STAYING ON A MULTI-MILLION SHIP FOR £70 / $85 USD A NIGHT - QE2 Dubai - Floating Hotel review
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- čas přidán 24. 03. 2023
- In this video, I've flown out to Dubai and will be spending two nights on the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which has turned from a luxury cruise ship operated by the Cunard line into a floating hotel. The ship was purchased in 2017 by the Investment arm of the Dubai government and, in 2018, began her final voyage from Southampton (England) to Dubai (UAE).
The ship was launched back in 1967 in my home city of Glasgow - at the Clydebank shipyards specifically (about a 25 minute drive from the house I grew up in!). It's been great to see so many 'nods' to Scotland throughout the ship, and pictures of the Queen in Glasgow for the launch of the vessel.
It's really clear that they're trying to renovate this hotel sympathetically, rather than injected hugely vast amounts of cash and completely changing the look and feel of the ship, which is appreciated. However, there are some parts onboard that could do with a little more investment at a greater pace.
I've wanted to stay in this hotel since it opened, and so this trip is quite a special one for me. In this video, I'll answer two main questions:
1) What does the QE2 look like now that she's a floating hotel?
2) Is a stay on this world-famous ship worth the money, or should you give it a little more time to be upgraded further?
If you're new to my channel, hello! I'm Fraser, and I'm going to be spending the rest of 2023 living 'at sea', mostly on cruise ships. I started this channel to show that the world of solo travel is amazing, and there's so much to see. So, if you haven't already, please think about subscribing and joining me on this incredible journey - we've got a lot to see together!
#cruise #cruisevlog #cruiseship #hotel #floatinghotel #queenelizabeth2 #qe2 #cunard #cunardline #cruising #dubai #dubailife
What a lucky man being so young and travelling the world for 9 months. Have a good trip
Thanks very much, Alan - hugely appreciated!
I visited the beautiful ship in 2019 and enjoyed every minute of it! The food was also delicious...I am so grateful for preserving this treasure! She will be in good shape forever.
Hello - thanks for watching! She is indeed a true jewel - I just hope they keep up the work they’ve been doing, as there’s a lot to be finished. Great that you’ve been onboard too - I’m ready to go again…!!
Hi Fraser
My wife was on the maiden voyage of qe2 and we both did the 25th anniversary cruise which called in at Greenock
The ship still looks great
Thanks for the tour👍
Ah, that’s amazing Paul - what a memory to have done the maiden!
Brilliant review and very helpful. Found this by accident actually on the way to Dubai from Australia. Booked and super excited.
Ooh, thanks for looking and thanks for watching - have a great trip!
Great video! Beautiful ship.
Going to have dinner later today... hope to enjoy every seconds of my time 😊❤
Hey, thanks so much for watching - hope you enjoyed dinner onboard!
Thanks for this wonderful video. You can see there’s so much potential but it breaks my heart to see her looking so worn out in areas. I haven’t set foot back onboard since 2008 and I think I’ll keep it that way… for now.
Hi Chris, thanks a lot for watching - a monumental compliment to have you watch this! Agreed - they need to spend LOTS of time and love (and money) on her - she’s at a very risky point, I’d say…! Thanks again!
@@FraserAtSea Fingers crossed she gets the retirement she deserves at some point soon!
Interesting video, I enjoyed watching it! I stayed on board in 2018 and was very impressed with what they were doing on board. It's disappointing to see it hasn't progressed a huge deal since then, and in some ways is actually worse. The shopping arcade used to be open but closed during the pandemic. The open deck space looks worse than when I was on board, you could at least enjoy a gin and tonic on the deck (literally where you were stood). Queen's Grill used to be open every day/every other day and was still in its 1994 configuration, not refurbished/replaced.
The original on-deck pools were removed before it reopened in 2018 to make way for more conference/open-deck space. I don't think they know what they want to do with the Mauritania. I suspect COVID-19 has hit the project quite hard, but with Accor recently taking over the ship I hope it can get a lot better over the next few years.
A couple of interesting facts though: 1) the reception building is that it was originally a cruise terminal, which the QE2 berthed at multiple times for Cunard; 2) the bathroom in your room is 'original' (from the 1994 refit), so it was deliberately left as it would have been when sailing. But it's interesting how tastes change over the decades. The bedrooms are actually are less original and were refurbished ahead of the reopening in 2018.
Wow - interesting re the cabins! I do worry that COVID has had a significant impact, and I really hope that Accor plough some funds into it quickly, before it loses its place in Dubai.
With a city as glitzy (and monied!) as Dubai, something sub-par isn’t going to last too much longer, I fear. The parts that have been ‘finished’ seem a good standard, but there’s so much still to do…
Thanks for watching, and thanks so much for commenting!
Definitely has tons of potential ¬ bad for £70 a night.Handy for a few nights while waiting to move on elsewhere.Definitely something to consider if ever travelled to Dubai.Thankyou for your time to film this.
Hi Karen, agreed and good for £70 a night (especially in Dubai). However, it’s frustrating how much potential this hotel has - hopefully they inject some capital soon to ensure it has a long future in the city!
Thanks for watching!
Very interesting! Thanks for letting us know this exists. The history of the ship is awesome
You’re so welcome - thanks for watching, Juliana!
That cabin looks massive, love the bathroom.
Wow! So interesting! Thanks for this one, Fraser! I would absolutely stay there now, then come back later to see the progress. I actually didn't realize it was open for business. Yea, kind of a strange feeling in the open areas that came across even on video. 😯
This was one of my thoughts - to come back in 5 years would be remarkable (I hope…!). Thanks for tuning in, Tammy!
I have only just discovered this is even available, and the prices I saw (March 2024) were about £80 p/n for single occupancy (room only) and £30 p/n extra for half board. For the experience of staying on the QE2 in Dubai this is a bargain. Yes, there are areas they have not done yet, but if they had, it would be a lot more expensive. I think now is a good chance to grab that historic opportunity and accept that it isn't yet a 5 star hotel, because when it is, it will cost a lot more for the same historic experience. If you only want luxury, there are lots of 5 star + experiences in Dubai.
Yeah, this is a really fair comment. Dubai does ‘luxury’ very well, so you can easily tick that box elsewhere. When this is finished, it could prove a far more expensive option than it’s currently presented at.
Hopefully a true gem in Dubai’s future landscape…! 🤞🏼 Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to leave a comment!
Another great video bud! Really fascinating....we're not surprised you got the heebeejeebies walking around the desolate parts. Looking forward to the next one. Ian & Allie
Thanks so much guys - glad you enjoyed! Those empty parts were WEIRD - lots of future potential, but felt abandoned in parts…!
Quite an interesting start of your journey ! Yes I would be enamored with all the history and nostalgia while on board. Be wonderful to experience how cruising was done in the yesteryears 😀 Ty 4 sharing !
Well looks like some imagination will be on order - but still find interesting. Let’s hope in time imagination will be caught up in real time 😀
Agreed - I just hope they keep going, or there’s a chance the QE2 won’t have a very long future ahead of her in Dubai. Keep everything crossed!
Nice one Fraser. Seems a million miles away from the shuffleboard deck on the Azura. Keep up the good work. Videography also looking more professional by the day. 👍🏼
Hey Ade, always great to see your name pop up! Agreed - I do miss that ship - had such a good week on her that week!
Thanks for the compliment - trying hard, so great you’re seeing improvements!
@@FraserAtSea PS - likewise re: Azura. Am back on it again this winter - last week of Nov and 15 th Dec. It has a nice, homely ambience and more so when the Xmas decs go up. Looking forward to more of your vids. 👍🏼
Funnily enough those bathrooms were installed in 1994 during the Project Lifestyle refit. So they’re not new.
Oh wow - they’re almost as old as me, haha!!
@@FraserAtSea 😃
Great ending summary Fraser, beautiful old lady, Clydebank's finest. Will be worth a visit when completed, presume it won't be £70 a night then. Thank you for the tour, the empty areas did give that odd 'Overlook Hotel' feeling tho! Glad you are there to show us. Hope your next ship is just as interesting!
Yeah, agreed that if it does get finished, I’d imagine the price will get bumped way up. Just got on my next ship - this one’s brand new and wasn’t £70 a night, so I better not find any creepy rooms, haha!
@Fraser at Sea Thanks Fraser, great that you're doing what you're doing, lovely to watch. Like a lot of Glaswegians, I had a link to the QE2, my Da' worked in Colville's Iron works (later British Steel) in Tollcross that fed the Clydebank Steel works that supplied John Brown's shipyard. A hard and dangerous job. Nice to hear you describe it as our heritage. 🏴
Very interesting!
Thanks for watching mate!
I spent a night, one year ago on QE2. Finally I can confirm your impression of non used areas, but at this Time the Mauretania Restaurant was also Open, but full of furniture, disorder and creepy 😅. I had the possibility to have an overnight in 2 different suites. One booked by myself, thé Captain’s suite…but moved to the Officer‘s Suite at 01:30 AM, after request. Impossible to sleep with the „noise“ of heavy-metal music Party made by an aboard open Deck Night-Club. I hope that this Outdoor Party area has been closed, or reduce the noise (music) Level while the Night. Otherwise it was a nice stay, with a stunning tour through the bridge, offices, and rooms of the crew, let as a time capsule. Hoping that QE2 will have a Future in Dubai, with other venues aboard.
To you Fraser, thanks for sharing your tour.
Ah, I’m glad the restaurant was as creepy when you stayed as it was for me - it felt so strange in there, but fully open for the public to pop in…!
On my 2-nights, the nightclub does indeed appear to be closed, and is actually looking very ‘worse for wear’ - looked like lots of work ‘to do’ up on the top deck sections.
I really hope they properly invest in it to get it to ‘Dubai standard’ before it’s too late!
Since the ship is a by-product of the late 1960s, early 1970s, I don't know if, other than for sentimental reasons (disco! polyester!), it makes a lot of sense as a floating business, hotel or otherwise. However, its predecessor, the QE1, would be another matter, although it burned down in 1972. But the look, feel & history of ships from the 1930s are different from the ones after the 60s-70s. Even the Queen Mary (launched in 1937) in Long Beach, Calif (since 1967), has struggled to make a go of it. So if the QE2, in Dubai since late 2008, still seems tentative 14 years later, it may be facing similar issues.
This is such an interesting comment - thanks for watching, Grindley. I’d probably agree - I’ve actually just stayed at the Queen Mary in Long Beach and will be showing you guys my content from that in a few months from now, so stay tuned. Spoiler alert - I felt pretty similar there as the QE2 in a few different areas!
I do wonder if the upkeep cost of these ships is worth the hassle for what they’re able to charge, especially in cities like Dubai - they’ll never be able to charge a huge amount due to the calibre of hotels that they’re competing with!
This is a longer term renovation it costs a lot of money and takes time I'm confident it will be really good when finished having sailed on her back in the day was lovely but she is starting to grow up and get more modernized now to keep up with the trends but still retaining her history
Yeah, I’m excited to see what they do. I’ve got a video coming soon from my stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach a few weeks ago - very interesting to compare them both!
Fraser, you know what would be interesting. If they did ghost tours on the QE2. Just found you and totally enjoying your vlogs. Thank you.
Hey Arlene, welcome to my channel! I think that may put a lot of their current market off, but I agree, ha!
Interesting flights and 7 night stay from the Uk in May 2024 only £489 per person
Oh wow - this is SO cheap!!
I was really excited to watch this and then a bit disappointed with the ship. On the upside, we've seen it in the early stages and also the area around the ship too so you'll just have to go back again for us in few years time. Xxx
Yeah, I just hope this is the ‘early stages’ and they keep ploughing through. If you insist - I’ll go back in a few years, haha! Always good to see your name pop up Julie - hope you’re well!
@@FraserAtSea all good thanks. I’m gonna make a real effort to watch all your videos. Keep up the good work. Xxx
It’s a pity the project fell foul to lack of funds. But, at £70 per night it’s a steal to get a tiny glimpse back into the past.
I agree - really can’t complain for £70 a night - it’s got HUGE a potential and I just hope someone ploughs some capital in there before it fails…
Thanks for showing us around. Can you remember how much the Uber was?
Hey! Thanks for watching 😊 Not sure which Uber exactly, but in Dubai these are all super cheap - you’re never more than £15 away from anywhere in the city!
@@FraserAtSea Thanks Fraser good to know!
@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel if you’re planning to stay here, please drop me a message (even just DM on insta) - I’ll have a few bits of advice for you guys!
QE2 is an ocean liner.
👌🏻
Hey Fraser. Great film work as always.
To me it just looked creepy, I would either expect to be step back in history or ship of luxury but it seemed neither!
What was going on the decks? Looked like half a paint job. It seemed no atmosphere as well.
I remember vaguely seeing a video of this hotel a few years ago and it was exactly the same? Maybe it never will.
Anyway thanks for sharing very interesting. Tom
Yeah, a real shame if I’m honest - it could be an absolute jewel in Dubai’s crown, but I’m currently not convinced. I’d seen other reviews that really praised it, but I’ve left a bit bemused if I’m honest.
It’s as if they’ve only JUST acquired it, but it arrived in 2008…!
@@FraserAtSea I think you gave it a very fair review and pointed out what was great about it and how much you loved the history. The other bits were clear to see. Shame as you say wouldn’t take much
Ocean liner not a cruise ship
You’re right!
How do you afford to cruise 9 months of the year?
Hey! I’ll be posting some videos in a few weeks discussing the logistics of my months at sea :)
@@FraserAtSea Cool but that's not explaining how you afford it, must cost tens of thousands!