For years the SS United States was considered the pride of the US shipping industry. Her reputation didn't help her in the end of her life though as she was purchased by the short lived NCL America Line only to be laid up in Philadelphia before ever getting to reenter service. In recent years their has been a mass search for cities willing to adopt her for as a permanent hotel, casino, and convention center. One of the leaders has been Atlantic City.
Today news has started to break that the Queen Elizabeth 2, who has carried her own historic reputation as a British liner, is once again looking to move. Expected to have a nice retirement the ship was sold to a Dubai organization to become a permanent casino and hotel but the economic downturn resulted in a halt to all construction and resulted in the once luxury liner sitting at the dock to rust away in the desert sun. It seems now that she will once again be sold off to another organization with the same plan and a hope of a different outcome that may also include Atlantic City.
Who knew their was a market for retired ocean liners, but apparently it's a buyers market as their are now two pieces of the historic ocean faring past up for sale to the city willing to pay the highest fee. Unfortunately this will most likely end up with both going back to their docks for a few more years and eventually probably only one will come out on top with the other heading to the breakers. Most likely it will be the QE2 that lives on but as an American I would personally rather see the great untold history of the SS United States live on while the QE2 sails back home to England to look for a bidder in her native homeland. |
|
|
|
|
|
The QE2 during some better days at the end of her run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
By: DMPicone
Points: 1,700
Blog Posts: 10 |
Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 8:49:55 PM
Active: Mar 23, 2012 - 8:49:55 PM |
|
|
|
|
Tags: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Cunard Line Ltd.; RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
|
|
