Blog 0013 Dubai or not Dubai, That is the Question.

Day 22 of 102. Wednesday 3rd February 2023

Each a Glimpse : RMS *Queen Elizabeth 2* at rest in Port Rashid, Dubai

And there was a question this morning. Jo suggested a mix of hop-on hop off buses and taxis. It wasn’t long before she was fed up wirh the bus, and we alighted at the Souk Madinat/Burj Al Arab, the latter appearing to be a considerable walk away. Unexpectedly, we went our separate ways, and I headed by taxi to the QE2, a one-time favourite ship I used to travel on before its being re-purposed as a hotel at Port Rashid, sadly still some distance from Dubai city centre.

Today, it is warm with temperatures expected to reach 29°C. Back at home, the U.K. is threatened with a 300-mile wide polar vortex. I sincerely hope that this is just media speculation.

R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2 is rather different from its sea going days. The Caronia Restaurant appears to be the Business Centre. Whether I shall get to see “all over,” I’m not sure. I am in what was The Lido in QE2 days, and generally, the layout is recognisable. Needless to say, I chose to have lunch on board and relax at a window seat, just as I would on a long ago transatlantic crossing. Sadly, the ship feels all but deserted, but maybe 2.15 is a bit late for lunch. The two courses I chose were both piping hot, the main course appearing to be freshly made.

I think I saw all I really wanted to. It’s very strange remembering QE2 as the Flagship of the Merchant Navy and its regular transatlantic schedule. Its final voyage was to Dubai in November 2008, but it wasn’t until April 2018 that the public was able to go aboard. Five years on, and I remain unsure of its viability. Much has been invested in making QE2 competitive and attractive, but the outside still feels a bit worse for wear. The teak decks really are messed up, and the Boat Deck remains bereft of its tenders and life boats. At one time, these could be seen nearby in an open space of fenced off land. Fortunately, I did get to photograph these on an earlier visit.

The Golden Lion Pub, more or less as when QE2 was in service.

Entrance to my favourite single cabin on Deck 1

Midships Lobby, Deck 2, where boarding passengers would embark QE2

Right now, I am at the Deck 5 entrance where the public enters the ship at ground level. Several people have passed by while I was writing. I think Jo definitely did the right thing exploring as she wished, leaving me to revisit R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2. It’s unlikely I shall pass this way again unless I get offered a job as a tour guide.

These seats have been taken from the Boat Deck for use outside the ship. I remember them well.

It’s a bit surreal walking around a once familiar ship.

I would like to see the ship fully opened and operating to capacity. It still remains off the beaten track. If the hop-on hop-off buses stopped right outside the ship, I feel business would be much more lively. Lunch came in at £22.09, and from what I gather, there is a good Sunday trade.

After spending over four hours enjoying lunch and looking around both the ship and the exhibition/museum in the reception area, I took a taxi back to Queen Mary 2. I met up with Jo, who opted for an early dinner. I was far from hungry and just had two glasses of water. I returned to my cabin after around 15 minutes. I watched part of a movie but then went up to deck 7 to hopefully finish this blog. The new Cruise Terminal in Dubai is in a much nicer setting than at Port Rashid, even if the latter is close to the QE2. Party boats sailed by throughout the evening with city backdrop quite spectacular.

Dubai is incredible, still new, still expanding, and still futuristic. Monorails and trains zip by as if in some sci-fi movie set centuries in the future.