Need Refresher on Key QM2 Travel Tips/Logistics

[Crouton]

Hi.

 

As some of you may remember, I sailed on QM2 a year ago for the tandem crossing with QE2.

 

At the time, I was totally equipped and primed with the key things I needed to do to make my voyage comfortable. I have a friend who will be taking her relatively large extended family (around a dozen people) on a QM2 Fijord cruise in mid June, and I have agreed to coach her (!). So....I need you're help with updates/comments on the following list from a year ago -- especially anything that might apply to the fijord trip or travelling with a large family which I wouldn't know about.

 

First thing on board:

 

(The drill that you simply must dedicate yourself to making these arrangements right away upon boarding...still true?)

 

Book Todd English

Book Canyon Spa Treatments

Check seating @ Britannia

Other Kings Court Restaurants???

 

Not to Miss:

 

Tea in Queen's Room (anywhere else?)

At least One Planetarium Show

Bridge Viewing Area

Signed Portrait of Queen in Queens Room (left entry)

Better Souvenirs in Library store than elsewhere

 

 

Other Tips I Recall

 

Pack for all temps/weather, layers

At least two formal nights (black tie/suit, gowns etc)

If you want to eat lunch in the Lion's Pub, arrive early

Room service menu is limited

Deck 11 Observation Area is one of the best

Don't miss the outside elevators.

Don't miss comparing carpet/fabric/design choices throughout the ship.

Don't miss the elevator/stairwell art.

Don't miss library, Commodore Club.

Internet available but expensive.

Do not call or sing Commodore Warwick "Popeye the sailor man." ;)

 

Many of her family have booked inside cabins (ie no porthole, balcony). When I was last a "regular", Cunard had started giving upgrades to the (lifeboat) obstructed view balcony cabins (8 Deck?) for those w/inside cabins. Is this still the case? My friend has SEVERAL inside cabins booked. How could they go about this. Are there particular travel categories involved? Any tricks on embarkation day for this?

 

Any and all tips and comments welcome!

 

Thank you, in advance, for your help. :)

[rkacruiser]

A card showing the seating diagram in the Britannia Restaurant with the table assignment should be in the stateroom upon arrival.

 

Lunch at the Golden Lion towards the end of the time when they are serving works well if being there early is too early. Crowds have diminished somewhat, by then.

 

Something I missed that I found out about in a travelogue presentation very recently: look closely at the image of Samual Cunard. It is a mosaic made up of pictures of past Cunard ships.

 

One does need to make reservations at the various alternative restaurants in the Kings Court for dinner.

 

I would book Todd English as soon as possible in order to be certain that one could dine there when one wished to do so.

 

E-mail through the TV in the stateroom is very much more inexpensive than at ConneXions. One e-mail could be sent to 5 address for $1.50.

 

Hope this helps.

[Crouton]

Yes, it helps a lot rkacruiser. Thank you.

 

I would still appreciate a few more reviews of my checklist from some old hands and/or recent travelers on QM2. This both helps jog my memory and limits bad/out of date advice that I might be inclined to pass on to myfriend.

 

Thank you. :)

[guernseyguy]

Crouton,

 

On the Deck 11 observation area look UP on either wing & you can see into the bridge - I only spotted that as we were docking in NY - there is a glass square on the Bridge deck for them to see down to the water. If they enjoy Martinis the Commodore Club does a space limited (20) Martini mixing demonstration which gets the afternoon rolling along nicely. For my next trip I'm definitely going to try the Kings Court alternative dining - I'm no great fan of Britannia.....Also the Maritime Quest is well worth exploring - next time I'll do it with the audio guide.

 

Enjoy!

 

Peter

[Crouton]

Thank you, Peter. :)

[Crouton]

Would 2-3 more people comment, please?

 

Thank you.

 

Tony

[susietb]

Especially enjoyed the Aqua Therapy pools in the spa. This was well worth the $79 for five days. Would have preferred same sex steam and sauna (not having to wear a bathing suite) but still wonderful.

 

Shopping in the Hermes Boutique was also right up there. We met a lot of people in the Golden Lion Pub for the daily triva contests. Also, enjoyed relaxing on the Deck 7 Promenade Deck. It's easy to grab some coffee from the Kings Court and go outside and ponder the ocean.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Lurker1]

Depending on the weather, we found the terrace pool in back of Todd English more comfortable than the pavillion pool, but the latter appears deeper.

 

If you're at a large table in the Britannia for dinner, the waiters tend to wait for everyone to show up before taking orders. So you need to work that out with your table mates, try and let people know if you're eating elsewhere that night!

 

We recommend the Lotus in King's Court for dinner. 12 courses, small portions, but excellent (well, the DW got most of my seafood bits, but the crabcakes were good).

 

The casino is smoky, if you want to go, go early.

 

Take the time to read the Daily Programme thoroughly. We missed a couple of things becasue we didn't do that right away.

 

In navigating from bow to stern (or the otherway), it's sometimes better to go to a deck with all cabins, and just walk.

 

We saw the "nannys" in action one night, they had the kids well in hand.

 

Go to the Royal Court early before a show to get good seats.

 

Lurker1

[Crouton]

Thank you very much, Susietb and Lurker1.

 

I would almost sail on QM2 again just for the bubble pool in Canyon Spa and that sampler menu at Lotus....both of which do not get talked about very specifically.

 

Final call before I pass all this information along to my friend: am I missing any key pre-boarding or boarding day planning details?

 

Any of my information out of date?

 

Any tips for large families?

 

Any tips/recommendations for the Fjord voyage?

 

Anything else?

 

If you think everything is pretty much covered in this thread, I would love to hear that too.

 

Thank you all for your help.

 

Tony

[westsider]

We Dined In Britannia At Table 259.oval,for 8,at The Glass Rail Overlooking The Lower Level.great Location.we Had Candelabras And Nice Flowers,too.dined One Night At Todd English,which I Highly Recommend,and One Night At La Piazza In Lieu Of Formal Night #3.hint---when Disembarking In New York-do Not Line Up For Taxis.takes Too Long. Take Elevator To Ground Level,cross Street To Avenue And Hail Cab Going Uptown.took Us 30 Seconds!!!magic!commodore Club For Drinks-fabulous.chart Room Also Fabulous.library For Quiet Reading,napkin Folding Was Great.go!bought My Flowers Pre-boarding,and Asked For Flower Vases And Clippers From Room Steward.lovely.take Glass Elevator Between Floors Of Spa.you Can Walk,but This Is Fun.there Are Several Hot Tubs In And Out-no Need To Pay Extra At Spa. You Get Full Day Pass When You Book A Service,anyway.there Is Hardly Enough Time To Do Everything,so Requestfrom Steward An Additional Daily Sheet So You Each Can Have One.note To The Ladies-i Took A Very Small Bag To Hold Room Card,pencil And Pen,lipstick And Notepaper,and My Credit Card So I Could Shop On My Own.also Pre-paid Gratuities.ordered Coffee And Light B'fast Each Morning In Bed(room Service) And Went For A Full Breakfast On Deck 7 For Variety.once Went To Britannia,and It Took Longer Than We Wanted.between Stairs/elevator Banks B And C Are The Most Convenient,but The Walking Is Great And You Learn The Ship.have Fun

[JULIES5]

we are also on the Norway Fjords on June 15 and I am wondering who else is going? Please e mail me at sanmerle3@aol.com. Also if you have found any info on these ports and could share them i would appreciate it. I am really not sure what the weather will be like seems it will be in the fifties, how would one dress there, short sleeves or long sleeves?

[lannp]

I suggest not overpacking - the laundry room is excellent. Good machines and soap is supplied. I always throw several fabric softener sheets in my suitcase. They make it smell nice and you have them to throw in the dryer especially if you're drying anything synthetic and want to avoid static cling. The last two days of a trip the laundry room is very busy, try to plan ahead. Guess folks don't want to take home dirty clothes, or they're setting off on further adventures.

Inside cabins are dark with no natural light. Take along a nightlight.

[Ab Ovo]

What a fine list, Crouton. I feel I was on again, feel it such a thoughtful idea, fun to read and SO on the money! As were the response posts! To all: I have printed you out. This is wonderful information to give to people going on. DUH, why didn't I think of doing this for Bill and Rose Ann?

 

Friends called from Denver late one night in April: "you seem to know about this stuff, we've thought to make a crossing for years, is there anything to this QM2?" "Yes and do it," was my reply, "do it now." "Huh," said Bill.

 

Two nights later, another call: "We're booked transatlantic eastbound 10 April!" And so we played a few days in New York City and they, being dear, indulged me and got up WAY EARLY in the Sunday morning darkness to be up and out in the six o'clock dawn down on the 10th Street Pier to see the majestic Queen Mary 2 sail slowly upriver out of the fog into Manhattan on the day they were to sail out on her for England.

 

I had checked the company twice on timing. We waited. And waited. And waited. Dawn. Sunrise. No ship. Late? I checked. She had come upriver and tied off at 5 AM! So we took a cab up to Pier 90 and watched the "self-helps" get off early, were able to walk the roof-top parking lot aside the ship ("they" never let you do that, but the rent-a-cops just weren't up that early on that roof..........they were, near sailing time, and all I heard was "No"), we checked out passengers coming off and the in-coming early arrivals and then went to lunch.

 

Bill and Rose Ann sailed B-2, all they could get, portside aft, a glass balcony and clear view of me down on the 10th Street Pier, waving. And crying a little, too. Happiness is a wonderful thing. It's like having money, it sure can soothe the nerves.

 

I got the on-board postcard, "It is without compare!"

 

They SO enjoyed the voyage they are flying to England in September to do it all again and cross transatlantic westbound!

 

I cannot wait to mail them your lists now, have them re-live their first-ever crossing and look forward, lists in hand, to their next. Thanks to all.

[Crouton]

Thanks to you for your blessing, ab avo, and to everyone else who replied for your comments and observations.

 

I have printed out 2 copies of this thread, annotated one, and sent along both to my friend with instructions to throw the whole thing overboard after Day 3 and go with the flow.

 

Bon voyage!

 

Crouton