The QE2 Story

There has been no more beloved liner than the Queen Elizabeth 2. The last liner to be built on British soil, she was constructed by John Brown & Co, Clydebank (Scotland) and her keel was laid on 5 July 1965 marking the start of her illustrious career. Her maiden voyage left Southampton on 2nd May 1969 bound for New York and she has remained in service for the past 40 years. She had a spell as a military ship from 1982, when she was requisitioned to serve as a troop carrier during the Falklands War and during her military career QE2 successfully sailed over 14,900 miles. Post-war, she has had many refits, including a headline-grabbing total refurbishment in 1994 to turn her into a twenty-first century luxury liner. In November 2008 QE2 retired to a new life in Dubai World, where she became a hotel from February 2009, and the last chapter of her exceptional life in service closed.