Introduction
Well, there is quintessential British and then there is Cunard and in particularly Queen Mary 2. On a damp Friday November morning as she had just docked in Southampton from her iconic Trans-Atlantic crossing from New York, I was lucky enough to be boarding for a visit. She is the only cruise ship specifically designed for Trans-Atlantic crossings, with her hull shaped to ease the feel of travelling across the Atlantic should the crossing be rough, she has stabilisers to help aid her. People’s perceptions of Cunard are ball gowns with bow ties and tiaras at dinner but it’s not like that today, times have changed, there are gala nights where you can dress up but there is no expectation to do so, turning up in smart casual clothing for dinner is accepted.
The Ballroom
Once on board, we were shown to the Ballroom which is the largest ballroom at sea, where you can not only have fencing lessons or enjoy a Zumba class, but also the iconic afternoon tea which is served to you in the best fine bone china by white gloved waiters whist listening to harpist and or saxophone player. The afternoon tea is complimentary and served every day at 3:30pm.
The cabins
The cabins we saw were all balcony either in Britannia Club, Princess or Queen’s Grill. Each come with various extras the higher up you go with stateroom including your dining restaurant. The Brittania Club includes different options such as late and early dinner in the main restaurant and 24hr room service. In Princess Grill Suites, there is champagne and canapes in the room on arrival, a mini bar and you can choose your own scents to shower in addition to your own restaurant for dining. Queen’s Grill have larger suites and offer a butler, along with their own restaurant and all the other things for accommodation as previously mentioned for Princess Grill.
Entertainment
There are also exclusive Grill areas on board, so should you be in warmer climates there are designated areas on board outside with a bar and a pool. Should the weather not be to your liking there is a designated bar area where you can have pre dinner drinks or chill during the day for quiet space.
If you aren’t in a Grill suite then there are plenty of other places to eat like the King’s Court buffet where you can find various choices from sushi to roast dinner, late night ice cream, pizza, 24hr juice or a Horlicks before bed. In addition to all the food choices, there is a large modern gym with top of the range equipment. Should you not fancy a workout, you can relax at the spa on board offering a range of massages, pedicure, manicure or you can get your hair done for one of the gala dinner nights.
On board there is so much choice for food with nine restaurants. The main one is on two levels, and you can find a choice of dining times early (6:30) or late (9:00) along with table size of 2, 4,6, 8 or anything in between. Then to wash down all that food there is a champagne bar, traditional pub with dart board, specialist tearoom that serve loose teas from all around the world. Should you wish to dance the night away then there is a nightclub where you can dance off all that food and drink. Should you fancy some quiet time then the library is a fantastic spot that houses numerous books in lots of different languages. Then for entertainment, the theatre is where you can go to see fantastic talks from onboard guests. They have coming up at literature festival, one of the guest speakers Claire Balding. They also have West End production shows with the most recent being ‘Come from Away’, what a way to end the day on this truly iconic ship.
Conclusion
I had a wonderful time aboard the Queen Mary 2. With its stunning luxury design, amazing dining options and beautiful cabins, it truly is an exceptional ship. I wish I could have stayed longer!
If you’re thinking about booking a cruise with Cunard, come see me in Monmouth. I’d love to help you plan your perfect getaway!
