Iconic Cruise Ship QE2 To Become A Luxury Floating Hotel!

The MS Queen Elizabeth 2, a luxury British cruise liner launched by the Queen in 1967 and more commonly known as the QE2, will be a cruise ship no more. The QE2's owner has now outlined plans for cruise ship's conversion to a five-star hotel. Once upon a time, QE2 had 5 restaurants, 4 swimming pools , a casino and its own branch of luxury department store Harrods. The vessel was bought in 2007 for around £50 million, and tickets for her final voyage were snapped up, with some berths selling for more than £28,000.

Should the QE2 pass checks for its viability ahead of this planned renovation, it shall become a five-star hotel with 500 rooms. Plans for the iconic liner include multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, a ballroom and luxury shopping mall. There will also be an on board museum, dedicated not only to the ship's rich history, but to a
collection of Dubai's treasures as well. The final destination of QE2 as a floating hotel is a closely kept secret, but apparently a number of Asian cities have expressed their interest. Some may have been upset that the bid to return MS Queen Elizabeth 2 to the UK was rejected, yet the conversion to a hotel is by far better than the rumours of her being sold for scrapping in China.

The awe-inspiring ship will be returned to her grand old days as a hotel, and these plans will put an end to the speculation of what was to become of QE2 after her retirement. Having carried 2.5 million passengers between Southampton and New York, QE2 has sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings. Hopefully, the conversion to a hotel will be just as successful as the QE2 was in her heyday.

Are you interested in chartering a luxury yacht for yourself? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

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Posted on January 21, 2013 by admin

An Insight into the Miami Boat Show 2013, Part I

The Miami International Boat Show is Florida’s largest annual event, showcasing more than 3,000 boats and 2,000 exhibitors in three locations for 4 days from the 14th February. The Miami Beach Convention Centre, the Sea Isle Marina and Miamarina at Bayside will host the event which is often regarded as one of the best places for a preview of the upcoming yachting season. So what should you expect from the show? No matter whether you are looking for the latest powerboats, sailboats, ribs, marine electronics and accessories, look no further than this years show. There really is something for everyone! If you are not looking to buy something, the show is still worth a visit, thanks to the numerous seminars where you are bound to acquire knowledge. Tickets start at $20 per day for adults, with a 5 day pass at $85 and kids going free with a paying adult. So if you are in town and looking for something to do, don’t miss the chance to go to this show and see everything that it has to offer.

If you are a catamaran lover, you will be delighted to find some of the finest Lagoon, Leopard and Fountain Pajot’s on offer at this years show. Amongst our team, it is quite clear to see that Lagoon catamarans are some of our favourites, thanks to their build quality, comfort and style. We have a large number available for charter throughout the world, including the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Caribbean. However, one of our latest additions is the luxurious Lagoon 620 in Singapore, available for large event charters for up to 27 guests. Singapore is one of the worlds largest hubs, with excellent retail outlets, cultural hotspots and beaches, making this an ideal destination to charter a yacht for either a corporate or personal event. For other Singapore charter yachts, please click here and contact Kevin who will be delighted to help you organise an unforgettable day out!

Have you never chartered before? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

Posted on January 18, 2013 by admin

Updates On The 44th Annual Dusseldorf Boat Show 2013!

The Dusseldorf Boat Show is one of the largest shows in size in the yachting calendar. With exhibitors ranging from yacht manufacturers, sellers of yacht toys and maintenance parts, it attracts people from all over the world. This year, the feat will be no different, with 462 exhibitors there in force, just as manufacturers! A further 373 exhibitors will be there with diving equipment.

This year’s show will take place between 19 and 27 January 2013. The show will be open between 10am and 6pm each day, and will take place at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre.

Exhibiting Product (number of exhibitors/products)

Boats and Yachts (462/945)

Engines and Related Equipment (93/148)

Shipping/Yachting Equipment and Accessories (389/1214)

Services (316/265)

Canoes/Kayaks (27/8)

Water-skiing/wakeboarding/kneeboarding (28/25)

Jetskiing (11/2)

Surfing/Windsurfing/Kitesurfing/Parasailing (109/226)

Diving (373/736)

Fishing (25/38)

Maritime Art (31/50)

Organisations/Institutions/Clubs (141/69)

Marinas (104/98)

One of our favourite yacht manufacturers that is going to be exhibiting is Azimut, who make some fine yachts. They will be showcasing the new Azimut 60 (above), which you can expect to see on the charter market in the coming months.

A fine alternative to the Azimut 60, is WILJIM, which is an Azimut 62 Evolution, available for charter out of the French Riviera, perfect for your Summer charter 2013. Her fantastic crew of two will ensure that on your charter you have an extraordinary experience, whether with colleagues, friends or family. For more information on her please click here.

Posted on January 17, 2013 by admin

Release: New 32m Luxury Charter Monte Fino Yacht Design Released

In the Kha Shing shipyard in Taiwan, the renowned designers at Mulder Design, have, along with Monte Fino released blueprints and mock-ups of how their latest design is going to look. The all new P1104 is going to be a 32m luxury yacht, with plenty of space both on deck and inside.

So far, we can tell you that her max speed is going to be around 25 knots, and that her nautical range at a speed of 12 knots will be around 2200nm.

Stay tuned for more news on this fantastic design, as and when we hear more.

One of our favourite Monte Fino yachts is the stunning MIRACLE, another 115 foot luxury yacht.She has lots of water toys on board, and is suitable for entertaining up to 8 guests in her 4 cabins. She charters out of the Caribbean and the Bahamas dependant on the time of year, which we know is an extraordinary place to charter.

Posted on January 16, 2013 by admin

New Release: CURVELLE QUARANTA Available For Charter From March 2013!

The first yacht from the Curvelle shipyard is due to be released in the coming weeks, with availability for charter from March 2013 onwards. She is a stunning 34m yacht, with 6 sumptuous cabins accommodating for up to 12 guests.

She'll have a crew of 6, to cater to your every need, making a potential charter on CURVELLE QUARANTA a truly once in a lifetime experience.

With plenty of outdoor decking, and a jacuzzi, you and your guests can relax on board, with beautiful views of some of the best destinations in the world, like Cannes (above).

Her interior is both elegant and comfortable, providing a bright and airy space for all charterers to enjoy. Above is her sky lounge, which has a full bar, and plenty of lounging area.

Looking to charter a yacht for a corporate event? Head to www.boatbookings.com, the leading online yacht charter broker, or email us at [email protected] and one of our Charter Specialists will get back to you shortly.

Posted on January 14, 2013 by admin