General Travel News
QE2 Will Not Sail To Cape Town
Plans to sail the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) to Cape Town, South Africa for the World Cup football finals this summer have been cancelled. Cape Town port authorities said there is not enough time to accommodate the ship for its required length at the city’s port. The British ocean liner is currently berthed at Port Rashid in Dubai. Istithmar World, the investment arm of Dubai World, owns the QE2.
Istithmar said last year it would send the QE2 to Cape Town where it would be used as a temporary hotel to accommodate an expected surge in demand for rooms during the World Cup. However, yesterday, Istithmar said these plans are cancelled and no new plans are being made. The company said in a statement they are considering a number of options for the QE2, and “Istithmar World is considering which option will best maximize value of the vessel.” There is speculation that Istithmar World may sell off some assets, such as the QE2, because Dubai World is currently renegotiating US$22 billion (Dh80.8bn) of debt.
More General Travel News
Latest Travel News
Featured Sights To See
Fuente de la Diana Cazadora
Mexico City, Mexico
A beautiful fountain-sculpture of Diana, which depicts her aiming her arrow at an invisible target, it makes for amazing opportunities for photography in conjunction with the city’s skyline in the background. ...
Masjid Qiblatain
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Masjid Al Qiblatain has a very historical significance in Islam. In the early years of Islam the Muslims of Madinah used to pray with their faces towards the Masjid Al Aqsa (the mosque in Jerusalem). It is at this masjid that Allah revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) the Ayats of the Quran that commanded the Muslims to now face the Holy Ka’abah. The Prophet (PBUH) then tilted his face towards the Ka’ab...
Ibn Tulun Mosque
Cairo, Egypt
The Ibn Tulun Mosque is the top mosque to visit when in Cairo. This mosque, which is the largest and oldest in Cairo, was completed in 879 and still stands mostly intact. It was built using mud-brick and wood and covers 2.4 hectares (six acres). The mosque was built under the command of Ahmad ibn Tulun, who was the governor of Egypt from 868-884. Sharia el-Salibah, Islamic Cairo Openin...
Rumeli Fortress
Istanbul, Turkey
Rumeli Fortress, also called Rumelihisarı, was built by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II (aka the Conqueror) for the final siege of Constantinople. Its position on a bend in the Bosphorus, at its narrowest point, meant no ships could get in from or out of the city to the Black Sea. Construction began in April 1452 and lasted four months. Constantinople finally fell in April of the next y...