Travel bucket list idea:
Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) heritage tours
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Credit Shutterstock.com/Delpixel
Last updated: 23 May, 2025
The so-called ‘Golden Age of Travel’, spanning from the late 1800s to the 1950s, was a time when travelling by train, ship, or air was a luxurious and glamorous experience. Passengers dressed in their finest clothes and were pampered with exquisite cuisine and personalised service. It saw the emergence of iconic brands and travel experiences such as the Orient Express and the Titanic.
The Queen Elizabeth 2 – the most famous ocean liner in the world – epitomised the era. Built in 1969 as the flagship of the Cunard Line, it was renowned for its speed, elegance and luxury – its opulent interiors, which included a grand staircase, ballrooms, a theatre, and multiple restaurants – setting a new standard in cruise and travel luxury at the time. It became a cultural icon and a symbol of British refinement.
Saved from the tip, today it’s permanently moored in Dubai where it’s been repurposed as a hotel where guests can stay and relive their Golden Age fantasies. Guests and non-guests can join entertaining and informative heritage tours led by the ship’s former Cruise Director, which will teach you all about this legend of the seas and its role in the Golden Age.
For the full experience, book in for an afternoon tea in the Queen’s Grill.
Logistics
Price from: £38
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
When to do it
Tours run three times a day, all year round. Tours that include an afternoon tea only run on Friday & Saturday.
