The countdown is on!

[tacticalbanjo]

14 hours ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

That is.... not correct. I sailed in QE2 in 1977 and almost all of her interiors were original. And exceptional.  So what you state is wrong. 

QE2 had her first refit in 1972 with whole spaces being completely changed with the disco becoming the Queens Grill, the Theatre Bar becoming the disco, Colombia and Britannia were enlarged, a casino was added. Cunard spent $4.6m on the changes, $2.6m just on the interiors, and the changes were quite well documented.

https://www.ribaj.com/culture/qe2-50-years-later

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php?topic=7118.0

 

This is the problem with letting designers go wild - what they produce often looks dated quickly and it's not always functional or profitable in the way you need it to be.

 

Interestingly, one of the things that was added to QE2 in 1972 was a reading room so maybe the stick in the muds can decide to like it?

[WantedOnVoyage]

None of these changes had anything whatsoever with the decor of the rooms... most were done as operational or revenue enhancers.

 

Have you ever even been aboard QE2?

 

I have... five times throughout most of her career and I can tell you that in 1977 and 1979 most of her principal public rooms and cabins were exactly as they were when built and used as intended. Coumbia Restaurant, Midships Bar, Library, Card Room, Queen's Room, Entrance Foyer, passageways, cabins etc were all original.  We sailed in her in 1993 and had an original cabin and much else was still original that late in her career.  

 

 

[david,Mississauga]

On 4/5/2024 at 3:18 AM, exlondoner said:

Not that QE2 had a real all the way round Prom Deck. It was rare during crossing to be able to get up the stairs to get across the front. I did love much of her though, in her latest incarnation.

 

We found the same disadvantage with the QE2 promenade. On most of our crossings the stairs to the next deck were closed due to wind a good deal of the time. It was possible to go inside near the Queens Grill on the starboard side and go forward a bit and back out on the port side. 

 

Although I have no interest in the QA, to be fair the promenade deck, however narrow, does go all the way around with no need to climb a flight of stairs.

[david,Mississauga]

On 4/5/2024 at 7:27 AM, WantedOnVoyage said:

None of these changes had anything whatsoever with the decor of the rooms... most were done as operational or revenue enhancers.

 

Have you ever even been aboard QE2?

 

I have... five times throughout most of her career and I can tell you that in 1977 and 1979 most of her principal public rooms and cabins were exactly as they were when built and used as intended. Coumbia Restaurant, Midships Bar, Library, Card Room, Queen's Room, Entrance Foyer, passageways, cabins etc were all original.  We sailed in her in 1993 and had an original cabin and much else was still original that late in her career.  

 

 

 

I noticed the same as WantedonVoyage did.  Our first crossing was in 1973, just after the first renovation so I can't comment on the original.  A lot of what we saw on our first crossing was the same for many years, but there were changes each time. We dined in the Britannia (later Mauretania) Restaurant three times between 1973 and 1988. Each time it was completely different. On our first experience with the Columbia Restaurant I got the impression it had no specific décor that I could describe. The food and service, however, were great. It lived up to the words "first class" on our tickets.  Many years later, as the Caronia Restaurant, I liked it much better as it was more traditional.

 

A lot of QE2 fans would disagree with me, but I liked the interiors of the ship far more on our last voyage in 2008 than on our first.  The last cabin we had was almost identical to the first one we had 35 years earlier. The only difference was the shower curtain had been replaced by a glass door. (It can be done!)  It had been a Tourist Class (Britannia) cabin originally but over the years it was promoted to Caronia class.  

 

 

[BklynBoy8]

4 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

We found the same disadvantage with the QE2 promenade. On most of our crossings the stairs to the next deck were closed due to wind a good deal of the time. It was possible to go inside near the Queens Grill on the starboard side and go forward a bit and back out on the port side.

 

We had no problem with the strolling along and around the Promenade Deck of the QE2.

 

After the first time and adapted to the transiting thru the inside and to other side.

 

If we wanted to take a break afterwards, the final round we would climb the view the magnificent views from the bow of the ship.

 

Besides the rest of the day stroll, always 5 rounds in the morn before breakfast.. 

[BklynBoy8]

3 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

I noticed the same as WantedonVoyage did.  Our first crossing was in 1973, just after the first renovation so I can't comment on the original.  A lot of what we saw on our first crossing was the same for many years, but there were changes each time. We dined in the Britannia (later Mauretania) Restaurant three times between 1973 and 1988. Each time it was completely different. On our first experience with the Columbia Restaurant I got the impression it had no specific décor that I could describe. The food and service, however, were great. It lived up to the words "first class" on our tickets.  Many years later, as the Caronia Restaurant, I liked it much better as it was more traditional.

 

We really found it interesting to sail on her from the beginning of our sailing history and the changes we experienced.

 

Tables of the World to Mauretania, Columbia to Caronia, Double Down Room to Grand Lounge,

 

Atlantic Shop to the Harrods Shop..

 

We always enjoyed the original Midnight Buffets in the Columbia Restaurant with all the tables of goodies. Flambes (Banana Foster), Bread, Seafood in the Ice Craving, Carving Board, Desserts etc... One of a Kind Buffet we remember. 

 

Also the the Officer Cocktail Party we were invited in the Senior Officers Ward Room under the Bridge.

 

She Was Grand!

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

17 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

I noticed the same as WantedonVoyage did.  Our first crossing was in 1973, just after the first renovation so I can't comment on the original.  A lot of what we saw on our first crossing was the same for many years, but there were changes each time. We dined in the Britannia (later Mauretania) Restaurant three times between 1973 and 1988. Each time it was completely different. On our first experience with the Columbia Restaurant I got the impression it had no specific décor that I could describe. The food and service, however, were great. It lived up to the words "first class" on our tickets.  Many years later, as the Caronia Restaurant, I liked it much better as it was more traditional.

 

A lot of QE2 fans would disagree with me, but I liked the interiors of the ship far more on our last voyage in 2008 than on our first.  The last cabin we had was almost identical to the first one we had 35 years earlier. The only difference was the shower curtain had been replaced by a glass door. (It can be done!)  It had been a Tourist Class (Britannia) cabin originally but over the years it was promoted to Caronia class.  

 

 

 

I loved the Caronia restaurant. Nice size, good service, one seating. And not a big price jump over the main dining 2-seating restaurant. Club is supposed to be that level, but I find the price increase too much for what you get compared to the difference on QE2.

 

I sailed on QE2 once during the brief time when they switched the Caronia restaurant with the Mauretania (2-sitting main dining room). That Caronia dining room was beautiful, with a spectacular bar outside. But the smaller space didn't work for two sittings, and they swapped them back. So the Mauretania restaurant had the Caronia bar at its entrance (although they may have changed the name). And the Caronia restaurant still had the large model of Mauretania in a glass case across from its entrance. (I know, it sounds like those old "the new Coke is the old Coke" commercials!)

 

Some of the Caronia cabins moved back and forth between Britannia class and Caronia class as Cunard juggled passenger loads, trying to find the optimum distribution. There wasn't much difference between M1 and C3 (? whatever the lowest C was) cabins.