Since being sold by Cunard in 2007, the classic liner Queen Elizabeth 2 has been the locus of many plans and schemes, all of which have come to naught.  Sadly, the ship has remained tied up at a dock in Dubai’s Port Rashid for the last six years, where she is falling into disrepair.

Purchased by state-run conglomerate, Dubai World, for about $100 million, the ship was moved to Port Rashid in 2008 to be converted to a 1,000 room luxury hotel. After the recession of 2008, Dubai World was staggering under a huge debt load and plans for the QE2 were put on hold. In mid 2012, Dubai announced a more modest hotel plan for the ship, reducing the number of rooms to 300.  By years end, these plans fell apart as well, and it was announced that the ship was being sold for scrap. In early 2013, the Oceanic Group announced that the ship was not being taken for scrap but would be converted to a luxury hotel in Asia.  A year later, these plans seem no closer to fruition than any of the others.

The only recent activity observed aboard the classic liner were workmen in shorts and T-shirts cooking a pig over a barbecue made from half an oil drum.

The Last Eastbound Transatlantic Run of QE2

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.