She was christened Queen Elizabeth 2 on September 27, 1967 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. The arabic numeral "2" had nothing to do with the reigning monarch, although the Queen did refer to her as "Queen Elizabeth the Second", accidentally. The number "2" merely meant that she was the second ship of that name, and at that time the elder RMS Queen Elizabeth had not been pulled from service. She was launched and then sent to be fitted out which took awhile.
Delays put her maiden voyage off until May, 1969. Not an auspicious beginning in era of declining transatlantic crossings! In fact she was the first Cunarder that was not designed solely for crossing the pond. She was also designed for cruising in the warmer climates as well and she ended up doing both very well. In warmer months he went back and forth between New York and Southampton on a regular schedule and then in the colder months she turned into a cruise ship. She also began an annual world cruise, circumnavigating the globe.
She was different from the Queen Mary and the older Queen Elizabeth in other ways. She was, for example, a much smaller ship. And, she had only 1 funnel. There was some controversy about the fact that for her first few years at sea, the funnel was painted in black and white and not in the traditional colors of red and black. But, like her older sisters, she was still a steam ship. The funnel colors and her engine configuration would change over time.
In 1982, the military conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands broke out. The QE2 and was converted for use a troopship.
Ironically, she was not painted gray for her wartime service, but was painted gray and white as she was being refitted for commercial service. And, finally, the funnel.was painted in traditional colors. Nobody really liked the gray hull, so she reverted to her original livery during her 1984 refit. She had now been in service for 15 years, but still had just under a quarter century to go!.
In 1987 the original steam turbines of the QE2 were replaced with diesel-electric engines, and more staterooms were added on the top decks (balconies!) she also received a new funnel, which has been become almost iconic and has been replicated by the current queens.Her gross tonnage was now increased, but she still was the smallest Cunard Queen (but the fasted!)
As the Cunard line continued to have its economic problems, the QE2 managed to quite well, even partnering with the Concorde. Cross the pond by sea and return by air all for one price.
In 1998, the Cunard Line was acquired by Micky Arinson of the Carnival Corporation, and its remains a subsidiary of that shipping giant (which had had a few problems in recent years!)
In 2008, with two new Queens at seas, the Queen Mary 2 (2004) and the Queen Victoria (2007) and a new Queen Elizabeth on the drawing boards of the naval architects, the famous and beloved QE2 began her last months of service to Cunard.
Her last voyage was to Dubai, where she was supposed to be turned into a floating hotel. But Dubai was also affected by recession and those plan never materialized. So the QE2 sat at a pier for several years until she entered dry dock for an extensive overhaul.
The word is that the hotel plans are back on, but not in Dubai and that she is scheduled to sai for the far east at some point this month for transformation into a luxury floating hotel.... Better than the scrapyard, that's for sure!
From her maiden voyage in 1969 to her last voyage under the Cunard flag in Fall, 2008, the QE2 served for almost 39 years, longer than any other passenger liner and she clocked more nautical miles than any other ship. Quite a legacy.
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