Historic setting
Staying aboard the preserved ocean liner gives the visit a genuine maritime-history experience, with original interiors, exhibits and decks to explore.
Queen Elizabeth 2
Dubai Maritime City
Queen Elizabeth 2 is an upscale hotel set aboard a preserved ocean liner in Dubai Maritime City, with a distinctly historic atmosphere rather than a standard city-hotel layout. Guests can stay in renovated ship cabins, explore the heritage exhibits and join a guided tour, with dining at Lido Restaurant.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
9,555 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Warm service
Many guests describe the staff as friendly, attentive and accommodating, including prompt help with an extra cot and thoughtful celebration arrangements.
Heritage tour
The complimentary heritage tour and guided visits are repeatedly praised for making the ship’s history easier to understand.
Deck views
Upper and top decks provide peaceful walking space and views across the water, with sunset singled out as a highlight.
Comfortable rooms
Several reviews describe the rooms as clean and comfortable, with some renovated cabins retaining distinctive period character.
Event venue
Reviews describe successful graduation and year-end events, including a 400-person party with replenished buffet service.
Relaxing spa
One guest called the spa the best part of the stay and found its pricing reasonable.
Tips for a Better Visit
Visit winter. Choose winter if you want to use the outdoor decks and seasonal activities; summer heat can make outside areas uncomfortable.
Book tours. Ask at the front desk about the guided heritage tour if you want access to restricted areas such as the bridge and engine room.
Allow time. Give yourself time to navigate the ship: guests describe it as a maze, with maps that can also be confusing.
Confirm extras. For celebrations, confirm decorations, cakes, room type and views in writing before arrival; one honeymoon request was only partly fulfilled.
Check availability. Before booking, ask which restaurants, bars, pool and gym facilities are open, as availability has varied between stays.
Verify booking. Reconfirm third-party reservations directly before travelling; one guest arrived to find a confirmed Booking.com reservation cancelled without notice.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Bur Dubai - Port Rashid - Dubai
Bur Dubai - Port Rashid, Dubai
Popular Mentions
Lido Restaurant
Lido Restaurant is mentioned as a memorable dining stop, with guests also praising the team’s service there.
Free hand-art sessions
Families have mentioned free hand-art sessions alongside a dedicated play area for children.
Common Concerns
Long check-in
Check-in can be slow: guests reported waits of almost an hour and, in one case, more than an hour in a long queue.
Small cabins
Some rooms feel compact because they are renovated ship cabins, making the hotel better suited to short stays for some guests.
Limited facilities
Reviews mention closed restaurants and bars, an underwhelming indoor pool, and several entertainment facilities being unavailable.
Inconsistent service
Some guests struggled to reach reception and reported unresolved booking, maintenance, delivery or refund issues.
Breakfast variability
Breakfast reviews range from excellent to limited or mediocre, so expectations around buffet variety and quality should be modest.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
around AED 370
room booking including breakfast and dinner
“com for around AED 370, including breakfast and dinner”Google review · June 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Queen Elizabeth 2 is a hotel inside a preserved ocean liner, so the main reason to book is the setting itself. You can sleep in a ship cabin, walk the decks, view the maritime exhibits and join a heritage tour. The complimentary tour is a standout for several guests, while the Lido Restaurant and top-deck sunset add substance to a staycation rather than leaving the ship as decoration.
The atmosphere is calm and unusual, and many reviews describe clean, comfortable rooms and genuinely attentive staff. Families have enjoyed the play area and free hand-art sessions, although another guest found the ship less kids-friendly and recommended only a one-day stay. Cabins are naturally compact, and the layout can feel maze-like; allow time to find your way around.
Expect some inconsistency. Guests have reported check-in waits approaching or exceeding an hour, limited breakfast variety, closed dining outlets and an underwhelming indoor pool shared with the gym. A few reviews also mention difficulty reaching reception, air-conditioning problems and booking or refund confusion.
Check what is open, confirm special requests and reconfirm third-party bookings before travelling. The spa, heritage tour and deck walks are the safer highlights if you are visiting mainly for the experience.