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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| QE2 departs on final world trip | QE2 departs on final world trip |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The world-famous QE2 passenger liner has departed on her final world trip before being decommissioned and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. | The world-famous QE2 passenger liner has departed on her final world trip before being decommissioned and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. |
| A firework display marked the departure of the Cunard vessel from her home port of Southampton. | A firework display marked the departure of the Cunard vessel from her home port of Southampton. |
| The 40-year-old liner left in tandem with the firm's latest addition, Queen Victoria, which was departing on her maiden world cruise. | The 40-year-old liner left in tandem with the firm's latest addition, Queen Victoria, which was departing on her maiden world cruise. |
| The ships will travel together across the Atlantic to New York. | 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. |
| Some passengers have paid up to £48,000 for the full three-month voyage. | |
| The new £300m Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall in December and will eventually replace the QE2 on regular transatlantic crossings. | The new £300m Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall in December and will eventually replace the QE2 on regular transatlantic crossings. |
| Call at Sydney | Call at Sydney |
| 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 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 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 Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall | The Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall |
| 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. |
| Cunard said the Queen Victoria was the company's most luxurious liner yet, although not as large as the its third "queen", Queen Mary 2. | Cunard said the 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. |
| Both the QE2 and Queen Victoria will return to Southampton in April. |