A Merry Queens Grill Christmas to one and all. Filmed onboard QE2, 15-17th December 2006. Views of ship. Gregory Dorothy, Assistant Waiter in Queens Grill restaurant, demonstrates how to prepare Crepes Suzette.

From Keith Wallis at South China Morning Post… The iconic luxury passenger liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is set to return to Hong Kong this summer on its way to a mainland shipyard, where it will be refitted to become a floating hotel.

The QE2 in its heyday, docked at the Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong in 1994. Its maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York in May 1969, took five days. Photo: SCMP

The former Cunard flagship, which visited Hong Kong several times before being retired in 2008 and sold to the Dubai investment company Istithmar World, is likely to stay in Hong Kong for several days in July or August.

Daniel Chui, managing director of Singapore’s Oceanic Group, said talks are continuing to bring the ship back to Hong Kong once the conversion work has been completed.

Hong Kong and Singapore are the two cities being considered for the ship’s initial base as a floating hotel.

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Excellent video on Cunard Line’s RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH…

Cruise History – The RMS Queen Elizabeth was the second of the two ocean-liners which Cunard had built for the New York service. After lengthy negotiations between Sir Percy Bates, chairman of Cunard, and the Government a formal contract for what was known as job 535 was signed on 6 October 1936. The Treasury agreed to advance £5 million to Cunard and tenders went out for the contract. The contract went to John Brown & Co, builders of the Queen Mary.

Originally the launch of the ship was scheduled for September 1938 but as the time drew near the political situation across Europe had deteriorated. The launch did go ahead on 27 September but King George VI was unable to attend. After this the ship went to be fitted out and the completion date was set for spring 1940 but the outbreak of World War II, on 3 September, meant that the ship would follow a different agenda. Soon the ship was painted grey and its maiden voyage was cancelled. Over the next few months it was realized that the Queen Elizabeth was both a risk and an inconvenience whilst it was berthed on the Clyde. Not only was it at risk from German bombers but also it was occupying a fitting out berth which was urgently required for warship construction. On 3 March 1940 it left its anchorage off Gourock and sailed to New York, arriving on 7 March.

1946 – At precisely two o’clock the 83,000 ton Cunard-White Star Liner “Queen Elizabeth” cast off from her moorings at Southampton and slid slowly from her berth to begin her maiden voyage to New York.

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PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH AND MRS. BUSH CROSS THE ATLANTIC IN STYLE ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY 2 – RELIVING THE 1950s AND 1960s … When Stars and Celebrities sailed Cunard’s great liners…

President George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara are back home in the US after fulfilling their ambition to cross the Atlantic by sea.

Bush, who also took daughter Dorothy and grand-daughter Gigi on the trip, said of the voyage when he arrived on board: “I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks,” to which his wife responded: “You’ve been talking about nothing else for months!”

After dining in the Queens Grill and Todd English restaurants, taking advantage of the Canyon Ranch spa, and taking part in an Apple iStudy session, they will have plenty more to talk about in the months to come.

President Bush conformed: “Barbara and I have always wanted to make a crossing, and it gives us great joy to be able to do so aboard Queen Mary 2 with our family and close friends. We have enjoyed the voyage from its beginning, and our experience has been made even better by the amazing crew and staff. We will always have fond memories of our Transatlantic crossing.”

Queen Mary 2 arrives San Francisco for first time in 2007.

The Bushes boarded Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 in Southampton a week ago for the seven-night crossing. Cunard were unable to confirm their presence on the ship at the time, respecting their guests’ privacy. With the ship now docked in New York, they have issued a formal statement and pictures.

Cunard president and managing director Peter Shanks was joined by Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle, QM2′s captain Kevin Oprey and hotel manager John Duffy to welcome the Bushes to the ship’s Commodore Club.

Shanks said: “We are honored to have welcomed President Bush and his family as guests aboard Queen Mary 2. Over Cunard’s long history, a great many dignitaries have enjoyed the leisure and luxury of our Transatlantic Crossings, and we are delighted that the President now joins in that legacy.”

STARS AND CELEBS “CROSSING THE POND”…  A LONG TRADITION WITH CUNARD LINE…

Cunard Lines, like many other steamship companies during the 1930s through the 1960s, had public relations staff and photographers cover sailing day of all their liners – including the RMS Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Mauritania, Medea, Parthia and Caronia.   They photographed the stars as they crossed the pond and sailed from New York.  Here is a collection of photos of a few of the greatest stars and celebrities of all time sailing away on the Cunard Lines.

To cruise today aboard Cunard Line click here for full information.

Frederick Brisson, Rosalind Russell Brisson and Gregory Peck with Mrs Peck sail away on the RMS Queen Elizabeth.

Clark Gable is welcomed aboard the RMS Queen Mary.

Elizabeth Taylor sailing on the RMS Queen Mary.

Jackie Kennedy and Robert Kennedy on the RMS Queen Mary.

Judy Garland sailing from New York on the RMS Caronia.