QV vs QM2

[Jack E Dawson]

We have just booked a cruise on the QV going from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. Our only two previous cruises have been Crossings on the QM2. So we ere wondering:

1. Looking at the deck plans on the Cunard site, it appears there is not a Promenade Deck similar to QM2, Are there places on the QV where Deck Chairs are available at the railing for ocean watching?

2. In what ways is the QV experience different that we should know about ahead of time to enhance our experience?

3. With 10 sea days and 5 port days, is there an Insights program offering similar quality speakers as on QM2 crossings?

4. Would also appreciate any port tips from anyone who might have taken this particular voyage in January of this year.

 

Thanks

Jack

 

 

[Pennbank]

Promenade  Deck on QV is Deck 3. You can walk  or lounge on the Deck chairs ,subject to weather.

Edited March 12, 2019 by Pennbank

[Host Hattie]

Some of the answers on this thread may help & some are out of date already !

 

 

[BigMac1953]

16 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

We have just booked a cruise on the QV going from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. Our only two previous cruises have been Crossings on the QM2. So we ere wondering:

1. Looking at the deck plans on the Cunard site, it appears there is not a Promenade Deck similar to QM2, Are there places on the QV where Deck Chairs are available at the railing for ocean watching?

When first launched, the promenade deck was not completely wrapped round and came to a dead end towards the bow. A few years ago, they created a passage through the winching section so you can now go all way round.

16 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

2. In what ways is the QV experience different that we should know about ahead of time to enhance our experience?

In many ways they have much in common.

16 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

3. With 10 sea days and 5 port days, is there an Insights program offering similar quality speakers as on QM2 crossings?

There is a full programme which is very similar to QM2, but no planetarium. The Grills deck is much better on QV and QE.

16 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

4. Would also appreciate any port tips from anyone who might have taken this particular voyage in January of this year.

Sorry never done it.

 

Stewart

16 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

 

Thanks

Jack

 

 

 

[seacruise9]

Hi, 

 

I have sailed aboard the QM2 six times (ranging from 2004 through 2017) and will be doing another crossing on the QM2 in late April. Also, I have cruised aboard the Queen Victoria twice. My first sailing on the Queen Victoria was an eight-day transatlantic crossing at the end of its 2015 world cruise. Most recently, I cruised aboard the Queen Victoria in the Mediterranean in September 2018. The Queen Victoria obviously is not nearly as large as the QM2, but the experience is similar. There is a promenade deck that wraps around the ship that has plenty of deck chairs with cushions. Also, there are speakers on board who provide interesting lectures. The afternoon tea in the Queens Room is wonderful. I think the ship looks great following its refurbishment in 2017. The QM2 and the Queen Victoria are both excellent ships.

 

Chuck

[Bigmike911]

17 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

We have just booked a cruise on the QV going from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. Our only two previous cruises have been Crossings on the QM2. So we ere wondering:

1. Looking at the deck plans on the Cunard site, it appears there is not a Promenade Deck similar to QM2, Are there places on the QV where Deck Chairs are available at the railing for ocean watching?

2. In what ways is the QV experience different that we should know about ahead of time to enhance our experience?

3. With 10 sea days and 5 port days, is there an Insights program offering similar quality speakers as on QM2 crossings?

4. Would also appreciate any port tips from anyone who might have taken this particular voyage in January of this year.

 

Thanks

Jack

 

 

Jack, I traveled with QV from NYC through the Canal to Los Angeles, and then traveled on her another two times. We left NYC's Manhattan Pier in a blizzard. One of the speakers Bill Miller who is a specialist on Atlantic Liners offered an on going narrative of what we could see traveling down the Hudson as we left the pier. Unfortunately the blizzard made it impossible to see anything.

 

Over all you will find Queen Victoria feels smaller, tighter than Queen Mary 2. There are other subtle differences. Her out side decks are covered with a tan, man made covering, not teak as on QM2. The Royal Court Theatre is more like a London West End theatre than the Las Vegas style Royal Court on QM2. It also has boxes several of which can be booked at an additional charge for special shows. I liked the theatre a lot. 

 

The Grills and the Grills Lounge are up top accessed by a lift that requires your QG or PG room key for operation. There is also a grills terrace immediately in front of the lounge. There is an enclosed open air dining space as well between the grills, but my experience was that it is too windy on sea days, and too warm on port days to enjoy fully. 

 

There will of course be speakers on sea days, of the same high caliber that you found on QM2 so enjoy. As to the ports, my voyage called at Ft. Lauderdale, Curacao, Puerto Azteca, Guatemala, Puerto Vallarto and Cabo. I have to say they were pretty much non-interesting, and given the problems in Mexico these days, I think I would not spend much time there and certainly take no excursions which have been problematic lately. If your voyage takes you to Cartagena, Columbia, by all means visit the city. I have been there on other cruises and it is a delightful place. We did not have port days in either Balboa or Panama City, which I think I would have enjoyed. 

 

I did find transiting the Panama Canal to be a high light of the voyage. On one of the eastern locks I sat in the Champagne Bar and watched out the window as the ship rose in the lock. There were subway tile feet markers on the wall of the lock and you could watch the ship rise by following the numbers. You also want to be on deck for at least one lock so you can watch the mules holding the ship in the center of the lock as she moves forward. Another highlight was to look at the swarm of huge turtles that live and swim in Gatun lake just west of the locks. Also count on the air to be humid and sticky year round. 

 

Food, and service on QV were as good as QM2 and her Victorian look to the public rooms is interesting. The library is on two decks with a spiral stair between decks. I think you will have a great time. Enjoy. 

[Underwatr]

53 minutes ago, Bigmike911 said:

Her out side decks are covered with a tan, man made covering, not teak as on QM2.

 

I found this material slippery when wet, especially in dress shoes. Be careful on your post-dinner stroll.

[Jack E Dawson]

Thanks all. Excellent information.

 

Jack

[Bell Boy]

Just to add; There is a jolly good Gin & Fizz bar, that comes 'alive in the evenings', Pre Dinner.

Some 40+  Gin cocktails to get through.  

[deck chair]

Hello

 

I have sailed on the Queen Victoria three times most recently this past Summer for three weeks.   I have sailed on the Queen Mary over 35 times.

With respect to the promenade deck on the QV compared to the QM2 the biggest difference is that the promenade deck on the QM is much wider and has teak decking.  Because the deck on the QV is narrower you will never see deck chairs pulled up next to the railings.  Also, has someone else pointed out, the fake teak decking on the QV gets very slippery if it is wet and you have to be very cautious.  The pictures below were taken on the Queen Mary.  The deck is so wide you can...have deck chairs close to the railings or pulled away so  you can observe the passing scene.  On the QV the deck isn't nearly as wide so deck chairs close to the railings not possible as they would interfere with passengers walking by.  Hope it is clear.

[deck chair]

Hello again!

 

Here are some pictures of the QV promenade deck.  Note the fake teak decking which gets very slippery when wet and note also how much narrower it is compared to the QM2.  Also more pictures of the QM2 promenade deck.  

 

Deck Chair

[Jack E Dawson]

Thanks Deck Chair,

Very interesting that the chairs are pushed back on the QV. I assume this means that there is a steady stream of people walking in front of you as you attempt to enjoy the view. When I first saw the pictures I figured that the chairs on the QV were pushed back in order to be in the shade since the ship often sails in warmer locations. I don't quite understand why, If there is room for both chairs and walkers on the QV promenade deck, they wouldn't place the chairs (being lower) in front and walkers (people standing) behind. I wonder what would happen if a few people moved their chairs up to the railing? 

[Jack E Dawson]

Thanks underwatr and deck chair for the warning about the slippery when wet promenade deck. We usually bring Sperry Topsiders to where but in the evening we are wearing dress shoes and just may have had a glass of wine or two. 

[Bell Boy]

2 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Thanks Deck Chair,

Very interesting that the chairs are pushed back on the QV. I assume this means that there is a steady stream of people walking in front of you as you attempt to enjoy the view. When I first saw the pictures I figured that the chairs on the QV were pushed back in order to be in the shade since the ship often sails in warmer locations. I don't quite understand why, If there is room for both chairs and walkers on the QV promenade deck, they wouldn't place the chairs (being lower) in front and walkers (people standing) behind. I wonder what would happen if a few people moved their chairs up to the railing? 

Oh they do   😉 ( move their steamer chair  closer to the railings ) I'm one that will often do it, just to catch a few rays of sun that occasionally appears between the lifeboats.

No one from the deck department will say anything ,   however, as  a decent fellow passenger I do move it back before I leave.