QM2 TA: Daily Programmes, Internet Guide, Menus & More

[Artemis]

We thoroughly enjoyed our second crossing on Queen Mary 2 July 28-August 9, 2014, embarking in New York, transiting through Southampton and disembarking in Hamburg. Rather than add to the body of excellent reviews already contributed here, I thought I’d furnish a few information items and tips for future voyagers (with a few subjective observations, of course!).

 

Downloadables: Daily Programmes, Internet Guide, Menus and Sheltered Balcony Pix

I published a few downloadables here: https://sites.google.com/site/qm2transatlantic28july2014/

 

• Daily Programmes for embarkation in NYC; an exemplar day at sea during a crossing; embarkation/debarkation/”in transit” day in Southampton; and disembarkation in Hamburg (if anyone wants more Daily Programmes from this voyage, I’m happy to supply them—simply email me using the link provided on the website Daily Programme page);

• The current Internet Guide with pricing and instructions;

• Menus from two formal nights in Britannia as well as lunch and dinner in Todd English; and

• A couple of photos of a sheltered balcony.

 

BOOKING TIP: “Flash Sale” Two Weeks Before Sail Date

Earlier in the summer, this crossing was the subject of 2-for-1 and other discounted voyage emails Cunard regularly sends to past passengers. When our window of time to squeeze in a trip finally gelled, the time to book the last email offer had expired, and it was two weeks out—we assumed they had probably well-filled the ship and any leftovers would be undesirable cabins at rack rates. What we discovered, however, was ample, well-located Britannia capacity on offer at “flash sale” prices better than the last email offer and not reflected on Cunard’s or any other cruise travel website (the Grills and Britannia Club were reportedly fully booked, and I’d guess some early-booking Britannia pax were upgraded all around the ship to yield the capacity still remaining for flash sale). We were able to get a sheltered balcony amidships on deck 5, which I think is the most desirable location for that category, as it’s sandwiched between passenger decks above and below. (See pictures on my website)

 

Shareholder benefit: Ask and you shall receive!

Contrary to the Cunard website advice to email your shareholder benefit claim, no email is accepted, you must find a fax machine to send it in! We never received notice our request had been granted, so I brought copies of the paperwork and asked Guest Relations—they can advise you on Day 2 whether the on board credit was processed. If it was not, but you have your paperwork with you, they will assist in securing the OBC during your voyage.

 

Embarkation: New York/Brooklyn Red Hook Cruise Terminal

We walked into the terminal at 11:56 AM and boarded the ship at 12:06 PM. Wow! Even better, our stateroom was ready, so we dropped our bags (we self-carry) and headed straight to the Golden Lion for a pub lunch. We had the place to ourselves! We made fast acquaintance with waiter James, who took great care of us in the pub the rest of the voyage.

 

We disembarked to pick up a few things at the Fairway Market a short walk from the terminal: http://www.fairwaymarket.com/store/red-hook-brooklyn-ny/ I kicked myself later—forgot the fresh flowers, which always make the cabin so lovely! On the walk back, we passed two wine shops: Dry Dock http://www.drydockny.com/ and Botta di Vino http://www.bottadivino.net/ We don’t usually bring spirits aboard, but Dry Dock had a bottle I couldn’t resist, and they even put it in the instant wine chiller…beats the dreaded Pol Acker any day! (We did buy OJ at the market to make mimosas with the ol’ Pol. FYI for newbies to Cunard, they have a liberal “bring on board” policy—you simply pay a corkage fee if you consume in public places, but don’t care about what you bring to drink in your room.)

 

New York sailaway tip:

When departing New York, you get to see the Statue of Liberty without having to wake up at 4 AM like you do when arriving from Southampton! The festive sailaway party is on the ship’s multi-tiered aft, and US flags are passed out for waving. We skipped that scene to claim top deck 13 views of the thrilling passage under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

 

 

Cabin notes:

Our steward service was terrific this voyage! There is no more CNN—BBC, Sky, Fox and CNBC . But you will receive a printed daily news digest (based on your nationality), which is a nice touch most lines have abandoned. I forgot to bring home a copy of the movie list for the week—it was fair. Still an oddity that Cunard won’t employ interactive TV for account review, specialty dining and shorex bookings, daily menus, etc. The bathroom is stocked with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and our steward replaced supplies consistent with our consumption. The closet remains curiously “too short” for ladies’ gowns—on a line that demands formal wear! And for ladies with long hair, consider schlepping your hair dryer, as I had to let this one stop and rest a few times before I could get the job done.

 

Days & nights at sea:

• Cruise Critic meet-up—The Roll Call for this voyage/combination of voyages was fairly inactive. I went to the Commodore Club, port side, at 11 AM on Day 2, which is “the usual place” for a CC gathering, and found no one. I didn’t try the possible alternate 2 PM time, as a highlight violinist was playing, so perhaps it happened then! In any event, I was disappointed not to meet any CCers, including Capnpugwash, although I think I did spot him across the room one night surrounded by a bevy of gorgeous women!

• The lectures—Even if the write-up sounds tepid, go, you will probably be pleasantly surprised! One thing Cunard could improve on here—and it’s a big one in my book—is requiring all presenters to have high quality digital imaging and video in their PowerPoints. It was painful to watch the surprisingly vast quantity (in this day and age of technology) of grainy, pixelated stuff on the big screen.

• Planetarium—If you don’t get tickets for the afternoon show of your choice (free, but you must collect them in the AM), turn up a little early and let the Entertainment Director’s staffer know you want to be in the “standby line.”

• Music—We think the onboard musicians are fabulous! They range from pianists and jazz combos to harpists and string quartets, and Cunard arranges for them to play frequently throughout the day and night in venues all over the ship. We always try them all and then follow our favorites.

• Movies on the big screen—Each day, there is a featured “recent release” movie on the big screen in Illuminations. The movies this cruise were: Philomena, Noah, Saving Mr. Banks, Draft Day, Captain America in 3D, About Time, Pompeii, To Be Takei (a featured speaker was George Takei a/k/a Sulu), Tim’s Vermeer and Robocop.

• Evening entertainment—The Cunard singers and dancers and two onboard bands are so talented! We went to all the shows except Apassionata, which we saw in 2011, and it was tired then. All in all, the show selections are dated (at least they have moved past the 40’s and 50’s, but the current 60’s- and 70’s-centric lineup is too old, too). The highlight musicians were good; the comedians were a weak link, in our opinion. I keep trying to like RADA’s performances (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art troupe presents bedtime stories, abbreviated Shakespeare and the like), but …. The Julliard jazz musicians are enthusiastic, and it’s fun to see them jam with the capable onboard Mark Hodgson trio. We didn’t do many of the formal dances, but the Big Band night was brilliant. We are G32 weenies because of the smoke (but the party band Xtasea played in the Queens Room once or twice and was a lot of fun around the pool).

• Casino—We played a lot of blackjack and left ahead! The minimum table stakes are $5. The dealers were friendly and professional. This is a small and relatively sedate casino—in addition to slots, maybe six blackjack tables, a Caribbean stud poker, a couple of roulette games and one craps? Texas Hold ‘Em and other popular games are electronic.

• Bridge, as in the card game—I finally took advantage of the opportunity to learn how to play bridge and loved having a standing 9:30 AM date with my new best friends = bridge players. Instructor Jim was terrific. There was also an advanced class and competitive afternoon play. All sessions were well-attended. (This is a great activity for solo travelers to meet other pax, although the solo traveler at my table reported the organized solo traveler meet-ups were worthwhile, too, and led by the Social Hostess, who placed several of them at officer tables for dinner—a nice perk!)

• Bridge, as in the place where the captain and his staff “drive the boat”—There is a bridge observation room (capacity approx. 8 persons) on deck 12. Always fun for a look!

• Gym—The gym is rather small and dark compared to other ships of comparable size, but there are plenty of machines, weights, mats and other equipment to satisfy most workout regimens. It is crowded in the AM, less so in the PM; my favorite time to go was at 6 PM when the early dinner crowd had cleared out. That is definitely the best time if you want to jog or walk the promenade deck without running into too many strollers—3 laps = 1.1 mile, 1.9 laps = 1 km. Note, you have to run through the outdoor smoking area on the aft deck—kind of a yuck! Cunard doesn’t offer gym rats any changing room, lockers or showers, much less steam or sauna—you have to pay for spa access to use the facilities.

• Library and bookstore—A must see. Speaking of books, I always think I will read a lot on crossings, but I never make it through more than one or two…too much to do, too little time! There is always a “book club” discussion later in the voyage—the selection this voyage, announced Day 2 so you could buy a copy, was Mitch Albom’s “The Time Keeper.”

• Trivia—We made most contests held just before and after late seating. To optimize your chances, be sure your team includes some US and UK pax!

• Swimming pools—The temperatures were mostly moderate this crossing, but we had a number of gray and foggy days. We didn’t spend much time poolside or in the hot tubs.

• Art auctions, bingo, wine tastings, trinket sales, etc.—Didn’t do any of it, but just check out the Daily Programmes on my website, including the Day 2 sales flyer…there is something for everyone, at all times of the day and night!

• Whether you’re new to Queen Mary 2 or a regular, I think it’s always a good idea to check out Cunard’s list of 101 things to do on a TA and cross off a few—I did the audio tour this time: http://www.cunard.com/documents/transatlantic/101thingstodo.pdf

 

Food, glorious food:

(See my website for two Britannia formal night menus and the current Todd English menus.)

 

• Britannia—Compared to our first crossing in 2011, we thought the Britannia food was the same: competent, but nothing special; however, in our opinion, the service had noticeably declined. (And because of onboard connections made with fellow pax, we dined at a few different tables, so were exposed to several service staffs, none of which impressed. I didn’t see the problem as too few servers; instead, it appeared to be lack of training and supervision, capped by a resistance to be “nimble,” i.e., think on one’s feet about how to make the customer happy. )

• We lunched at Todd English—it was empty! Reportedly, nights are a different story, so book ahead.

• Specialty dining options in Kings Court—Most nights, for $10 per person, a featured cuisine is offered: Italian, Indian or Asian Fusion. We tried the Italian and were underwhelmed by the menu and food, but the service was great. As offered back in 2011, this option was a food demonstration + meals cooked to order for the small group that booked. Now, there is a prix fixe menu, no demo, restaurant style service, all in an uninspired space carved out of the buffet area. I expect (hope) Cunard will revamp this offering (and charge more for the opportunity) when they renovate Kings Court.

• Kings Court buffet is slated to get a much-needed renovation in 2015; until then, be sure to explore the rabbit’s warren of stations, as there are interesting options tucked away here and there at all meals (and a full afternoon tea service in case you don’t make it to the Queens Room). At breakfast, there are more options than are offered in the dining room (but the dining room is less chaotic, to be sure). Now home, I am sad to realize I failed to give the additional gratuity I intended for the young man who prepared my eggs to order most mornings—he was a delightful fellow!

 

Disembarkation/”In Transit” Day: Southampton

(See Daily Programme published on my website) Disembarkation began at 7:16 AM. All newly embarking and in transit pax were due on board by 4 PM.

 

As we were “in transit” (continuing the voyage, but permitted to disembark for the day in port), we took advantage of the early off and exited with no lines, no fuss, at around 7:30 AM to pick up a rental car to drive to Oxford for lunch with friends. The local Enterprise has cars waiting at the cruise terminal (and their office is nearby if more support is needed). Cunard-sponsored excursions to Stonehenge, Windsor and other nearby destinations started gathering at 7:15 AM.

 

We returned at 3:45 PM and were the only souls in the cruise terminal. (Thanks to Capnpugwash for all the help on logistics for our independent day in port.)

 

Disembarkation: Hamburg

(See disembarkation guide published on my website) I didn’t record the time disembarkation began, but it was early, as QM2 arrived around 4 AM. (Captain Christopher Wells explained there is a car tunnel on the floor of the Elbe River that QM2 can clear only during high tide. This makes the times in/out of Hamburg fairly reliable, e.g., that night’s departure from Hamburg had to occur around midnight in order for the ship to clear the tunnel during the next high tide.) We left about 9:30 AM amidst a steady stream of departing passengers. It was raining, and there was no covered walkway once we exited the gangway for a walk of about 2-3 city blocks to the taxi stand—bring an umbrella or be prepared, as Hamburg gets a lot of rain!

[capnpugwash]

We thoroughly enjoyed our second crossing on Queen Mary 2 July 28-August 9, 2014, embarking in New York, transiting through Southampton and disembarking in Hamburg. Rather than add to the body of excellent reviews already contributed here, I thought I’d furnish a few information items and tips for future voyagers (with a few subjective observations, of course!).

 

Downloadables: Daily Programmes, Internet Guide, Menus and Sheltered Balcony Pix

I published a few downloadables here: https://sites.google.com/site/qm2transatlantic28july2014/

 

• Daily Programmes for embarkation in NYC; an exemplar day at sea during a crossing; embarkation/debarkation/”in transit” day in Southampton; and disembarkation in Hamburg (if anyone wants more Daily Programmes from this voyage, I’m happy to supply them—simply email me using the link provided on the website Daily Programme page);

• The current Internet Guide with pricing and instructions;

• Menus from two formal nights in Britannia as well as lunch and dinner in Todd English; and

• A couple of photos of a sheltered balcony.

 

BOOKING TIP: “Flash Sale” Two Weeks Before Sail Date

Earlier in the summer, this crossing was the subject of 2-for-1 and other discounted voyage emails Cunard regularly sends to past passengers. When our window of time to squeeze in a trip finally gelled, the time to book the last email offer had expired, and it was two weeks out—we assumed they had probably well-filled the ship and any leftovers would be undesirable cabins at rack rates. What we discovered, however, was ample, well-located Britannia capacity on offer at “flash sale” prices better than the last email offer and not reflected on Cunard’s or any other cruise travel website (the Grills and Britannia Club were reportedly fully booked, and I’d guess some early-booking Britannia pax were upgraded all around the ship to yield the capacity still remaining for flash sale). We were able to get a sheltered balcony amidships on deck 5, which I think is the most desirable location for that category, as it’s sandwiched between passenger decks above and below. (See pictures on my website)

 

Shareholder benefit: Ask and you shall receive!

Contrary to the Cunard website advice to email your shareholder benefit claim, no email is accepted, you must find a fax machine to send it in! We never received notice our request had been granted, so I brought copies of the paperwork and asked Guest Relations—they can advise you on Day 2 whether the on board credit was processed. If it was not, but you have your paperwork with you, they will assist in securing the OBC during your voyage.

 

Embarkation: New York/Brooklyn Red Hook Cruise Terminal

We walked into the terminal at 11:56 AM and boarded the ship at 12:06 PM. Wow! Even better, our stateroom was ready, so we dropped our bags (we self-carry) and headed straight to the Golden Lion for a pub lunch. We had the place to ourselves! We made fast acquaintance with waiter James, who took great care of us in the pub the rest of the voyage.

 

We disembarked to pick up a few things at the Fairway Market a short walk from the terminal: http://www.fairwaymarket.com/store/red-hook-brooklyn-ny/ I kicked myself later—forgot the fresh flowers, which always make the cabin so lovely! On the walk back, we passed two wine shops: Dry Dock http://www.drydockny.com/ and Botta di Vino http://www.bottadivino.net/ We don’t usually bring spirits aboard, but Dry Dock had a bottle I couldn’t resist, and they even put it in the instant wine chiller…beats the dreaded Pol Acker any day! (We did buy OJ at the market to make mimosas with the ol’ Pol. FYI for newbies to Cunard, they have a liberal “bring on board” policy—you simply pay a corkage fee if you consume in public places, but don’t care about what you bring to drink in your room.)

 

New York sailaway tip:

When departing New York, you get to see the Statue of Liberty without having to wake up at 4 AM like you do when arriving from Southampton! The festive sailaway party is on the ship’s multi-tiered aft, and US flags are passed out for waving. We skipped that scene to claim top deck 13 views of the thrilling passage under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

 

 

Cabin notes:

Our steward service was terrific this voyage! There is no more CNN—BBC, Sky, Fox and CNBC . But you will receive a printed daily news digest (based on your nationality), which is a nice touch most lines have abandoned. I forgot to bring home a copy of the movie list for the week—it was fair. Still an oddity that Cunard won’t employ interactive TV for account review, specialty dining and shorex bookings, daily menus, etc. The bathroom is stocked with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and our steward replaced supplies consistent with our consumption. The closet remains curiously “too short” for ladies’ gowns—on a line that demands formal wear! And for ladies with long hair, consider schlepping your hair dryer, as I had to let this one stop and rest a few times before I could get the job done.

 

Days & nights at sea:

• Cruise Critic meet-up—The Roll Call for this voyage/combination of voyages was fairly inactive. I went to the Commodore Club, port side, at 11 AM on Day 2, which is “the usual place” for a CC gathering, and found no one. I didn’t try the possible alternate 2 PM time, as a highlight violinist was playing, so perhaps it happened then! In any event, I was disappointed not to meet any CCers, including Capnpugwash, although I think I did spot him across the room one night surrounded by a bevy of gorgeous women!

• The lectures—Even if the write-up sounds tepid, go, you will probably be pleasantly surprised! One thing Cunard could improve on here—and it’s a big one in my book—is requiring all presenters to have high quality digital imaging and video in their PowerPoints. It was painful to watch the surprisingly vast quantity (in this day and age of technology) of grainy, pixelated stuff on the big screen.

• Planetarium—If you don’t get tickets for the afternoon show of your choice (free, but you must collect them in the AM), turn up a little early and let the Entertainment Director’s staffer know you want to be in the “standby line.”

• Music—We think the onboard musicians are fabulous! They range from pianists and jazz combos to harpists and string quartets, and Cunard arranges for them to play frequently throughout the day and night in venues all over the ship. We always try them all and then follow our favorites.

• Movies on the big screen—Each day, there is a featured “recent release” movie on the big screen in Illuminations. The movies this cruise were: Philomena, Noah, Saving Mr. Banks, Draft Day, Captain America in 3D, About Time, Pompeii, To Be Takei (a featured speaker was George Takei a/k/a Sulu), Tim’s Vermeer and Robocop.

• Evening entertainment—The Cunard singers and dancers and two onboard bands are so talented! We went to all the shows except Apassionata, which we saw in 2011, and it was tired then. All in all, the show selections are dated (at least they have moved past the 40’s and 50’s, but the current 60’s- and 70’s-centric lineup is too old, too). The highlight musicians were good; the comedians were a weak link, in our opinion. I keep trying to like RADA’s performances (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art troupe presents bedtime stories, abbreviated Shakespeare and the like), but …. The Julliard jazz musicians are enthusiastic, and it’s fun to see them jam with the capable onboard Mark Hodgson trio. We didn’t do many of the formal dances, but the Big Band night was brilliant. We are G32 weenies because of the smoke (but the party band Xtasea played in the Queens Room once or twice and was a lot of fun around the pool).

• Casino—We played a lot of blackjack and left ahead! The minimum table stakes are $5. The dealers were friendly and professional. This is a small and relatively sedate casino—in addition to slots, maybe six blackjack tables, a Caribbean stud poker, a couple of roulette games and one craps? Texas Hold ‘Em and other popular games are electronic.

• Bridge, as in the card game—I finally took advantage of the opportunity to learn how to play bridge and loved having a standing 9:30 AM date with my new best friends = bridge players. Instructor Jim was terrific. There was also an advanced class and competitive afternoon play. All sessions were well-attended. (This is a great activity for solo travelers to meet other pax, although the solo traveler at my table reported the organized solo traveler meet-ups were worthwhile, too, and led by the Social Hostess, who placed several of them at officer tables for dinner—a nice perk!)

• Bridge, as in the place where the captain and his staff “drive the boat”—There is a bridge observation room (capacity approx. 8 persons) on deck 12. Always fun for a look!

• Gym—The gym is rather small and dark compared to other ships of comparable size, but there are plenty of machines, weights, mats and other equipment to satisfy most workout regimens. It is crowded in the AM, less so in the PM; my favorite time to go was at 6 PM when the early dinner crowd had cleared out. That is definitely the best time if you want to jog or walk the promenade deck without running into too many strollers—3 laps = 1.1 mile, 1.9 laps = 1 km. Note, you have to run through the outdoor smoking area on the aft deck—kind of a yuck! Cunard doesn’t offer gym rats any changing room, lockers or showers, much less steam or sauna—you have to pay for spa access to use the facilities.

• Library and bookstore—A must see. Speaking of books, I always think I will read a lot on crossings, but I never make it through more than one or two…too much to do, too little time! There is always a “book club” discussion later in the voyage—the selection this voyage, announced Day 2 so you could buy a copy, was Mitch Albom’s “The Time Keeper.”

• Trivia—We made most contests held just before and after late seating. To optimize your chances, be sure your team includes some US and UK pax!

• Swimming pools—The temperatures were mostly moderate this crossing, but we had a number of gray and foggy days. We didn’t spend much time poolside or in the hot tubs.

• Art auctions, bingo, wine tastings, trinket sales, etc.—Didn’t do any of it, but just check out the Daily Programmes on my website, including the Day 2 sales flyer…there is something for everyone, at all times of the day and night!

• Whether you’re new to Queen Mary 2 or a regular, I think it’s always a good idea to check out Cunard’s list of 101 things to do on a TA and cross off a few—I did the audio tour this time: http://www.cunard.com/documents/transatlantic/101thingstodo.pdf

 

Food, glorious food:

(See my website for two Britannia formal night menus and the current Todd English menus.)

 

• Britannia—Compared to our first crossing in 2011, we thought the Britannia food was the same: competent, but nothing special; however, in our opinion, the service had noticeably declined. (And because of onboard connections made with fellow pax, we dined at a few different tables, so were exposed to several service staffs, none of which impressed. I didn’t see the problem as too few servers; instead, it appeared to be lack of training and supervision, capped by a resistance to be “nimble,” i.e., think on one’s feet about how to make the customer happy. )

• We lunched at Todd English—it was empty! Reportedly, nights are a different story, so book ahead.

• Specialty dining options in Kings Court—Most nights, for $10 per person, a featured cuisine is offered: Italian, Indian or Asian Fusion. We tried the Italian and were underwhelmed by the menu and food, but the service was great. As offered back in 2011, this option was a food demonstration + meals cooked to order for the small group that booked. Now, there is a prix fixe menu, no demo, restaurant style service, all in an uninspired space carved out of the buffet area. I expect (hope) Cunard will revamp this offering (and charge more for the opportunity) when they renovate Kings Court.

• Kings Court buffet is slated to get a much-needed renovation in 2015; until then, be sure to explore the rabbit’s warren of stations, as there are interesting options tucked away here and there at all meals (and a full afternoon tea service in case you don’t make it to the Queens Room). At breakfast, there are more options than are offered in the dining room (but the dining room is less chaotic, to be sure). Now home, I am sad to realize I failed to give the additional gratuity I intended for the young man who prepared my eggs to order most mornings—he was a delightful fellow!

 

Disembarkation/”In Transit” Day: Southampton

(See Daily Programme published on my website) Disembarkation began at 7:16 AM. All newly embarking and in transit pax were due on board by 4 PM.

 

As we were “in transit” (continuing the voyage, but permitted to disembark for the day in port), we took advantage of the early off and exited with no lines, no fuss, at around 7:30 AM to pick up a rental car to drive to Oxford for lunch with friends. The local Enterprise has cars waiting at the cruise terminal (and their office is nearby if more support is needed). Cunard-sponsored excursions to Stonehenge, Windsor and other nearby destinations started gathering at 7:15 AM.

 

We returned at 3:45 PM and were the only souls in the cruise terminal. (Thanks to Capnpugwash for all the help on logistics for our independent day in port.)

 

Disembarkation: Hamburg

(See disembarkation guide published on my website) I didn’t record the time disembarkation began, but it was early, as QM2 arrived around 4 AM. (Captain Christopher Wells explained there is a car tunnel on the floor of the Elbe River that QM2 can clear only during high tide. This makes the times in/out of Hamburg fairly reliable, e.g., that night’s departure from Hamburg had to occur around midnight in order for the ship to clear the tunnel during the next high tide.) We left about 9:30 AM amidst a steady stream of departing passengers. It was raining, and there was no covered walkway once we exited the gangway for a walk of about 2-3 city blocks to the taxi stand—bring an umbrella or be prepared, as Hamburg gets a lot of rain!

 

Thanks for this very useful post. I didn't make the get together as 11am is way too inconvenient a time, 2pm or 2.30pm are more traditional but because of the proposed early one I assumed that the later one wouldn't happen. Sorry we didn't get to meet.

[welshred]

Very interesting.

Thank you for posting Artemis.

We’re going again this Wednesday and can’t wait.

 

.

[jimmybean]

Thank you for your detailed posting! It should be very helpful to passengers new to Cunard. Lots of useful information and sound insights.

 

I agree that an interactive link from TV to one's account would make so much sense.

 

On our first crossing ('07) this WAS available. The next time we were on the QM2 in '09, it had been removed.

 

DH speculated that Cunard didn't want people keeping close track of spending, which might deter continued purchases. ????

 

We learned last spring that Celebrity offers this feature--which was handy.

 

Thank you again for your posting!

[lannp]

Thanks for taking the time to post. Great information for anybody especially first-timers.

[maina]

Very nice information. Thanks for posting in so much detail. We're doing westbound TA in October, having done eastbound 2 years ago. Before our first trip, we had a lot of fun looking at QM Britannia menus posted online, and it's nice to see your more recent ones.

[welshred]

On our first crossing ('07) this WAS available. The next time we were on the QM2 in '09, it had been removed.

 

It was definitely still there in August 2008.

 

.

[lannp]

The interactive TV service disappeared after the 2008 drydock.

[BlueRiband]

Just a trivial question - but has Cunard officially renamed the Purser's Desk to Guest Relations? Not that it makes any difference in function, but it's a shame to see a traditional ocean liner term get discarded in favor of something that sounds more akin to a convention center.

[capnpugwash]

Just a trivial question - but has Cunard officially renamed the Purser's Desk to Guest Relations? Not that it makes any difference in function, but it's a shame to see a traditional ocean liner term get discarded in favor of something that sounds more akin to a convention center.

 

No, I'm fairly certain that it was still called the Purser's Desk a couple of weeks ago.

[pmb1]

No, I'm fairly certain that it was still called the Purser's Desk a couple of weeks ago.

And the July 28 Daily Programme linked to above includes the Chief Purser among the Hotel Department.

[Artemis]

Thanks all for reading (and proofing! so sorry about the Purser's Desk error; I note I also used the term "cruise." :o ). I always think it's fun to do some sort of write-up as it prolongs the joy/temporarily forestalls post-trip depression.

 

Bon voyage this Wednesday, welshred!

[RosieCanberra]

Thank you, this is very useful, and so interesting to see the menu and other attachments.

[BlueRiband]

Thanks all for reading (and proofing! so sorry about the Purser's Desk error; I note I also used the term "cruise." :o ). I always think it's fun to do some sort of write-up as it prolongs the joy/temporarily forestalls post-trip depression. ..

 

Thanks for your well organized and detailed summary. Now the best cure for "I miss Queen Mary 2-itis" is another QM2 booking. Anticipation helps relieve post-trip depression. :D

[cruisefan2012]

Artemis

 

Thank you for writing such a detailed post about your transatlantic on the Queen Mary 2

 

I would LOVE to do Southampton to New York in 2016 ( I know I cant book until 2015 )

 

Thank you again as you have answered some questions I wanted to know the answer too

 

I cant wait to book now !!

[Toki68]

Thank you your lively and informative post! I also did not go to the M&G since no one expressed an intention to go, but it seems you were standing close to my mother, father, sister and son from the angle of your sail away shot! :-)

[Keith1010]

Absolutely wonderful review.

 

Bravo.

 

Keith

[Artemis]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, and happy future QM2 voyages, maina and cruisefan2012!

 

Toki68, it was a pity our CC group didn't get organized. Funny about me being by your family at sailaway! My photo is not that great because of the heads in it--illustrates we arrived up top a few minutes too late to stake out an unobstructed shot! But it was a thrilling few moments to watch in any event. Hope you all enjoyed your time aboard as much as we did!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoyed your report, thanks for posting.:)

[alibabacruisers]

Just read your review and loved it! It was very informative, detailed and well written. I like the way in which you write your review as well as it was easy to read.:) Thank you!

[Artemis]

Aww, thanks for the kind words, Ali Baba! I think I will go with that format in the future for the selfish reason it was a lot quicker and easier to put together than a traditional review. I'm pleased to hear you found it agreeable from the reader's perspective. And today, by you popping it up again, I get to indulge in a few minutes of reverie over another wonderful crossing--thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[alibabacruisers]

Aww, thanks for the kind words, Ali Baba! I think I will go with that format in the future for the selfish reason it was a lot quicker and easier to put together than a traditional review. I'm pleased to hear you found it agreeable from the reader's perspective. And today, by you popping it up again, I get to indulge in a few minutes of reverie over another wonderful crossing--thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

 

I loved reading it for another reason too...keeps my excitement level for our next cruise in January. Had it booked for a year now and soooo ready for it! So reading a review like yours was perfect for me! Thanks again!:)

[Artemis]

Ooh, the anticipation is part of the fun, isn't it?! It is not too much longer until January--enjoy!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[axelskater]

I very much enjoyed your review. It's always so nice to relive the ship and anticipate boarding again.

 

I have 2 questions - When you said "NO CNN - BBC, Sky, etc.", I know it's probably obvious but did you mean no CNN but the others are available?

 

And the second, regarding the fresh flowers - I was thinking of getting some but was not sure if Cunard policy allowed this? I know you can't disembark in US with plants or flowers, but I wasn't sure if we could board with them.

 

Thanks! Happy future sailing

[Artemis]

Hi, axelskater, thanks for reading and for the feedback!

 

Your interpretation of my awkward presentation is correct. All of the non-CNN news outlets I named are aired. (It's not that I am a CNN lover, but I am pretty much of a Fox hater, so the issue for me was that the news line up was tad short on US-oriented news).

 

I have embarked with flowers at many ports, both US and abroad, without difficulty. Unfortunately, relevant to crossings, I can't say I've boarded with flowers in either NYC or Southampton. AFAIK, the issue isn't what you bring onto the ship, it's as you stated it--the local jurisdiction's regulations regarding the foreign flora, fresh produce and other foodstuffs, etc., that you may try to bring into their locale when you disembark (whether on a port day or for good).

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Edited September 12, 2014 by Artemis