Proposal on QM2 - Help a romantic Cunard newbie out!

[thebookishtraveler]

Hi all - I'm going to be proposing to my partner May 2020 on the Queen Mary 2!  He's a huge enthusiast of marine architecture, and going on the last true ocean liner has always been his biggest dream. This is our first time sailing with Cunard, so I'm hoping to get some advice from people who know the ship / line about how to arrange the proposal.  If you have any ideas for perfect locations, general tips from anyone who has traveled on the QM2, or thoughts from folks who planned special surprises with Cunard in the past, they would be so appreciated!  Here is more guiding information: 

 

• I'm hoping to propose on embarkation day so that we can spend the cruise celebrating. 
• I had hoped to propose on the bow but it seems Cunard is unlikely to allow escorted access out there.  If anyone has a ship contact I could chat with about this I would be so thankful for their info! 
• My second choice is to propose in the Grand Lobby.  Thoughts on this location?  I wonder if it it would be too crowded on embarkation day.  
• I was also hoping to arrange that one of the ship photographers be present to capture the proposal, but in an email I sent to Cunard they replied saying this would need to be arranged on board.  I'm an obsessive planner so this makes me nervous.  Are there normally photographers present in the Grand Lobby on embarkation day that I could snag and tip them off that I'd be proposing?  Or do you have other thoughts on how to handle / who to contact?
• Has anyone pre-booked flowers or gifts with Cunard?  Are they normally in your room when you arrive on embarkation?  
• I think I'd prefer to avoid proposing in a restaurant setting. 

 

I'm VERY open to any ideas that past cruisers have to make this moment extra special!  

 

We'll be cruising on the four-night Bruges and Guernsey voyage from Southampton on May 20 in a Queens Grill room.  This whole affair is a surprise for my partner (he thinks we're attending a wedding on the Isle of Wight).  Thank you all for any help!  

[princeton123211]

1 minute ago, thebookishtraveler said:

I'm hoping to propose on embarkation day so that we can spend the cruise celebrating. 

Things will be a bit disorganized, or maybe better put busy, on embarkation day. I would definitely wait til after the lifeboat drill and after sailing. Maybe before dinner.

2 minutes ago, thebookishtraveler said:

I had hoped to propose on the bow but it seems Cunard is unlikely to allow escorted access out there.  If anyone has a ship contact I could chat with about this I would be so thankful for their info! 

Very unlikely they will go for this as its not a passenger area. You could certainly try but maybe a nice area they would let you have thats quiet and outside is the Grills terrace?

3 minutes ago, thebookishtraveler said:

My second choice is to propose in the Grand Lobby.  Thoughts on this location?  I wonder if it it would be too crowded on embarkation day.  

Way too crowded during the boarding process and still very busy even after sailing. 

4 minutes ago, thebookishtraveler said:

I was also hoping to arrange that one of the ship photographers be present to capture the proposal, but in an email I sent to Cunard they replied saying this would need to be arranged on board.  I'm an obsessive planner so this makes me nervous.  Are there normally photographers present in the Grand Lobby on embarkation day that I could snag and tip them off that I'd be proposing?  Or do you have other thoughts on how to handle / who to contact?

You wont have an issue finding a photographer. Just see the pursers desk when you board. 

4 minutes ago, thebookishtraveler said:

Has anyone pre-booked flowers or gifts with Cunard?  Are they normally in your room when you arrive on embarkation?  

Yes and normally they are-- occasionally you need to prod them but for the most part they will be there. 

5 minutes ago, thebookishtraveler said:

I think I'd prefer to avoid proposing in a restaurant setting. 

Couldn't agree more-- there are other places that are better. Grills Terrace might be one. Soon after sailing the wrap around deck overlooking the bow might work. Commodore Club before they open. Bunch of options that I'm sure others will chime in with. 

[MJSailors]

    You may want to carefully look over the deck plans for the ship to see if there  is a location that might interest you. 

      Instead of the Bow  of the ship, perhaps the Aft may be a better location with a view of the wake ? I haven’t sailed on the QM2, but did sail on the QE2 many years ago. I recall an Aft area of terraced decks with a pool,perhaps the QM2 would have a similar area.After the musterdrill and before dinner time ,it did seem to be a quiet area.

       I definitely would not appreciate a proposal  in the Grand Lobby at any time,especially on embarkation day. As a reserved kind of lady,  it would not be a private enough area for a proposal. However, you and your intended may not mind having other people milling about in the Lobby.

Do you have a balcony cabin? That might be a good place for the moment,perhaps accompanied by a champagne (previously delivered) toast.

       As for a photographer, it may be simpler and less stress if you did the proposal, then schedule a photo session sometime after ? Both you and your fiancé might be a bit more relaxed for the photos and be able to enjoy the experience. 

       As for a proposal in a restaurant ,I do see your point. But, that is how my DH proposed to me and we are married thirty-six years. It worked for us, but he was a bit nervous and I am not certain that he truly enjoyed his dinner very much due to stomach butterflies!

     Bon voyage !

[Pennbank]

The Observation Deck on Deck 7 is the furthermost you can get to the bow, The Brown deck space shown on photo,  This is usually accessible unless extremely windy.  This area also houses the spare Propeller blades she carries.

Edited November 21, 2019 by Pennbank

[jimdee3636]

How about before dinner the first night at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar (adjacent to the Chart Room)? Order a nice bottle "just to toast us and the cruise," and then...well, propose.  

[Jepster]

I second the Champagne Bar--an excellent location with champagne and strawberries, and generally not too crowded.  Windows with a lovely ocean view, as well.  I am sure that the bar keep will assist you in making it special.

 

[Pennbank]

24 minutes ago, jimdee3636 said:

How about before dinner the first night at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar (adjacent to the Chart Room)? Order a nice bottle "just to toast us and the cruise," and then...well, propose.  

It is no longer Veuve Clicquot and has not been for several years. It is now Laurent-Perrier and in my opinion has lost is Orange Sparkle.

[Jack E Dawson]

Assuming this will be a trans-Atlantic crossing, then you should take into consideration where you are departing from. If departing from NYC, then I would suggest proposing on the aft deck with the city skyline as the backdrop. If sailing from Southhampton, then consider the observation balcony, on deck 11, directly below the bridge. This is an open balcony, so it might be windy, but does have a specular view looking out over the bow of the ship. If the weather does not cooperate, the Commodore's Club would be a good location, with a great view looking over the bow and of course would be a great place for a toast each year on your anniversary cruise. You may also want to consider proposing on the second evening which will be a formal gala night. This will also give you a day to explore all of the venues and make the necessary arrangements. 

All the best.

 

Jack

 

Rear Deck

 

View from

Deck 11 Forward Balcony

 

Looking up at the Deck 11 Forward Observation Balconey

 

Commodore's Club

[BklynBoy8]

5 hours ago, thebookishtraveler said:

1) I was also hoping to arrange that one of the ship photographers be present to capture the proposal, but in an email I sent   to Cunard they replied saying this would need to be arranged on board.  I'm an obsessive planner so this makes               me nervous.  Are there normally photographers present in the Grand Lobby on embarkation day that I could snag and tip    them off that I'd be proposing?  Or do you have other thoughts on how to handle / who to contact?

 

2) Has anyone pre-booked flowers or gifts with Cunard?  Are they normally in your room when you arrive on embarkation?  

Dear thebookishtraveler,

 

First, Congratulations and hope your plans truly work out and enjoy a long life together. We are 43 years together this year.

 

To answer two of your questions with our personal experience:

1) I think most of the photographers will be on the pier to take Embarkation Photos before boarding. And they will be on the outer deck for the Sailaway Party in the aft of the ship later on. Honestly I don't remember seeing Photographers in the Lobby.

 

2) I always order flowers for my wife before boarding thru Cunard and they are always there when we enter our Cabin. We have always been happy with the quality of their flowers and arrangements. My wife is always extremely happy that they last so long.

They last as long as a 7 to 9 day sailing. Of course we always change the water to keep them fresh.

 

Bon Voyage!  

[exlondoner]

Whatever you do, I would refrain from mentioning that you'd sought advice on this forum. 😀 What about on your cabin balcony before going down/up to dinner on the first formal night. Then there will be lots of photographic opportunities in the course of the evening, but the actual moment will be just between the two of you.

[MarkBearSF]

I agree that the Grand Lobby would be awkward as would popping the question during embarkation. 
The champagne lounge before dinner sounds fabulous. Another resource may be your butler (since you're QG) - however if you want to do it on the first afternoon or evening, that might not allow time to arrange things with him. (The butler will also be very busy during embarkation)

Other possible locations - if you want to do it immediately after sail away, the little lounge outside the Veranda is sort of a small, quirky space (and immediately inside the pool area on 8, if you want to be on deck before). Also, you how about beneath the giant tapestry in Britannia? Although you won't be eating there, it's a knockout room! (You'd need to ask permission of the Maitre 'd taking dinner change requests) 

Pic-wise the big "Queen Mary 2" name on the 12 deck is memorable and a great shot.

[Bell Boy]

I second what others have said,  The Grand Lobby on embarkation day is a big no no ! soooo much going on. You'll be rushing here there and everywhere for boat/muster drill etc .

 

Without doubt  I'd recommend  the Champagne Bar  ( it's an elegant venue and more often than not it's very quiet )  in fact I'd wait until the 'next days evening at Sea', that way you will have had time to settle down on the ship and get dressed in your smartest Attire  !!  ( it maybe a formal evening)  you'll also have plenty of time to arrange with the photographer to meet you at a given time. ( visit the photography shop during the day and arrange with them) 

 

 

[thebookishtraveler]

First off, thank you everyone for all the support, encouragement, and fantastic insider advice!  I can't begin to express how much I appreciate the community for helping out with this special moment. ❤️

 

I especially appreciate the intel about the crowding and busyness of the Grand Lobby and embarkation.  Sounds like this definitely isn't the right spot + time. 

 

@princeton123211 - Thanks so much for your prompt reply; the reassurance about finding photographers was exactly what I needed to hear.  The Grills Terrace is also such a great idea that I hadn't thought of!  

@MJSailors - Huge congrats on 36 years!!  I hope my partner and I follow in your footsteps!  I'm very thankful for the advice about booking a photo shoot later on in the cruise; that's such a smart idea.  And ironically enough the only reason I had been avoiding restaurants is because we're also rather reserved and it seemed public (so Grand Lobby is definitely out)!!  Such good advice on the aft areas too. 

 @Pennbank - The photos you shared are super helpful, thank you!  I love seeing a more candid look at what areas of the ship look like.  Also big thanks for the tip about the wind.

@jimdee3636 and @Jepster - Love the idea of incorporating the champagne bar in some way; seems like such a classy addition to the moment!

@Jack E Dawson - Again, photos are so helpful and I appreciate that you shared them.  Commodore Club is a great idea for a rainy day backup!  And postponing the proposal to the second day does seem to make sense in terms of arrangements and the general harried nature I'm gathering tends to surround embarkation day. 

@BklynBoy8 - Wow, 43 years!! Congratulations and I'm inspired for our future! Thanks so much for letting me know where photographers tend to be, and for the encouragement that the flowers are such a nice, quality touch.

 @exlondoner - Your post gave me such a laugh!  I'd gladly take all the credit 😉Though my partner certainly knows I'm a type A+ obsessive planner and like to take advice from the smartest insiders.  I do love the intimate romance of the cabin balcony idea, as we are fairly private people.  I think definitely worth seriously considering.  Thanks for recommending! 

@MarkBearSF - The locations you mentioned are so smart and unique, thank you!!  I love the idea of the grandeur of the Britannia and the QM2 sign.  (I had originally thought Lobby as somewhere to capture the iconic ocean liner architecture, but I actually like your suggestions much better).  Utilizing the butler's help is a very helpful suggestion too. Thanks so much for the novel location ideas!

@Bell Boy - Thanks so much for seconding the champagne bar, and allowing time to plan.  I'm sold on giving it a little more time and waiting until after the frenzy! 

Everyone - Thank you again for your kindness and interest in helping with our proposal!  I'm going to let advice continue trickling-in and will keep you updated as I finalize the plan.  

[ClipperinSFO]

19 hours ago, Pennbank said:

 

 

First, heartfelt congratulations on your impending proposal!  I can relate completely, as my husband and I met 16 years ago (now married 11) and bonded over our mutual love of ocean liners and transatlantic steamship travel.   To propose on the QM2 is a fabulous idea, and I wish one of us had been as clever as you at the time!

 

Given what you wrote about your fiancé-to-be and your trip, I would suggest the following:  

 

Almost immediately upon embarking in Southampton, and when the ship is relatively quiet (as QG guest you will be amongst the first to embark),  grab the bottle of champagne and the two flutes provided by Cunard in your suite, and head to the forward observation deck as suggested by @Pennbank. It should be relatively quiet in the early afternoon with few having discover it yet.  As an excuse for getting him out there, you can always tell him you are off to explore the ship and make your own pre-sail away party.

 

The location is perfect for a marine architecture enthusiast, with a dramatic view the bow in front and the superstructure behind. There is absolutely no mistaking where you are.  And most importantly, the symbolism is perfect: at the front of a (the) grand liner, facing forward with a whole happy and exciting voyage ahead of you. Perfect metaphors for your coming life together.  After the proposal, you can then adjourn to the Queens Grill for lunch and to continue the celebration.  

 

Whichever way you chose to propose, it will be fantastic your fiancé-to-be will be thrilled and we all look forward to hearing about how it goes.

[Underwatr]

12 minutes ago, ClipperinSFO said:

 grab the bottle of champagne and the two flutes provided by Cunard in your suite

But not the Pol Acker, whatever else you do. 😐

[VintageCCG]

Several folks have suggested the aft deck and the forward observation deck, during sailaway.
As a professional mariner involved with shipbuilding, those are about the only two locations that I would consider, from a nautical / naval architecture point of view. The interior of the ship, while attractive, might as well be a hotel as a nautical vessel (from a visual point of view).

It's easy enough to pre-book a photo session without arousing your soon-to-be-betrothed's suspicions, and the photographer can ensure optimal angle, background, and timing (with reshoots as appropriate).

Note the aft deck also has some covered areas, in case of rain. 

 

and this is the forward observation deck looking from near the centreline out towards the starboard bridgewing. Of course, this area is also covered from rain (the navigation bridge is immediately above).

 

[Austcruiser84]

Surely it is worth contacting Cunard about this? If you can wait past the first night, consider enquiring whether they will allow you to propose on the bridge as the sun rises. Perhaps it is a little cruel, but consider ‘arranging’ for one of the officers to come to your suite that morning, informing you that the Captain wishes to speak with you both regarding an incident during the muster drill the previous day. You go to the bridge. Then, as the Captain asks ‘well, what do you have to say for yourself?’ you get down on one knee and propose. Photos on/from the bridge would be pretty amazing. Then you can go and enjoy a champagne breakfast on your suite balcony, which will have been sorted by the butler and his team while you were on the bridge. 

[wenlyn]

My husband proposed to me on QM2 a couple of years ago,  very unexpectedly as we'd been together almost 10 years by then and it we were both quite happy with that arrangement (you can guess what I said 😊) We were in a sheltered balcony cabin and as sailaway approached we opened a bottle of champagne as is our habit on board and I suggested we drank it on the balcony as it was a relatively warm day - he demurred, strangely I thought at the time,  and said lets stay in the cabin and by the time I came back in he handed my my glass and the ring was in it at which point he got down on one knee. I liked the privacy of being in our cabin and I'm sure in a Grills cabin it would be even lovlier (& have a little more room for kneeling 😄) It was lovely when we went up to the commodore club later and one of the bar staff remembered us from before so we could share our news with him. That said it was our 3rd time setting sail with QM2 and had it been our first I think it might have been nicer to have fully enjoyed the excitement of just being on board and looking around and orientating ourselves for the first time and then had the proposal the following day as someone else suggested, perhaps after dressing for dinner which would be a formal affair so giving a good excuse to look smart for any pictures being taken. In your case I would think getting the butler & photographer to liaise to ensure a seamless surprise if you wanted to be in your cabin or the champgne bar or elsewhere if the congratulations of your fellow travellers would add to the joy of the moment. That way you get to savour the enjoyment of each moment rather than filling one moment so full memories of it get blurred by the intensity. You'll have to judge which you & your intended will treasure more. Good Luck & let us know how it goes.

 

[amfc_lenny]

I hope the proposal goes well for you, lots of really useful tips for you.

 

We are just back from our cruise on the qv, and I proposed to my oh in port, but we really enjoyed the remainder of our time on board being newly engaged, the ship being decked out for Christmas made it all the more special

 

We booked a photo shoot with one of the on board photographers for later in the afternoon. I have to admit the package for the photos wasn’t cheap but I love the photos.

 

Amanda on the qv, remembered us from another cruise without us prompting where and when we met her last, she took some great photos both indoors and on deck that I’m sure will be treasured memories. 

 

Best wishes

[MarkBearSF]

Congratulations!  And thanks for letting us know of the result.

[Canuker]

Well, bookishtraveller, here's my proposal for your proposal.
It should make the location of your proposal even more memorable.
I can't guarantee it will be offered on your Cunard sailing (or that you will be accepted!), but they do offer a special Theatre Box booking, in which you get your own private box for an evening show of your choice, together with champagne and chocolates served to you both before (in your private room) and during the performance. I'd say a formal night would be perfect.
Last time I looked, it was $60 per couple.
Never used it myself, but I'm guessing spots are limited and it fills up fast.
If you can't find it online before you sail, go straight to the Purser's office after you embark and book it there.
And don't forget the onboard photo people, who will be glad to record the day for you.

Lastly, a hint: if the answer is yes, let the Cruise Director know and I'm sure he/she will be glad to spread the good news to all on board - you will be celebrities.

[Bell Boy]

Sounds the perfect venue, but I'm afraid there are no Theatre Boxes on the Mary  😉

[babs135]

Congratulations and may your sailing days be many and happy. Lots of great ideas here and I find myself agreeing with most of them!! Obviously you know your partner better than we do and I'm sure you will make the right decision that suits the two of you.

On our last trip, on the Queen Elizabeth, a young man proposed during the evening meal in the main dining room: As people realised what was happening a collective hush fell in the room, and I can't have been the only one to think, omg what if she says no. Thankfully she said yes and we all started breathing again, followed by lots of clapping and cheering.

You say that you are private people so I guess that the above story is not for you.

[VintageCCG]

On 11/24/2019 at 8:48 AM, Austcruiser84 said:

Surely it is worth contacting Cunard about this? If you can wait past the first night, consider enquiring whether they will allow you to propose on the bridge as the sun rises. Perhaps it is a little cruel, but consider ‘arranging’ for one of the officers to come to your suite that morning, informing you that the Captain wishes to speak with you both regarding an incident during the muster drill the previous day. You go to the bridge. Then, as the Captain asks ‘well, what do you have to say for yourself?’ you get down on one knee and propose. Photos on/from the bridge would be pretty amazing. Then you can go and enjoy a champagne breakfast on your suite balcony, which will have been sorted by the butler and his team while you were on the bridge. 

Yeah, in the wheelhouse ... while underway?? That's not gonna happen.
And concocting an elaborate prank to propose marriage seems like a really bad idea.