Queen Mary 2, The Second Chance

[desirod]

I gave her a second chance and glad I did.

 

The service issues that plagued her first season have been resolved and the Britannia food and service is excellent. The old Cunard had one show after 10pm. Now there are 2 shows, one for first seating, and another for 2nd seating which reduces the crowds. 2nd seating feels less rushed since we see the show before dinner.

 

This is the second time I took a first time cruiser on board and both had an excellent time. 2 of our tablemates were first timers and now hooked. QM2 is the best ship for a first time cruiser.

 

Hurricane Ernesto and Brooklyn:

 

We were planning to train it to NYC from Philly, but the wires were down and had to drive to Brooklyn. The trip is 2 hours and we miss most of the traffic. It looks like an easy place to get to on the map, but there are many streets that go one way the wrong way and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel blocks most access. The Brooklyn Terminal runs very efficiently and far more comfortable than the Manhattan PST. If you are driving from the South or Long Island it is a better venue, however there is no mass transit that services the area.

 

Upon leaving New York harbor we had 20’ whitecaps and 50mph winds and the ship cut through them like she was riding on rails bolted to the ocean floor. It was too dangerous to go out on deck but there is plenty to do inside the ship. Our deck 4 hull hole balcony was well shielded from the weather and a great place to watch the storm. QM2 is as much an indoor ship as outdoor.

 

This is the first time I was on a ship with the Magradome closed. It was great to go swimming and use the hot tubs and be shielded from the nasty elements outside, yet get the full daylight exposure.

 

Ship itself:

 

She is a true liner and proved it in the bad weather we had. Any boxboat, R ships included would have been bouncing around and getting damaged in the storms we had. Of the 14 ships I have sailed she has the best sea-keeping. QM2 is brilliantly engineered. Unfortunately her interiors are the ideal venue for the Plastics Engineering Society, Rohm and Haas, and Bayer Mobay. The interior planning is good except for the Kings Court. Todd English is should be relocated to the Princess Grill Lounge, and the Boardwalk Café put in the Todd English area.

 

Onboard Ambience:

 

QM2 is a floating town. There is so much to do and see and cannot do it all. One really needs a 6 day minimum cruise on her to fully get it. I really felt the contrast from my Regatta crossing which is a floating country club, there with only 600 passengers you see all the time. You can get to know people with greater depth.

On QM2 that carries 2600 passengers, you see a person one day and never again on the ship. Coming off you meet people you did not see at all.

 

People on board were very friendly and we had conversation in every public area. In the evenings, you can sit in the Grand Lobby, watch the people go by which is entertainment in itself. Each nighttime venue has its own atmosphere which is completely distinct from another:

 

Golden Lion: Kareoke venue which feels like a local college hangout. The patrons there don their formal wear right after dinner.

 

Chart Room: It is an Art Deco retro room with classic jazz playing at a volume compatible for conversation. It gets busy before and after dinner time. Many of the African descent passengers prefer this place.

 

Champagne Bar and Sir Samuels: Never really take off.

 

Commodore Club: Piano bar overlooking the bow. She is called the Commodorothy Club since it is the gay hangout onboard till midnight. The cigar bar connects to it and surprisingly there is not a culture clash of the pretentious dorks who light up.

 

Queens Lounge Ballroom: It is the same people who love the Chart Room, but love to dance and opposite of Golden Lion. Here we see elegantly dressed mature couples dancing cheek to cheek evoking an elegant era of the past.

 

G32: beyond a set of double doors in the ship’s disco and gay club after midnight. It is sleek in a early 2000’s way. The crowd is usually 50 and below and often play music boomers grew up with. Occasionally some elder’s stray in from the Queens Lounge and look surprised when same sex couples dance. G32 is the one lounge with a security guard on call.

 

Outdoor decks take on a similar aura during the day as the inside. QM2 has more outdoor space than most boxboats. The terraced aft decks are very graceful architecturally. The Deck 12 Regatta bar, hot tubs and wading pools are not heavily trafficked, mostly due to the winds. Deck 11 space between the funnels is a friendlier space. The aft decks start with the Queens Grill area only where the mortals have to pass through to get to the Terrace Bar area which has an adult pool and hottub area. This is also a gay hangout. One looks inside at Todd English. Below and aft is a Deck 7 open lido area which looks down at the Deck 6 fantail where the kiddy pool and play area is. The Deck 7 area is where parents can look down and watch their kids.

 

The boat deck promenade is a well utilized wonderful area with teak deck chairs and a great place to watch the ocean. My travelmate who has never cruised before really felt the aura of the Golden Age of crossing wrapped in a blanket over the Atlantic. I remarked: “Is this better than a 17” airplane seat?”.

 

Gay and Lesbian passengers:

 

The ship is very integrated and most people are accepting. Of about 300, Pied Piper had 50 in it’s group. The 2 FOD parties had about 50 people. Cunard out of NYC or Liquordale no longer really need a charter group.

 

Tablemates from Heavan:

 

We more than lucked out with our tablemates. Our table had a mother and daughter who are upper crust New Yorkers, plus 3 women from Oklahoma City. They were mis-assigned to our table, but that one night were very cordial. There were 2 male couples who did not get along with their India Indian tablemates and had the Maitre D’ re-assign them. The MD said “I know just the table for you with 2 guys, and a mother daughter couple.” The 8 of us bonded instantly. We cancelled our alternative dining to be with them, and every night changed seats to sit next to another person. Email list was distributed and we are planning a reunion in New York.

 

Conclusions:

 

The class system is less and less relevant: Get rid of it.

 

The QM2 has over 2 years developed a character and personality. She offers an unquantifiable experience no other ship can. The teething problems of the first season have been solved. She is a town to the new and a second home to her repeat passengers.

[crossingfan]

David

 

Great review. It was a pleasure to meet you and Dave on QM2. I cant wait to be back onboard.

 

Jeff and I so enjoyed talking to you both. Thanks for helping to make this cruise one of the best ever.

 

Rick

[molly361]

Thanks for the review- We also are giving her the second chance the first being the inaguaral Caribbean in 2004 which did not go well- We are looking forward to our December cruise

[jp2001]

G32: beyond a set of double doors in the ship’s disco and gay club after midnight.

 

Please understand that I have nothing against gay people, many people I know are gay but when you say that G32 becomes a gay club after midnight, do you mean that it is the area where gay people hang out, among other passengers or do you mean G32 gets a ''gay club'' atmosphere after midnight (often, straight people, women in particular, don't feel too welcome in a real ''gay club'' atmosphere).

 

I don't want to offend anyone in saying that, it's just that I sometimes go to gay bars with gay friends and while some bars are totally ''straight male and female friendly'', some are not as friendly and some are friendly until a given hour then become more ''wild'' and it's ok because it is their place but I personnaly don't feel welcome in such an environment.

 

From what you posted, I am more of the Golden Lion Pub or G32 type of person (I don't know how to dance ballroom). I will certainly go to Queens Room for some people watching and feel the ballroom experience but I won't stay there all night, that's for sure. I think I will like G32 but I don't know about the gay club thing... depends on what you mean.

[desirod]

The former: It is a club where gay people hang out and integrate for the most part with non-gay people. On the last night of any cruise you will see officers there too.

 

Point is same gender couples can disco dance there without hassle.

 

David

 

Please understand that I have nothing against gay people, many people I know are gay but when you say that G32 becomes a gay club after midnight, do you mean that it is the area where gay people hang out, among other passengers or do you mean G32 gets a ''gay club'' atmosphere after midnight (often, straight people, women in particular, don't feel too welcome in a real ''gay club'' atmosphere).

[jp2001]

Thank you for the clarification and that's perfectly fine with me.

[CruiserTed]

I second the reviewers observation that everyone is friendly and welcoming aboard the great QM2. My wife and I were comfortable everywhere. No worries!

[travel-to-go]

It may be that cruising in general , and people in general are becoming more accepting. And with a 50 passenger Pied Piper contigency, I would think most (straight) passengers might feel that they are not an "absolute" majority, and that it would indeed be tacky for them to be macho-ugly. (in a straight sort of way <G>) Or it may be that the more discerning passengers which Cunard attracts tend to be more tolerant of alternate lifestyles, including openly gay behavior. (As long as said Gays are not wearing the dreaded "J" word!)

 

Now, Deisrod, you wouldn't be just a bit biased in your view of things would you <G>Sort of "looking at things through Dusty Rose colored glasses? <G>

 

Honestly, it did seem (maybe because of the Pied Pier group) that there were more gays than I normally see on board... at least out and not shy about it. I'm fairly cognizant since my college days as a music major, where it was rare to find anyone straight, male or female. And I've been on other Cunard cruises, where it didn't seem as prevalent. Maybe it's the changing of the times. That would be nice to think that we are becoming more open as a society and truly let people be whoever they are instead of trying to make others be just like "us" (Whoever that is, whether it be a religious, political, sexual or other identity.)

 

Cunard still has room for improvement, and a return to some of the values they seem to have left behind, especially how they "Officially" treated our group event, and their prediliction for turning everything into a profit center. For instance, I noticed in the literature about Halifax, the only mention of Canadian Currency was that it was the "official" currency and that one could change one's American currency (for a fat fee, of course) at the kiosks on two deck forward. Past cruises would have mentioned that the American Dollar was widely accepted. Indeed, no mention was made of the possibility of using US currency (or British for that matter, in Her Majesty's Canadian Provicnces!) I thought that was rather tacky and self-serving and not customer serving. Typical Cunard behavior in these post-Carnival days.

And don't even get me started on the photography. They missed out. Cunard used to have the photo people bring out the unsold photos on disembarkation while people waited to be called. Often they went for half price, cash- Heck, even full price, I wanted to buy a shot or two of formal night and our table of five wonderful people but time got late at our late seating dinner, I found myself running off to get that teddy bear and did not make it up to the hard-to-get-to photo gallery. That space has to be losing money hand-over-fist, between it's impossible out-of-the-way location and its usurious rates!) Oh well, their loss!

 

Anyway, David, I am glad you found it more to your liking this time. We had a great time with everybody, and glad Dave had a great time, too.

I see much more cruising ahead for him, despite the inauspicious first night "ups and downs"

It was wonderful being with both of you (and all of the others!)

Hope to sail with you again, too!

Love to Dave! Glad he got through his first cruise okay! (Hmm, no longer can claim to be a virgin! <G>)

 

Karie,

who had a marvelous time! And thanks the FOD for allowing us to "borrow" the Commodorothy Club! <G>

(Did I tell you about the passenger we met on FRED, the bus, whose name was Dorothy? I told her I had seen parties for Friends of Dorothy, and that she must be very popular! She said, that she thought the Wizard of Oz must be popular, too! <G> Yeah, so I am truly evil- Or maybe just mischeivous! <G>!)

[Johnsy81]

Desirod, I'm glad that you enjoyed your second time on board, and that Dave too enjoyed the trip. It was a delight to meet you both. We were lucky on our first cruise back in Nov 2004 (10 day Caribbean) and experienced no service issues. We went to the disco briefly one night back in '04 (DH is not into disco so we didn't stay long and didn't go back). This time on board, we stayed in the dining room longer than usual (generally getting out around 10:30) and would shuffle over to the casino (which is awful at night, by the way...too crowded and smoky - and I'm a smoker!). We were beat by the time 11:00 rolled around and would head back to our cabins. Loved the entire trip and meeting everyone from CC.

 

Note to Karie: I didn't realize there was a nor'easter in the area (thought Ernesto was responsible for the seas). Thanks for the clarification. John and I can now say we sailed in our first storm. Considering 20' swells and the high winds, QM2 did ride through it magnificently.

[Calliope]

Did Cunard have a Cunard World Club members gathering on this short trip?

 

Are there any Cruise Critics out there that are up for the QM2's next four night trip? She leaves out of Port Everglades next January 6 and when she returns to Port Everglades on January 10 the QE2 will be there too.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Great review David... Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

 

2nd seating feels less rushed since we see the show before dinner.

This seems to be standard operating procedure with a lot of lines these days. My most recent HAL and Celebrity cruises had this extensively and apparently now it's come to Cunard too.

 

Personally, I'm glad I don't really care for "shows" as a show before dinner means getting ready for dinner much too early for me (or being rushed, which is not exactly what one wants to do on vacation). As it is, I rarely attend them anyway so it makes no difference. It could be problematic, though, if I actually found the entertainment entertaining.

 

QM2 is the best ship for a first time cruiser.

I think it depends on who that first-time cruiser is.

 

Undoubtedly, for many, QM2 is the best. For others, I suppose she would be the worst.

 

It may be that cruising in general , and people in general are becoming more accepting.

Entirely aside from that, I think Cunard has the biggest (or at least, most noticeable) gay following of any line.

[desirod]

Great review David... Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

 

 

This seems to be standard operating procedure with a lot of lines these days. My most recent HAL and Celebrity cruises had this extensively and apparently now it's come to Cunard too.

 

Personally, I'm glad I don't really care for "shows" as a show before dinner means getting ready for dinner much too early for me (or being rushed, which is not exactly what one wants to do on vacation). As it is, I rarely attend them anyway so it makes no difference. It could be problematic, though, if I actually found the entertainment entertaining.

 

 

I think it depends on who that first-time cruiser is.

 

Undoubtedly, for many, QM2 is the best. For others, I suppose she would be the worst.

 

 

Entirely aside from that, I think Cunard has the biggest (or at least, most noticeable) gay following of any line.

 

Doug, There is a 1/2 hour between the end of show and dinner starting. If the show does not interest you, the ship becomes uncrowded during those times with 1/2 the passengers eating and 1/3 in the theatre.

 

I would not recommend the QM2 for a first time cruise to Joe Lunchbucket. Carnival is better for him.

 

David

[travel-to-go]

Did Cunard have a Cunard World Club members gathering on this short trip?

 

Are there any Cruise Critics out there that are up for the QM2's next four night trip? She leaves out of Port Everglades next January 6 and when she returns to Port Everglades on January 10 the QE2 will be there too.

 

There was no Worls Club gathering, no Captain's cocktail party, and as far as I know, no credit towards platinumm status given to this cruise. (This would put Marc and I to Platinum status, if counted)

 

I believe what David meant by QM2 good for first time cruiser, is a reference to the stability of the ship in less than optimum conditions. His companion Dave is notorious for motion sickness, even feeling uncomfortable in the back seat of a moving car. I think what David was referring to was that any other ship would not have handled the waves and winds as gracefully as did this ship, and even then, Dave was feeling a bit under the weather, though by the second day, due to this fine ship, he was fine.

 

As for the shows, we did not see a one. I am in firm agreement with Doug. Either you are rushed to get ready for dinner an hour or so early, or you have to miss them. I was sorry to miss a couple of the shows this time, not so much so, last time, as there were a few types of performances that simply did not interest me. Some like Rock, some like classical. Neither is for everyone.

 

As Johnsy81 said, we lingered in the dining room, due to our delightful dinner companions and the outrageous fun and satisfaction we had savoring our food and conversation. (And we often closed down the bars, too!) Why rush to the Queen's room, for instance, for the Black and White Ball, where there would be no seats available, (due to early dining passengers getting there while we were still dining, presumably) and difficulty getting drinks, crowded dance floor (despite being "the largest at sea") if you happen to like dancing, and too loud to have a conversation. (Early dining always struck me as being for the grim faced "puritan" types who regard eating as a chore and a necessity, never should it be seen as a sensual pleasure- I recognize families with children and those with medical needs are an exception. Like my Grandparents, who, when retired went to bed early- lest they do something lustful or sinful, and were up before dawn, even when there were no chickens to feed, eggs to gather or cows to milk. and always rushed home from visits to get the mail!)

 

And BTW, Another gripe. The Brittania restaurant only serving breakfast til 9:30. Heck, even Mc Donalds, with only one grill, serves breakfast til 10:30 or 11! Here is this liner which encourages you to enjoy late night pursuits (Karaoke, bars, casino, entertainment, dancing) yet wants you to be up and at 'em the next morning and in and out if breakfast by <gulp> 9:30! I have known dining venues to close off sections as it got later, so the staff could prepare for the early lunch crowd (who, hmm, can't come in until noon, anyway, right? So they need two and a half hours to prepare!) So why can't they stagger this somewhat. there always seems to be a rush with long lines near the closing time. Does that perhaps indicate to anyone that maybe more people would desire to eat later? Why jam 3600 people into an hour and a half? Seems more like a cafeteria, get 'em in and out of the corral type set-up than a luxury cruise where cuisine is revered, slowly savored, and featured. Same thing at lunch. Close at 1:30? Heck, I am not yet hungry for lunch by then after a satisfying breakfast! It seems they cater to the early riser; the rest of us, though the minority, be damned! I think sleepng later on vacation, when no one is paying me to get up at the crack of dawn to face a stressful workday is the lap of luxurient self-indulgence, and what I want on a holiday! I know I am not starving and could afford to miss a meal or two, or get up and jog before dawn, and shouldn't be a lazy indolent slug, (value judgement!) but damn it. The food is one of the things which attracts me to cruising! Otherwise they would serve us soup and sandwich and Egg McMuffins!

 

Karie,

who seems to like to whine lately!

[desirod]

Hi Karie,

 

Great insight here. I want to add that including the stability, Dave thought he would feel trapped on a ship. There is so much going on and so many choices of places and things to do that it did not happen. We had little time for our extra reafing material.

 

We missed the dining room at 9:45 and went to the Kings Court.

Karie, did you order room service?

 

In a conversation last night:

HAL is for Aunt Bee

Cunard is for Auntie Mame

 

David

 

I believe what David meant by QM2 good for first time cruiser, is a reference to the stability of the ship in less than optimum conditions. His companion Dave is notorious for motion sickness, even feeling uncomfortable in the back seat of a moving car. I think what David was referring to was that any other ship would not have handled the waves and winds as gracefully as did this ship, and even then, Dave was feeling a bit under the weather, though by the second day, due to this fine ship, he was fine.

 

As for the shows, we did not see a one. I am in firm agreement with Doug. Either you are rushed to get ready for dinner an hour or so early, or you have to miss them. I was sorry to miss a couple of the shows this time, not so much so, last time, as there were a few types of performances that simply did not interest me. Some like Rock, some like classical. Neither is for everyone.

(Early dining always struck me as being for the grim faced "puritan" types who regard eating as a chore and a necessity, never should it be seen as a sensual pleasure- I recognize families with children and those with medical needs are an exception. Like my Grandparents, who, when retired went to bed early- lest they do something lustful or sinful, and were up before dawn, even when there were no chickens to feed, eggs to gather or cows to milk. and always rushed home from visits to get the mail!)

 

And BTW, Another gripe. The Brittania restaurant only serving breakfast til 9:30. Heck, even Mc Donalds, with only one grill, serves breakfast til 10:30 or 11! Here is this liner which encourages you to enjoy late night pursuits (Karaoke, bars, casino, entertainment, dancing) yet wants you to be up and at 'em the next morning and in and out if breakfast by <gulp> 9:30! I have known dining venues to close off sections as it got later, so the staff could prepare for the early lunch crowd (who, hmm, can't come in until noon, anyway, right? So they need two and a half hours to prepare!) So why can't they stagger this somewhat. there always seems to be a rush with long lines near the closing time. Does that perhaps indicate to anyone that maybe more people would desire to eat later? Why jam 3600 people into an hour and a half? Seems more like a cafeteria, get 'em in and out of the corral type set-up than a luxury cruise where cuisine is revered, slowly savored, and featured. Same thing at lunch. Close at 1:30? Heck, I am not yet hungry for lunch by then after a satisfying breakfast! It seems they cater to the early riser; the rest of us, though the minority, be damned! I think sleepng later on vacation, when no one is paying me to get up at the crack of dawn to face a stressful workday is the lap of luxurient self-indulgence, and what I want on a holiday! I know I am not starving and could afford to miss a meal or two, or get up and jog before dawn, and shouldn't be a lazy indolent slug, (value judgement!) but damn it. The food is one of the things which attracts me to cruising! Otherwise they would serve us soup and sandwich and Egg McMuffins!

 

Karie,

who seems to like to whine lately!

[crossingfan]

Calliope

 

Yes, Jeff and I will be on this sailing as well. We just got off the Labor Day cruise and fell in love with the "Queen Mary 2". We cant wait to be back onboard.

 

Rick

[Calliope]

Calliope

 

Yes, Jeff and I will be on this sailing as well. We just got off the Labor Day cruise and fell in love with the "Queen Mary 2". We cant wait to be back onboard.

 

Rick

 

That's great, Rick! Have you booked yet, and, if so, which restaurant? Who knows, maybe we'll meet each other on that trip.

 

Thanks, Karie, for the info about the Cunard World gatherings. I'm finally to "Platinum", if I would make this trip, and I still wont be able to attend the fabled "Officers' Cocktail Party"!

 

Frank

[crossingfan]

Calliope

 

Yes, we are already booked in a C3 guarantee. So, will be dining in the Brittania.

 

Hope to see you onboard.

 

Rick

[travel-to-go]

That's great, Rick! Have you booked yet, and, if so, which restaurant? Who knows, maybe we'll meet each other on that trip.

Frank

 

Frank,

This seems like an excellent opportunity to point out that someone needs to start organzing the get-together for your cruise! May I suggest that you, or perhaps you and Rick do so? I hope you don't plan to sit around and wait for Cunard to arrange it! You'll wait a long time!

Why don't one of you start a roll call over on the roll call list, and start collecting names and cabin numbers back channel. Maria can tell you it was much nicer having a list in case we needed to find someone and knowing their last name or cabin number (although that didn't work so well for me- I got upgraded upon check-in, after having already been upgraded months earlier- Pity the poor guy that got my original cabin. He probably wondered if I was the ship's floozy- all these people knocking on his door asking for me!<G>)

 

Anyway, why don't one, or both of you start the roll call (if there is not one already) and start planning the party! It needn't be a big production. Hey! Everyone, why don't we meet the second day in the Commodore in the middle of the afternoon- say around 2:00 I'll make up some kind of name tags, even if it's only those "Hello my name is" stick on badges from Staples! That's all it takesto get started. That's how we did it both of our last two cruises! (Though Maria and I will work on Cunard to start recognizing us officailly, the way other cruise lines do.)

 

Karie,

who is waiting for one of you to stap up the the plate and make this thing SING!