Cruising QE2 to the Orient

Cruising QE2 to the Orient takes the viewer on one leg of the Queen Elizabeth 2's (billed as the Grande Dame of cruise ships and "the last true ocean liner") grand tour, lasting 47 days and visiting over a dozen cities in and around the Orient, ranging from Sydney, Australia to Bangkok, Thailand. Attractions include Australia's unusual wildlife, teeming Indonesian markets, exotic Bali dancers, and the fantastic neon-lit nightlife of Tokyo and Hong Kong. Viewers are told that travelers must be prepared to deal with the paradox of enormous wealth existing side by side with extreme poverty, and the fact that some countries, such as Singapore, while clean and safe, aren't known for their deep respect for human rights. While the focus is firmly on the travel destinations, the documentary also looks at a few of the floating luxury hotel's onboard attractions, including casino gambling, entertainment, swimming pools, and special events (all of which is near moot at this point since the QE2 is scheduled to be retired in 2008). Unfortunately, while the program is visually outstanding, it still features only a superficial level of information on each country. DVD extras include brief behind-the-scenes featurettes on the ship's operation. The companion volume Cruising Queen Mary 2 to Rio is also newly available. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Rees)