RMS Queen Elizabeth 2

The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, universally known as the QE2, was built on the Clyde and entered Cunard service in 1969 as a transatlantic liner and cruise ship. Over nearly four decades she completed more than 800 crossings and numerous world cruises, earning a reputation as one of the most celebrated ocean liners of the twentieth century. Retired in 2008, she sailed to Dubai and, after a long period laid up at Port Rashid, reopened in 2018 as a permanently moored floating hotel that retains much of her original design and maritime character.

As with many long-serving ships, the QE2 has gathered its share of anecdote. Crew and guests have over the years reported the ordinary unease of a large, historic vessel: footsteps in quiet corridors, cold spots, or a sense of company in empty rooms. In a region where jinn feature in traditional folklore, such experiences are sometimes framed in those terms. These accounts remain subjective and unverified, better understood as part of the ship's storytelling than as documented fact.

The QE2's enduring value is as a rare, intact example of a great liner preserved rather than scrapped. Her restored public rooms, exhibitions and heritage tours let visitors experience an era of ocean travel that has largely vanished.

The QE2 operates today as a working hotel at Mina Rashid (Port Rashid) in Dubai, with rooms and suites, restaurants and bars, and public areas open to guests and day visitors. It is fully accessible by road and welcomes the general public.

Beyond overnight stays, the ship offers dining and a dedicated heritage tour of its history and preserved interiors. Access to guest decks and restaurants is straightforward; booking directly through the official website is recommended for rooms, tours and current opening details.