You cannot get a cabin on the ship for love nor money now.
"There is no reason why QE2 should not last at least another decade.''
The ship's next world cruise, that lasts 109 nights, is an indication of how
many passengers QE2 is attracting with more than 1,100 guests booked for the
whole circumnavigation which is double the number compared with the same voyage
earlier this year.
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