The Queen Mary 2 was built as a transatlantic liner, able to withstand the North Atlantic crossing in record time. The difference between this ship with seventeen decks and the more usual large cruise ship is apparent from the moment passengers step aboard.
Grand Lobby and Corridors
On boarding the QM2, passengers are immediately in the Grand Lobby with its double staircase sweeping over several floors. Panoramic glass lifts set the tone of the whole liner. It has the feel of a slightly old fashioned grand hotel. This impression continues throughout the ship.
The internal corridors are long and wide and the walls are lavishly adorned with sculptured plaques, paintings and William Morris type designs. Although the wood panelling effect is not real wood, because of safety requirements, there is a genteel luxury feel of the nineteen twenties and thirties. This is no accident.
Cunard’s New Golden Age of Travel
Cunard has gone to some trouble to make sure this is a transatlantic liner to rival those great liners of bygone eras, including the original Queen Mary which began service in 1936. It mostly succeeds. The original heyday of cruising was known as the Golden Age of Travel and the cruise company makes no secret of the fact that it hopes the QM2 heralds a new golden age.
Cruising is one of the fastest growing holiday options and those more used to modern cruise ships may find the QM2 slightly confined and stuffy at first. Although built in France, it is decidedly British in every other way. The officers are predominantly British and the whole ambience has that slight formality reminiscent of the QE2 and the original grand liners.
There is a noticeable lack of the huge glass windows and open spaces that are on modern cruise ships. This is a necessary feature of a liner that is built for transatlantic sailing, for anything less would have weakened the structure and restricted her use during bad weather.
QM2 Amenities and Planetarium
The QM2 has an excellent range of modern amenities including the first working Planetarium at sea, Illuminations, which doubles as a cinema and lecture hall. The Royal Court Theatre has the traditional look and feel of an old British theatre. The live orchestra plays from the pit. The seats are situated close to the stage in an ascending ‘U’ shape, and there is all the latest technical equipment and the best entertainment.
The library is one of the largest at sea, with tall, backlit bookcases containing fiction and non-fiction in sections. Computers are also available, and a welcome addition to life afloat is the adjacent bookshop with newspapers and magazines for sale along with books.
Canyon Ranch Health Resort Spa
Like many other cruise ships, the QM2 sports a superb spa and gymnasium. Run by the famous Canyon Ranch Health Resorts based in Tucson, Arizona, the spa offers massage, skin care treatments, thermal therapies, body treatments and a full beauty service. The several indoor and outdoor pools on board include an Aqua Therapy Pool with thalassotherapy treatments on offer. The Spa provides a modern, spacious health retreat at sea.
Suites and Staterooms
The luxurious suites that come with butler have a 1930s feeling, most apparent in the style of the cocktail bar complete with a variety of glasses. The rooms are large with sitting area, bed and bedside tables, separate walk-in dressing room/wardrobe and a large bathroom with products from the Canyon Ranch range. The bath doubles as a Jacuzzi and the shower is powerful. The veranda stretches the full width of the room, contains a wooden table and chairs and is reached through sliding doors.
All staterooms are at least 200 square feet and those on the lower decks have access to the small veranda via a circular window; this has more to do with the balance of the ship than style. One feature of the ship is the two duplex apartments for the ultra-rich. These offer a downstairs sitting room and television area while upstairs is the gym and bedroom; truly a home from home.
Public Rooms and Dining
There are several pleasant public rooms, including an English pub, The Golden Lion. Impeccable waiters in white gloves serve a very English afternoon tea with delicate sandwiches and dainty cakes in the Queen’s Room each day.
Dinner, served in the sumptuous two-level main Britannia Restaurant, is superb and there are other choices of venue if preferred. Tables vary in size from two, to eight or ten places and each stateroom is given a reserved table at one of the many restaurants.
Overall, this is a very fine liner that largely succeeds in recreating the luxury of the golden days of transatlantic crossings.
Further details from Cunard or any good travel agent.
 |
 |
 |
 |
