QE2 Northern Wonders Cruise - 6 Jul'05

[rjms74]

I am going to post a short review of my recent cruise on QE2 from 6 July - 18 July.

 

I took the coach transfer from Bristol, UK to Southampton and arrived at the port at about 2 pm. This was a very good service and only took 2 hours and the luggage is taken directly to your cabin. I made my way to the check in Hall and there was only 1 person in front of me at the Grill / Platinum check-in. I was given a boarding card and after going through Security I was told that I could board the ship straight away. By the time I reached my cabin, no. 1086 it was only about 2.15 pm so this was a very prompt check in!

 

My cabin compared to other QG cabins I've had was very spacious with 2 walk in closets and a dressing table and chest of drawers in front of the porthole. The marble bathroom was quite a good size too. Most importantly was the great location of this cabin which was very close to the outdoor pool and also the Lido / Pursers office.

 

Food in the Queens Grill was as ever excellent and I did order off menu some nights such as Cherries Jubilee, Crepes Suzettes & Escargots - all cooked to perfection I hasten to add. Service too was flawless and my only initial 'complaint' on the first evening was that my steak was not how I would describe as 'well done'! Thereafter it was cooked exactly as I like it! The Chateaubriand one evening was a particularly memorable meal as was the Australian Rack of Lamb. I had some very good tablemates who I spent quite a bit of time with during the day on deck and in the evenings, where we used to swim daily and make use of the Jaccuzzis & enjoy the sunshine. The service was also the best I've experienced in the QG Lounge Bar where I'd meet friends before and after meals. Unfortunately I never made it for Afternoon Tea there during this cruise but had A. Tea on the day of disembarkation in the Queens Room and this was v. good & not over crowded - this was at about 4 pm so I was quite surprised. On my last evening onboard our Maitre D' arranged for me & 2 friends to dine in the Princess Grill. We were given a very nice window table and whilst the service was not quite as attentive as the QG Rest. the food was comparable and very good and I personally preferred the layout of the Restaurant & decor to the QG Restaurant - it was more intimate and not quite so 'formal / stuffy' as the QG Restaurant.

 

The St Lucian group Opus were on board again and were very good although they did not appear to play much or indeed on most nights in the Yacht Club as they have on previous cruises. The Mike Ellis Jazz & Swing Band who played on the Sun deck and in the Golden Lion Pub were also v. good.

 

When I book a cruise on QE2 it is mainly to 'get back on board the ship' but I must admit that I found the ports of call in the main (I did not rate Amsterdam esp. as we were 45 mins away at a Freight port) to be very interesting and I found particularly the Norwegian & Swedish people to be extremely friendly and welcoming people. One of the highlights of the trip was when we reached Hellesylt and then cruised at about 3 knots through the Fjords with a running commentary from the Bridge - the scenery was stunning and it was a lot cooler weather at this point! The weather was very good and in most ports of call in Norway, Sweden, Germany & Amsterdam we had daily tempereratures from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to the high 80's! I think the hottest day was when we were in Oslo and it was just as humid as when I've been to the West Indies! Bergen was a bit overcast though and it rained a bit there too.

 

Another highlight was leaving Hamburg at midnight as we cruised slowly to the open Seas with crowds gathering along the quayside to see us leave the port & waving to us & then the QE2 giving it's usual 'salute' of three blasts on the horn! Lots of passengers were on deck too even though it was raining lightly. We also had a very good send off in Gothenburg, Sweden with a band & majorettes who played for nearly an hour before we left and again many people seeing us off. We also had, as it was QE2's maiden call here, a flotilla of nearly 100 small ships following us for nearly 45 mins after we left port waving and taking pictures of the QE2. It seems no matter where the ship goes she causes quite an interest / stir! The same was true as we were in a 'lock' waiting to leave Amsterdam with hundreds waving us off!

 

I think the most interesting thing about a trip on QE2 is the very interesting people you meet on board from all over the world. I think this helps to create such a nice ambience and atmosphere that you do not necessarily find on other floating 'resorts' / 'hotels' - having chatted to many people on board and those in my Rest. everyone agreed the QE2 is far superior in terms of cuisine & service to it's bigger sister ship the QM2 - they do thought admit that the cabins are better on QM2 & some of the amenities like the Canyon Ranch Spa but that was about it! I even heard of food not being served hot enough in the Princess & Queens Grill! and not enough bar tenders in most of the bars including the QG Lounge Bar!

 

There were many different nationalities on board for this cruise including 99 Japanese, many of whom were in the QG Rest. and they had their own tour guides and also hostess at the CW Club party who spoke in their native tongue and also for the announcements that were also in German & English. I spoke to the Hostess and apparently for this particular trip esp. the Fjords, there are many Japanese guests who return each year.

 

QE2 might be 'old' and 'tired' in places but I still think she is a hard act to follow - it was a shame to hear that our Captain Nick Bates was leaving after our cruise as was the Staff Captain and also one of the Sales Specialists Roma Geisler. The new Captain who I think on previous posts has been referred to as Captain Rynd - I thought I heard him called Ryan on board - was dining in the QG Rest on one evening along with a Senior Executive from Princess Cruises or the Carnival Corporation who had spent several days on board! As on previous posts the new carpets were continuing to be laid and basically the same carpet & patterns were being relaid once again. It will be very interesting to see what sort of refit is done after the W. Cruise next April'06 / May.

 

Disembarkation was quite quick too, and I was on my return coach transfer to Bristol at about 9.30 am - just had to wait for 2 other passengers who had missed their call to disembark!

 

To conclude I very much enjoyed another memorable cruise aboard QE2 which was excellent in every respect.

 

I am now really looking forward to my Transatlantic Crossing / Canadian cruise onboard next September, although I have a feeling that I shall not be able to wait until then and shall probably go on a short 2 or 3 night mini cruise before then!

 

I would be more than happy to answer queries or questions that anyone might have.

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

[carlmm]

Thank you very much for this positive review. Now I am looking even more forward to boarding the QE2 on Saturday.

Just one question regarding the winelist, again: Was the one you had and made available before the cruise accurate? I enjoyed to read it and to consider some choices. Do you have any recommendations which wines to try (or better not)?

[cunardqueen]

rjms74,

As always an excellent review and glad to hear you enjoyed your cruise, she is pretty addictive as youve noticed!! glad to hear your booked up for next year, lm booked up for 2 mini cruises and a 18 night med cruise, each cruise gets harder to beat l find!!

Best Wishes,

Myles

[seabourndt]

just saw your post on this review, what a great review very interesting to read. iam of course on the qe2 saturday to iceland/norway as my 1st cruise on qe2 iam very much looking forwa=rd to it. pleasde reply carlmm if you have a cabin number yet if not call my cabin 3006 when you get onboard. i guess you will be onboard before me as yopu are in princess grill is it? hope we get to meet up and i get the chance to look at your cabin. i expect to be at the statuion at 1.30pm hope there is a shuttle bus to the qe2 berth. my last embarkations at this berth were very slow indeed, so will be interesting to see how it goes.there was don going on this cruise but i think he cancelled.

see you saturday

dave

[seabourndt]

after finding ytour post here i qwaa hoping to hear fro you before you leave

dave