Is QM2 really a liner and worthy of the Cunard Brand ?

[jdl]

Slightly controversial if posted on Cruise critic but not for this board I think!

I'm not convinced that QM2 is really a liner at all, for all the marketing bumf about being constructed as a liner for the North Atlantic do we really belive she is ?

Yes she has a slightly more robust construction than a standard US/Euro box cruise ship but for me I've a few doubts:

1. Does she consistently run at a higher top speed than the cruise ships, I'm happy to bow to others knowledge but does this really happen?
2. Can she really handle a storm better than other cruise ships - does anyone have experience of this ?
Some more proof for the above two questions is the extending of the trans-atlantic crossing, is it true that she can't  handle and manage the 5 or 6 day crosssing hence the extra days being added?

The Cunard brand is also being stretched for QM2 namely -

Food - Britannia pre-plated mass produced food, Queens grill - now more in-line with Mauritania food on QE2, Kings court - need I say anymore. 
Accomodation - the top suites whilst much bigger are forced to overlook the rear pools - hardly the style of the QE2 suites.
Service - no escort to cabin service due to the sheer number of people on board

Don't gt me wrong I'm glad that someone had the vision to build her but I do have some major reservations

Is it possible that we have all been sold a pup, ok, that's possibly a bit harsh.  How about we have been sold a thinly disguised cruise ship that is very well marketed  ??

John

[Rob Lightbody]

I think your points are valid, except for one - her sea keeping abilities and strength.  I think in this regard she is all Atlantic liner.  They did, after all, need her to maintain this route for decades to come - a cruise ship couldn't survive this.

I heard Stephen Payne speak earlier this year - http://www.roblightbody.com/liners/qe-2/news/2008/payne_lecture.htm - he's QM2's designer, as you know, and also a life-long QE2 fan.

He was absolutely categorical that QM2 is a "better" ship - dramatically, wildy more stable.  In fact it seems to have exceeded his plans for this.  Example - he said that with ONE stabiliser fin deployed (out of 4?), QM2 had some crazy % less roll than QE2.  By comparison, when he was on QE2's bridge afterwards, he asked them why they didn't have the stabilisers deployed and was told that they were - all of them...  He simply put it down to QM2's huge size, and especially width.

The QM2 cost 40% more to build than a cruise ship the same size would have cost - FORTY PERCENT!!

[Jeff Taylor]

With regard to speed I can tell you that on her LA-Honolulu segment of the world cruise when she lost one pod in Ft. Lauderdale she consistently did 26+ kts--and again that's on 3 pods!  I personally think it's her lack of shear that makes people think of her as a cruise ship rather than a liner, but as we all know that's the only economically viable way to build a ship today.  I have found her to ride very well in rough seas.

[jdl]

Fair points chaps, I'll bow to greater knowledge.

Like I say I am really greatful that she was built and I'm resided to the fact that if I want to go to NY she offers the only way to do it. But, for me she does have her faults, and is a watered down version of what I'd ideally look for.

To be fair I'm sure that these were things that were no doubt said about the QE2 when she was first brought into service as she was such a depature from the original queens and look how we have all come to love her!  So QM2 does have time on her side to grow into a swan....

John

[Jem]

1. Does she consistently run at a higher top speed than the cruise ships, I'm happy to bow to others knowledge but does this really happen?

Here she is this evening bombing up the Channel at over 27 knots!
Hope that answers the first question?

Cheers

[mickey g]

Having been on one North Atlantic on QM2 and shortly to do another I regard her as a worthy successor to QE2. I adore QE2 as do we all, but I am hearing it more and more from my QE2 friends that are more than happy to accept QM2 as a worthy successor.

[Andy F]

Agreed QE2 she may not be but love her or loathe her, she's definitely a true liner and worthy of her 'royal' status in my book.  Sure there are areas of the ship that could be improved and I dare say some of these may be addressed at some point.  It is also true the level of service is not quite what we have become accustomed to but that's true of many things today I guess.   

It is perhaps inevitable that comparisons will be made with QE2 and it would be quite wrong to suggest that everyone will fall under her spell in the same way as they did with her venerable sister. However, and in fairness to QM2, I and I'm sure many others allowed the former a degree of latitude simply because of who she was, viewing this as part and parcel of the QE2 experience.  It is unlikely any other ship would ever enjoy that same level of understanding but while QM2 may never quite achieve the same degree of adulation that QE2 enjoyed, she will nevertheless gain a place in many hearts, mine included.   

[Concorde_QE2]

Big Mary will be here soon!

lundi, septembre 21, 2009   8:00   lundi, septembre 21, 2009   18:00   QUEEN MARY 2   Premium   345,00   41,00   rade      X   3090

I always look forward to her visits to Monaco.



Big Mary?

Always a pleasure to see!

:-)

[Kathy M.]

What a view!  We always go see her when she comes to our area also and are looking forward to seeing QV for the first time in person next month . . . but the view we have at our port pales in comparison to that photo!

[Mr B]

Blimey, that Mary doll is a right ugly burd...

[Mauretania1907]

The liner is a lady, but not as beutiful as one I know.

[WaveyDavey]

Unquestionably:
One westbound crossing, one blackout, one fore 10 and one force 12
6 minutes late in New York - only a true liner could do that!

As to service look who actually operate it now!

[caledonia]

The QM2 ia a magnificent LINER, i have now had 3 voyages on her ( including one transatlantic where we were in a force 8/9 gale) and i can assure you that she is a worthy successor to the much loved and very sadly departed QE2.

No one loved the QE2 more than me i can assure you but it has to be admitted that she was an old lady, and needed far more money spending on her than was realistic to keep her in service, sadly last November proved the end.  To be quite honest looking back now i can see why Carnival snapped up the offer from Dubai to buy her. Sadly things move on and we had to say goodbye ( i was there on the 11th of November from the moment she arrived until she left me in tears off the Isle of Wight, i can still see her now sailing off into the darkness, sadly gone forever).

The QM2 is a very worthy succesor to every Cunard liner that has gone before her, lets not forget without Carnival coming in and investing heavily in Cunard, it would not have survived, the QE2 may well have gone a few years ago, or god forbid been turned into a fun boat for some shipping line as was the France / Norway!

All i can say to people who have their doubts about the QM2 is give her a try, the first time i went on her she seemed massive and it took me most of the 6 days to find my way around, but after 3 voyages i know her well, and on the last trip ( around Britain) i said to my wife- she is now giving me the same feeling of welcome as i used to get on the QE2. Allot of the crew who i spoke to have remarked that many of the QE2's passengers are now going on the QM2 and enjoying her.To me she is the future, the QE2 was the past and as i said NO ONE loved her more than me, but times move on and the Queen Mary 2 is a true Cunarder and a very wonderful liner to travel on

[Cruise_Princess]

Hi    I just got back from the QM2 round UK voyage,,,,,

She will NEVER be the Qe2....we all know that.. nothing can come remotely close..and  its just sooo true!!  Whilst some may think she is beautiful...I cant help but think she is so ugly to look at from the outside...inside is of course beautiful but I do feel I am not on board a ship...its just like a big land based resort....the 'magic 'has well and truly gone.....

Had a cabin on deck 10.....one teeny wave came along   ( and I mean teeny)  whilst we were having breakfast in our cabin and the whole lot smashed to the floor ....tray and all...cups saucers plates even the salt and pepper smashed to bits......

thank god I wasnt on the north atlantic.....we were in the irish Sea!!    that old chestnut came up about a million times on this voyage.......

THIS NEVER HAPPENED ON THE QE2!!!

Oh dear......another pound in the swear box!!! LOL

Have to agree about food standard in the Britannia .....where are the lovely huge silver salvers of delicious petit fours? now we gert rice krispie cakes and toblerone...more often than not arriving when coffee is finished...
no gala buffets...no escort to your cabin... have to get your own tea and cofffee in the lido   in a giant mug with horrible tea bag....hardly white star service!! whilst the crew are standing around looking for table to clear   its madness.....a good few changes on board since the maiden voyage 5 years ago...and not all for the better,....though have to say the entertainment and events for this youngsters birthday outweighed that offered on the Qe2 Dubai trip....pity the same thought and finance wasnt put into that after all poor old Qe2 had to wait about 25 years for a birthday bash.  She only got a great send off at southampton and a big arrival at Dubai..inbetween could have been any cruise anywhere.

think Ive said enough now......

[caledonia]

I am sorry but i cant agree with alot of your comments on the QM2, i dont remember any movement to cause plates to go flying in the Irish sea ( as i said i have travelled across the North Atlantic, and the bay of Biscay on board the QM2 and she is far better in this type of weather than the QE2 ever was) I travelled across the North Atlantic in December on board the QE2 in a force 10 - it was like riding on the big dipper - luckily it doesnt bother me but 95% of the passengers disapeared to their cabins.

I loved the QE2 but it has to be admitted if you take off the rose coloured glasses that she was very tired, looking worn and the cabins when compared to the QM were very poor- she was a museum piece and very sadly at the end of a very long, succesful and very memorable 40 years - it really was very sadly time to say goodbye.

The costs involved in refurbishing her and making her SOLAS compliant were just to great, She had reached the end of her life as a liner/cruise ship and the sale to Dubai was a very wise move on the part of Carnival ( though personally i wish it had not happened, it would have been lovely to see her go back to the Clyde, but with the record of looking after maritime heritage in this country i am sure it would have ended in tears, just look at the mess the Manxman is)- they probably got 5 times her true value. I suppose that alot of people will never allow anything to match the QE2, she was an icon, one i am so proud to be able to say that i had the great pleasure to travel on for a total of 38 nights on 4 wonderful voyages.   
But like it or not she is gone forever and the future is the cruise ships we see today, as  i said to me the QM2 is a worthy succesor to the QE2, she is a one off and we should be glad that Carnival rescued Cunard and the QE2 from oblivion, and had the forsight to build a magnificent liner like the QM2, I am pretty sure in 30 years time there will be web sites  like this one dedicated to her.

[Cruise_Princess]

We all have our opinions,......and we can all agree or disagree.....still couldn't believe our dishes smashed to bits...didnt bother us health wise.... rarely does  we have been through many a hurricane on QE2. which included dozens of transatlantic crossings.. I know she is gone but it will just take me a very long time to get over her.....  I do know that in 3o yrs time folks will have web sites like this for her  but  I spose the folks who loved  the old Lizzie and the Mary thought the same of Qe2....its a generation thing. For me its QE2 , after 20 plus years of sailing on her it always will be....she wasn't faultless ...far from it....but just so loved. Like thousands of others my family helped to build her so its also very sentimental. Im too sentimental for my own good at times.....sorry cant help it!   Although Carnival may have poured in the finance I  will always treasure  QE2 when she was a true Cunarder,...that was true 1st  class  travel at its  very best.... not like the latter years .so I suppose I feel  like many others that I have truly had the very best of it..  Disembarking last November in Dubai was heartbreaking.  I am so very lucky.

[caledonia]

Yes Cruise Princess

I totally agree with you the the QE2 was very,very special, as i said no one loved her more than me, ( my wife still thinks i am mad with the ongoing love affair, i still miss her greatly and next wednesday will be a sad day, the 1st anniversary of her final departure from Southampton). I recently wrote an article which was composed during the ongoing "mourning period" and was published in Ferry scene about my love affair and saying goodbye to the beautiful lady.

Times move on, i DO like the QM2, she is now my prefered cruise ship, and one day in the none too distant future i intend to undertake another transatlantic voyage on her. My next cruise on a Cunard vessel will be the new QE next November, it will be interesting to see what artifacts they are going to put on the new QE from our greatley missed and much loved QE2 (Peter Shanks announced this during his lecture on the round Britain Cruise).

I respect your views, you obviously have spent a great deal of time on the QE2, the 38 nights i spent on her will remain with me until the day i depart this earth, she was special and like i said next wednesday will be a very sad day, a year since she left us, i was in Southampton that day , a very long but memorable day, up at 3.30am then finally leaving Southampton around 10.30pm in the evening for the long drive home to Yorkshire, but i would have not missed it for anything!

[Cruise_Princess]

would love to read the article you wrote...i did one too when we sailed past our house on the final UK Voyage....also look out for Ocean Millers latest book due out shortly where he gave me a whole piece about the final voyage,,,,what fame! LOL

God Bless her eh.....I too have been thinking a lot about last 11Nov,,,when I opened my 'cruising wallet 'the other day  some of the poppies that were dropped on her I picked up are still in there....it was sooooo emotional.....and she deserved every bit of it.....

[andyh]

Big Mary will be here soon!

lundi, septembre 21, 2009   8:00   lundi, septembre 21, 2009   18:00   QUEEN MARY 2   Premium   345,00   41,00   rade      X   3090

I always look forward to her visits to Monaco.



Big Mary?

Always a pleasure to see!

:-)

I was onboard on that visit to Monaco, and she looked great in front of the harbour

[Mauretania1907]

OK, ok, I am going to 'fess up. Compared to the Oasis of the Seas (which I think is gob-smaking UGLY) the QMary die Grosse starts to look really pretty!!! Yes, I did admit she might grow on me.

[Twynkle]

There's a picture of QM2's stern about halfway down the page of the Shiptalk newsletter
Does this photo improve or hinder her reputation?
It'd be interesting to hear what you think!

http://www.shiptalk.com/newsletter_09/newsletter_november_09.html

(Somewhere I found something about her being a Liner below her 'middle' and cruise-ship above....)

[LegendOfTheSeas]

I love Queen Mary 2. I wasn't so sure at first, but compared to a lot of modern cruise ships she is good looking and has a certain 'presence' that only a true ocean liner possesses. My only complaint about her appearance is that maybe she could have been a deck or two lower and therefore could have had a taller funnel - and that backside, oh dear! I definitely aim to do a cruise or an Atlantic crossing on her one day - I didn't manage to make a trip on QE2, a situation I will put right by travelling on Mary one day. Well, not 'put right' as such, as she most definitely isn't Lizzie, but she is a true Queen.
Is she a liner? Yes I think she is, especially when compared to the plastic Vista con-trick Queen Victoria which is no more a Queen than my dog is. Mary 2 was built as a liner and not a cruise ship, she even has a bit of QE2 about her when seen from certain angles and than makes her more than a worthy successor.

[rough crossing]

A very good question and one I feel is particularly taxing - not more so than when put on the spot by the architect himself at lunch one day on the maiden trans Atlantic! I can't quite remember what I said, but diplomacy has always been one of my strengths lol.

Now I've had more time to reflect, the opportunity of another Atlantic crossing and the benefit of comparing QM2 with the Victoria, I think I can be a bit more objective. QM2 is definitely a liner, albeit compromised by those damned balconies. However, I'm struck just how 'clunky' some of the internal circulation and public room layout is on QM2 compared say with the QV (and most definitely not a liner!) Some parts work really well - particularly the multilevel Mauretania restaurant - but other parts seem to have absolutely no coherence - Todd English for instance - and that access for Queens Grill guests through the simply awful Kings Court? Despite Mr Duffy's best efforts with this space in trying to inject a more intimate feel in the evening - like the revamped Chart Room - surely this will be part of a rethink quite soon? And those very strange level changes around the Royal Court Theatre and Illuminations - they have the feel of the architect just having given up due to lack of time to design it properly. Or was it just space left over after design?

But maybe this is all 'nitpicking'. We all know the great QE2 took years of internal refitting and redesign to look like she did at the end - so with her successor I guess - just needs the odd tweek here and there..............      

[Clydebuilt1971]

The question of QM2 being a real liner is an interesting one.

I'm no expert but I'm interested in this so if you'll indulge me for a moment.........

Differences between cruise ship and liner extend to their hull form, propulsion. eg QE2 & QM2 have a bow form which is designed to deflect waves outward rather than allow the bow to bury itself into big waves and their stem is sharper to cut through the waves therefore minimise drag on the hull.

The superstructure is further back on the hull from the bow than a cruise ship to try to take the force out of a wave coming over the bow before it reaches the forward end of the superstructure.

QM2 has a V shaped form in this area which again helps disperse the water back over the side. If you look at pics of the achingly beautiful ss Normandie you will see similarities to QM2 in that area. I suppose this is a modern take on the old well deck which was supposed to achieve the same thing. Look at a photo of Queen Mary to see a well deck - I read somewhere that the well deck was deleted for her fleetmate Queen Elizabeth as it was thought she wouldnt need it but after she took a big wave over the bow mid atlantic which had sufficient force to damage her fwd superstructure it was said the well deck would have been handy in that instance!!

The hull form below the water line tends to be different. Liners tend to have a V style hull form which allow them to cut through the water at the expense of space within the hull whereas your average cruise ship has a flatter bottom with a more bluff bow to afford more space for machinery / facilities etc. but at the expense of some sea keeping capability in heavy weather.

Finally the propulsion system on a liner will tend to be built for speed to allow it to maintain a certain timetable therefore this will take up more space in the hull as a result. QM2's design speed (28knots)was based around Cunard's requirements to cross the atlantic in all weather and keep to the schedule where most cruise ships (eg Queen Victoria)are built for economy and tend to sail around the weather so have service speeds of 20-22knots - why rush everywhere? You're on your hols!!

If you want to see some other example pics I've attached a copy of a Cunard shot showing QE2 taking one on the bow - see how the water disperses. The other is one of my shots of QM2's fo'csle which clearly shows the V shape.

Sorry if this is a bit heavy but in conclusion I would say that yes QM2 is worthy of the liner title for the above reasons!!

Gav

[andyh]

Great explanation thanks, and I think it answers the question as to if "Is QM2 really a liner and worthy of the Cunard Brand"

[jdl]

Rough Crossing,

I agree that some of her interiors just don't work or flow at all. 

The other area that I think is a big let down is the Grill dinning rooms, the fact that the windows are set at deck height means that the blinds have to be partially closed to prevent deck strollers peering into the rooms - hardly the height of luxury and elegance you are sold in the brochure. 

I do realise that the QG on the QE2 had windows that overlooked the open deck however, if my memory serves me correct it was only the QG lounge windows that were overlooked, the dinning room windows were elevated.

But, as you point out QE2 was no angel from the start and even after several refits some rooms still didn't quite feel right so who knows!

Gav - great post on hull design.

jdl

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

I do think QM2 is the only true liner that is in service today. When QE2 was still in service to me QM2 came to a second as QE2 was the first to me. I think QM2 is the best replacememt for QE2.
QM2 is getting some good praise since QE2 retired. The only feature I'm not to fond of is the middle part of her as she looks like flates. But that can be ignored so apart from that I like her.

Shame she won't be getting a sister ship. Perhaps if she did have a sister she should have been called Queen Elizabeth and not a sister to QV. In 40 years time when Queen Mary 2 retires she might go to Dubai with QE2

[Peter Mugridge]

*splutters and chokes*




Aside from that, I wonder if it would be feasible to disguise the balconies by putting rounded "border plates" along all sides of them?  I don't mean like huge portholes, but just, say, a couple of feet of plating all round with curved inside corners, so that from a distance they'll just look like large windows ( like QE2's upper deck windows turned sideways )?

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

That would have been better. Perhaps Cunard should consider a sister for her? An updated QM2.

[Peter Mugridge]

Shouldn't be too difficult to retrofit should it?  If lightweight carbon fibre was used rather than metal?

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

If they did have it done QM2 might have to be put out of service so the job could be done.

Just to add tonight on ITV1 at eight o'clock theres something about the Queen Mary 2.

[Peter Mugridge]

^^^^^

That'll be Coastline Cops won't it?


And I wouldn't think she'd necessarily have to be taken out of service; they could do it over time during minor maintenance downtime.  Although given the lead time for design and materials preparation / delivery by the time everything was ready it would probably be pretty close to her next scheduled refit anyway.

[highlander0108]

Video of that very rough November Crossing.  You can hear what I believe is the glass cabinet doors rattling as the bow slams into the waves in the Library.  Yeehaa!  Don't forget that the behemoth Oasis of the Seas had to slow down to 6 knots to get through this!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XBrnkxQu8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XBrnkxQu8</a>

[Jem]

Fantastic, haven't seen this clip before. She is a proper liner!

[andyh]

She seems to handle that very well 

I like the idea of the Oasis of the Seas having to slow to 6 knots in those conditions  while our lady ploughs on

[Twynkle]

Yeah Ken!
That's a good video clip!

Guess it was probably shot on the same day that we were watching from the bow webcam...
http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1214.0.html
Can there still be any doubt whether RMS Queen Mary 2 is a liner?

[QE2 Canuck]

Hello all....Yes.. Queen Mary 2 is indeed a true ocean liner and very worthy of the Cunard brand !!!  She is the only one I would even consider crossing the great North Atlantic on. 

Linda

[Rob Lightbody]

Fantastic video of the mighty QM2 dealing with the Atlantic in exactly the way she and her predecessors were designed to!

[luzparis]

amazing  video  a real liner

[Marshall]

I think the QM2 is a true Ocean Liner however were as the old liners of the day transported immigrants to america accross the north atlantic and normaly the Big shipping companys either went for speed and weight or weight and length records.

There was fierce rivals between all shipping companys during the day, you had cunard with the Grey hounds Lusitania and Mauratania, however Aquatania was too light to get the record for largest ship, White star line had The olympic class and later the Mejestic and the french line in the later years had the Normadie and the germans had the record holders bremen the other i cant remember the name.

The design of the QM2 is a lovely design as she takes features from all the great ships of the day, she takes the feature of the bridge wing extended out from the bridge forcastile just like that of the Queen Mary, She features a beutifull bow just like that of the Normadia and the ex france, her back funnel stacks feature that of the german lines rotterdam essentialy featureing something from the diffrent years of the ocean liner day so i belive essentialy her design meets the requierment to be said to be an ocean liner, as she has more steel used in her construction, she also essential dose have the same speed equivelent of the old queens as she is able to maintane an speed of 30 knots, She is powerfull like an ocean liner, big like one and long like one,

1)  Shes operated by one of the oldest shipping lines (however the line is rather a brand now)
2)  She also has parts of the white star line atmosphere around her especialy with the white star service.
3)  She has the original queen marys horn

any appions on this, if i am wrong then i appolagise

[Twynkle]

Part of Ted Scull's account of the trans-Atlantic voyage, November 2009.
This, together with his images, would seem to add well to the description: 'QM2 is a Liner'!

...The weather deteriorated fast and the sea began streaking and building with waves heights up to 10 and 11 meters. It was now F9. We had lunch in the pub with mostly British passengers glued to the windows watching the waves pile up outside and then suddenly a wave washed the windows along the entire length of the room. Cheers went up when a big one splashed by.

I then sat in the library on Deck 8 and watched the quartering seas slam up against the bow. Every few minutes the spray plastered the forward windows. Some people had never seen anything like this before and were fascinated. All the doors out to the deck were roped off. Not to upset anyone, I went aft on Deck 7, port side, and walked out onto the after deck then up to the Grill Class deck and watched the view facing forward along the lifeboats. It was a great location especailly when the seas exploded at the bow.
I then was stopped by a young Mancunian at the railing of the Deck 3 atrium who was really excited by it all. As we stood there talking the ship's bell began ringing, and it was hard to see what motion caused it. After about eight rings it stopped. Well, it is Friday, the 13th

http://www.worldshipny.com/BlogBeg111109.html

[Cruisemarsh]

In my opinion, Queen Mary 2 is a liner and I think is worthy to be part of Cunard. She however is not anywhere near QE2 in terms of status but she is a liner all the same. She has a tougher hull than cruise ships, she has a sweeping streamlined bow like liners. The only real difference (although QE2 to extent was built like this) is the way she was built, in the new "lego-type" construction methods with the actual ship being built on a dry-dock on stilts rather than on an actual slipway. She has the speed and power of a liner also and that's where cruise ships would struggle. So all in all, QM2 is a liner.

[MacTaf]

In my humble opinion. QM2 is the only liner  afloat. We realise it isn't the QE2 but this vessel was designed & constructed for the 21st Century, as her predecessor was for the previous century. What it boils down to is simply this, does CCL and Aranson have it right with Cunard. Take one look at the strategy of previous owners of the line. A multitude of ship types & sizes. With various company liveries. no uniformed concept.  New builds? One decent sized liner in 40 years, with major Govt construction subsidy.  As opposed to  CCL/Cunard three new sensible sized New builds in barely 10 years. While two of these vessels  may be Cruise liners & one of the vessels actually described as a Vista. Think carefully before you knock HAL  & it’s Vista service under  CCL’s stewardship, as a brand it has many fans, myself included.  In my opinion in years to come we will be greatly appreciative of CCL  for keeping the brand alive & maintaining it’s traditions. We should be thankful that CCL had both the courage & huge finance to invest in Cunard. I think we as followers of Cunard Traditions can consider ourselves fortunate. If one wishes to draw a parallel regarding the QE2 look at the fate of the SS France & NCL’s Stewardship where it became known by the awful name of the “Big Blue Boat” and finished up in Alang. With its only hope of ever returning to Sea is as cutlery...

[Jeff Taylor]

With the greatest respect to the icon which QE2 has become, I can assure you she was viewed with some skepticism when she came out.  I remember sitting in the cinema of QE and watching the launch newsreel of QE2 wondering if she'd ever measure up.   Between the teething problems, her more modern silouette and decor, and the generally questionable esteem of Cunard at the time, the patina of age and her remarkable history is part of what we now view as the wonder of QE2.  Who knows how QM2 will be viewed in 40 years, or if she'll even be around, but let's give her a chance.  One thing's certain; she's the only ship to have a shot at the title.

[Scott Ebersold]

The simple answer to the question is yes.

In specific:
1. Yes.
2. Yes.

Food - absolutely disagree about quality of food in QM2's QG being compared to QE2's Mauretania Restaurant.  That is unless QE2's Mauretania food was exactly on par with QE2's QG. (Which is entirely possible, but I think we are referring to the renown that QE2 was known for in her Grills.)   And I even noted onboard once to a companion that QM2's Britannia Club reminded me, in almost every way, of the Grills.

Crossing time - she can do it, the company added an extra day to enjoy her.  (Whether we agree that is the enjoyment has been up for debate but not her ability.

Top Suites - not all over look the pools, in my opinion the best overlook the bow.  The ones overlooking the pools seemed to cater to the crowd they were intended for - people who want to be seen.

Service - I was on the maiden voyage which was storied with service problems.  However, UNLIKE QE2 where sometimes I would be escorted to my cabin and other not, each time aboard QM2  I was escorted to directly to my cabin (even if I was doing most of the escorting).

For this ship, at the very least, we have not been sold up.  Stephen Paine made great efforts to create a great Ocean Liner.  He knew what was at stake and took it to heart.

Slightly controversial if posted on Cruise critic but not for this board I think!

I'm not convinced that QM2 is really a liner at all, for all the marketing bumf about being constructed as a liner for the North Atlantic do we really belive she is ?

Yes she has a slightly more robust construction than a standard US/Euro box cruise ship but for me I've a few doubts:

1. Does she consistently run at a higher top speed than the cruise ships, I'm happy to bow to others knowledge but does this really happen?
2. Can she really handle a storm better than other cruise ships - does anyone have experience of this ?
Some more proof for the above two questions is the extending of the trans-atlantic crossing, is it true that she can't  handle and manage the 5 or 6 day crosssing hence the extra days being added?

The Cunard brand is also being stretched for QM2 namely -

Food - Britannia pre-plated mass produced food, Queens grill - now more in-line with Mauritania food on QE2, Kings court - need I say anymore.  
Accomodation - the top suites whilst much bigger are forced to overlook the rear pools - hardly the style of the QE2 suites.
Service - no escort to cabin service due to the sheer number of people on board

Don't gt me wrong I'm glad that someone had the vision to build her but I do have some major reservations

Is it possible that we have all been sold a pup, ok, that's possibly a bit harsh.  How about we have been sold a thinly disguised cruise ship that is very well marketed  ??

John