The Queen Elizabeth is of course Cunard’s latest cruise ship. She arrived in Dubai on the return journey of her inaugural world cruise. Her ancestor, the Queen Elizabeth 2 has been anchored in the same port since 2008, waiting to be converted into a grand floating hotel.

The Queen Elizabeth was launched in October 2010 by none other than the Queen Elizabeth II herself. Passengers pressed close to the rails in order to get a better look at the majestic QE2, but mountains of ballast kept them from getting a clear view.

Rob Lightbody explains on the QE2 story website that the ocean liner still carries a skeleton crew for basic maintenance tasks. Her conversion plans are currently on hold because of the financial recession that hit Dubai, but he expects the conversion to be completed in due course.

By coincidence the QE2 only met with her predecessor, the original Queen Elizabeth cruise liner, once, 40 years ago this month. Unfortunately the first QE had by that time already been renamed to Seawise University. It had to undergo major engine repairs in Aruba on its way to Hong Kong and the QE2 docked in Aruba at the same time. The Hong Kong journey unfortunately proved to be the original QE’s last cruise as a massive fire on board caused the ship to sink.

This week is, therefore, the first time ever that two cruise ships actually carrying the name Queen Elizabeth are docked in the same port.