So, just like the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Better than being scrapped I suppose.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A Dubai-owned company announced Monday that it bought the Queen Elizabeth 2, a giant ocean liner launched in 1967, for US$100 million (€75 million).

State-owned Istithmar said it plans to turn the passenger ship into a first-class floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination, berthed off Dubai's manmade Palm Jumeirah island.

The aging vessel, bought from the Cunard Line division of Carnival Corp., will end its days as a tourist attraction, scheduled to open to the public at the beginning of 2009, Istithmar said in an e-mailed statement. Istithmar is a division of Dubai World, a government-owned holding company that also owns Nakheel, the developer of Palm Jumeirah.

"We are delighted that when her legendary career as an ocean liner ends there will continue to be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history," Cunard president, Carol Marlow, said in the release.

Dunno why HMG didn't buy it covert it into a floating prison one could get thirty cells out of just one of those first class cabins,another 400 if you did away with all the kitchens galleys ballrooms and such,anchor it the middle of Scapa Flo,the feckers couldn't Scarper from Scapa.
:rolleyes:

Too bloody obvious for those rubber brained feckers in Westminster! They prob never heard of Scapa Flow, only scarpper the feck off for the hols as they're gonna do soon.

There is already an unused 'accommodation' ship languishing in Portland Harbour.

Ah well!

If Harrods could not withstand the Dirham assault, what chance for an old tub like the QE-II?

As you may recollect, UK just about missed out on having a similar situation with a dirham-fired step-father to the throne!! :}