On the 18th of March 2008, nearly 39 years since entering service, the QE2 achieved a maximum speed of 32.8 knots and over a period of 24 hours averaged 30 knots.

 

 

 

This is quite amazing stuff - NO Other cruise ship can do anything like this.  NO other 2-propellor ship.  Let alone one that is nearly 1,000 feet long and in her final 7 months of life and which has travelled an astounding six MILLION miles - further than any other ship, ever.  Her brand new ugly sister ship, the Queen Victoria, is a full TEN knots slower.

 

My opinion?  The chief engineer and his staff are wanting to make a very loud and clear point - that there was lots of life left in the old girl and that she is STILL the fastest in the world.