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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| QE2 to arrive at new Dubai home | QE2 to arrive at new Dubai home |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The world-famous QE2 is set to arrive in Dubai later where the ship will be turned into a floating hotel. | The world-famous QE2 is set to arrive in Dubai later where the ship will be turned into a floating hotel. |
| A flotilla and flypast will meet the luxury liner - which was sold for £50m - as she arrives in the Arab emirate. | A flotilla and flypast will meet the luxury liner - which was sold for £50m - as she arrives in the Arab emirate. |
| QE2 left her home port of Southampton for the last time earlier this month on a final two-week cruise. | QE2 left her home port of Southampton for the last time earlier this month on a final two-week cruise. |
| The BBC understands that controversial plans for the ship include slicing off the giant red funnel and placing it on the waterfront as an entrance. | The BBC understands that controversial plans for the ship include slicing off the giant red funnel and placing it on the waterfront as an entrance. |
| In its place will be a four-deck smoked glass penthouse, in the shape of the funnel but with a swimming pool. The idea is to make it the most exclusive hotel room in Dubai. | In its place will be a four-deck smoked glass penthouse, in the shape of the funnel but with a swimming pool. The idea is to make it the most exclusive hotel room in Dubai. |
| Inside, every cabin will be ripped out and replaced with new, larger bedrooms that meet the latest standards. | Inside, every cabin will be ripped out and replaced with new, larger bedrooms that meet the latest standards. |
| QE2 will be the centrepiece of the luxury palm island | QE2 will be the centrepiece of the luxury palm island |
| And the ship's engines will be taken out, and the space used to create a new entertainment venue. | And the ship's engines will be taken out, and the space used to create a new entertainment venue. |
| On Wednesday an Airbus A380 superjumbo performed a flypast as the ship neared Dubai. | |
| Tens of thousands of people had lined Southampton Water to see the 41-year-old, 70,000 tonne ship leave UK waters for the last time on 11 November. | |
| Real estate developer Nakheel has bought the ship. | |
| It will be the centrepiece of Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped fronds of reclaimed land and beach on the Dubai waterfront, and is set to open in 2010. | It will be the centrepiece of Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped fronds of reclaimed land and beach on the Dubai waterfront, and is set to open in 2010. |
| QE2's predecessor, Queen Mary, has been a floating hotel at Long Beach in California since 1967. | QE2's predecessor, Queen Mary, has been a floating hotel at Long Beach in California since 1967. |