Back to back crossing on QM2

[mufi]

These are some random thoughts after a double crossing on QM2 from Southampton to New York and back again to Southampton.

 

Nice and easy.

We travelled to Southampton Hilton the day before sailing, and can recommend this if the time is available. We were on the bus from the hotel at 12 noon and on the ship in time for a bit of exploration, unpacking, lunch and half an hour in a deck chair all before lifeboat drill. The only small surprise was to be directed to the lift on boarding, rather than the customary escort to the cabin.

 

Big, very big.

You only realise how big this ship is when you look down the length of the corridors. This ship is something else.

 

The cabin was all we would have wanted (5020) and just a square window (porthole?) suited us fine. Had a chance to look in one of the hull balcony cabins and really could not see the point of them at all. The cabin size is reduced to accommodate the balcony, which seems pretty useless anyway. Suffice to say we were very comfortable in a clean modern space with a small but well fitted bathroom where the hot water was always hot and the cold cold and not warm as well as on some other ships I could mention.

 

Food and stuff.

We had dinner only in the Britannia restaurant. The food and service was the best we ever had on any ship. If there have been problems here in the past they have sure sorted them out now. The rest of our meals were in the Kings Court, again for a self service we found this excellent, though we do not have any problem with self service – we like the speed and the informality. The fruit at breakfast was super fresh, and must show how things have advanced in food storage on modern ships. Strawberries every day!! The practice of wrapping the cutlery in a napkin so tightly was a bit strange. And who thought that the weird universal spoons were shaped for human mouths was a mystery. But it was all good for a laugh. In the Britannia we were at a table for six (119) on the lower level and had the company of charming American passengers on both the Western and return crossing.

 

Elegant it aint.

If anyone goes on this ship expecting the evenings enjoyed on the QE2, Caronia and many other ships with all the passengers in elegant evening attire, they are in for a disappointment. As the daily programme states, “The dress for tonight is formal, the dress code will be enforced in the Britannia and Grill restaurants” So in the rest of the public areas anything goes. And anything ranges from an immaculately dressed couple with the lady in a beautiful and probably very expensive gown, seated in the theatre next to a guy in a Hawaiian shirt, well used jeans and bare feet in open toe sandals. Cruise Liner travel has changed and I fear we will have to accept this.

 

Bow Wow.

We were pleased to find the kennels on the top deck. Anyone thinking of bringing the pooch should be reassured that they all seemed to be happy and enjoying the trip. I think there were four dogs and a cat sailing westward, and a similar number coming back.

 

Kids stuff

It was good to see a fair number of children aboard, ranging from babies to teens. They seemed to be having a good time with a minnows pool and play area and activities arranged during the day.

 

Curl up.

Find a quiet spot to curl up with a book as the Cunard blurb puts it. The problem is finding one – the quiet spot not the book. Every lounge seemed to have music or musak leaving only the limited seating in the library and some along the corridors on the public decks. There are some swivel chairs alongside Illuminations (Planetarium) where you can sit to read or just look out at the ocean. Then a film or Planetarium show will start up and you are off looking for peace again. Cunard need to allocate a 100% quiet lounge somewhere, The Commodore Club perhaps.

 

Big spaces.

The large public areas on the big ship are most impressive. The Britannia restaurant, big and quite grand, though we were thankful that we were seated in the lower area as the upper area did seem to be a bit remote from the rest. The Royal Court Theatre we thought to be less successful a space. It had obviously been designed to use the full width of the ship resulting in pillars along two sides of the seating. It was a regular ritual for folk to arrive, sit down, realise that they had a pillar between them and the stage and wander off to look for a better view. And those choosing to sit on the front rows on the balcony had to view through a glass screen. Still, it does hold a lot of people. Illuminations (Planetarium) seems to be a much better lay out, with better view lines than in the theatre. The seating used for the Planetarium shows was suffering some damage with a number having broken reclining backs. Presumably this will be sorted out in the refit. As a lecture theatre this worked well and looked better also. The Queens room, which always seemed to be the most difficult room to find is bound to be compared with it’s predecessor on QE2. Well it is bigger and more flashy. For me it does not have the class of the QE2 but each tea time it was packed to capacity.

 

10 out of 10?

We had a nice talk on the tv by Cruise Director, Ray “we have ways of making you mark 10 on your customer survey form” Rouse. Yes we know that you all strive to exceed our expectations, but we really would like to complete the form in our own way thank you. Someone from above should have a word.

 

Formalities

We had three formal evenings, two casual (first and last) and one informal. There was a Captain's reception for all passengers and an additional one for World Club members.

 

Comparisons.

How does it compare with QE2? That was one question we hoped to answer on these two crossings. From an engineering point of view there is no comparison. QE2 was a wonder of it’s time but it is like comparing a stage coach with a Rolls. When you can lie in bed in perfect silence on deck five and hear only the sound of the water rustling along the hull, you realise that you are aboard a modern wonder. No engine noise, no creaks and no vibrations, and in near millpond sea conditions both ways on this trip no pitching or rolling. No funny smells in the corridors, air conditioning that works and even the cheapest cabins clean modern and more than adequate. What it does not have is that buzz I get on QE2, something like you get in an old house that is not there in a new one. I know many people think that QE2 is scruffy old and well past it’s sell by date. They may well be correct, but I am sure I am not the only one who will wish her retirement will be later rather than sooner. QM2 does not seem to be particularly British in the way that QE2 is, and ship’s officers are hardly ever seen around the public areas. But things move on and tastes and passengers change. QM2 is not a larger clone of QE2, she is a ship of her time. These two crossings will not be the last for us.

 

Images here - http://www.imageevent.com/mufi

 

David.

[elaine61]

Elegant it aint.

If anyone goes on this ship expecting the evenings enjoyed on the QE2, Caronia and many other ships with all the passengers in elegant evening attire, they are in for a disappointment. As the daily programme states, “The dress for tonight is formal, the dress code will be enforced in the Britannia and Grill restaurants” So in the rest of the public areas anything goes. And anything ranges from an immaculately dressed couple with the lady in a beautiful and probably very expensive gown, seated in the theatre next to a guy in a Hawaiian shirt, well used jeans and bare feet in open toe sandals. Cruise Liner travel has changed and I fear we will have to accept this.David.

 

David

 

Thanks for the review. Going through the photos now!! Will probably have some questions when I've gone through them all!! If you don't mind that is.

 

As for the dress code. I know I keep banging on about P & O but as this is the cruise line I have done most of my cruising on I can only comment on them. But on formal/informal nights dress code is adhered to in the bars also. Hubby got told off one evening for taking his tie off on a particulary warm night and was asked politely to put it back on. And that's how it should be. As a family we shall be there for the entire evening in all our refinery. To hell with the rest of them!! It's the only time I get chance to get all dressed up and boy am I going to make the most of it. I can slum around in jeans and casual tops any day of the week. I don't think the duration of my holiday is too much of an imposition!!!!! What a shame and no doubt I shall see this for myself in September. BTW we are in one of the hull balcony cabins on deck 5. One of the photos shown is of one of these cabins. Was this on deck 5??

 

Elaine

[elaine61]

Hi David

 

Looking through your pictures. There are some great pictures there. I notice you have been on Oriana. That was one of our choices to do the US trip this year. Going on Oriana for Xmas instead. In your opinion is QM2 a lot better than Oriana (I know that it is double it's size and I would say QM2 is 5* but Oriana 4*)??

 

Elaine

[Paul NH]

Curl up.

Find a quiet spot to curl up with a book as the Cunard blurb puts it. The problem is finding one – the quiet spot not the book. Every lounge seemed to have music or musak leaving only the limited seating in the library and some along the corridors on the public decks. There are some swivel chairs alongside Illuminations (Planetarium) where you can sit to read or just look out at the ocean. Then a film or Planetarium show will start up and you are off looking for peace again. Cunard need to allocate a 100% quiet lounge somewhere, The Commodore Club perhaps.

I noticed the same thing on the June 9 Transatlantic. A couple of times I went to the Commodore Club early in the morning, before 8 a.m. and program music was on the speakers. The lounge was deserted and instead of being left to my thoughts and the view of the bow in quiet, there was this awful music playing to me and an otherwise empty room. I also noticed it in the Lion's Pub early Sunday morning and also blaring around the jacuzzi on the aft deck early in the morning while no one was around. It is as if some marketing research revealed that people like to listen to music in public, and therefore we must now always have music in public - at all times and all places. It seems like some mindless management and I hope Cunard reassess this attribute. Ugh.

[mufi]

Elaine - Yes the hull balcony was on deck 5. We liked Oriana, and the way Captain Hamish Reid?? did a ship walk around every morning. And the laser trap shooting (well I did anyway) It is difficult to compare them. QM2 is so much bigger and far less British, but the food is perfect. Really we would be equally happy to be boarding either tomorrow. QM2 is like no other ship afloat. I am sure you will enjoy your voyage.

 

David.

[CGT]

You're a very good photographer.

[lannp]

Thanks for the review and your pictures were wonderful. What memories they brought back. I crossed in May and found the best time to see the ship and marvel over pictures, statues, etc was early in the morning although with her size you rarely saw large groups of people. And yes, she is BIG.

[Rotterdam]

Just a note in reference to not seeing the officers out & about.... I sailed on the Prinsendam in May - Transatlantic, NYC - Barcelona. Very rarely did I see an officer(other than the Black & White Ball etc). When I mentioned this to a bartender in the Ocean Bar(he's been with HAL over 20 years) he said since Carnival took over, the officers were not permitted to socialize freely as they had in the past.

 

Its probably the same on all Carnivore brands - too bad - another long sea going tradition sent overboard.

[dan-c-man]

David, thanks for the nice report and pictures. Regarding formal nights in the dining room, do you recall what percentage of the men were in tuxedos, and in suits?

 

Dan

[mufi]

Dan - I did notice that there were a far higher pecentage in lounge suit and normal tie than on QE2, Caronia and other ships we have sailed. An interesting fact is that on Saga Rose (British cruise line for the older generation) everyone without exception was in full tux. So this could be an age thing, most of the grunge on QM2 seemed to be among the younger pax.

 

David.

[elaine61]

Elaine - Yes the hull balcony was on deck 5. We liked Oriana, and the way Captain Hamish Reid?? did a ship walk around every morning. And the laser trap shooting (well I did anyway) It is difficult to compare them. QM2 is so much bigger and far less British, but the food is perfect. Really we would be equally happy to be boarding either tomorrow. QM2 is like no other ship afloat. I am sure you will enjoy your voyage.

 

David.

 

I guessed it would be difficult to compare. One of the things that went against the Oriana for the US trip was the fact that it does not have the covered pool area for inclement days. Now if it had been Aurora, then I think that there would be some debate about which ship we would have gone on. I'm happy that I have booked QM2 though despite some problems. It is to celebrate our 25th Wedding anniversary which was back in Feb (wanted to do US and Canada and don't fly so had to wait for splendours of the fall trip in Sept) and I am hoping that QM2 is something a little more special than Oriana. It is nice to see the Captain's on P & O doing their morning rounds. Most of the captains seem to do it. Went to a private party last summer and met Cpt Alistair Clark. Very nice man with a great sense of humour. It's nice when they actually take the time out to chat to you. Also come to think of it I did notice that the nightclub was a lot quieter and that no officers were in there at Christmas. Shame as it's normally the officers that make it look full. Without them it has no atmosphere whatsoever!!

 

Elaine

[elaine61]

Dan - I did notice that there were a far higher pecentage in lounge suit and normal tie than on QE2, Caronia and other ships we have sailed. An interesting fact is that on Saga Rose (British cruise line for the older generation) everyone without exception was in full tux. So this could be an age thing, most of the grunge on QM2 seemed to be among the younger pax.

 

David.

 

Even my 19 year old has to wear a dinner suit on formal nights!! And god help him if he goes and changes into jeans because everyone else does!!

 

Elaine

[dan-c-man]

David, thank you for your reply. Sounds like there are at least some in tuxedos. Increasingly, fewer and fewer men are wearing tuxedos on formal nights, at least on other cruise lines. This will be my first Cunard cruise, and from what you say, I will bring my tuxedo. My original query to you was prompted by my experience on another cruise line where I was the only person in tuxedo on formal night, at least within my range of sight. I hope this will not be the case on the QM2. Again, thank you for your reply.

 

Dan

[Jane Pond]

>"Increasingly, fewer and fewer men are wearing tuxedos on formal nights, at least on other cruise lines."

 

This is not true on the Seabourn ships.

 

Jane in PHL

[elaine61]

David, thank you for your reply. Sounds like there are at least some in tuxedos. Increasingly, fewer and fewer men are wearing tuxedos on formal nights, at least on other cruise lines. This will be my first Cunard cruise, and from what you say, I will bring my tuxedo. My original query to you was prompted by my experience on another cruise line where I was the only person in tuxedo on formal night, at least within my range of sight. I hope this will not be the case on the QM2. Again, thank you for your reply.

 

Dan

 

Dan

 

On my regular cruise line, the gents tend to stick to the dress code and they mainly wear dinner suits (tuxedo's)!! They don't tend to change after dinner either as they will not get served in the bars. It is such a shame that some passengers feel that they don't have to stick to the dress code. It is only for the holiday period and like I have said before I can dress down 340 days of the year!!! It's nice to get all dolled up!!!!

 

Elaine