sfbearcat

Sail out of pier 90 and down the Hudson River much nicer...some faster crossings, the standard before 2010 slowdown..they have a few super slow ones..8days..they should offer a few 5 days crossings

Well first off no more sailing down the Hudson river and the great mid town location...slower and far less crossings and only one cruise out of NYC...The marketing used to have alot more focus on the TAs and Cunards history..The ship itself has some changes like the glass floor in the Kings court covered over for more tables..the Bridge wings are longer and the in room TV system with all the music and movies is gone. Alot of the Cunard way of doing things went with Princess running the ship after 2005-6..So I will say I liked the QM2 in her early years more than I do now.

Goodness gracious me - here was I stupidly imagining that I was gaining loads of enjoyment, and indeed a certain amount of education, from visiting St Petersburg and viewing the glories of the Hermitage, seeing the beauties of the Greek Islands at sunset, visiting Athens and Rome - the twin cradles of Western civilisation, sailing through the Swedish archipelago into Stockholm on a glorious summer morning, watching Mt Teide lit by the early morning sun as we emerged through the top of a uniform cloud sea lying over the island of Tenerife, arriving in Grand Harbour, Valletta just as the sun was coming up...

 

So thank you, sir, for pointing out that all I was actually doing was "poking round Euro ports". I realise now that for a truly educational experience one must sit for six days on board ship with sod all to see but miles and miles of bloody Atlantic.

 

Ah well, now I realise the error of my ways.

 

J

Stop being so sensitive ...its not meant as a personal insult..and if you enjoy "poking" around Euroports good for you..there are QV and QE for your enjoyment ..lets leave QM2 for the Transatlatic fans..cruise ship speeds and all!!

The OP understands exactly what he posted..They are using the QM2 far more as a cruise ship durning the transatlantic season...there are only 17 crossings compared to 24-26 and what remains of the service is spread out over the entire year..Yes she is a true liner ...And yes she was always planned to be used as a warm weather port ship durning winter months..its the lack of and timings of the crossings out of NYC that have been downgraded..And I supposes poking around Euro ports must use alot less fuel (and the fares are high) So of course far less of what was a big draw to Cunard/QM2 2004-2009 for more travelers than some think ...I bet NYC is real happy they built that new terminal for QM2 and she is now docking about 12 times a year!

The point of the post was QM2 and its now downgraded TA service..there are plenty of slow "cruise" liners around..ie QV/QE to enjoy ..The Transatlantics prior to 2010 were something no other passenger ship was capable of . NYC and the NorthAmerican market has lost a number of sailings with this new service operation..This ship was desgined and built by Cunard of the late 1990s/early 2000s for the Transatlantic market out of NYC with only 3 or 4 European cruises per summer..I dont know if the oil prices ruined the business model for that service..but todays sailings are not what the pre-Princess/PO.. Cunard mangement had in mind when this ship was planned as every broucher was almost all about Cunard and the Atlantic crossing...

They have had a big change in operations since QM2s first seasons..2005 had 25 crossings mostly bunched April-Oct and 5 sea days (fast crossing)

there were as many as 3-4 sailings a month out of NYC..now its 6 and a two 7 full days at sea(slow) with just one maby 2 sailings a month out of NY...all eastbound crossings become a "crusie" and very few are of short duration..mostly 10-14 days before she makes a westbound crossing...Yes they are marketing the cruise segments far more in the last 2years...She is a true liner..they dont use her that way..and with the answers given by Mr Shanks they will never ..at least as long as fuel is $80 a barrel A return to fast crossings is gone..I wish there were more TA sailings..it looks like 2014 has only 17 again..Im so gald I got to enjoy QM2 in her early seasons when she sailed down the Hudson and crossed the Atlantic at 27 knots..It really did match the marketing and Cunards long time history!!