THE Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Port of Belfast are celebrating the news that the city is to welcome the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner on October 4, 2008 before she docks permanently in Dubai at the end of next year.

Belfast is one of a select few UK cities playing host to the QE2 during her year-long farewell tour and the Cruise Belfast Initiative, a partnership between BVCB and the Port of Belfast has secured the visit.

Susie McCullough, Director of Marketing for BVCB says the QE2 is a coup for Belfast.

"The QE2 is such a well-known and well-loved ship and to have her come to Belfast on one of her final journeys before beginning her new role as a floating hotel in Dubai is a real coup for the city. Twenty thousand people turned up to the launch of the QE2 in Southampton in 1969 and we would hope that the people of Belfast will enjoy seeing her sail into port here," says Susie.

"We are riding high on the success of this year's cruise season, having welcomed 31 liners and to have secured such a high profile visit for 2008 is very exciting."