QE2® TO LEAVE THE CUNARD FLEET IN NOVEMBER 2008
As you are one of our valued partners, I wanted to write personally to tell you that Queen Elizabeth 2®, the most famous ship in the world, will be leaving the Cunard fleet in autumn 2008. QE2 has sailed the world's seas for almost forty years, and has travelled over 5½ million miles in the process; that is further than any other ship in history. She is the longest-serving ship in Cunard's 168-year history, and she has outlasted all other transatlantic liners. After such an illustrious career, we feel that the time will be right for her to leave the fleet next year.
However, she will not disappear. She has been purchased by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World and a wholly owned company of the Government of Dubai. She will be delivered to Dubai in November 2008, where she will cease her role as an ocean-going passenger vessel, and be refurbished and adapted to become a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination at The Palm Jumeirah.
We think it very important that QE2 should end her ocean-going career with dignity. We are, therefore, very pleased to have secured a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history.
This is clearly going to be an emotional farewell. QE2 was launched by Her Majesty The Queen in September 1967, forty years ago this year, and since she came into service in 1969, she has carried over 2½ million passengers, undertaken 25 World Cruises, and crossed the Atlantic over 800 times. And like many of her Cunard predecessors she has been a major attraction at ports around the world.
She will remain with the fleet until November 11, 2008, when she will leave her homeport of Southampton for the last time, to commence her final voyage to Dubai. We have reviewed her final season's sailings, and have made two itinerary changes, in order to celebrate the service of this magnificent ship and her historic departure, in a fitting manner. Details of these new Farewell Voyages, including her final voyage to Dubai are included at the link below, and will be open for sale from 9AM Eastern Daylight Time (6AM Pacific Daylight Time) on Wednesday, June 27, 2007. If you have customers already booked on one of the two itineraries that have changed (9/30/08 - Canary Islands Splendour/E817, and 10/12/08 - Taste of the Mediterranean/E818), I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause them, and we will be in touch with you very soon, to look after their needs before the new voyages go on general sale.
Meanwhile, I hope many of your customers will choose to join us on one of our remaining QE2 voyages, to celebrate the life of this wonderful ship.
Thank you again for your support of Cunard Line.