THE PORT of Cork is set to welcome the world's most famous cruise liner, the Queen Elizabeth II, next Thursday on her farewell voyage before the vessel departs for Dubai, where she will become a floating hotel.
The QE2will tie up at the Deepwater Quay in Cobh from 9am to 6pm on Thursday before setting sail for Liverpool. The itinerary also includes Edinburgh and Newcastle before the vessel returns to Southampton on October 10th.
The Queen Elizabeth IIwas launched in Clydebank from the yard of John Brown on September 20th, 1967, and made her official maiden voyage to New York in May 1969.
The QE2 is widely considered the most famous ocean liner in the world, having logged more than 5.6 million nautical miles (equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 13 times). In her four decades at sea, she has carried nearly 2.5 million passengers. She will leave the fleet in November as Cunard's longest-serving liner.
In 2010, the line will debut a new ship to be named Queen Elizabeth.
Next year the QE2will become a floating "hotel, retail and entertainment destination" at the Palm Jumeirah, the enormous palm-shaped artificial island being developed as a complex of tourist hotels and apartments, also by Dubai World.
During its 40 years the QE2's passengers have included most of the crowned heads of Europe, politicians and stars, including Nelson Mandela and some of the Beatles.