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Congratulations to Cunard–170 years!

For 170 years, Cunard line ships have sailed the seven seas and welcomed aboard famous names. Charles Dickens reached Boston on Britannia in 1842 and crossed the Atlanic on Russia 25 years later. In the early  20th century, the Hollywood stars flocked aboard. Celebrities loyal to Cunard were, to name a few, Walt Disney, the Duke of Windsor, George Harrison, Greta Garbo, Sir Winston Churchill, John Travolta, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Meryl Streep, Sir David Frost, and President Nelson Mandela.  For the  7th  consecutive year, “Porthole Cruise Magazine” has recognized Cunard for offering the “Best World Cruise Itineraries.”

Latest News about the QE2

HOT OFF THE PRESS–The QE is a lady in waiting! 

The plan to use the ship as a floating hotel for next year’s World Cup Games in Capetown, South Africa, fell through, as did ideas to use her as accommodations in South Pacific ports.  Instead, she sits at Port Rashid in Dubai and her future is uncertain. Dubai’s bankers have suggested selling off assets due to financial troubles, including selling the 70,000-ton former Cunard flagship. Meanwhile the legendary liner is being looked after by a caretaker crew of Egyptians and with rumors that art work and other parts of the 963-footer are being sold off to raise much needed funds.

Dubai’s state-owned conglomerate Dubai World,  bought the ship for $100 million in 2007 and planned to make it a floating hotel off the Palm Jumeirah man-made island. But Dubai is caught in a financial slump and its plans to refit the ship as a museum, hotel & luxury residence have been shelved.

Dubai recently celebrated the opening of the world’s tallest building: a rocket-shaped edifice that soars 2,717 feet high with views that reach 60 miles. The building has been named after Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi for Dubai’s gratitude for its neighbor’s $10 billion bailout of their financial troubles. At a cost of about $1.5 billion, the Burj took 5 years to build and has surpassed the previous record holder in Taipei, Taiwan.