QE2 was really irreplaceable to so many who were lucky enough to sail on her, and like me were full of hope that she would have a second life in retirement. To read the newspaper story in Septempber 2017 telling that her end had really come was shattering, only to learn a few months later that she was to re-open as an hotel extraordanaire in Dubai. The joy in January 2019 of retracing my steps on the decks of QE2 inspired me to share and write this little book.