QM2 Tour and Review - August 2014 Transatlantic crossing

After completing my first blog post on Queen Victoria I've just completed my tour and review of QM2. Lots of images, along with my opinions about the ship and comparisons with Queen Victoria. I know my images can't compare with those of Pepperrn but hope they give you a feeling for the crossing and that it helps to answer a few questions people may have. My Queen Victoria review is also there. Please feel free to share your opinions and if there is anything it doesn't answer, feel free to ask :)

http://pictureherethereandeverywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/qm2-transatlantic-back-to-back-crossing.html

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What fabulous photos!! I was also on this crossing, my son is in one of the G32 photos. (Alistair in the kilt). Great to see the doggies again. Did you know they are allowed out of the kennels for walks late at night? I didn't realise this until I saw some of them out with their owners.

Fantastic Review. The photographs were just wonderful. Can't wait for my cruise on the QE

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Truly stunning, thank you!

What a wonderful report! Photos were fabulous, especially loved the early am arrival in NYC. That should be on a postcard! Thank you for taking the time to post. Really wonderful!

Thanks for the wonderful photos and the splendid review. The only problem is that now I feel more homesick than ever for QM2.

Thanks for sharing your review and lovely pictures! (I see you were as enchanted by Hannah the harpist as we were!)

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Phenomenal and very comprehensive review and wonderful photos. That took a long time to complete and it was very enjoyable to read. Thank you!

After completing my first blog post on Queen Victoria I've just completed my tour and review of QM2. Lots of images, along with my opinions about the ship and comparisons with Queen Victoria. I know my images can't compare with those of Pepperrn but hope they give you a feeling for the crossing and that it helps to answer a few questions people may have. My Queen Victoria review is also there. Please feel free to share your opinions and if there is anything it doesn't answer, feel free to ask

Thank you for an excellent review and wonderful, colourful photos of QM2! WOW! :) . Quite superb, great to read, detailed and very helpful to new passengers and experienced alike. Well done! Thank you also for the compliment, but you're quite wrong, your photos far exceed my own efforts.

I'm now going to read it all over again and enjoy my favourite ship with the help of your stunning photos :)

Thank you again.

Really enjoyed looking at your excellent photo's and reading your review. I have booked my first Cunard QM2 cruise to the Canaries on Nov 30th and your pictures have given me a great taste of what I can expect. Can't wait to experience this wonderful looking ship. Many thanks.

Superb writing and photographs, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It has me sold on a QM2 Transatlantic.

The only comment with regards to Queens Grill is....doesn't the seating look close together compared to the grand aspect of the Britannia?!

Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad people have enjoyed it. Pepperrn I'm so delighted by your praise, it means an awful lot!

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I was on the same voyage, also enjoyed every minute of it. Loved your blog and photos, it was like being back on board. Thank you for sharing.

Catherine

Oh it seemed just the opposite to me. The Britannia packs diners in like minnows, or sardines. In oil so we slip together even closer.

The grills were more spacious looking thru the windows,a nd for us one of the big draws at Todd's was the spacious seating. Made a world of difference.

Very well done! Thank you for taking the time to share.

Thank You Gazroberts80 for your marvelous QM2 travelogue, it brought back so many wonderful memories of our favorite ship. We hope to sail her again some day soon.

Jonathan

There are some excellent photos there, very good indeed !!!

The one thing I don't understand is that I prefer all the parts of the QM2, like the Chart Room, Commodore Lounge, Casino and it's bar and so on, but I still prefer the QV overall. Odd that I find.

There are some excellent photos there, very good indeed !!! The one thing I don't understand is that I prefer all the parts of the QM2, like the Chart Room, Commodore Lounge, Casino and it's bar and so on, but I still prefer the QV overall. Odd that I find.

For myself, it will be QM2 every time (almost) from now on, for as long as I am able to do so (she'll outlive me), with occasional trips on QE if the itinerary is right (however, odd but true, I can never see myself stepping aboard QV ever again).

All best wishes to you Mr. Toad :) .

I find both of your opinions very interesting. My parents could not decide which of QV and QM2 they preferred the most! My dad loved the size of QM2 as he loves to spend his days walking and felt that being at sea for 7 days on the transatlantic you needed a ship of her size. However he is extremely fond of QV and felt in some ways he preferred her! I think that there is a more natural consistency to the decor throughout. I also think if you look at the quality of finishes in terms of tiling in the pools that QV is superior. The negative of this is that it does not provide such great contrast between one room and another; The differences and characteristics between one bar and another are not that well defined. Seating and carpets are similar throughout. The flow of QV seems better and having a central Queens Room with people flowing through on the balcony above is in my opinion a superior arrangement. I would possibly say that the Grand lobby, corridors, and lift areas feel more luxurious and finished to a higher standard. I felt that these were the only areas showing any significant wear. I must admit standing at the lifts on Level 3 (Stairway B) after boarding I felt it didn't look as polished or as luxurious as standing at the lifts in QV. I see QV as being like a beautiful large luxury yacht. I like Pepperrn would always chose QM2 over her as there is a magnificence and grandeur that only QM2 can provide. The variety of the public spaces and the incredible deck areas. I can however totally see how many may prefer what QV offers. Pepperrn I have sadly not sailed on QE, my parents did in her first year and felt that both QV and QE were basically the same ship with the exception of a few Art Deco styling a on QE. Others I have spoken to have preferred QV saying she has a higher proportion of ex QE2 staff and is the friendly queen. They personally preferred her Art Noveau decor. I did meet a few people on QM2 who preferred QE over QV. I would be very interested to hear your reasons for preferring QE significantly over QV as I value your opinions highly and you are clearly an excellent judge of what makes a ship magnificent.

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I also found these images of QE posted on their facebook page a couple of days ago, really worth a look if you haven't seen them. They are simply fantastic and I think it is these areas that are the special parts on QE and QV, beautiful design.

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I find both of your opinions very interesting. My parents could not decide which of QV and QM2 they preferred the most! My dad loved the size of QM2 as he loves to spend his days walking and felt that being at sea for 7 days on the transatlantic you needed a ship of her size. However he is extremely fond of QV and felt in some ways he preferred her! I think that there is a more natural consistency to the decor throughout. I also think if you look at the quality of finishes in terms of tiling in the pools that QV is superior. The negative of this is that it does not provide such great contrast between one room and another; The differences and characteristics between one bar and another are not that well defined. Seating and carpets are similar throughout. The flow of QV seems better and having a central Queens Room with people flowing through on the balcony above is in my opinion a superior arrangement

Hi Gazroberts80, I certainly don’t want to get into a QM2 v Vista Class debate on this thread, so much of what would be said would revolve around matters of personal taste. And to illustrate this, you like the Queens Room on QV because of the flow of people on the balcony above, but the room went down in my estimation because a main thoroughfare cuts through the middle of the room with constant traffic, noise and distraction from passengers coming and going to the theatre, pub, casino etc. I don’t think the main reception room on a ship should be located on Oxford St in the January Sales! (I like QM2 where there is only G32 beyond the Queens Room). So we start with different views on the same room!

I would possibly say that the Grand lobby, corridors, and lift areas feel more luxurious and finished to a higher standard. I felt that these were the only areas showing any significant wear. I must admit standing at the lifts on Level 3 (Stairway B) after boarding I felt it didn't look as polished or as luxurious as standing at the lifts in QV. I see QV as being like a beautiful large luxury yacht.

I like that on QM2 you enter into the Grand Lobby on boarding, that is where new passengers get their first impressions of the ship, and of Cunard Line (same was true of QE2). On QV/QE you enter into a bank of lifts and stairs, in a cramped lobby with low ceilings, the “real” Grand Lobby being some way aft. What is the point of a Grand Lobby that is not a lobby? And talking of ceilings, I love the high ceilings of Decks 2 and 3 on QM2, esp compared with the low ceilings found on the smaller sisters. That lack of height came as quite a shock! Add the broad, lofty centre-line promenades on two of QM2’s decks that stretch over 400 ft from the back of the theatre to the tapestry in the Britannia Restaurant , compared with being shoved over to the starboard side on QV/QE to get past the funnel uptake and main galley… well, I’ll stop there before I produce a list!

I must say that the single theatres on both QV and QE are amazing for being on a ship, quite astounding, and better than many West End theatres.

I try not to compare QM2 with QV and QE when talking with “Cunard friends”, one is a huge ocean liner, two are cruise ships. They are different animals in many ways. And if you take out the physical differences that make me prefer one over the others, as I said, a lot comes down to personal taste.

I like Pepperrn would always chose QM2 over her as there is a magnificence and grandeur that only QM2 can provide. The variety of the public spaces and the incredible deck areas. I can however totally see how many may prefer what QV offers. Pepperrn I have sadly not sailed on QE, my parents did in her first year and felt that both QV and QE were basically the same ship with the exception of a few Art Deco styling a on QE. Others I have spoken to have preferred QV saying she has a higher proportion of ex QE2 staff and is the friendly queen. They personally preferred her Art Noveau decor. I did meet a few people on QM2 who preferred QE over QV. I would be very interested to hear your reasons for preferring QE significantly over QV as I value your opinions highly and you are clearly an excellent judge of what makes a ship magnificent.

I certainly wouldn’t say that! Absolutely not!

I know that QV and QE should be like two peas in a pod, but they are not. It is as if they realised the mistakes they had made with QV, and corrected many of them when they decided to try and get it right the second time. Here are a few of the things I've noted when comparing the sisters...

I much prefer the provision of bowls and croquet etc on QE to the windy and exposed sports centre on QV. The noise in the Commodore Club on QV from the sports centre directly above, can be quite alarming at times. The faux turf on QE provides an extra layer of sound-proofing.

There is an interior lift on QE that gives access to this sports deck. On QV this is bolted on the outside of the superstructure in an large ugly black glass and white painted steel cage, clearly an afterthought. If I remember correctly, the provision of this additional lift is instead of a useful access door (that is found on QE). This door on QE gives access to the interior of Deck 10 on the starboard side near the "A" lifts; I think one has to go through a door in Churchills to do the same thing on QV (or am I mistaken?).

On QE the glass roof is “fixed” over the Winter Garden, the one on QV slides open. But it doesn’t cover a pool, which would be useful, it covers a lounge! How Cunard, who run ships to Norway and across the North Atlantic ordered two cruise ships that had two outside pools and no way to cover either of them, is beyond me. Other ships manage it, even some that never leave warm waters. The QE version is more practical from a maintenance point of view.

The expanded stern deck on QE provides noticeably more space around the pool than the equivalent on QV.

The theatre on QE has two walkways that run the entire depth of “the stalls”, from rear entrance doors to stage. On QV they stop two-thirds of the way, meeting a dividing barrier that runs across the width of the theatre. In front of this divide there are six extraordinary long rows of seats that also run the entire width. Pity the person near the centre of these impractical rows who has to fight to an end if they have to leave suddenly. No such issue in the theatre on QE.

On QE there is one Britannia Restaurant with an impressive “grande descente” staircase incorporated in a prominent position within the room, which physically and visually links both levels. On QV there are two “hidden”, almost apologetic, curved set of steps running between the floors, again, almost as an afterthought (I always say that QE has one Britannia Restaurant, whilst QV has two, located one above the other, with a narrow slot being the only visible connection between them).

On a personal taste note, I prefer the overall lighter Art Deco feel on QE, rather than the darker Victorian “woods” used on QV. I also like the small scale copies of many of the Art Deco gesso panels from the First Class areas on Queen Mary that are found in the bars on QE, a lovely touch, IMHO. I also prefer the Linley marquetry panel on the funnel uptake where it passes through the QE’s Grand Lobby, to the poorly-designed QV metal version (“all bow and no ship”). These are a few of my thoughts noted quickly.

And now I’ll dodge the incoming missiles from QV lovers :eek: , I’ve the greatest respect for many of them and their knowledge and opinions (they just happen to be wrong on this topic :D ). I shall probably regret this post within hours! :eek:

All best wishes :) .

I agree with Pepper's comments above about QV versus QE. I much prefer the QE to the QV. It always seems to me as though they ran out of money when furnishing the QV.

They had to add extra cabin drawers at a later date on the QV. The QE has two table tennis/ping pong tables - the QV has only one. There are four shelves (Britannia balcony) in the bathrooms on the QE - there are only two on the QV.

I also like the references to the QE2 on the QE - the ship's model in the Yacht Club and the ship's bell etc.

The only thing I think that is better on the QV is that it has a Chart Room whereas the QE does not - it has the Britannia Club restaurant in its place.

@ pepperrn

thanks and an amazing writeup.

We're not so experienced but we did not like the Commodore Club on the QE at night.

The view may be amazing during the daylight, but in the night, the huge (then) black glass fronts made the entire atmosphere very uncomfortable. The CC on the QM2 is superior in any kind of way in our opinion.

The Atlantic Room??

I had actually forgotten that it existed on QM2.

Does anyone have any experience of utilizing it? I believe bridge games go on there but beyond that ??

Could be a place to put single cabins?? ;)

The Atlantic Room?? I had actually forgotten that it existed on QM2. Does anyone have any experience of utilizing it? I believe bridge games go on there but beyond that ?? Could be a place to put single cabins?? ;)