It appears there finally is a plan for the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) cruise liner after all.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship was originally launched way back in 1967. The luxury QE2 ship began service in 1969 and since has made over 26 round-the-world voyages.

The QE2 was purchased in 2007 by Istithmar, which is large investment company that’s owned by the government of Dubai. The estimated purchase price for the luxury ship was £64 million or about $100 million US.

It was announced that Dubai is moving toward turning Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner into a floating hotel.

Since the purchase, the future plans of the QE2 were up in the air. Initially, the goal was to completely overhaul the ship and turn it into a luxury hotel. Those plans were shelved due to the global recession which really hit hard Dubai’s economy.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Istithmar stated that the company became aware visitors to Dubai desired to see the QE2 remain in its originally look. Due to that, there are no major changes expected. He was quoted, “QE2 is without a doubt one of the wonders of the maritime world, and is easily the most famous serving liner in the world today.”

Since the Queen Elizabeth 2 arrived at Port Rashid, it quickly became the emirate’s hottest tourist attraction. It’s expected to take about 18 months for the conversion to be completed. When done, the QE2 will become a luxurious, 300-room floating hotel!

According to Bloomberg, Istithmar is currently in talks with three hoteliers, including Jumeirah Group, to manage the property.

Queen Elizabeth – Diamond Jubilee official portrait

Great Britain and the world prepares for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebration on June 5, 2012, as Queen Elizabeth will celebrate 60 years on the English throne.

Champagne G.H. Mumm and Adam Byatt have come together to create a delicious alfresco feast. All you need is to add some sunshine, find an adequate picnic rug and combine the best of British lawn games.

Here’s our recommendation for A Proper British Picnic:

For a picnic of grand proportions over the long weekend, match the caramel flavours and creamy length of Champagne G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge with delicious and home-cooked picnic dishes, designed by Adam.

“Seasonal British ingredients such as morels and berries make this picnic menu effortlessly tasty, and perfectly paired with G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge,” says Adam.

Adam’s Middle White Pork Pies
“The crisp acidity of Cordon Rouge cuts through the richness of the pork and pastry and highlights the herbs and spices.”

Quiche of Morels, Broad Beans and Goats Cheese
“The full flavour and structure of Cordon Rouge brings out the earthy notes of the morels, and the buttery pastry is a classic combination with the champagne.”

Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachio
“The citrus fruit and zesty acidity of Cordon Rouge marry well with the piquant of the cranberries, whilst the lingering finish of this champagne enhances the pistachio and biscotti background flavors.”

English Cherry Pavlova
The finishing touch to the prefect picnic fit for the Queen ….

Add a dash of regal splendor to your outdoor banquet this picnic season, with the champagne that was first awarded the prestigious Royal Warrant in 1886, and continues to be the choice of the Royal Family today.

G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge is available from Waitrose for £31.99 and all picnic recipes are found in Adam Byatt’s How to Eat In, available at amazon.co.uk for £25.

Queen Elizabeth -Cunard

Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth liner was officially named in a luxurious ceremony at the vessel’s home port of Southampton, England.

It was a bright, sunny day and her Majesty christened the new £360 million Queen Elizabeth, with a bottle of Rothschilds’ Cunard Graves 2009.

There were notable guests in attendance, including: Lord (John) Prescott, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir Jimmy Savile, Alan Whicker, Judith Chalmers, Alan Tichmarsh, and Simon Weston.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus supplied beautiful music and the Massed Bands of the Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards also entertained the ceremony gathering.

Queen Elizabeth has long been associated with the luxury Cunard fleet of ships. Her Majesty previously launched theQueen Elizabeth 2 in 1967, followed by the Queen Mary 2 in 2004.

The new Queen Elizabeth luxury liner is a 92,000-ton ship and will be Cunard’s second biggest ship behind the QM2.

Queen Elizabeth -Cunard (Grand Lobby)

The Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is bring back pure luxury to the high seas, featuring high ceilings, wood panelling, mosaics, art deco flourishes, chandeliers and fine marble.

The ship has a capacity of 2,000 passengers, and will enjoy many luxurious amenities including waltzing in multiple ballrooms, catching Shakespeare plays in the ship’s theatre.

If you feel lucky, take your chances by gambling in the casino, or simply relaxing with a cup of tea and listening to the soothing sounds of a string quartet.

For more information on Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth, visit http://www.cunard.com/Ships/Queen-Elizabeth/