We have boarded QM2 several times at Southampton. Each time as grills cabin guests—usually a Q5. We arrive about 12:30. Several lanes provided for vehicles to unload pax and luggage and normally a porter quickly arrives to take the luggage. Have your boarding pass readily available as we get ask for it several times. Normally, I would say it appears to be chaotic with lots of people trying to check in. Since there are different terminals the sequence of the process may vary somewhat but I will describe the Ocean Terminal which we “used” a couple of weeks ago. After dropping luggage you head into terminal, expect to show boarding pass and passport and go up escalator, and you are greeted by a mass of people including terminal (not Cunard) staff. There is a separate check in line for grills and “diamond” level pax but not all of the staff seem to know that. There is signage indicating the appropriate line but sometimes it is at the opposite end of the terminal (through the crowd) but not always. The signage not always easily spotted because of the throng of people so keep asking staff if you don’t see it quickly. After the checkin formalities (boarding pass-again, passport, credit card, etc) you are directed to security for screening you and luggage and then you are allowed to board ship. Someone mentioned the escort for Q1-Q4 which occurs after you check in. I put quotes around “used” above because we boarded the QM2 on the cruise that was canceled that morning so on that day we found a very empty terminal but was asked to show boarding pass about 5 times. I’m sure there is an arrival time when you might have to wait due to their cleaning the staterooms but if you are in a Q1 or 2, once you get to the check in desk, the few Cunard staff in the terminal will begin to assist you. Some suggest you arrive early and some say arrive late to avoid the crowd. Both probably work. Despite what I think is chaos, in the grills it does seem to move fairly quickly if they have enough staff at the checkin section for grills. Your butler will come to the cabin shortly after you arrive—maybe even be waiting for you. In the Q1-2 the butler may even be the escort.