The inside review

[pratt2]

          After a year of planning, dreaming reading reviews and watching videos, we boarded the QM2 in Red Hook on Oct 7 and arrived in Southampton Oct 14. Being on this ocean liner was magnificent. Our QM2 inside room on deck 11 suited us. I only had to walk  a short distance down the hall to the Atlantic Room to see what the weather would be.  We made sure to spend time during the day to sit in different areas to read, listen to live music or talk with fellow passengers.  However, my favorite place to be was outside deck 7, where I could watch the changing sea for hours on end and never be bored.

          Evenings were wonderful affairs. We started out 45 minutes before dinner at one of the many lounges / bars for a cocktail. Remembering an earlier cruise critic thread, I tried several different cocktails and the Mary Pickford gets my vote.  The Commodore Club became a favorite place for us.  We dined in the Britannia Restaurant all but one night. We could not find fault with any of our meals. 

          Most passengers followed the dress code, and it truly made for a first class experience. All venues were fully staffed and we experienced no delays when placing orders.  Late evenings found us at the theater, and or G-32 which I must say was rocking most nights!  I attended the watercolor class, and learned that it was hit or miss with the instructors, and on this voyage a miss. However I enjoyed talking with the ladies at my table.  It’s my belief that the show in the planetarium needs an update. My only negative experience was when I met the Laundry Militants standing guard at the laundry door a full 30 minutes before it opened. I was advised to try another day. Very well, I just decided to send most laundry out.

          Unbelievably, I missed tea in the Queens Room! That was on my to do list while on board.  Embarking and disembarking went smoothly. Southampton did seem a bit more organized.

         After leaving the QM2 we spent ten days in Spain traveling to Cordoba, Ronda and Granada, after which we ended up in Barcelona where we boarded a cruise ship to return to the states. Yes, we did enjoy that voyage, especially since we had 21 foot waves for @24 hours, but it cannot be compared to our time aboard the unique QM2.

       Once January comes and we start planning travels for the next year or so, another voyage on Cunard will be at the top of my list.

[Vskye]

I'm so glad you had a good experience! Thanks for the trip report. If you have time could you tell me what kinds of music were offered on this crossing? I will be onboard for the December 3rd Literary Festival and I'm hoping there will be room for some musicians among all of the authors.

[Host Hattie]

Thank you for posting such a great report, that sounds like a great trip.

[pratt2]

1 hour ago, Vskye said:

I'm so glad you had a good experience! Thanks for the trip report. If you have time could you tell me what kinds of music were offered on this crossing? I will be onboard for the December 3rd Literary Festival and I'm hoping there will be room for some musicians among all of the authors.

There was a folk duo, jazz assemble, harpist, pianist, violinist, rock and roll in G-32 as well the Cunard orchestra. The musicians played most days, sometimes twice per day in different venues about the ship. 

It is likely that you will have many opportunities to listen to a variety of music!

[Vskye]

Thank you!