12 seconds ago 2009-12-04T05:50:03-08:00
NEW YORK – After four decades of plying the world's oceans, the cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is making its final visit to New York before eventually sailing off to the Persian Gulf. It will be converted into a five-star hotel in Dubai, the flashy resort center in the United Arab Emirates.
Its planned send-off on Thursday evening features a rendezvous with sister ship Queen Mary 2 at the Statue of Liberty and a fireworks shower before the two cruise ships head home to Britain together.
The ships had a similar meeting in the harbor last January but that event also included the newest Cunard liner, Queen Victoria.
Launched in 1969, the QE2 has made at least 26 round-the-world voyages and weathered a 95-foot wave during an Atlantic hurricane. At 70,000 tons — less than half the size of the QM2 — it is still considered big enough to succeed as a desert luxury hotel.
