Building up to QE2’s final farewell

1:40pm Friday 10th October 2008

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By Keith Hamilton »

IT WILL be an historic day for the city as the QE2, says farewell to Southampton, the port which has been her home for almost four decades.

Thousands of people from all over the UK are set to line Southampton Water shoreline and a flotilla of small boats, passenger ferries and pleasure craft will follow the famous ship as she begins her last voyage.

All the tickets for QE2’s 16-night voyage to Dubai, where she will be turned into a hotel and tourist attraction, were sold within half an hour of going on sale last year.

Passengers booked into QE2’s grand suites will pay more than £28,400 each while a berth in an inside cabin costs from £4,329.

At 7.15pm on November 11 the liner will eases away from the Eastern Docks, beginning a journey that will end her career. So many people are due to travel to Southampton to see the event that special arrangements will be in force for public transport and car parking.

A programme of events is scheduled during the final stopover for the vessel culminating in a firework display off Mayflower Park.

Despite disappointment over QE2’s early morning arrival and her evening departure, both in darkness, the ship is timed to make her way up Southampton Water and dock at 7.15am as she finishes a 15-night long Mediterranean cruise.

QE2 will be alongside the docks for exactly 12 hours during which time the liner will host a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh.

It will be a nostalgic time for the duke as he accompanied the Queen in 1967 when she named and launched QE2.

At about 1.45pm the Royal Navy will bid “Bon Voyage’’ to QE2 with a sail past by a Bay class vessel from Marchwood Military Port while overhead a planned fly-past of Harrier fighter aircraft from the RAF will recall the Cunarder’s crucial role in the South Atlantic Task Force during the Falklands War in 1982.

From as early as 5.30am chartered boats will leave Southampton’s Ocean Village to watch as the ship makes her way through the Solent.

Among the vessels making the early morning journey to meet QE2 will be Southampton’s, SS Shieldhall.

People gathering at Mayflower Park, Town Quay, and Marchwood will have the best view of the ship and the fireworks.

The QE2 will call at Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, Malta and Egypt before arriving at Dubai on Thursday, November 27.

Extra buses will be in service after 8pm to cope with sightseers wanting to go home after the ship’s departure.