Opionions Please Crossing or Cruise

[mycruz]

We are wanting to plan a cruise on either the QM2 or QE2. We have sailed mostly on Princess but want to experience Cunard. What are the pros and cons of crossings or cruise itineraries? I would love to get some of your experiences on both. One of the possibilities are flying to London, spending some time in England/Scotland then sailing back to the states.

Also, any input on the different levels of staterooms, can you give me the value of booking one over the other?

[babyher]

Glad you brought this up

My wife and I have been entertaining the idea of the same type of trip. Fly to London, spend a week there and sail back home.

[Calliope]

I'd go for a crossing, and on the QE2, if you can. I've cruised and crossed on both the QE2 and QM2. When either is racing across the North Atlantic, and they're both in their element, there is an unexplainable quality that fills the ships. Perhaps it's a sense of history, a feeling that no where else in the world does this happen, the more genteel passengers on for a crossing, and enjoying the pace of the ship with no ports to worry about are just a few of the things that are passing through my mind now.

The QE2 will be doing two west-bound crossings in 2007, and there are already postings on this board from those who will be making atleast one of those crossings. My suggestion is to peruse those threads. Also look back on the threads that deals with the QE2's winter crossing that many of us made last month. There are some wonderful insights into crossing the North Atlantic by ship, and I think, you might have a better feel for which type of voyage you choose.

[Haze]

We are currently booked on QM2 wesbound Sept 24/06. We will be doing exactly what you are contemplating .We are flying to England SEpt 8th.
this will be our sixth crosiing. All others were with QE2.There is something special about a transatlantic crossing. I think it is a wonderful experience
just to grasp the concept of the actual distance from NOrth Aemericaa to the UK. When you fly I really don;t think the concept of distance takes hold.
WE like cunard but it probably is not for everyone. It is a voyage with afternoon teas served by wait staff in white uniforms with white gloves. It is a very nice experience. HOwever, there is class distinction on bouard the ship. Those of higher category cabins dine in one of the "Grille" restaurants.
There are afternoon classical music ocncerts if you wish to attend them.
There are also lectures on vrious topics. This is not something that I have experienced on other cruise lines that I have taken. You must dress in formal or semi foraml attire for the dinner hour every night. At least it was that way in 2003 on our last crossing.
I hope you do give this option due consideration. it is an enriching experience.

[jbailey]

Coming back to the U.S. on the QE2 (or QM2, I suppose) is a great way to decompress from a trip to London and is the perfect end to a vacation. The 25 hour days on board allow you that extra hour of sleep. There is plenty to keep you busy if you like activities, much more than on cruiseships, but probably the most common is a good book from the excellent library read either in a sheltered spot on deck or in a cozy chair along one of the windows.

I'd suggest QE2 over QM2 because it is more historic and has a limited number of years of crossings left in her.

[LunchCompanion]

I would go on the QM2 because the QM2 is faster than princess.
In fact I am doing my transatlantic crossing on the QM2.
However, I am doing my transpacific crossing on the Sapphire Princess because I got a better price. And Princess has more experience in the Pacific.
I took a caribbean cruise on the QM2 last year but I am doing the caribbean on Holland America and Princess this year. Because of the price. Seems I get much more cabin space for the buck on Princess. But there is much more space to wonder about, once outside the cabin, on the QM2.
When I crossed the Pacific in 1988. the long liesurely days at sea agreed with me as well as the gentle, but huge, rollers that rocked me to sleep at night. I am looking forward to crossings again although most of my trips have been on cruises.
The QM2 is so big that it will probably take the time of a crossing for you to get to know the ship.

[Kindlychap]

If you haven't done it, you should do a crossing on QE2. Forget the big barge - QE2 is the one with the history.

You can't fly one way by Concorde anymore, and the numbers of opportunities to do the crossing on QE2 are very limited.

Once she has gone, the era of the great liners will be over. This is your last chance to experience it.

As for the formal dress - yes, you are expected, as a gentleman, to dress in a dress suit four out of six nights, and in a lounge suit on the first and last days. What else would you expect to wear with a Lady?

[schhi]

Do the crossing...that is Cunard's culture and its core business. Also, its ships are designed for crossings, not cruises. There are some exceptions to this, such as World Cruises, but that is about it. If someone talks you in to cruising on Cunard, at least make certain that the itinerary does not included any (I repeat...not one!) tendered port. It takes forever to get anywhere off of either the QEII or the QM2 if you have to tender. They just are not built for it.

[ocngypz]

CROSSING!

On the QE2, naturally.

[Locomotiveman]

I would have to say, yes 'do a crossing' on the QE2 !! It is NOT a giant box afloat the high seas. It is an ocean liner...it slices thru the waves!! We just recently were aboard New York to Los Angeles via Panama Canal and it was just fine. Now bear in mind,the lower priced 'staterooms' are teensy-tiny, so get up a bit in category if $$ are not the issue. Activities do NOT revolve around a large swimming pool much as Carribean 'cruises' usually do. It seemed as though the dressing up and dinner conversation was important to most of us. The weather and lounging about were secondary considerations. I am left wondering,"What will all these people DO once this last classic liner is gone?" Seabourne or Crystal I suppose...You'll enjoy it.

[Richard Schmidt]

Originally Posted by Kindlychap

If you haven't done it, you should do a crossing on QE2. Forget the big barge - QE2 is the one with the history.

You can't fly one way by Concorde anymore, and the numbers of opportunities to do the crossing on QE2 are very limited.

Once she has gone, the era of the great liners will be over. This is your last chance to experience it.

As for the formal dress - yes, you are expected, as a gentleman, to dress in a dress suit four out of six nights, and in a lounge suit on the first and last days. What else would you expect to wear with a Lady?

Forget the big barge indeed. Couldn't have said it better myself. (Nice to find a kindred spirit on these boards.) Absolutely do a crossing aboard QE2.

[Jeanne S]

I would book a crossing on QE2 in the Caronia Category - the lowest Grade C5. This would qualify you for single seating dining for all meals and that table is yours for the entire time meals are served. For example for dinner you may arrive approx 6:30-9:30 (I may be a little off). The Caronia Dining room was the original Columbia First Class dining room from the early days and is what an ocean liner dining room should be to my way of thinking.

If money is not an issue, book a Princess Grill category. The best cabins for size and stability in the event of rough seas are amidship on Deck Three. The central elevator will let you off at the entrance to the Caronia Dining Room.

[Transatlanticfan]

QE2 without a doubt. Having done four crossings on her, the whole ship has a wonderful ethos of elegance and marvellous service. The Caronia dining room is special and memories of it will remain with my wife and I for ever.
Interestingly Cunard are providing single sitting dining for some 'A' cabins next year on the QM2. Pity they didnt think of this for our 2004 crossing and our August 17th. crossing this year or , when they originally designed the ship
Regards
Chris

[mufi]

It is interesting to see that most replies say a crossing on QE2. In the months after the QM2 launch we heard nothing of QE2, now she is back in favour and very much "flavour of the year" I am not sure what this means re the QM2, many folk have sailed on her now and many are expressing a preferance for her older sister. I must say I agree with them.

David.

[KenC]

Originally Posted by mufi

It is interesting to see that most replies say a crossing on QE2. In the months after the QM2 launch we heard nothing of QE2, now she is back in favour and very much "flavour of the year" I am not sure what this means re the QM2, many folk have sailed on her now and many are expressing a preferance for her older sister. I must say I agree with them.

David.

David

Sorry - can't resist! Nobody dares criticise the old girl on this board for fear of being ridiculed and flamed. For me QE2 is a case of the 'emperor's clothes' - all smoke and mirrors and very little content. Folks may poke fun at QM2 and call her a barge but in a very few short years she will be the ONLY transatlantic liner in service - wonder what they will sail on then. Personally I wouldn't sail on QE2 again if it was free. Call me modern but IMHO QM2 is streets ahead in every way.

[dtwtraveler]

We were on a crossing London to NYC in 2003 on the QE2. It was great staying in London for a few days before the crossing. We were ready for a slower pace when we boarded the ship. I think that the crossing after London was a second vacation. Also, since you adjust your clock for a few nights before arriving in NYC, you don't suffer from jet lag. We appreciated the history, worn wooden surfaces, and the creaking and rolling of the ship as we went to sleep. We enjoyed dining in the Mauretania as most of the ship's passengers have in the past. Also, many of the rooms are in varied configurations which adds to the individuality of the ship vs the cookie-cutter rooms on today's ships. Look at the deck plans, and you'll see the various individual configurations of the rooms. Reserve early, and you can book a larger interior stateroom. I don't see the value of staying in a room with a window. You only see land for a few hours. The sea is endless and can be enjoyed on deck or through one of the ship's many windows. We found the food and service in the Mauretania to be great! We can dine in small, posh restaurants other times on land. We enjoyed the size of the room, larger tables and subdued noise in the Mauretania. Depending on your age, you might not want to participate in many of the activities. Since the older generation represents most of the passengers, the activities reflect this - bingo, craft and exercise classes, older authors for the book lectures, etc. My husband was very bored, and I enjoyed the slow passing of the time meeting new people, reading, and relaxing.

We were on a 12-day Caribbean cruise 12/8/05 on the QM2. We had a balcony on the 11th deck. It was totally different, and my husband wasn't bored, since we were at seven ports in seven days! We enjoyed the tenders for a few of the islands.

I would travel on the QE2 again, and would compare the experience to staying in a fine old hotel in Vienna vs a modern hotel in NYC. I appreciate the history of the old and the newness of the modern. The afternoon tea on the QE2 is more dramatic with the servers entering the room together for the tea service and then the sandwiches. Some of the items are also different. It's the old vs the new!

[guernseyguy]

Originally Posted by KenC

Call me modern but IMHO QM2 is streets ahead in every way.

KenC, welcome back - sticking your head above the parapet in the 'QE2 Fan Club'! I would agree with you (largely) in terms of functional hardware the QM2 is easily objectively better than the QE2 in almost every way - but then over three and a half decades of technology should see to that! Its also interesting to find out how many of the 'bargeophobes' have actually sailed on the QM2 - precious few, I'd wager. What the QM2 does not have yet - and which will only come with time is the 'patina' ('wear, to you) of the QE2, and the stories that go with it.

One area where I think the QM2 may still lag the QE2 is in terms of service, in particular in the Britannia restaurant - and this I think is a design issue - placement of stations and so on - and afternoon tea - not a patch on the QE2's service in the Queen's Room. Other areas (Commodore Club, Library) were at least as good, if not better than the QE2. Oh, and when someone gives you free tickets for the QE2....send them my way - I'll use them!

Peter

[Jeanne S]

[quote=
Interestingly Cunard are providing single sitting dining for some 'A' cabins next year on the QM2. Pity they didnt think of this for our 2004 crossing and our August 17th. crossing this year or , when they originally designed the ship
Regards
Chris[/QUOTE]

Where would this be - in a private section of the Brittania DR?

[guernseyguy]

Originally Posted by Jeanne S

Where would this be - in a private section of the Brittania DR?

Unclear...some reports have it on the upper deck, but fore/aft/port/starboard unknown so far.....

[Jeanne S]

Originally Posted by guernseyguy

Unclear...some reports have it on the upper deck, but fore/aft/port/starboard unknown so far.....

There are approx 106 A cat cabins. A minimum of 212 passengers for fully booked double occupancy. Can not tell from the web site how many cabins have 3rd person occupancy. I only spent one evening dining upstairs near the rail and used take a short cut through it. How many people do you think it can accompany? I think it might work well.