The world famous cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which has been permanently docked at Mina Rashid in Dubai has come to life again, and reinvented into a 13 deck luxury, floating hotel. The QE2 opened its doors to the public on Wednesday with a soft opening followed by a grand launch in expected October 2018.
The floating hotel has been thoughtfully restored to her former glory, maintaining most of the interior design features, including period furniture, renowned paintings and famous memorabilia. Whilst extensively preserving her authentic elements, she has been fully equipped with all the latest technology.
During the soft opening on Wednesday, dining, accommodation and entertainment attractions were unveiled. The passengers on board will experience a selection of beautifully restored rooms and suites. There will be also be a QE2 Heritage Exhibition to give vistors and guests an insight into the vast and rich history of the ship.
Amongst the accomodation, the floating hotel will also include 2 royal suites which have been named after the Queen’s mother and grandmother. The suites offer a private veranda, conservatory and dining room – in addition to a luxurious bedroom. Highly personalised amenities are included for guests who are only able to book the suites by invitation only.
That’s not all, during the soft launch, guests can experience some of the ship’s original restaurants including The Chart Room – a sophisticated and historical lounge and bar; The Golden Lion – a traditional English pub; The Pavilion – a family restaurant overlooking the marina; Lido – the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant; The Grand Lounge – a cabaret-style lounge with a weekly entertainment programme; and the Yacht Club – a chic rendition of the former venue as well as a unique take on the traditional afternoon tea. In total, 13 restaurants will open in the QE2 including original and new ones. The hotel’s signature restaurant is The Queen's Grill which offers a refined selection of British fine-dining dishes as well as a tasting menu that recreates a classic selection of dishes from 1969.
Hamza Mustafa, CEO of PCFC Hotels commented: “To finally open the QE2 is a dream come true for my team and I. It is one of Dubai’s most highly anticipated projects and we know that a lot of people are going to be very excited to see her for the first time, or to step back on board the vessel that created so many wonderful memories during her 40 years at sea.
We are especially thankful to our Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem whose vision and determination to give her a second life has come to fruition. His passion for the Queen Elizabeth 2 and all that she represents means that she can continue to deliver the grandeur that she stood for, within a new special location at the heart Mina Rashid, in Dubai.
We have dedicated more than 2.7 million man-hours into transforming this legendary ocean liner into the multi-faceted tourist destination that she is today and I am very proud to reintroduce her to the world as she embarks on the next stage of her celebrated journey. It has been an honor to work on this wonderful project and to help ensure that our lovely Lady lives up to her new slogan: still making history.”
The QE2 is home to a number of unique event and meeting room spaces, most notably The Queen’s Room – an inimitable ballroom unlike any other in the city.
www.qe2.com