QM2 - First Time Cruisers!

[SeaLegs23]

2 hours ago, neeuqdrazil said:

Apart from the money side of things: 

 

Explore the ship. If you're able to do stairs, start at the top and work your way down - poke into the nooks and crannies (and there are a LOT). Especially forward on decks 2-3 there are all sorts of little passageways and interesting spots. I think that I've only been above Deck 9 twice in my 3 TAs, and I always regret it when disembarking. 

 

Have lunch at the Golden Lion. The food is included, and it's always a nice change. 

 

Check out the different breakfast options. MDR at least one morning, check out Carinthia Lounge for their nibbles (both breakfast and lunch), breakfast in bed... 

 

Afternoon tea in the Queen's Room is a must-do, at least once. (And then have a late dinner.) 

 

The Library is a lovely place to sit and read during the day. The Carinthia Lounge has comfy couches and chairs, and is a frequent gathering spot on sea days.  

 

Going out on deck at night, especially in your gala night finery, is something that I try to do at least once every trip - there's something magical about staring out into the darkness while dressed to the nines. 

Thanks @neeuqdrazil - that's super specific and sooooo helpful! I've noted this down - and yeah, the romance of being out on deck in our finery sounds pretty special... 

[SeaLegs23]

2 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

We do take cash in different dollar values to use for on board tips. If they help carry your carry on to your room, room service as an example do appreciate the extra gratitude you show to them.

 

We also keep on hand money, if you go on any tours, some passengers due show a gesture toward the tour guide and the driver of the vehicle.

 

Then we do at the end of the sailing if the waitress, asst.'s, wine steward and also room steward, if they showed exceptional service. And the longshoreman taking your luggage out of the terminal to the street side.  

Thanks for this, @BklynBoy8 - hadn't thought about people away from the cruise itself such as the tour guides. Excellent tip. 😊

 

Plus... I'm currently at 2 suitcases and 2 suit carriers... and that's before my other half has added his luggage to mix. I think we might have give the longshoreman quite the tip!!

[Host Hattie]

From Southampton you might have to take your own luggage to a hole in the wall outside the terminal.

Are you sailing on Sunday?

[SeaLegs23]

2 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

From Southampton you might have to take your own luggage to a hole in the wall outside the terminal.

Are you sailing on Sunday?

Hey Hattie- yeah, we’re sailing on Sunday… Is the hole in the wall the reason I’m currently printing off a load of baggage tags! 😂

[Host Hattie]

Wow, not long now, have a great time. 

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, SeaLegs23 said:

Hey Hattie- yeah, we’re sailing on Sunday… Is the hole in the wall the reason I’m currently printing off a load of baggage tags! 😂

No, that’s so it arrives in your cabin, often pleasingly quickly.

[RaspberryCremeBrulee]

Nooks and crannies.

 

Deck 12 forward port side. At certain times of day you can go and watch the team on the bridge through glass windows.

 

Just before you go into the Queens Room, on the right hand side you will see a few steps going down, and a ship in glass cabinet. Go down and then to your right. On the wall you will see a framed sacred soil bag from Ypres. Google QM2 Ypres soil sack for info to see the story.

 

Enjoy your honeymoon.  We're onboard right now and dined in Club for first time. Lovely experience and wonderful team looking after us.

[Aquadesiac]

If you're sailing up Sognefjord to Flome, consider having supper delivered by room service so you can dine on your balcony on the way out. It's one breathtaking vista after another. After a while, my DH and I started to wax fanciful and "see" faces and shapes in the rock formations. It was like we were kids again, lying on the grass while the clouds overhead morphed into dragons and bunnies.

[devonuk]

I’m on the QM2 for the first time this June going WB to NY then after a week ashore doing the EB back to Southampton. I like to do a minimum of 10k steps a day out on deck, so my question is…. Is there one or a number of places to do this? Or might there be some secret area to achieve my steps?

Thanks. 

[SeaLegs23]

1 hour ago, devonuk said:

I’m on the QM2 for the first time this June going WB to NY then after a week ashore doing the EB back to Southampton. I like to do a minimum of 10k steps a day out on deck, so my question is…. Is there one or a number of places to do this? Or might there be some secret area to achieve my steps?

Thanks. 

 
We met someone in board who was doing the exact same thing!! She said her secret weapon was to never use an elevator to get anywhere.

 

For a more specific walk - Deck 7 has a promenade deck which isn’t too busy, and Decks 12/13 have open spaces to walk around. There’s also treadmills in the gym if you wanted to walk facing the sea. 
 

I wasn’t particularly trying to hit 10k steps while I was there, but my watch shows that I was getting an average of 9k on sea days. If you’re focussing on it, you should be able to hit 10k pretty easily. 😊

[Host Hattie]

Nice to hear from you @SeaLegs23, how was your trip?

[NE John]

7 hours ago, devonuk said:

I’m on the QM2 for the first time this June going WB to NY then after a week ashore doing the EB back to Southampton. I like to do a minimum of 10k steps a day out on deck, so my question is…. Is there one or a number of places to do this? Or might there be some secret area to achieve my steps?

Thanks. 

We’ll be joining you on that TA trying to get those steps in too. 
Also, depending on your cabin location, walking back and forth to: restaurant, library, theater, lounges, etc on a 1,300+ foot vessel all adds up to achieve your goal. 

[D&N]

7 hours ago, devonuk said:

I’m on the QM2 for the first time this June going WB to NY then after a week ashore doing the EB back to Southampton. I like to do a minimum of 10k steps a day out on deck, so my question is…. Is there one or a number of places to do this? Or might there be some secret area to achieve my steps?

Thanks. 

Following on to SeaLegs23's comment; I estimated our tally of stairs climbed after a trip: .... over 14 days we ascended an average of 1000 steps per day travelling between decks 2 and 12 at least 5 times and once a day between decks 7 and 12. We descended a similar number  .......  To save anyone else counting decks 2 to 12 on staircase B is 191 steps. Decks 7 to 12 on staircase A is 99 steps.

We only used lifts for embarkation with bags and self disembarkation with all luggage. Other than one instance where we were with another couple and didn't get impression they would join us on the climb.

[BklynBoy8]

8 hours ago, devonuk said:

I’m on the QM2 for the first time this June going WB to NY then after a week ashore doing the EB back to Southampton. I like to do a minimum of 10k steps a day out on deck, so my question is…. Is there one or a number of places to do this? Or might there be some secret area to achieve my steps?

Thanks. 

 

Promenade Deck several times.

 

Avoid the elevators and takes the steps inside.

 

Bad weather days we would walk the length of Deck 4 inside.

[MCC retired]

3 times around Deck 7 on the QM2 = 1.1 mile.

It is a bit of a race course at times of the day and weather.

Most all walk counter-clockwise but there are always those that fight the flow.

Edited May 27, 2023 by MCC retired

[devonuk]

Thanks for all of your ‘walk’ replies 👏🏻👍

[chrisbu315]

On 5/5/2023 at 4:15 AM, SeaLegs23 said:

My new husband and I are heading to Norway from Southampton on the QM2 for our honeymoon, and we’d love any tips you have for first timers who’ve never done this before! 
 

My immediate question is about cash - do I need to take some USD with us for tips for things like room service, or is this included in the auto-tipping system I’ve read about…?

 

Aside from that, though, I really don’t know what I don’t know, so anything you think would be useful for newbies to Cunard to know, or specific recommendations for the QM2 would be super welcome! 😊

My wife and I were reluctant to sail on Cunard but gave a try to an east to west crossing on the QM2 last December.  We loved it.  A few tips below:

• The formal dress requirements are only on gala nights and can be avoided by spending time in venues were there are no formal dress requirements.
• Definitely go to tea in the Queen's Room several times.  It is a great spectacle usually with entertainment.
• There is a small, hidden, open kitchen Italian restaurant in the King's Court.  It has table service and a limited menu of a Caesar salad, pasta, and pizzas.  I tried it on one of the gala nights because my wife was sick and I did not want to get dressed up.  It was very good.
• In the Queen's Room in the mornings there are a series of mild exercise and line dancing classes.  They are fun and a great way to work off calories.  Feel free to wear gym clothes.  We were on the crossing where the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was performed.  One morning two of the cast members led a Bollywood dancing class.  It was delightful and could only happen on the QM2.
• The internet is dodgy but works in your room if you pry your cabin door open with a towel (this was a Guest Services recommendation).  Also, the internet works reasonably well in the Corinthia Lounge - a large delightful venue with plenty of seating space plus entertainment in the evening.
• The casino is a great place to play Black Jack.  In December, it was paying 3 to 2 on Black Jacks.  Most other cruise line casinos pay 6 to 5.