I Put Recent Reviews Of Cunard Queen Mary 2 To The Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มิ.ย. 2024
- I cruised on Cunard Queen Mary 2 to see if the ship is as rundown and poorly maintained as many recent critics have claimed, and explore what the ship is like today. Here's what I found: the good and bad
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#queenmary2 #cunard #CunardQueenMary2
#cruisetips
00:00 Start
00:27 Run Down
03:26 Baffling
06:02 Signature Venues
06:55 Hidden Places
08:26 Out Of Touch
Library, bad wifi, traditional "dated" decor. Sounds good to me.
Having been on QM2 just a month ago, I would agree with all of your observations. The ship is nice and well maintained but not glitzy or glamorous. It is old fashioned and traditional which is what I signed up for. A sailing experience of the past instead of today. You can take a modern cruise on any cruise ship but you can only take a traditional “historic” crossing on Cunard’s QM2
That's it, exactly! QM2 is the last Ocean liner alive today. It is 19 years old, so, presumably at it's midterm life cycle, if not a little bit past it, depending on its real technical shape "behind the scenes". Obviously if you want a "traditional" crossing that is the unique opportunity available... So; if that's what one wants, go for it till it lasts. Cunard as it is today has some more 10 years to go till it becomes just another thing. QM2 may have some 20 more being such a thing of its own for the followers... But even out of the Princess and Queens Grille experience cruisers the trend to end that formality level will come one day. The below 50's generations don't want it... It will to fade out at due time.
Yes! You stated it perfectly. The interior design harkens back to the 30's and 40's and art deco. We completed a west bound crossing of the Atlantic May 1, and loved it.
We’ve just returned - with covid from the trip.
Nothing ‘nostalgic’ during our experience .
Food was awful.
@@nunagoras I'm 29 and it's part of the reason I'm drawn to it. Alas, you're probably right that the younger generations want to debase everything in pursuit of some percieved egalitarianism.
@@anonanon7497 I wouldn't go that extreme or that politically focused. The ones whom can afford it, still differentiate themselves from the crowd by the trademarks they carry... In cruising's term Virgin Voyages is a wonderful example of that. Simply, as luggage allowance goes you can carry on less and less for plane travels, so, something will be given away. On top of that, with those nearly 2 consecutive years of homeworking due to the pandemic, people became used to go dressed like if they were at home... That smart elegant sense of not so long ago, say the late 90's, early 00's is fading away quite quickly... In favor of what I can call smart minimalism...
I did a transatlantic with my mother as a teenager, primarily to relocate and bringing our dog. My mother refused to send him cargo so my father flew with my brothers and I got "volunteered" to go with her. It was a magical time of reading, strolling, and music everywhere. She gifted me with my first pair of long gloves and we went to a class on how to curtsey to various levels of people. The memories of that magical time still bring me smiles and evoke wonder
QM2 is a transatlantic liner, other cruise ships are floating tower blocks used as party boats. It's that simple.
She is the last of the true luxury ships the others are just goof boats although some don't look too bad but still no cruise compares to the beauty of the ocean liner
"other cruise ships are floating tower blocks used as party boats. It's that simple." - It isn't that simple though. Look at Seaborne, Windstar, Viking, Scenic Eclipse etc and you have small stylish ships that are dedicated at luxury and or expedition travel. Scenic Eclipse for example is all suite, has 200 passengers two helicopters, submarine and can go anywhere on earth, not a party boat at all.
That’s not how I’d describe any of the lines I’ve been on and completely ignores many beautiful and elegant ships
Queen Mary 2 is a dated and antiquated product designed to half heartedly attempt to hark back to Britains' 'glory days'. Cruise ships are simply better.
Sorry to tell you but QE2 is rated below some of those “floating towers” of yours. Open your eyes and do some research before opening your mouth.
Q: What is the difference between an Ocean Liner and a Cruise Ship? A: An Ocean Liner is a seagoing ship. A Cruise Ship is a Resort Hotel balanced precariously on a Barge.
i:e Carnival
Love that 😂😂😂😂
Well said!
excellent....I always wonder why those behemoths don't just turn turtle on the first broadside wave...
I have always wondered one of these days to wake up and read about one of these massive cruise ships literally breaking apart. Just too large for my taste, and not that I have ever cruised before.
As an ex merchant seaman I would sail on the QM2 anytime compared with the other cruise ship monstrosity,s which are around today she has got style the rust stains just add to the effect of a hard working ship
Ship not tech savvy but with a library of over 10,000 books - it's the ship for me! I don't intend to spend my holiday experience looking at a screen and would much rather chat to the purser.
I agree. It's the kind of ship to bring three good books, or one you want to write onboard and leave the rest of the world behind.
I agree totally!
I agree. I think it is an advantage. For some people perhaps a good chance to reconsider what screens give/take.
I couldn’t agree more. I love reading and would spend much of my free time sitting in that stunning library. The importance of wi-fi, television, USB charging points are of little importance to me at the best of times and most definitely not if I was cruising on this
beautiful liner. I wouldn’t even consider one of the colossal cruise ships with 2,000 people, disco’s, pubs, casinos etc.
The decor does NOT look dated to me at all. It looks stunning.
But, people aren't taking a Cunard ship for a trendy experience but for a traditional voyage/cruise. That makes it different and unique.
The Grill-class lounges are anything but "stunning".
@@Toobula Well, I like being a ship that feels 'traditional.' And that's the QM2.
You mean a Carnival ship.
Huh? We are talking about Cunard, not Carnival.
Actually for me, the lack of good wifi is a big positive as it is an opportunity to disconnect with our devices and spend time visiting with people (in person), reading some good books and enjoying excellent cuisine and wine...that makes for a memorable trip for me...good video...thank you!
My husband and I are sailing with Cunard (Queen Elizabeth) in 2 weeks and I can't wait to not have wifi. We will pay for wifi once a week or when we're in port and apart from that we will be free from our phones. Sounds incredible!
I remember watching a documentary about the building of the QM2. Unlike a regular cruise ship, which is basically a hotel that is designed to float and sail at 15 to 20 knots, the QM2 was designed as a ship, with the hotel shoehorned into it. QM2's top speed is just under 30 knots, so that it can maintain its trans-Atalntic schedule, no matter what the weather is on the North Atlantic.
The Qm2 can sail all day at 30 knots! In sea trials in bursts it could hit 35 to 37. The fastest cruise ships can hit 27 or 28, in bursts like the Norwegian Epic. Cruise ships generally travel between 18 to 22 knots.
My husband and I went on a round trip new york / british isles/ new york. we loved this trip. my husband has always wanted to see England but does not fly. this was perfect. loved the experience of a british ocean liner and the sea days. Bonus was the 75th anniversary to see three cunard ships in Liverpool.
QM2 is my absolute favorite ship for cruising! If I want a theme park, I go to a theme park. When I want a cruise, I go on QM2 😊
Just came back from a westbound transatlantic crossing and everything was perfect. Actually, seeing some rust and worn parts made the ship look more "real", aging like good wine, which is fitting to an ocean liner in continuous service at sea. Only item to fix is the seats in Illuminations. Didn't care too much about slow wifi and missing USB plugs either, especially on a "Royal Mail Ship" I just want to get away from it all and being able to send a couple of messages a week was more than enough for my needs. Hope they keep the experience as traditional and unique as it is today.
I will take the subtle elegance of the Queen Mary 2 over the garish glitter, loud colors, excessive lights and stainless steel of the modern 15 story carnival-like modern cruise ships any day of the week!
I really do believe that the QM2 and Cunard as a whole would be a much better line if they were owned and operated my someone other than Carnival! The ship and the legacy of that name deserves much better IMO. Thanks for this video as always.
Interesting. I had a friend (now, alas, deceased) who went on many sailings of the old QE2 and other Cunard ships, especially when she retired. She absolutely loved the Cunard experience. She said that things definitely deteriorated after Carnival bought Cunard, and had plenty of complaints about the booking and customer relations side. She still loved sailing, but a lot of that was that she felt so at home on a Cunard liner--like going to the same resort hotel every summer; a lot of the same staff were there voyage after voyage.
I agree Dave. However, remember that when Carnival bought Cunard, Cunard was bankrupt and would not exist at all now. Also, Carnival put up the £800m to have QM2 built and was trying to have her built in a British shipyard. It didn't happen because the British government wouldn't put up the necessary financial guarantees.
@@robertwilson738 Yes we do owe it to Carnival for saving the brand. Time has allowed me to forget this part of the line's history, thanks for revisiting it for us!
People forget the Cunard ships are aimed at a certain group who like this sort of design. If your house is decorated by IKEA( that Scandinavian style) of course the ship would look dated. If you’ve been on the Costa line or the MSC line they are very Italianate because that’s what the majority of its passengers like and find comforting. Cunard harks back to the old days of cruising - you dress formally every night , you relax on deckchairs it’s meant for relaxing ,not being on the go constantly and you pay for that experience. Anything that is near the saltwater will rust. Is it just that some of the rust isn’t reported especially by housekeeping because of the push to get everything done in such a short period of time?
If you don’t like that type of cruising don’t cruise with Cunard it’s quite simple. It’s not like Cunard grabbed you off the street or are they they only way to cruise across the Atlantic. If you book Cunard expecting the same bells and whistles as the other lines - YOU didn’t do your research so it’s YOUR fault that it’s not the cruise line for you.
Regarding the rust: QM2 is simply showing her age. Nearly 20 years will leave its mark. Nothing to do on top of that, and that's the same on pretty much every line. Come on an old MSC or Costa, or any other ship of same age and see... Obviously most of the inside will be immaculate, but if you carefully observe there will be areas where the ship will feel like old and with some rust.
I like the design and the décor very much and all the hidden gems. My issues were purely communication and service
A certain group ? The dead , but forgot to lie down Brit group .
@@jimhendrickson957 The decor, do you mean the plastic art on the walls ,outside the elevators and oil paintings of old Cunard ships? Oh yes , it puts Leonardo's art to shame .
@@Jay-vr9ir I guess we can all live cynically although it rarely does much good.
I did a bucket list trans-Atlantic crossing back in April, Southampton to New York. I think people who complain about her condition don't stop to realize the conditions in which she sails. I didn't find anything untoward that I haven't seen on newer cruise ships, and in some cases the newer ones were in worse shape. The interior of QM2 I found to be immaculate. As for the different layout. I found I actually prefer it. I was on deck 8 between elevators c and d, and everything I wanted to get to was quite simple. After sailing, in Britannia, I seriously don't understand why anyone would spend the extra money to sail in Princess or Queens Grill, other than bragging rights. The Britannia restaurant's food was far beyond what any other cruise lines MDR offered, the service impeccable. Their "special" sections were anything but. The King's Court venue I found unimpressive, but the Verandah was outstanding. I didn't get the internet package, as I "unplug" while away, but anyone who did have it, had not very nice things to say about it. I surprised my sister for her birthday and booked us on a roundtrip NYC/Southampton/NYC sailing next year... as I told her, this is NOT a cruise... it's a destination. I think that pretty much sums up the QM2 experience. And definitely do the tea!
Very nice explanation. Sounds like a voyage on the QM2 would be a bucket list experience at sea.
My partner and I have always wanted to do this trip and your idea of a back-to-back is fabulous. We both smoke ( I know) and are respectful of any smoking/non-smoking guidelines. Do you recall seeing smokers on board? One ship we were on was port Non Smoking, Starboard Smoking. I don't see any with an area in the ship and fully understand but it is important to us. I enjoyed your review.
@@TheJohnebey Yes, I'm a smoker. The only area for smoking cigarettes/vapes is on deck 8 outside of the Verandah, port side, by the changing rooms for the pool. They do keep it quite clean and the waiters are very attentive. There is a cigar bar, but no cigarettes allowed. I understand that G32 you can smoke on the upper level during open hours, but I never went to the club, so I can't attest to that. As of my voyage, the casino was still non-smoking. Be warned! During rainy weather, the canopy does leak here and there, plus the overspray... grab a towel to sit on from the pool stand! Almost all of us on our voyage had learned that lesson the hard way... LOL...
You and I were probably on the same crossing! We did the transatlantic from Southampton to New York at the end of April to the 1st of May. Absolutely fantastic experience! We would love to take another voyage one day. It was a dream. My boyfriend is also a smoker and had no issue going up to The Verandah to smoke. Excellent crossing, excellent staff and the ship is just beautiful.
@@HeartofGold16 yup, that was the one I was sailing on. More than likely, I met your boyfriend in passing in the smoking area. I enjoyed all the vintage dressers, it really added to the atmosphere.
I use QM2 to travel to Europe and back as flying over the ocean is not for the faint of heart (jet lag, dealing with delays, missed connections, losing luggage). I didn't find anything about it was poorly maintained. Much better way of traveling across the Atlantic than cramped into a seat on a plane and fed pasta with a side of pasta.
AMEN !
This is the cruising experience I would love to do! For me the opportunity to disconnect, relax and experience great food and drink a major attraction. As a former US Navy destroyer sailor I can remember spending my off hours just enjoying watching the ocean go by. I only wish I could do more than 7 day! My record for consecutive days underway is 104 in 1984 on a ship 512 feet long and only 52 feet wide!
Ahoy shipmate! Sounds like one of those Farragut Class destroyers to me. I spent 27 years as a Quartermaster in the USN. My first ship was the USS Forrestal CV-59 and I served a variety of ships large and small. The Queen Mary 2 is always a special treat and I love crossing the Atlantic in October thru January due to the heavy weather. I found I have the public areas almost to myself. It is a great ship and I think you can appreciate the experience. I've done it 8 times now and plan another go soon.
It has been in the back of my head for a while, the thought of when the time will come for the QM2 to retire and be either scrapped or saved...which is unlikely, but considering her reputation and heritage - and the state of her running mate and ancestors - I wonder. It's good to see that she at least has a while left on her. I hope they can update some of the options you listed. I'm an old soul but I'm also a millennial and, despite that, internet has become something of a necessity nowadays. Appreciate the details in this video I had no idea about.
about 10 to 15 years left actually...
@@talldarkmann
Hope there comes an up to date replacement with still that historical old world charm.
@@talldarkmann The average lif e cruise ships is about 25 years, so I would say 5 to 10 years.
It will probably go to Aliaga or Alang for scrapping.
Unless someone with very deep pockets steps in!
@@PreservationEnthusiast she's not a cruise ship she's a liner - much more solidly built.
@@tomriley5790 It's the same thing in life terms. You've got bulk carriers and tankers at the bottom end with the shortest life spans. Then cargo/containers. Then ferries, then passengers ships including cruise and liners. They have many more internal decks and bulkheads. The fatigue and stress on the hull are lower.
It's not so much to do with "solidity" but more the cost of updating for SOLAS and modern trends as to whether it s practical to continue refitting and operating or build new.
Gary, I agree with almost everything you said. Sadly there are people who are so shallow that they cannot see beyond the exterior. Yes she does need some time off to get freshened up, and I am surprised that they didn't do that during covid shutdown. However I think she is a wonderful ship despite the rust.
As for your difficulty finding your way around the ship... Well, getting from A to B isn't fun. Getting lost and going from A to Z is fun. On my very first voyage last May, I didn't really have a problem, but maybe that was me.
You included WiFi as a negative. Well... It isn't good enough to be bad, but that I think is a positive. What is the point of going on the QM2 if you are going to spend it glued to your phone and not experiencing the voyage. Gary, I know you, and other TH-camrs need it for your channels, but as a typical passenger, I did not need it.
I finally kind of "got" the idea of aligning places by "A, B, C, or D,'. By remembering that "D" is where the Princess and Queens Grill and Medical Center were, and that the SPA was on A, helped me use the middle decks better. I also realized that the longest distances between stairwell was, of course, B to C as they book end the center of the ship. So, always knew I could use B or C in midship to get oriented to the other side.
These same people don't seem to see the real world. QM2 is in great shape considering her age and the fact that she STILL does transAtlantic crossings. In the "old days" a ship crossing the Atlantic wasn't an easy task and it used to be very dangerous. Show QE2 to a sailor from the 19th century and he'd think she was a spaceship floating in the water!
Honestly the fact that qm2 hasn't suffered any major deterioration over her long service is a testament to the shipbuilders
Another great QM2 review! The interior pool area is worn and smells of chemicals. That’s probably the ship’s weakest area. The ship itself is, to me, one of the most beautiful that exists. I found it far classier and with higher grade materials than any other ship I’ve been on. The exterior does have signs of wear but it’s been sitting for almost two years. Personally, I think the Queens grill suites are beautiful and roomy and the Queens grill restaurant amazing. Compared to a suite on, say, Carnival, where you get nothing beyond a larger room, the Queens Grill suites offer a lot: private butler and concierge, any meal you want ordered to your room, private restaurant, free bottle booze and mixers in your room, private hot tub deck. However, I agree that it doesn’t offer a genuine retreat experience like Norwegian or some other lines. And that private deck is weak; if anything it’s worse than the public pool deck. Personally, I have found the New York embarkation experience run by rude staff, and no promised Queens Grill express line. The people running the terminal make for a very low rent experience. They really need to train these people. It is a quirky ship, and you certainly won’t find rock climbing walls, or surfing pools, or robots making a drink, or merry go rounds, but it offers an experience unlike any other ship. If they ever make another true ocean liner, I hope they don’t add rock climbing walls, or divers jumping into water shows, but I hope they do improve on all the areas you mentioned. I look forward to my next QM2 sailing, even if it’s in a regular cabin.
Good old salt spray can make your pristine paint work look shabby in a fortnight.
Great video. I love that there isn't a 'ship within a ship'
I have to admit one of the biggest shocks, after having only been on QM2 and Queen Elizabeth, when I sailed on Oceania's Marina last month, was the Wifi. I had twelve days for one device (the length of my trip.) No worries about turning off my phone, no serious signal problems, and other than having to turn off one device and log on with another (and a very slow file upload time) complete ease. Massive difference from having to ration twenty-minute intervals for which I paid a lot every time i wanted to clean my e-mail inbox.
And one area you didn't touch on: loyalty rewards. I have been on three Cunard cruises, and am what they consider a "Silver" World Club member. On my last cruise with them, I was given a pin, and invited to a "reception" that was basically a large cocktail party with an option for a photo with the captain (that needless to say I had to pay for if I wanted a print or download.) Prior to that, there were no benefits other than a colored stripe on my cruise card on my second trip. On Oceania, this was my first trip. By the end of the voyage, I'd received a 'blue level' member pin AND a set of gift-boxed leather and enamel luggage tags with their club logo. And while pandemic numbers I'm sure were a huge component, I was upgraded from Ocean View to their lowest-level Veranda cabin. The one time Cunard upgraded me from an inside to an ocean view, it was to a cabin so far forward it was near crew quarters (even some crew weren't sure if I was a passenger or working!) and was a small porthole. While there's a difference, though not what I'd call substantial, in cabin pricing, the sense of being nickle and dimed on Cunard got very strong in retrospect after experiencing Oceania's service. I also had almost no bad experiences related to being a solo traveler (and the one I did, the dining manager found me twenty minutes after I turned in the survey, wanting details and asking for a chance to make it right, which they did.) One of Cunard's big sales pitches is their service, and I'm not sure but that they've coasted a little and count on brand loyalty to save them.
My husband and I are sailing on the QM2 next April to the UK as a trial run for when we move over there with our dogs the following year. I appreciate your thoughts, and am glad to get some of those inside tips. For us, the most important and unique feature about this cruise is that one can travel with their dogs. There is NO way I am putting my dogs in the cargo hold of a plane and private aviation is simply out of my price range, so QM2 it is :). If you know if any other companies that offer transatlantic crossings with pets I would greatly appreciate it! thank you :)
I used to work for a well know airline. Think you are very smart to not put the pups in cargo!
@@michellebrowning6139 I have read some horror stories! thanks for the confirmation. :)
It was really interesting to see the intake process for dogs. Right alongside everybody else. I liked that.
Hello! Can you tell me where you booked your tickets?
Stick with your choice, there’s no better way to travel and your dogs will lovingly thank you for it. Pampered with their own dedicated dog-loving kennel master. As for us wee humans a whole week to unwind, bring yourself down to European speed, enjoy good food, usually great lecture programs, and a really good night’s sleep. I try to do at least one round trip crossing every year, with this year hopefully a 2 week Canada and New England cruise sandwiched in the middle to make up for 2 missed years.
this is an outstandingly helpful video thanks Gary. The Atlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 is on our list for all of the reasons that you mention in your wrap up. But this has helped to temper our expectations so that we are better prepared to focus on the many unique positives of this iconic experience.
I took my daughter then aged 42 on the QM2 Trans/At, June 2019. We have both done many sailings with various companies, my first was Shaw Saville 1969. My first Cunard was the Adventurer from Barbados 1974. We have sailed on very modern to what looks like salvage ships. And honestly the QM2 to me is magnificent. My daughter was up early doors fencing loving it.
The splendour of the [old fashioned but classic decor] The Planetarium. I sailed on her first 2004 before the big buffet change & prefered the original. Don't forget she was left 2 years with hundreds of ships to suffer the weather. I would recommend to anyone she is a beautiful ship. She's an ocean liner not a cruise ship & when doing the Atlantic you are doing a crossing not a cruise. Enjoy the Beautiful Queen Mary 2 the likes you may never see again.
Great video Gary. I liked you using your incredible cruise knowledge to critique a ship and point out its good points and areas of improvement. So many TH-camrs on all sorts of topics can sound like advertorials, so it was great to see you branch off here. More of this kind of content would be great.
I have never been on a cruise, I have no intention to go on a cruise, yet I watched the whole video and found it very interesting.
This is a ship that has always interested me when it comes to going on a ship for a holiday
.......... an example of First Class; always.
The Venice Simplon Orient Express.
It NEVER disappoints.
I think I’d like the confusing layout as most large cruise ships tend to look the same and have the same layout . Often they become quite forgettable with one cruise merging into another . This looks like something completely different . I think I’d like the nod to heritage and sailing in the past too . Great video . Thanks for explaining and of course the key thing is it ends in NY
Thanks for moving past the romance of the experience and “telling it like it is.” A crossing is still on my list, probably as a retirement cruise. Maybe by then many of these areas will be improved on.
Thanks as always for watching!!!
This is only my opinion of course, but I would think it would be a positive thing to disconnect from social media, etc. for a week or two and take a vacation from the whole toxic mess. But that's just me.
Love Queen Mary 2. Who needs Wi-Fi? You are on vacation. Maybe u need to go on Disney!
You're spot on.
Gary has provided a thoughtful and well balanced overview of QM2. And very timely. Nothing said that I would take issue with. I would just add that I deem it to be a ship and an experience where one needs to be more self directed and be prepared for and desire down time at sea. The food is good. It is not great. Agree with the assessment of the fitness area. My only call out not mentioned is that in the last refit, the drawer handles in the cabins have sharp edges. The layout issues are for me part of the charm. I like the predictability of QM2. I have a couple of hacks. The first is that I feel it best to order two appetizers for Britannia dining as the portions are petite. I like to work out and usually go to gym in the early morning and during the first dinner seating (usually empty).
I also do nothing with Cunard on land. This includes travel, tours, etc. Self Disembarking is the way to go in my opinion. I never have lunch in the main
dining room but enjoy the breakfast. But the brekkie hours are limited. I also avoid the tea in the Queens Room and the champagne reception for your loyalty tier. I do go for the champagne but wait an hour into the program. This avoids the lines. If you want the tea service, they provide the scones and the sandwiches in Kings Court.
Thanks for watching and these tips and insights!! Very much appreciated and sure it will help others reading these
Thanks for this and the other video, Gary. You answer a lot of my questions. Much appreciated.
Wonderful information--much appreciated!!
It is actually in amazing shape for as many crossings as it does. I mean look at container ships and warships. They constantly are chipping rust and painting and they still look like rust buckets.
Could you imagine the complaints the purser would get if they chipped rust and painted while on cruise??? Some folks will never be happy, but trust me that ship is better looking than any other transatlantic cruiser
Thank you once again Gary. I have learned so much from your varoius videos, and they are also very interesting regarding practical things to remember when visiting different destinations.
I am pleased to see your video, we also travelled this year on the QM2 for our Ruby anniversary and we were disappointed expecting a bit more, so I am glad to see that you confirmed my thoughts because I wondered if it was me.
Our enclosed balcony had the same rust problem and the app was clumsy.
Love your videos and love the footage of the interiors of these liners. I have sailed on the Queen Victoria which I loved. Haven’t done the QM2 yet but it is on my bucket list.
Thank you for making this video and sharing your observations with us. I did hear about the ship and public spaces being neglected. I had been fearing this being an aspect that might ruin the experience of my 9 day Transatlantic crossing I have booked. Now I can look forward to a great time. 👍
I agree with all of your points as I have sailed QM2 about 10 times over the past 6 years including 3 trans-Atlantic voyages. I value their Medical Department which helped me a few times with health issues. It is a fast ship and always very stable. Experiencing it at higher speeds is amazing considering its size.
Thank you for addressing the criticism about the maintenance and other issues! I'm glad you saw my comment about it when you asked what you wanted to address about sailing on QM2 though I'm sure you were already aware of the criticism.
Gary, I have been watching you more or less since you started your channel and I would like to add my congratulations for your excellent content and well thought-out and delivered videos. The quality of your videos is top class and you have grown into the role and become more and more confident in your delivery and performances. While your tips feel like they are being delivered by a trusted friend, your increasing experience both as a cruiser and a travel advisor/critic shine through in all your videos, You are also adept at teasing the viewers into wanting to click on another video - well done and please keep up the great content. Although nothing like as experienced a cruiser as you, my wife and I do like cruising and we always guide our friends and family to your channel whenever they want to learn more about cruise lines, itineraries and to figure what work best for them. As a postscript we have done QM2 twice, but both were some years ago and we enjoyed both crossings tremendously - we also went through a Force 11 Gale and can attest to the benefits of being on an ocean liner rather than a regular cruise ship!
Wow thanks both for watching for so long and the wonderful feedback. Both are very much appreciated 😀😀😀
Since when have the English been known for fine dining, well they outdo themselves or found chef's from around the world to off great food. We've cruised on OM2 and found it stable in the North Atlantic storms, wonderful for its entertainments, lectures, formal tea's, and very authentic pubs. Where else could the darts champion of many days be a women of 95 who formerly owned an East End London Pub? Or play trivia with a British flavor, Canadian twang, and English Empire mixed with American culture? Wonderful crossing!!
England having bad food is a horrid myth that arose from WWII rationing and never went away, a myth that has further been exacerbated by the modern trend for xenophelia. Some of the worlds top chefs are from England and so are many famous dishes.
I am glad they are slightly relaxing the dress "code". I sailed on the QV in 2018 and the first formal night was quite exciting, but by the third couldn't be bothered with the fuss of dressing up.
Many of the supposed "drawbacks" are exactly what appeals to me. I'm certainly not your typical cruiser; I'm not interested in a floating bedroom that moves from tourist trap to tourist trap overnight. I'm not one for resorts, and I definitely have no interest in a theme park at sea. To me, the purpose of taking a cruise is, indeed, to get away from the rush of life and be able to take it easy. (Improved wi-fi would be useful, though; I am, after all, a small business owner and going a full week out of touch usually isn't in the cards. When I had my TA sailing on QE2 I was still working for somebody else, so I could get away with it.)
Lack of specialty (another UK/US spelling difference -- no wonder I always cringe when Gary and Emma pronounce it!) restaurants? So what? The food on Cunard is far superior to anything I can find on land at a fair price, and on QE2 I never felt I was missing out on anything by eating in the Brittania Dining Room every meal (I did go to the buffet once, to try it, but wasn't particularly impressed).
I'm actually concerned more about the ship being adapted to modern "tastes". Much of its glamor is because it IS old-fahioned, harking back to the days when sailing between the US and Europe was a normal means of transport. On QE2 in 2008 I noticed subtle signs that the line was now owned by Carnival, and it sounds like that's more and more the case. Very disappointing.
In the end, it all boils down to what individual travelers want, of course. For some the changes might be wonderful, for others they're the loss of another great experience. It's like flying -- while I don't necessarily want to go back to the days of wearing suits and dresses for going on an airplane, it would be nice to be in a plane full of grown-ups (of whatever age; some kids are much better-behaved these days than the so-called "adults"!). On Cunard, I like the formal nights and the "stuffiness", partly to relive an era that was a couple decades before my time. Others want the shorts-and-t-shirts-all-the-time floating resorts. To each his own but please, Cunard (and Carnival), don't shift everything toward the least common denominator!
Same here. I've done three crossings on QMIi, 2010 New York - Southampton, and 2011 and 12 Hamburg -Southampton -New York. I really enjoyed the formal nights, four on each crossing on the Atlantic. A shame that this is no longer the case, with only two semi-formal gala nights in place now. On one of my crossings I spotted a young man one night who looked stunning, impeccably dressed in tails. Unsurpassed elegance, if perhaps a bit overdone. My point is that it is great fun to dress up and enjoy one's fellow passengers put on their finest garments to celebrate The Occasion: the Transatlantic Crossing itself. To me, the crossing itself is the destination. I loved walking the promenade deck and linger to gaze at sea and sky with their myriads of shades of what looks like one color, but actually reveals infinitely more once one lets oneself be drawn in.. Of course my memories are "old", and soon it will be two decades since QMII entered her service. Time has moved on, and so has technology. My hope is that there will be a new environmentally sustainable way in the not too distant future to propel a ship like QMII through the waters of the North Atlantic, so that diesel fuel is no longer needed.
@@ewmbr1164 Surely it will. From LNG powered to green hydrogen, there will be plenty to fuel those ships. Didn't know, Cunard is going semi-formal these days, apart those showcase EU little 3-5 nights cruises they're offering here and there with no formal night at all. A while back I received a promo for such a Lisbon to Hamburg showcase cruise, and TBHH, I thought that as being "fake" advertisement. Again: Times are changing. And the always decreasing airline luggage allowance doesn't help the formal wear "brigade" on any means...
I agree Dave and its why I am hoping to see some understanding and improvements compared to our last cruise. I think it would be amazing to use Cunard to do all of our ocean crossings. So much more relaxed and easy.
There are plenty of floating benidorms and theme parks for people to choose from already. It'll be a damn shame if the last classy liner also folds and the only option becomes yet another floating theme park.
A well worn ship is a good ship , a well worn guitar is a good guitar , a well worn book is a good book .
Another interesting video. Thank you! 🇨🇦🙋🏼♀️🇨🇦
Dear Mr. Bembridge, since your previous QM2 video and our subsequent exchange of cordial comments I've begun discussions with my wife about a visit to the UK for two or three weeks this coming Fall with crossings on The Queen. We love England and have been many times over the years but never on the Cunard liners. Once I disclose to her the existence of a "Godiva lounge" aboard there will be no further question but that we're going. As for me, the cigar lounge and a proper English pub will do very well. Cheerio! Kind regards, Tom
Fab to hear :-) :-)
My wife and I are leaving on a Queen Mary 2 trans-Atlantic crossing at the beginning of August, and we booked our crossing on the strength of your videos. Thanks for the great information.
Exciting!! Hope you have a great time. I’m keen to do another Crossing soon as I enjoyed it so much !
Am delighted ! My parents and I crossed the Atlantic on the Ile de France early June 1952 and returned to NYC in late August of the same year on the SS United States . The next year we did the southern crossing on American Export Lines. Even though I was ...very young, but old enough to appreciate both of the ocean liners, and never to forget them ! Am hoping to cross next year. I like old fashioned. !!! Will be a treat! I just hope the keep up the maintenance on what you DON"T see..
Is it really an ashtray ? It looks more like a piece to put your hand soap, don't you think ? This ship has always amazed me since the day I "stepped" on it in Hamburg harbor, back in 2007 I think. It's nice to see it still in such good shape.
Ok got back and can tell you the ship is in good shape (other than hallway rug being a bit worn and out of service dryers in the launderettes). All in all, it was great trip and I was impressed with the amount of maintenance I DID see going on. I do agree with the confusing layout, but that just meant I got more exercise.
All the launderette machines were replaced during the M236 westbound crossing - I was a bit surprised when I did our last load of laundry.
excellent review! thank you.
This looks so much better than these giant ships that are around today
I really love the look of Queen Mary 2, especially the Britannia Dining Room. I love the historicism of it. I wonder if the older transatlantic liners had a similar layout to QM2? Maybe that is why they set it out this way?
Thank you for the video!
@jdslyman the original Queen Mary had everything in the middle of ship and you had take long hallways and go up or down
Great video. I had the pleasure of seeing QM2 come in to NYC harbor during her maiden voyage and I wish I just booked a ticket back then. I worked container ships when I was younger and would love to do a crossing on an ocean liner. A single malt, a good book, and an ocean view would be ideal.
Uniqueness is not always a fair comparison with the "going standards," uniqueness should be appreciated for itself, and something to be many times desired.
Gary, Thank you for this most informative video! I agree with you on everything you say. The Wi Fi on QM2 is "pre-historic!". QM2 need to update some things without losing the nostalgic magic of Cunard! I like the formal nights...part of the magic, nostalgia, part of the fun, everybody likes to dress up and be glamourous! Qm2 provides that opportunity. Lets not loose it!
Maybe Cunard will add Starlink
@@bluefever02 I hope Cunard take note of your excellent idea. As far as I have heard Starlink now has global reach and would be accessible to ocean liners around the world.
She's in perfect shape just had some scars from fighting with giants
Excellent video - I may have to try a transatlantic crossing!
There are now 2 cruise ships with planetariums: Viking Orion, launched in 2018, has a state-of-the-art, 7K planetarium.
I'd sail on this ship any day of the week and twice on Sunday vs. the circus-like atmosphere of the modern-day sun barges (yuck!) that are out there. I'm not old, but I am old school when it comes to the past ocean liners of the 30's like the original QM; this is the only venue that exists today that even remotely touches that era.
Age has nothing to do with it, it's a matter of good taste. I'm 29 and wouldn't be seen dead on one of those floating theme parks.
I definitely plan to go on a transatlantic on QM2 in a decade or so when I plan to live across the pond in Europe for a few years. Thanks for the vid.
Reading some info on QM2 it was launched on March 21, 2003 and has a 40 year minimum life span barring what Cunard does with maintenance and/or decommissioning it early.
But as it's the only ocean liner and has some unique cache, I figure it will be around for a good long time.
We were on a 15-day Caribbean cruise in April. The extra time allowed me a lot of time to find my way around the ship than I had on a 7-day crossing in 2019. The big problem was the quarantine areas on our deck - deck 5. This meant that we could not access stairways A and B. Fortunately, Stairway C was close to our cabin. The long passageways that you mention in order to access the Queens Room and Illuminations are actually parts of 1/2 deck. Without them, it would not have been possible to have these venues. And, you can get to the Queens Room through the Deck 3 portion of the Britannia Restaurant when it is not in operation. I agree with many of your comments about tech. But I was able to successfully stream video in some of the common areas such as Kings Court and in the passageways beside the Royal Court Theater. But the stateroom wifi was useless most of the time.
Great Report and Video! 👍 Long Live The Queen 👑 I pray the Ocean Liner is to still be in the future. Nothing like them. 🚢
Thank you for sharing your trip..
It reminds me of my Jaguar, Beautiful to look at, Superb luxury, but falls apart, is old fashioned and breaks all the time, but yet so exciting hehe
Really interesting and fair video, one which certainly reflects our views of QM2 and Cunard. We never stayed in Grills accommodation, but having seen the facilities, it doesn't come close to what we were given as suite guest the last time we sailed on Celebrity.
Years ago we sailed on Statendam 4, which was a 1950s ocean liner and I remember an indoor pool and a movie theater being on the lowest deck. It was like going to the basement
I appreciate the old school look and feel and am looking forward to sailing Sping 2023.
It's normal for ocean liners to have "working rust" The original Queen Mary and the RMS olympic were always a bit battered looking during their service life along with the QE2 and the SS united states, which always had paint worn off the bow because of her speed.
Great to hear the ship seems to be in good shape. Agreed re: the indoor pool - that doesn’t look good at all!
I’m really excited to see Cunard’s Queen Anne ship - I’m very intrigued to see how they do a ‘new build’ ship in comparison to these older liners.
Me too! I’ve booked the first Caribbean trip QA is doing in 2024. You booked ?
@@tipsfortravellers oh, cool! Not yet, but planning to get one in the diary!
Interesting to read this. We love QM2 for her traditional look old fashioned atmosphere and formality. We were last on her in 2016 just after the last transformation and are on her again in a couple of months so will see what we think then.
I have t been in since 2019, would love to go on again. Food is good. The staff make it. I won the last cruise by the way, lucky us x
I would love to see a comparison between the three Cunard ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria.....? They are all very different layouts, ages, and sizes.
Great review Gary and Tolyatti spot on she is an amazing ship but very odd at time took us 3 goes to find G32
We did a 7 night Norwegian Fjords cruise on QM2 in Queens Grill (our cabin was on deck 9) at the end of May. The Wi-Fi was the most irritating thing for us and they gave us a full refund of the Wi-Fi package at the end of the cruise when I complained (as did many others). I agree with most of your comments, and would add that Illuminations (the Planetarium) was also looking quite “unloved”, with several of the reclining seats broken and out of use. However, the absence of segregated areas for Grills passengers wasn’t really an issue in my opinion as the ship is generally quite spacious so we never felt crowded and it was easy to find secluded spots. We didn’t see any point in using the Veranda restaurant when sailing Queens Grill as you could ask for anything off the Veranda restaurant menu anyway. Actually our on board spend ended up being less than we were expecting - Queens Grill passengers get complimentary 1L bottles of their chosen spirit, as well as beers and soft drinks in their minibars. QM2 is what it is - the staff and quality of service is excellent, the food is to a very high standard, but it is very much an Art Deco experience. If you like the idea of posh frocks and tuxedos then it’s a lovely experience.
I'm in luck! I've only ever been on the QM2, so the layout seems totally normal to me. Also, my girlfriend and I look forward to unplugging while on vacation, so the lack of internet is not a big deal for us. We leave in a few days on the Boston/Halifax cruise, and we're really looking forward it it. My 3rd time on the QM2, and my first since her refit.
My husband and I have sailed on QM2 since 2005 when she first appeared. We have been on some many cruised that we are at the top tier. We missed the last two years because of the terrible covid. I will be thrilled to get back on as soon as we can. We have been on Holland America and Celebrity and once on Princess. None compare to the food and service that we enjoy on QM2. Passengers who do not feel comfortable simply do not need to travel on the ship. The rest of us will keep enjoying our travel on the ship.
Well said.
Lovely to see your post Gary. I liked the interior design of the MSC ship you included clips of. Understated elegance which is def my style. TBH seeing rust stains on pipes and pool walls and areas needing sorely needed paint jobs would be a put off for me. Cons the cost of the transatlantic cruise I would feel disappointed seeing those things esp bc those areas are within reach so maintenance and supervisors are not paying attn. Standards IMO would appear to be slipping.
Awesome show as always. Appreciate all the important and helpful information you put out. Can you recommend best reliable transportation from Rome Airport (FCO) to Civitavecchia Cruise Port?
Thank you in advance and hope to see you on Lido deck one day. Bon Voyage 🛳🚢
I am booked for a September westward crossing -- glad I saw this.
As always, a spot on review. We are avid fans of Cunard, and completely agree with your QM2 observations. Much needs to change. The QM2 Grills experience is, at best lacking.
- keep up the good work 👏
Perhaps it is because I live in the Riverland, South Australia, where fresh produce is plentiful and, have tried a lot of fancy restaurants over the years that speciality dining does nothing for me. I just want a nice sit down meal or buffet.
@david andrew, nice, originally from the Mallee, Victoria.
As far as the exterior and some other visual rust, what the hell were they doing during this year and a half layup in England? This is very poor planning on QM2's management.
Most cruise lines didn't have the staff or money to invest at an uncertain time on cosmetic issues or anything that wasn't absolutely necessary.
As the cruise lines were not making any money during Covid, they did. it want to spend any. Plus they never had the staff as most were sent home.
Many cruise liners were cut up and recycled.
All the interior and machinery repairs...
They were probably doing the same as most others, habing staff pretend they were ill and not turning up for work repeatedly. They probably also didnt have the money to do anything, considering they were paying dock fees and maintenance with no income.
Came back from Europe on the QEII (with my car in the hold) long ago - would love to try out the QMII!
The fact that Wifi is spotty and not generally available in certain areas of the ship is WHY we travel on Cunard. The last thing we want on a transatlantic trip is ijots yelling into smartphones all day :)
I’ll take an old QM II over a new carnival any day
Add in a carnival captain that bypasses ports of call constantly the crew says & a company that takes no responsibility & ignores customer complaints the entire company should go belly up
@jdslyman Do they? I never knew. I hope their captains are aware & knowledgeable on how to dock & don’t blame the weather with the passengers standing in the sunshine watching another carnival docking.
Before the pandemic we were on her world cruise, my husband scratched his arm on a closet door handle, blood dripped on his clothes and carpet. With in a few minutes of reporting the incident, the problem was addressed, offers of cleaning his shirt was done. ALL of the interior sharp handles were changed to ones with rounded edges. Each of the ships decks seem to have a person in charge who takes care of problems immediately. Not the same with other lines. Brilliant. However that said we enjoy each ship, each with their quirks, eccentricities, and positives. WiFi on all ships simply aren’t up to par.
The message I got was, if you enjoyed the movie Titanic before it sinks, this is as close to that experience as you can get and these days we know where the icebergs are.
We’ve done two crossings. Wonderfull ship. Agree with your review.
I saw the same ‘Sea’ stains along the hull of the ship while boarding, and those are the result of long periods of time at sea. Most of which is cosmetic. Look at any ship with that type of schedule will appear the same when returning to port (I’d point to any vessel of a nation with an ocean going Navy for examples). I also wonder if all of that time at anchor in the channel added to the issue. I will agree about both the Grill’s Lounge and Grill’s Terrace, both of which felt under supported/staffed, under used, and under thought of. We were disappointed by both, having expected more from these spaces. We did try the Veranda one evening and it was just ‘ok’; as a Grill’s passenger, won’t do it again (hard to beat the QG). We had explicated more from the Spa, so will skip that in the future. We enjoyed all of other non-Grill’s venues and activities in which we were involved. Being a bit of a nerd and loving ships (versus barges with hotels on top) had studied the deck play and enjoyed the ‘liner’ feel with the out of the way nooks and crannies. Overall, we enjoyed the voyage and will do it again, but there is room for improvement with the Grill’s experience. As always you’ve done a great job with your Vlog and channel.
You observations are correct, personally I absolutely loved the experience. Yes, everything seemed to have been thrown together at the last minute, but it's not about wild night clubs and endless foam parties. It's almost like stepping back in time to when the great liners where the masters of long distance travel. The IT side of things are indeed almost unacceptably bad, but Internet is hugely expensive. QM2 is an enjoyable experience and a charming ship.
It's certainly not a cruise ship. The lack of half dressed half drunk loudmouths and the hoards of ill behaved kids running wild screaming and crying all the time make the QM2 a very Pleasant change.
I have never had those people or seen that behaviour on cruises I’ve been on. I feel like you’re comparing it with a more “party ship” (which I’d never go on) rather than some of the premium lines. There’s a huge range of different lines that are all different in the type of crowd they attract so it’s an unfair comparison
Your videos are very enjoyable. I was on the maiden voyage of the Raffaello (1965) and being a young kid did enjoy it. Do not care very much for casinos and all the modern experiences. Would rather like a nice sized swimming pool and not much noise on the decks. Had good experiences on Celebrity Cruises ( nice spa area! ) and Norvegian. Did also two very sporty and interesting cruises with the Polar Star crossing the Drake passage and another one in Greenland arriving in Iceland.
Love your T-Shirt did you get it onboard? Agree QM2 is confusing, which was frustrating to start but once we got our bearings really liked the quirkiness. Love all the hidden places you mentioned, we can't wait to be back on board in September and transatlantic next year!
Yes 😀 it’s fab!!
It’s a magnificent ship and better maintained than many luxury hotels, it’s beautiful, I did find it quite big to get around though so I’m glad I booked midships. The Commodore Club was my favourite bar.