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| Colourful history of famous ship | Colourful history of famous ship |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The QE2 will be moored off the world's largest man-made islandThe Queen Elizabeth 2, the world's most famous passenger liner, is retiring from service after ruling the waves for more than 40 years. | The QE2 will be moored off the world's largest man-made islandThe Queen Elizabeth 2, the world's most famous passenger liner, is retiring from service after ruling the waves for more than 40 years. |
| The Cunard vessel, whose home port is Southampton but which was built in Clydebank, is to be converted into a floating hotel in Dubai. | The Cunard vessel, whose home port is Southampton but which was built in Clydebank, is to be converted into a floating hotel in Dubai. |
| The QE2 attracted attention from the moment it was launched by the Queen in 1967. | The QE2 attracted attention from the moment it was launched by the Queen in 1967. |
| Since then, it has been been a troop carrier, hostess to royalty and witness to history. | Since then, it has been been a troop carrier, hostess to royalty and witness to history. |
| Hundreds of famous faces have graced its decks, including former South African president Nelson Mandela, US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Beatle George Harrison and actress Elizabeth Taylor. | Hundreds of famous faces have graced its decks, including former South African president Nelson Mandela, US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Beatle George Harrison and actress Elizabeth Taylor. |
| However, American Beatrice Muller from New Jersey is probably the ship's biggest star. | However, American Beatrice Muller from New Jersey is probably the ship's biggest star. |
| The 89-year-old has lived on the QE2 for nine years. | The 89-year-old has lived on the QE2 for nine years. |
| Her husband died on board in 1999 and she moved in permanently nine months later, claiming it was cheaper than a retirement home. | |
| Now she has had to find a new home after it was announced in June last year that the ship had been bought by Dubai World for $100m (£50.5m). | Now she has had to find a new home after it was announced in June last year that the ship had been bought by Dubai World for $100m (£50.5m). |
| According to the liner's crew, the new owners in the Gulf state plan to slice off its giant red funnel and replace it with a glass penthouse, creating the most exclusive hotel room in Dubai. | According to the liner's crew, the new owners in the Gulf state plan to slice off its giant red funnel and replace it with a glass penthouse, creating the most exclusive hotel room in Dubai. |
| Record breaker | Record breaker |
| There are few ships as iconic as the QE2. | There are few ships as iconic as the QE2. |
| The 70,000-tonne vessel is one of the largest passenger ships afloat, with a top speed of 32.5 knots making it the fastest merchant ship in operation. | The 70,000-tonne vessel is one of the largest passenger ships afloat, with a top speed of 32.5 knots making it the fastest merchant ship in operation. |
| The QE2 was built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland | The QE2 was built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland |
| Built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde, she was known only as "job number 736" until she was officially launched by the Queen. | Built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde, she was known only as "job number 736" until she was officially launched by the Queen. |
| The ship was not called after the present Queen. Instead the number 2 in her title shows that she was the second ship named Queen Elizabeth. | The ship was not called after the present Queen. Instead the number 2 in her title shows that she was the second ship named Queen Elizabeth. |
| The famous liner is 963ft (293m) long, 105ft (32m) wide and can carry as many as 1,778 passengers and more than 1,000 crew. | The famous liner is 963ft (293m) long, 105ft (32m) wide and can carry as many as 1,778 passengers and more than 1,000 crew. |
| Her first captain was Bill Warwick, who took her on her maiden voyage to Las Palmas, setting off on 22 April 1969. | Her first captain was Bill Warwick, who took her on her maiden voyage to Las Palmas, setting off on 22 April 1969. |
| Since then the QE2 has travelled more than 5.6 million nautical miles - more than any other ship and the equivalent of travelling to the Moon and back 13 times, according to Cunard. | Since then the QE2 has travelled more than 5.6 million nautical miles - more than any other ship and the equivalent of travelling to the Moon and back 13 times, according to Cunard. |
| The QE2 has also carried more than 2.5 million passengers, completed 25 world cruises, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and is still the fastest merchant ship in operation - able to go faster backwards than most cruise ships can go forwards. | The QE2 has also carried more than 2.5 million passengers, completed 25 world cruises, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and is still the fastest merchant ship in operation - able to go faster backwards than most cruise ships can go forwards. |
| Eventful history | Eventful history |
| In 1971 the liner rescued passengers from another ship, the Antilles, after it ran aground. | In 1971 the liner rescued passengers from another ship, the Antilles, after it ran aground. |
| The SAS and bomb disposal officers were scrambled to the ship in 1972, 1,000 miles from land, in response to a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax. | The SAS and bomb disposal officers were scrambled to the ship in 1972, 1,000 miles from land, in response to a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax. |
| A year later, the vessel embarked on a cruise to Israel to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the state's founding. | A year later, the vessel embarked on a cruise to Israel to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the state's founding. |
| Because it was feared the liner would be a target in the fall-out of the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack, 26 elite commandos joined the cruise, with many travelling incognito as passengers. | Because it was feared the liner would be a target in the fall-out of the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack, 26 elite commandos joined the cruise, with many travelling incognito as passengers. |
| No threat emerged - but rumours persist to this day that Egypt's President Anwar Sadat prevented the ship being treated as a target by militants. | No threat emerged - but rumours persist to this day that Egypt's President Anwar Sadat prevented the ship being treated as a target by militants. |
| In 1982 the vessel was requisitioned as a troop carrier for the Falklands War. | In 1982 the vessel was requisitioned as a troop carrier for the Falklands War. |
| With 3,000 troops on board it set sail for South Georgia on 12 May, arriving back in Southampton safely on 11 June. | With 3,000 troops on board it set sail for South Georgia on 12 May, arriving back in Southampton safely on 11 June. |
| QE2 FACTS 963 feet (293m) longCarries 1,900 passengers and 1,000 crewCrossed Atlantic over 800 timesTop speed 32.5 knots In pictures: The QE2 | QE2 FACTS 963 feet (293m) longCarries 1,900 passengers and 1,000 crewCrossed Atlantic over 800 timesTop speed 32.5 knots In pictures: The QE2 |
| In 1992 the QE2 stayed afloat after hitting uncharted rocks off Massachusetts. It also survived being hit by a 95ft (30m) wave after running into Hurricane Luis in September 1995. | In 1992 the QE2 stayed afloat after hitting uncharted rocks off Massachusetts. It also survived being hit by a 95ft (30m) wave after running into Hurricane Luis in September 1995. |
| The new 150,000-tonne Queen Mary 2 took over the QE2's role as Cunard's flagship in 2004. | The new 150,000-tonne Queen Mary 2 took over the QE2's role as Cunard's flagship in 2004. |
| The QE2 was vandalised by members of the crew in 2005. | The QE2 was vandalised by members of the crew in 2005. |
| A 1969 tapestry of the Royal family was thrown overboard in mid-Atlantic and a portrait of the Queen badly damaged during a staff party. | A 1969 tapestry of the Royal family was thrown overboard in mid-Atlantic and a portrait of the Queen badly damaged during a staff party. |
| In January 2007 more than 300 people caught a highly infectious vomiting bug - the Norovirus - while on board the QE2. | In January 2007 more than 300 people caught a highly infectious vomiting bug - the Norovirus - while on board the QE2. |
| It celebrated its 40th birthday with a round-Britain cruise in September 2007. | It celebrated its 40th birthday with a round-Britain cruise in September 2007. |
| The ship conducted a farewell tour of the UK before setting out on its 805th, and last, transatlantic round crossing to New York on 10 October 2008. | The ship conducted a farewell tour of the UK before setting out on its 805th, and last, transatlantic round crossing to New York on 10 October 2008. |
| Now it is to be moored to a pier in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah development - the world's largest man-made island. | Now it is to be moored to a pier in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah development - the world's largest man-made island. |
| It is expected the funnel will be removed and placed on the waterfront as an entrance to the floating hotel. | It is expected the funnel will be removed and placed on the waterfront as an entrance to the floating hotel. |
| Every cabin will be ripped out and replaced with larger bedrooms, and the ship's engines will be taken out to make room for a new entertainment venue. | Every cabin will be ripped out and replaced with larger bedrooms, and the ship's engines will be taken out to make room for a new entertainment venue. |
| The QE2's predecessor, Queen Mary, has been a floating hotel at Long Beach in California since 1967. | The QE2's predecessor, Queen Mary, has been a floating hotel at Long Beach in California since 1967. |
| It has now been a tourist attraction longer than it was at sea. | It has now been a tourist attraction longer than it was at sea. |