Cunard’s flagship, The Queen Mary 2, continues to set new standards in luxury across the Atlantic. Sheila Fisher was invited to experience a 6 night transatlantic crossing onboard the QM2 in October 2006. Read her report to find out more or call 0121 250 2200 or 01543 412768 to book your cruise on the QM2.
Flight My flight from Manchester to New York with British Airways was comfortable, however, I would not suggest flying out on the same day as the ship sails as the margin for delays is very tight. My transfer bus from the airport encountered a burst tyre and when I finally arrived at the cruise terminal I only had an hour to spare before sailing. It is unfortunate that Cunard ships no longer dock in Manhattan as this means that the drive from the airport to Brooklyn goes through some very seedy and rundown suburbs – there is a distinct lack of sights to be seen en route to the ship. However, the QM2 did not disappoint in any respect – she is, as expected, a beautiful ship.
Cabins The internal décor exudes style and luxury but is, in no way austere or over bearing. My cabin was an A1 deluxe balcony cabin, and was well appointed with excellent wardrobe space and a bathroom with a good sized shower. The balcony was quite spacious with two deck chairs and a small table.
Whilst on board I had the opportunity to see some other grades of cabin, including two of the suites. Unfortunately the Duplex and Penthouse apartments were occupied but if the suites were anything to go by, I am sure they are stunning.
Dining There are plenty of dining options onboard. The main restaurant is the Britannia, which serves breakfast and lunch as open sittings and dinner as early and late sittings. It is a very elegant restaurant and in the evening a small band played classical music during dinner. I opted to dine here on most evenings as I loved the setting and atmosphere, particularly on formal evenings.
Other options included Kings Court, which is a self-service restaurant during the day and in the evening four separate restaurants with waiter service – The Carvery, La Piazza (Italian), The Lotus (Asian cuisine) and The Chef’s Galley.
There is also the Todd English Restaurant where I ate one evening. This restaurant features Mediterranean cuisine from the world-famous chef, Todd English. The food here is excellent although quite rich, and portions are very generous so you need a good appetite. There is a cover charge of $20 per person and reservations are necessary.
Other than this, the Golden Lion Pub serves pub lunches such as fish & chips and ploughman’s and is a very popular venue at midday. Finally there is the Princess and the Queens Grill restaurants for passengers in the junior suites, suites and duplex accommodation. I was invited to take lunch one day in the Queen’s Grill which was very nice, although the layout and décor did not seem to be as impressive as the Britannia Restaurant.
Entertainment As you would expect, the entertainment venues on the ship were excellent. There is a full size cinema which doubles as a Planetarium (the only one at sea). I had a special showing at the Planetarium which was very good indeed. There is also a full size theatre which stages shows and plays and the Queens Room for Royal Nights and Gala Balls. G32 Nightclub offers disco and live music. There is also the Casino, and Karaoke nights are held in the Golden Lion Pub.
Other Bars and Lounges include the Commodore Club, Pavilion Bar, Sir Samuel’s Wine Bar, the Winter Garden and Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and even though the ship was almost full, with approximately 2,600 passengers on board, there was never a feeling of being over-crowded in any venue.
Facilities The outside deck areas are immaculate with plenty of space for loungers, and although no one braved the outdoor pools, these were filled and available for use. The Canyon Spa offered a full selection of treatments and there was a fully equipped gym for those wanting to work off some of the excesses! QM2 also boasts the largest library at sea and it was very impressive although I only managed about one third of the book I borrowed, as there was always so much else to do during the day.
Summary By the end of the crossing I felt that I could dispel any myths regarding possible boredom or feeling trapped that some potential clients voice when thinking of a transatlantic crossing. I still think of it as one of the ‘must do’ experiences and I also think that it’s the Cunard Liners that make it so special.
