Editing Queen Elizabeth 2 (section)

==Service==

===Early career===
[[File:Queen Elizabeth 2_IMO 6725418_P_Cuxhaven_08-1973.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''Queen Elizabeth 2'' in [[Cuxhaven]], [[West Germany]], in 1973|left]]
''Queen Elizabeth 2''{{'}}s maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York, commenced on 2 May 1969,<ref name=QE2History /> taking 4 days, 16 hours, and 35 minutes, at an average speed of 28.02 knots.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2011|title=Harbor Whistles Greet a Stately Queen Designed for the Modern Age; 150 Vessels in Harbor Greet the Queen Elizabeth 2|work=The New York Times |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1969/05/08/88990994.pdf|first=George|last=Horne|date=8 May 1969}}</ref> Upon her arrival to New York Harbour, she was greeted by two [[Royal Air Force]] [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier]] jets that hovered on each side of the ship. The Harriers were in New York City at the time competing in the [[Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bedlow |first=Robert |date=8 May 1969 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-new-york-welcome-for/165026588/ |title=New York Welcome For QE2 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=9 February 2025 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2017 |url=https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/goring/103432/the-day-i-won-race-to-fly-from-london-to-new-york.html |title=The day I won race to fly from London to New York |work=Henley Standard |access-date=9 February 2025}}</ref>

In 1971, she participated in the rescue of some 500 passengers from the burning [[Compagnie Générale Transatlantique|French Line]] ship {{SS|Antilles|3=2}}.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /><ref name=QE2History />
Later that year on 5 March ''QE2'' was disabled for four hours when jellyfish were sucked into and blocked her seawater intakes.<ref name=PayneP36/>

On 17 May 1972, while travelling from New York to Southampton, she was the subject of a [[bomb threat]].<ref name=TheQE2Story/> She was searched by her crew, and a combined [[Special Air Service]] and [[Special Boat Service]] team which [[parachute]]d into the sea to conduct a search of the ship. No bomb was found, but the [[hoaxer]] was arrested by the [[FBI]].<ref name="chrisqe2hist"/>

The following year ''QE2'' undertook two chartered cruises through the Mediterranean to Israel in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the state's founding. The ship's Columbia Restaurant was koshered for Passover, and Jewish passengers were able to celebrate [[Passover]] on the ship. According to the book "The Angel" by [[Uri Bar-Joseph]], [[Muammar Gaddafi]] ordered a submarine to torpedo her during one of the chartered cruises in retaliation for Israel's downing of [[Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114|Libyan Flight 114]], but [[Anwar Sadat]] intervened secretly to foil the attack.

She continued the Cunard tradition of regular scheduled transatlantic crossings every year of her service life, crossing on an opposite and symbiotic summer schedule with the [[French Line|CGT]]'s famous {{SS|France|1960}} between 1961 and 1974. Upon the withdrawal of competing SS ''France'' from service in 1974, ''QE2'' became the largest operational passenger ship in the world for a few years, until the ''France'' was returned to service as {{SS|Norway}} in 1980.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

[[File:qe2.750pix.jpg|thumb|QE2 in Southampton, 1976]]
On 23 July 1976 while the ship was 80 miles off the Scilly Isles on a transatlantic voyage, a flexible coupling drive connecting the starboard main engine high-pressure rotor and the reduction gearbox ruptured. This allowed lubricating oil under pressure to enter into the main engine room where it ignited, creating a severe fire. It took 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. Reduced to two boilers, ''QE2'' limped back to Southampton. Damage from the fire resulted in a replacement boiler having to be fitted by dry-docking the ship and cutting an access hole in her side.<ref name="PayneP36" />

By 1978 ''QE2'' was breaking even with an occupancy of 65%, generating revenues of greater than £30&nbsp;million per year against which had to be deducted an annual fuel cost of £5&nbsp;million and a monthly crew cost of £225,000. With it costing £80,000 a day for her to sit idle in port, her owners made every attempt to keep her at sea and full of passengers. As a result, as much maintenance as possible was undertaken while at sea. However, she needed all three of her boilers to be in service if she was to maintain her transatlantic schedule. With limited ability to maintain her boilers, reliability was becoming a serious issue.<ref>Payne. Page 37.</ref>

Between the late 1970s and early 1980s, the ship was testing a new ablative anti-fouling type paint for the Admiralty which was only available in blue. When they finally made the paint available in different colours they returned ''QE2'' anti-fouling paint to the traditional red colour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=8118.msg92582#msg92582%7CQE2|title=QE2 Refit and Repairs: 3 November to 14 December 1978|website=www.theqe2story.com}}</ref>

===Falklands War===
[[File:QE2colour jm.jpg|thumb|Berthed in [[Málaga]], Spain, 1982, with her original white funnel repainted red. Her hull is painted grey, a short-lived decision.|left]]
On 3 May 1982, she was requisitioned by the British government for service as a troop carrier in the [[Falklands War]].<ref name=PayneP36 />

In preparation for war service, Vosper Thornycroft commenced in Southampton on 5 May 1982 the installation of two [[helicopter pad]]s,<ref>{{cite web|title=QE2 History|url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qe2/qe2-history/|website=Chris' Cunard Page|date=4 February 2015 |publisher=Chris Frame|access-date=29 August 2015}}</ref> the transformation of public lounges into [[dormitories]], the installation of fuel pipes that ran through the ship down to the engine room to allow for refuelling at sea, and the covering of carpets with 2,000 sheets of [[hardboard]]. A quarter of the ship's length was reinforced with steel plating, and an anti-magnetic coil was fitted to combat [[naval mine]]s. Over 650 Cunard crew members volunteered for the voyage, to look after the 3,000 members of the [[5th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Fifth Infantry Brigade]], which the ship transported to [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia]].

On 12 May 1982,<ref name=PayneP36/> with only one of her three boilers in operation, the ship departed Southampton for the South Atlantic, carrying 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crew. The remaining boilers were brought back into service as she steamed south.<ref name="PayneP38">Payne. Page 38.</ref>

During the voyage, the ship was blacked out and the radar switched off to avoid detection, steaming on without modern aids.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /><ref name="Falk">{{cite web |url= http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6601&Active=News |title=''Cunard's QE2 Hosts Falklands Reunion'' |publisher=Cunard |access-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225184847/http://www.cunard.com/AboutCunard/NewsReleases.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6601&Active=News |archive-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>

''QE2'' returned to the UK on 11 June 1982, where she was greeted in [[Southampton Water]] by [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]] on board {{Ship|HMY|Britannia}}. Peter Jackson, the captain of the ocean liner, responded to the Queen Mother's welcome: "Please convey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth our thanks for her kind message. Cunard's ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' is proud to have been of service to [[Her Majesty’s Forces|Her Majesty's Forces]]."<ref name="Falk" /> The ship underwent conversion back to passenger service, with her funnel being painted in the traditional Cunard orange with black stripes, which are known as "hands," for the first time, during the refit the hull's exterior a decision  was made to repaint the hull in a light pebble grey.<ref name=TheQE2Story /> The ship returned to service on 7 August 1982.<ref name=PayneP36/>

The new colour scheme proved unpopular with passengers,<ref name=TheQE2Story /> as well as difficult to maintain, so the hull reverted to traditional colours in 1983.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /> Later that year, ''QE2'' was fitted with a [[magrodome]] over her quarterdeck pool.<ref name="Warwick1999">{{cite book|author=Ronald W. Warwick|title=QE2: The Cunard Line Flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLFpqMZn5vkC&pg=PA191|year=1999|publisher=W.W. Norton & Company|isbn=978-0-393-04772-1|page=191}}</ref>

===Diesel era and Project Lifestyle===
[[File:QE2 Port Melbourne 20080229.JPG|left|thumb|A new and wider funnel was installed in her 1986-87 refit to handle conversion from steam to diesel power. Moored in Melbourne 2008.]]

''QE2'' once again experienced mechanical problems following her annual overhaul in November 1983. Boiler problems caused Cunard to cancel a cruise, and, in October 1984, an electrical fire caused a complete loss of power. The ship was delayed for several days before power could be restored. Instead of replacing the ''QE2'' with a newer vessel, Cunard decided that it was more prudent to simply make improvements to her. Therefore, from 27 October 1986 to 25 April 1987,<ref name=PayneP36/> ''QE2'' underwent one of her most significant refurbishments when she was converted by Lloyd Werft at their shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany from steam power to diesel.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /><ref name=PayneP38/> Nine [[MAN B&W]] diesel-electric engines, new propellers and a heat recovery system (to use heat expelled by the engines) were fitted, which halved the fuel consumption. With this new propulsion system, ''QE2'' was expected to serve another 20 years with Cunard. The passenger accommodation was also modernised.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /> The refurbishment cost over £100&nbsp;million.<ref name=PayneP38/>

On 7 August 1992, the underside of the [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]] was extensively damaged when she ran aground south of [[Cuttyhunk]] Island near [[Martha's Vineyard]], while returning from a five-day cruise to [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], Nova Scotia along the east coast of the United States and Canada. A combination of her speed, an uncharted shoal, overestimating the height of [[tide]] and underestimating the increase in the ship's draft due to the [[squat effect|effect of squat]] led to the ship's hull scraping rocks on the ocean floor.<ref>[https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR9301.pdf Marine Accident Report—''Grounding of the United Kingdom Passenger Vessel RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 Near Cuttyhunk Island, Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, August 7, 1992''] (NTSB/MAR-93/01), pp. 26–30. [[National Transportation Safety Board]]: 25 May 1993.</ref><ref name="h038">{{cite web | title=93065 Grounding of QE2 | website=Nautical Institute | date=1993-07-07 | url=https://www.nautinst.org/resources-page/grounding-of-qe2.html | access-date=2025-02-25}}</ref> The accident resulted in the passengers disembarking earlier than scheduled at nearby [[Newport, Rhode Island]] and the ship being taken out of service while temporary repairs were made in drydock at Boston. Several days later, divers found the red paint from the keel on previously uncharted rocks where the ship struck the bottom.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DC1531F936A2575BC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|title=Marine Surveyors Find Uncharted Rock That May Have Damaged Hull of the QE2|work=The New York Times|date=15 August 1992|access-date=20 June 2008}}</ref><ref>[https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR9301.pdf Marine Accident Report—''Grounding of the United Kingdom Passenger Vessel RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 Near Cuttyhunk Island, Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, August 7, 1992''] (NTSB/MAR-93/01), pp. 21–26. [[National Transportation Safety Board]]: 25 May 1993.</ref>

By the mid-1990s, it was decided that ''QE2'' was due for a new look and in 1994 the ship was given a multimillion-pound refurbishment in [[Hamburg]]<ref name="chrisqe2hist" /> code-named Project Lifestyle.

On 11 September 1995, ''QE2'' encountered a [[rogue wave]], estimated at {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}}, caused by [[Hurricane Luis]] in the North Atlantic Ocean about {{Convert | 200 | mi}} south of eastern [[Newfoundland]].<ref name="luis">{{cite web|url=http://www.qe2.org.uk/luis.html|title=''Hurricane Luis Passenger Certificate'' |publisher=Qe2.org.uk |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> One year later, during her twentieth world cruise, she completed her four millionth mile. The ship had sailed the equivalent of 185 times around the planet.<ref name="CunardHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.co.uk/ |title=''Cunard History at a Glance'' |publisher=Cunard.co.uk |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>

''QE2'' celebrated the 30th anniversary of her maiden voyage in Southampton in 1999. In three decades she had 1,159 voyages, sailed {{convert|4648050|nmi|mi km}} and carried over two million passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/onboard/default.asp?OB=QE2&Sub=sp&SubSubSection=30Years|title=Queen Elizabeth 2&nbsp;– The first 30 years|publisher=Cunard.com|access-date=14 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211231919/http://www.cunard.com/onboard/default.asp?OB=QE2&Sub=sp&SubSubSection=30Years|archive-date=11 February 2011}}</ref>

===Later years===
[[File:QE2 WEB.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Leaving Sydney 18 February 2004]]
[[File:QE2 and Ferry Too (3556981118).jpg|thumb|''QE2'' near the Cunard Building in Liverpool in 2004]]
[[File:Queen's Room Ballroom QE2.jpg|thumb|The interior Queens Room in 2006]]
Following the 1998 acquisition of the Cunard Line by [[Carnival Corporation]], in 1999 ''QE2'' was given a US$30&nbsp;million refurbishment which included refreshing various public rooms,<ref name=TheQE2Story /> and a new colour palette in the passenger [[cabin (ship)|cabins]]. The Royal Promenade, which formerly housed upscale shops such as [[Burberry]], H. Stern and [[Aquascutum]], were replaced by boutiques typical of cruise ships, selling perfumes, watches and logo items. During this refit, the hull was stripped to bare metal, and the ship repainted in the traditional Cunard colours of matte black (Federal Grey) with a white superstructure.<ref name="chrisqe2hist" />

On 29 August 2002, ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' became the first merchant ship to sail more than 5 million nautical miles at sea.<ref name=PayneP36/>

In 2004, the vessel stopped plying the traditional transatlantic route and began full-time cruising, the transatlantic route having been assigned to Cunard's new flagship, {{RMS|Queen Mary 2|3=2}}. However, ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' still undertook an annual world cruise and regular trips around the Mediterranean. By this time, she lacked the amenities to rival newer, larger cruise ships, but she still had unique features such as her ballrooms, hospital,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=247 |title=Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2)&nbsp;– Cunard |publisher=Cruisecritic.com |access-date=14 July 2010 |archive-date=1 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501033353/http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=247 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 6,000-book library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://chriscunard.com/qe2/qe2-deckplans/ |title=QE2 Deckplans |access-date=2 July 2010 }}</ref> ''QE2'' remained the fastest cruise ship afloat (28.5 knots<ref name="fuel"/>), with fuel economy at this speed<ref name="fuel"/> at 49.5&nbsp;ft<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecunarders.co.uk/QE2%20Statistics.html |title=The Cunarders: QE2 : Statistics |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326180245/http://www.thecunarders.co.uk/QE2%20Statistics.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/QE2+GETS+SET+FOR+HER+LAST+VISIT%3B+Warm+welcome+expected.-a0168878004 |title=QE2 Fuel Usage |access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tripatlas.com/Fuel%20efficiency%20in%20transportation |title=Trip Atlas QE2 Fuel |access-date=12 July 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> to the gallon (4 m/L).<ref>{{cite news|last=Clifton |first=Paul |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7663226.stm |title=UK &#124; England &#124; Hampshire &#124; QE2's funnel 'to be sliced off' |work=[[BBC News]] |date=10 October 2008 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> While cruising at slower speeds efficiency was improved to 125&nbsp;ft per gallon (10 m/L).<ref name="fuel">{{cite web|url=http://www.roblightbody.com/liners/qe-2/QE2_fuel_economy.htm |title=QE2 Fuel Efficiency |access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref>

On 5 November 2004, ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' became Cunard's longest serving express liner, surpassing {{RMS|Aquitania}}{{'}}s 35 years,<ref name="CunardHist" /> while on 4 September 2005, during a call to the port of Sydney, Nova Scotia, ''QE2'' became the longest serving Cunarder, surpassing {{RMS|Scythia}}{{'}}s record.<ref>QE2 Daily Programme 04:09:05</ref>

At the end of her 2005 world cruise, some pieces of her artwork were damaged when some crew members who had become [[inebriated]] at an on-board crew party, went on a vandalism rampage through the public areas of the ship. A unique tapestry of ''Queen Elizabeth 2'', commissioned for the launch of the ship, was thrown overboard by a drunken crewman. An oil painting of [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and two other tapestries were also damaged, along with a part of the entertainment area and a lifeboat. The crew members involved were dismissed from service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1290 |title=Cruise Critic News: QE2 Winds Up World Cruise With a Whimper |publisher=Cruisecritic.com |date=20 April 2005 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>

On 20 February 2007 ''Queen Elizabeth 2'', while on her annual world cruise, met her running mate and successor flagship ''QM2'' (herself on her maiden world cruise) in [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]], Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/CruiseItinerary.asp?cruiseid=2802&LeftNav=Planner&Active=&Sub=&OB=&Region= |title=''Queen Mary 2'' world cruise itinerary |publisher=Cunard.com |access-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225153754/http://www.cunard.com/CruiseItinerary.asp?cruiseid=2802&LeftNav=Planner&Active=&Sub=&OB=&Region= |archive-date=25 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cunard.com/CruiseItinerary.asp?cruiseid=2803&LeftNav=Planner&Active=&Sub=&OB=&Region= |title=Queen Elizabeth 2 world cruise itinerary |publisher=Cunard.com |access-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225160201/http://www.cunard.com/CruiseItinerary.asp?cruiseid=2803&LeftNav=Planner&Active=&Sub=&OB=&Region= |archive-date=25 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6377633.stm |title=Royal liners in Sydney rendezvous |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> This was the first time two Cunard ''Queens'' had been together in Sydney since the original ''Queen Mary'' and ''Queen Elizabeth'' served as troop ships in 1941.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/queenelizabeth.html |title=Queen Elizabeth 1940–1973 |publisher=Thegreatoceanliners.com |access-date=14 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826125950/http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/queenelizabeth.html |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Retirement announcement ====
On 18 June 2007, Cunard announced that ''QE2'' had been bought by the [[Dubai]] investment company [[Istithmar]] for $100&nbsp;million.<ref name="QE2Sold">{{cite web |author=Cunard-Istithmar |date=18 June 2007 |title=Official QE2 Cunard-Istithmar Press Release |url=http://www.roblightbody.com/liners/qe-2/qe2_sold.htm |access-date=21 March 2011 |publisher=Rob Lightbody}}</ref><ref name="GulfNewsQE2Sale">{{cite web |author=Shakir Husain |date=18 June 2007 |title=Istithmar buys QE2 for $100m |url=http://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/istithmar-buys-qe2-for-100m-1.184774 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118115116/http://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/istithmar-buys-qe2-for-100m-1.184774 |archive-date=18 November 2010 |access-date=21 March 2011 |publisher=GulfNews.com}}</ref> Her retirement, in part, was forced by the oncoming June 2010 implementation of the [[International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea|International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)]] regulations, which would have forced large and expensive structural changes to the ship.<ref name="Otago240912" />

===Retirement and final Cunard voyage===
[[File:QV in Southampton.JPG|left|thumb|{{Ship|2=QM2}} (left) next to ''QE2'' (right) with [[MS Queen Victoria|QV]] in the foreground]]
[[File:Osaka RMS Queen Elizabeth2 06bs.jpg|thumb|QE2 berthed in [[Osaka]] on 19 March 2008]]
In a ceremonial display before her retirement, ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' met {{MS|Queen Victoria|3=2}} and ''Queen Mary 2'' near the [[Statue of Liberty]] in [[New York Harbor]] on 13 January 2008, with a celebratory fireworks display; ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' and ''Queen Victoria'' had made a tandem crossing of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] for the meet. This marked the first time three ''Cunard Queens'' had been present in the same location. (Cunard stated this would be the last time these three particular ships would meet, due to the impending retirement of ''Queen Elizabeth 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous |title=Royal Rendezvous: Sunday, 13 January 2008&nbsp;– New York Harbor |publisher=Cunard |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113161744/http://www.cunard.com/rendezvous/ |archive-date=13 January 2008}}</ref> However, due to a change in ''QE2''{{'}}s schedule, the three ships met again in Southampton on 22 April 2008.)

''QE2'' shared the harbour at [[Zeebrugge]] with ''Queen Victoria'' on 19 July 2008, where the two Cunarders exchanged whistle blasts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7360081.stm |title=Three 'Queens' in final meeting; 22 April 2008 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=22 April 2008 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>

On 3 October 2008, ''QE2'' set off from [[Cork (city)|Cork]] for [[Douglas Harbour|Douglas Bay]] on her farewell tour of Ireland and Britain, before heading for [[Liverpool]]. She left Liverpool and arrived in [[Belfast]] on 4 October 2008, before moving to [[Greenock]] the next day (the ship's height with funnel makes it impossible to pass under the [[Erskine Bridge]] so Clydebank is not reachable).<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 2008 |title=QE2 makes last stop on the Clyde |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7651286.stm |access-date=2022-11-17}}</ref> There she was escorted by Royal Navy destroyer {{HMS|Manchester|D95|6}} and visited by {{MV|Balmoral|1949|6}}. The farewell was viewed by large crowds and concluded with a firework display.<ref name=Highhopes/><ref name="Herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2457396.0.Tearful_Clyde_says_goodbye_to_QE2.php |title=Tearful Clyde Says Goodbye To QE2 |author=Susan Swarbrick |date=6 October 2008 |newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009041547/http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2457396.0.Tearful_Clyde_says_goodbye_to_QE2.php |archive-date=9 October 2008}}</ref><ref name="PSPS">{{cite web|url=http://pspsscotland.blogspot.com/2008/10/balmoral-salutes-retiring-legend.html |title=The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society&nbsp;– Scottish Branch: Balmoral Salutes a Retiring Legend |access-date=7 October 2008|date=6 October 2008 }}</ref> ''QE2'' then sailed around Scotland to the [[Firth of Forth]] on 7 October 2008, where she anchored in the shadow of the [[Forth Bridge]]. The next day, following an [[RAF]] flypast, she left amidst a flotilla of small craft to head to [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], before returning to Southampton.

==== Final Westbound and Eastbound Transatlantic Crossings ====
[[File:QE2 Clyde 5 Oct 08 1157.jpg|thumb|Farewell to the Clyde]]
''QE2'' completed her final Atlantic crossings in tandem with her successor, ''QM2''. The ships departed for the final westbound crossing from Southampton on 10 October, sailing tandem and arriving in New York City one final time on 16 October. The Queen Mary 2 docked at the Brooklyn cruise terminal, while the QE2 docked in Manhattan. The two liners departed New York on 16 October for the final eastbound crossing, arriving in Southampton on 22 October. This marked the end of ''QE2''{{'}}s transatlantic voyages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chriscunard.com/qe2/qe2-dubai/|title=QE2 Hotel Dubai|date=4 February 2015 }}</ref>

==== Final voyage ====
On her final arrival into Southampton, ''QE2'' (on 11 November 2008, with 1,700 passengers and 1,000 crew on board) ran [[aground]] in the [[Solent]] near the [[Southampton Water]] entrance at 5.26&nbsp;am, on a triangular sandbank roughly equidistant between the mouth of Southampton Water and [[East Cowes]] named [[Bramble Bank]]. [[BBC]] reported "[[Cunard Line|Cunard]] has confirmed it touched the bottom at the Brambles Turn [[sandbank]] (sandback) near [[Calshot]], [[Southampton Water]], with three tugs attached to her [[stern]] (0530 [[GMT]]). A fourth tug secured a line to the ship's [[Bow (ship)|bow]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5howpLVxZV1XpwNbNPrkW5WU90P4w|title=ukpress.google.com, ''QE2'' runs aground on final tour}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Solent Coastguard stated: "Five tugs were sent out to assist her getting off the sandbank, and she was pulled off just before 6.10&nbsp;am. She had been refloated and was under way under her own power and heading back to her berth in Southampton. She had only partially gone aground, and the tugs pulled her off."<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5128451.ece timesonline.co.uk, QE2 runs aground on farewell call to Southampton]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_Lc8wcuxJVmvIJGYE1uoC31HkfA|title=ukpress.google.com, QE2 runs aground}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Once safely back at her berth, preparations continued for her farewell celebrations. These were led by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] who toured the ship at great length. He visited areas of interest including the Engine Control Room. He also met with current and former crew members.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/heritage/deheritageqe2/3838884.QE2_sails_away_on_tide_of_emotion/ |title=QE2 sails away on tide of emotion|date=11 November 2008 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630172918/http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/heritage/deheritageqe2/3838884.QE2_sails_away_on_tide_of_emotion/|newspaper=Southern Daily Echo |archive-date=30 June 2012 }}</ref> During this time, divers were sent down to inspect the hull for any possible damage caused by the vessel's earlier mishap&nbsp;– none was found.
[[File:Qe2-fireworks-soton.jpg|thumb|Southampton, 11 November 2008]]

''Queen Elizabeth 2'' left [[Southampton Docks]] for the final time at 1915 [[GMT]] on 11 November 2008, to begin her farewell voyage by the name of "''QE2''{{'}}s Final Voyage".<ref name="journey_book">{{Cite book |author=Chris Frame & Rachelle Cross |title=''QE2: A Photographic Journey'' |isbn=978-0-7524-4803-9 |publisher=[[The History Press]] |url=http://www.qe2book.com |year=2008 |access-date=19 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821153720/http://qe2book.com/ |archive-date=21 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After purchasing her for US$100&nbsp;million her ownership passed to [[Nakheel Properties]], a company of [[Dubai World]], on 26 November.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/palm-jumeirah-confirmed-as-qe2-s-final-stop-1.229382 |title=Palm Jumeirah confirmed as QE2's final stop |publisher=The National |date=27 July 2008 |access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7720966.stm |title=news.bbc.co.uk, QE2 liner runs aground near port |work=[[BBC News]] |date=11 November 2008 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/news/national/067853e1cb55ab9596cae00e0e2625ec/QE2+runs+aground+on+last+tour.aspx |title=teletext.co.uk, ''QE2'' runs aground on last tour |publisher=Teletext.co.uk |access-date=14 July 2010 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The decommissioning of the ship was particularly poignant for ''Queen Elizabeth 2''{{'}}s only permanent resident, [[Beatrice Muller]], aged 89, who lived on board in retirement for nine years, at a cost of some £3,500 (~€4,300, ~$5,400) per month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7719605.stm |title=news.bbc.co.uk/, The woman who lives on ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' |work=[[BBC News]] |date=11 November 2008 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>

At the time of her retirement, ''QE2'' had sailed 5.8 million nautical miles, carried close to 3 million passengers and completed 806 transatlantic crossings, plus 26 world cruises.<ref>{{cite web|author=GARY BEMBRIDGE |url=http://allaboutcunard.blogspot.com/2007/07/qe2-final-voyage-sold-in-half-hour.html |title=All About Cunard Blog |publisher=Allaboutcunard.blogspot.com |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref>