Return to Cunard (QM2 after QE2)

[Rod]

What an amazing coincidence! Was talking to my FIL this am...hes is hospital so not much else to do...about QE2/QM2. Background...MIL and FIL did 9 QE2  trips/cruises before I got involved with their daughter 4 after.
2 trips each Saga/Vista. 1 cruise Cunard Adventurer, 1 Ambassador. 3 cruises  Princess, 2 cruises Countess. So I think you could call them experienced cruisers. Also 1 Rhine barge cruise of 2 weeks.
Their final cruise they did on the Maiden Voyage of QM2, and the attached cruise.
Quote from my FIL " Compared to the other ones it was OK. " Service was OK. Food good to excellent, but not much attention paid to special requests, well done steak, no butter on the beans etc. Apparently a load of the crew left in one port and were replaced by newbies and it went downhill. Said the ship was too big and chaotic. No quiet little niches where they could just gaze at the sea.
My FIL is a big believer in tipping...what he does is tips at the start and says...look after me and my wife and there will be more at the end.....he did not give out much at the end. At one meal he got soup spilled on his jacket...the whole bowl of ...fortunately gazpatcho, they did not offer to clean it. He went to the bureau and told what had happened. Reply, Sir this is a ship these things happen. Will you pay for the cleaning? Sir we cannot do that.
On his return to the US he wrote to Cunard laying out his complaints in a a nice way, I saw the letter. After 3 months he got a letter back...1 paragraph, basically these thing happen, here's an on board voucher for $50! The letter and voucher are framed in his downstairs toilet.

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

Without exception, everybody tells me that the experience of QV & QE is better than QM2.  If you're into cruising, then they sound like the one's to be on.

Which is a shame, because as ships, only QM2 interests me, and its always been the ship herself that's been the driving factor for me.  In a stormy seas and bad weather I want to be able to shout out at the sea 'bring it on!' and know the ship will handle absolutely anything.

Thats a shame that its like that, I myself have a huge fondness for Queen Mary 2 which began when she was launched back in 2004.

QM2's interior is nice but the two floating boxes seem to have the best interiors.  I wonder if its a deliberate plan by Cunard to show that these ships are the real sucessors to QE2? Saying that a ship with lines like the old transatlantic liners didn't replace QE2?  I think the interiors on the two cruising Queen's should be on Queen Mary 2.

Its funny because when the orginal Queen's were in service people prefered Queen Mary over Queen Elizabeth because the Mary had a warm welcoming presence with rich woods and so on, whereas the Elizabeth had a more conservative look.

Despite all the re-flagging I will one day have a cruise aboard Queen Mary 2. She is my generations Queen Mary and QE2.  Hopefully Southampton will be stamped back on in time to come.

[QE2forever]

Without exception, everybody tells me that the experience of QV & QE is better than QM2. If you're into cruising, then they sound like the one's to be on.

Well, I'm not with you on this one. Been on QV (though on a relatively short trip, I admit), it was fine, but I prefer QM2 by far. For almost everything: layout, public rooms, decks, smell, noise, external appearance (of course!!!  )...

Perhaps because I'm not so much into cruising, but more into crossing, actually. And she's perfect at that.

I do agree with a couple of your complaints, though: the lack of a wraparound inside promenade (causing the King's Court to be a highway all the time), and the not-illuminated charts at the Chart Room (shabby!).

But I'd say, that's it. I definetely love her uniqueness, and although she won't make me forget QE2 (how could any ship?), QM2 is by far my favourite ship.

...only QM2 interests me, and its always been the ship herself that's been the driving factor for me.  In a stormy seas and bad weather I want to be able to shout out at the sea 'bring it on!' and know the ship will handle absolutely anything.

Totally agree, here. And I can confirm: She does!

[Clydebuilt1971]

Without exception, everybody tells me that the experience of QV & QE is better than QM2.  If you're into cruising, then they sound like the one's to be on.

Which is a shame, because as ships, only QM2 interests me, and its always been the ship herself that's been the driving factor for me.  In a stormy seas and bad weather I want to be able to shout out at the sea 'bring it on!' and know the ship will handle absolutely anything.

Hi Rob,

I think you've hit it head on here - we were on QM2 for the 4th time in Sept on her Iberian Highlights cruise. (Southampton / Vigo / Lisbon / Valencia / Barcelona / Southampton) - two sea days at the start and three at the end.
Now as you know we are both used to sailing on smaller ships (namely ps Waverley and MV Balmoral) and are reasonably used to ship's movements but that first sea day we felt pretty horrible - I couldnt understand it until I looked at the speed the ship was making - 15 knots - I'm no expert but I would imagine that her stabilisers would be more effective at higher hull speeds? Perhaps 24+ knots but at 15 the movement was just not natural. We were better the next day and the between port passages were fine (as she had upped her speed to in excess of 20 knots). The return leg was fine as she maintained these higher speeds all the way.

We thought the prices had increased but unfortunately the standards had fallen a little but on the whole the holiday was excellent and I will forever be in awe of the vessels size, power but ultimately her maneuverability - we left Valencia astern and QM2 was turned bow into the jetty as she performed a 180deg pivot to leave the harbour entrance - there was no wind but it was impressive nonetheless. Also, just knowing that she has the power and the strength to withstand pretty much anything is comforting.

Plus at every port we called QM2 was the one that was being photographed and she looked like a real ship. I was working on Celebrity's newest vessel Reflection for four days in November and the differences were marked - the outside doors are all glass sliding not the big heavy wooden items on QM2. There is no full promenade and in summary felt more like a big American hotel inside - the interiors dont flow right and you lose the ship feeling when shes underway. The bow thruster and engine rooms are impressive though!!

With regards to the QM2 "flow" Rob - I assume you are alluding to that mad layout in the after end at the Britannia where you go down "half" a deck from deck 3 up the side and then arrive at the entrance to the Queens Room? We've never gotten the hang of that.

Having been on QV I would say she is cosier - but it would be the Mary for me - all day every day.

Gav

[mksmith]

Hi Rob,

Glad to hear you had an opportunity to sail on QM2. I have been lucky enough to have completed my 10th voyage this past year. Stephen Payne did an amazing job in the overall design; took the best from the past and infused it in the present. He is brilliant and the one true British aspect of QM2. This said, there are a few I would have preferred to be designed differently:

•The awkwardness of getting outside on deck 8. Either you need to go through Todd English   or go up and around via a staircase on deck 7.
•There is no direct way to get the Queens Room from Deck 3 unless you go through the restaurant. Very awkward if you have someone in a wheel chair. The flow of this deck is too choppy.
•The small pool on Deck 12 forward is just a waste. Would have preferred a regular pool
•The teak decks are not of the same quality as QE2. One of my distinctive memories of QE2 was the teak, the wood felt like silk. I think they have a lower grade on QM2

In terms of amenities I have seen more cutbacks, while fares increase. Last year was the most noticeable which I think is a result of the Costa disaster. For example:
•On a 12 day Caribbean cruise it was 4 days to arrive at our first port. I realize this is to lower fuel consumption; however I believe it is also intended to promote passengers spending money onboard instead of them the dollar to the islands
•Shore excursions prices increase
•Smaller portions on the meals and less variety in Kings Court
•Smaller bed time chocolates – next they will be a M&M on the pillow
•Not having a priest onboard for every voyage. It was not only an amenity for the passengers it was also a comfort for the crew. They are at sea 9 months and most being Catholic it was a comfort of home.
•Not taking the 20% discount (Diamond member perk) on dry cleaning until you have exceeded your onboard credit
•From my understanding in 2013 there will be a charge for the soap packets in the self-service laundry.
The officers and crew are absolutely fabulous.

They worked unbelievably hard and go above and beyond every day. If it wasn’t for their efforts there would not be a Cunard - “They are Cunard.” This is why I am so irritated with corporate’s decision to the move registrations out of England to bypass the employment wage law. No matter the PR spin it was not for weddings at sea.


Rob if you haven’t already done so I would highly recommend a crossing. QM2 is just amazing and at her best in this environment. She slices through the Atlantic with what seems the least effort. I also think it would be an interesting comparison to QE2.