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| QE2 to depart on final world trip | QE2 to depart on final world trip |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The world-famous QE2 cruise liner is due to depart on her final world trip before being decommissioned and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. | The world-famous QE2 cruise liner is due to depart on her final world trip before being decommissioned and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. |
| A firework display will mark the departure of the Cunard vessel from her home port of Southampton on Sunday. | A firework display will mark the departure of the Cunard vessel from her home port of Southampton on Sunday. |
| The 40-year-old liner will leave in tandem with the firm's latest addition, Queen Victoria, which is departing on her maiden world cruise. | |
| The ships will travel together across the Atlantic to New York. | |
| It will be QE2's 802nd transatlantic trip, before she travels on to South America, the Pacific region and the Far East. | It will be QE2's 802nd transatlantic trip, before she travels on to South America, the Pacific region and the Far East. |
| The new £300m luxury Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall in December and will eventually replace the QE2 on regular transatlantic crossings. | The new £300m luxury Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall in December and will eventually replace the QE2 on regular transatlantic crossings. |
| We'd love well wishers to come and see the fireworks as well as see QE2 and Queen Victoria leave their home port of Southampton to which they will not return until April Carol MarlowCunard president | We'd love well wishers to come and see the fireworks as well as see QE2 and Queen Victoria leave their home port of Southampton to which they will not return until April Carol MarlowCunard president |
| The former flagship of the Cunard line, the QE2 has broken records, transported troops and hosted royalty during her 40 years at sea. | The former flagship of the Cunard line, the QE2 has broken records, transported troops and hosted royalty during her 40 years at sea. |
| She was bought by Dubai for $100m (£50.5m) in 2007 and will be turned into a floating hotel off the Gulf emirate's man-made islands in 2009. | She was bought by Dubai for $100m (£50.5m) in 2007 and will be turned into a floating hotel off the Gulf emirate's man-made islands in 2009. |
| During her final long-distance trip, she will make her final call at Sydney, 30 years to the day after her first call at the port on 24 February 1978. | During her final long-distance trip, she will make her final call at Sydney, 30 years to the day after her first call at the port on 24 February 1978. |
| The 70,000-tonne vessel is still one of the largest passenger ships afloat, with a top speed of 32.5 knots, and can carry as many as 1,778 passengers and more than 1,000 crew. | The 70,000-tonne vessel is still one of the largest passenger ships afloat, with a top speed of 32.5 knots, and can carry as many as 1,778 passengers and more than 1,000 crew. |
| Built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland, she was officially launched by the Queen in September 1967. | Built at the John Brown shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland, she was officially launched by the Queen in September 1967. |
| The Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall | |
| Carol Marlow, Cunard president and managing director, said: "We'd love well wishers to come and see the fireworks as well as see QE2 and Queen Victoria leave their home port of Southampton to which they will not return until April." | Carol Marlow, Cunard president and managing director, said: "We'd love well wishers to come and see the fireworks as well as see QE2 and Queen Victoria leave their home port of Southampton to which they will not return until April." |
| Cunard said Queen Victoria was the company's most luxurious liner yet, although not as large as the its third "queen", Queen Mary 2. | Cunard said Queen Victoria was the company's most luxurious liner yet, although not as large as the its third "queen", Queen Mary 2. |
| Queen Victoria sailed on her maiden voyage last month, a 10-day trip around northern Europe. | Queen Victoria sailed on her maiden voyage last month, a 10-day trip around northern Europe. |
| She boasts seven restaurants, three swimming pools, a 6,000-book library and a casino. | She boasts seven restaurants, three swimming pools, a 6,000-book library and a casino. |