12 Mar 2007
Dubai: Dubai had its largest ever cruise ship visitor yesterday when the Queen Mary 2 docked at Port Rashid.
The 151,400-tonne ship dwarfed everything around her after she came alongside at about 6am as part of her first world tour.
The British-registered vessel's owner Cunard said in all likelihood the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) would visit Dubai again if, as expected she embarks on a second around-the-world cruise. Richard Parker, tour manager for QM2, said the visit to Dubai created "a buzz" among the passengers.
"Dubai is a great port to visit because everyone's heard about what's on offer here, from the Burj Al Arab to the ski slope - there's a lot of interest," he said.
About 2,500 passengers were aboard the QM2 and more than half left the ship in Dubai at the end of their voyage. Around 1,300 new passengers joined the world famous vessel, which has a crew of about 1,600, to replace those who left.
Of those who were continuing their holidays on the vessel, over 1,000 went on excursions in and around Dubai. Dozens went for shopping and cultural trips to Sharjah, while yet more were taken to Hatta Springs before the QM2 left for Egypt early in the evening.
The 1,132-foot-long ship is as tall as a 23-storey building and ranks as the second-largest passenger ship in the world.
She attracted a small crowd of onlookers at Port Rashid, among them Emirates Captain Rob Clowes, his wife Teresa and their children George and Jessica. Clowes, 40, who has sailed on the QM2 twice, described the ship as "a very impressive sight."
By Daniel Bardsley
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
