Do you want QM2 photos? I got QM2 photos!

[tjunmin]

On 4/2/2024 at 5:43 AM, Germancruiser said:

Thank you so much for sharing those wonderful pictures of my favorite ship. I, too, came from Celebrity ( starting with them in 2001) - I much prefer the quite and classy athmosphere on board Cunard ships- esp. of course QM2. I still put in the occaisonall voyage with X- but Cunard is now ny choice. For the first time I saw that they really did a great job in the last dry dock, esp. the Dining Room chairs and Carinthia have been in dire need of an update- and they got it- nicely done, too.

My favorite Celebrity ships are the Millennium class; smaller and more intimate. I hope that by the end of this voyage, I'll be a Cunard convert. In the meantime, I'm paying close attention to the service onboard.

 

I read before boarding that the Winter Garden was underutilized prior to the dry dock, and that the Carinthia Lounge is a much more welcoming and successful venue compared to its predecessor. I was not aware that the chairs in the dinning room were in dire need of an update; I can attest that at the present moment, they look fine and feel comfortable.

[tjunmin]

Yesterday was a gray and rainy day - probably the British passengers felt right at home ;-) - but today the sun and warm weather were back in full force.

 

I added more photos of QM2, such as The Commodore's Cufflinks (and more!) [link], food offerings from The Verandah and Carinthia Lounge [link], as well as from Britannia Restaurant [link].

 

One more sea day before we reach Mauritius!

 

Thom

Edited April 3 by tjunmin

[D&N]

1 hour ago, tjunmin said:

How are you enjoying the Sony A7C? What are the pros and cons in your eyes?

I briefly used a second hand 35mm SLR over 30 years ago. With cost of film and developing and lack of an internet to teach me, I didn't really get my head round using it properly.

I'm very pleased with the A7C but there's lots to learn. I'm getting some great results and lots of rubbish but even saving RAW and X.Fine jpg can get a huge number of shots on a card. I use a WiFi FTP Server to backup the jpg files to phone, which then backs up to cloud and in turn to desktop.

 

Cons: Much bigger/heavier than a phone and doesn't fit in pocket. Needs a much sturdier tripod or selfie stick than a phone.

Pros: Supposed to be smallest/lightest full-frame available. Rangemaster viewfinder keeps it as compact as possible, my right eye is fine with that. Battery lasts 700+ shots.

I can take it most places in a small camera bag, a tote bag or light back pack.

Otherwise I've never had a serious camera to compare it to.

 

It is expensive of course. I've spent close to €4,000 between the A7C with 28-60 kit lens and a variety of others. Spare battery, charger, tripod, flash equipment, SD cards, bags. Some of the kit was second hand saving about €400.

Some Sony lenses are very expensive, so the second hand ones have been Samyang. I did have a cheap second hand APS-C 55-210mm, which I removed the baffle from to get max zoom with minor vignetting, but I recently got a new Tamron 70-300mm. I should replace the baffle and get the 55-210mm up for sale.

[NE John]

2 hours ago, tjunmin said:

I read before boarding that the Winter Garden was underutilized prior to the dry dock

Just a quick add, the Winter Garden on QM 2 was removed after the 2016 dry dock redo, not during the recent Nov 2023 dry dock. And yes, the Winter Garden was a soulless and uninspiring venue back then. The Carinthia was a great improvement for that space. So many nice venues on QM2…

[Germancruiser]

Thanks NE John- I just wanted to write exactly that- Winter Garden was rather gloomy and uninviting- in fact the only lounge I really did not like when I first sailed Mary in 2008.

TJ- oh yes- my favorite X- ships are also Millenium Class- also they have a propper promenade deck- if not going around - always great to walk along an be " in touch"  with the Sea.

The chairs have all been replaced- and that was high time they did that. I thought maybe they would reupholster them- but I saw they exchanged them all.

[tjunmin]

On 4/3/2024 at 10:00 PM, D&N said:

I briefly used a second hand 35mm SLR over 30 years ago. With cost of film and developing and lack of an internet to teach me, I didn't really get my head round using it properly.

I'm very pleased with the A7C but there's lots to learn. I'm getting some great results and lots of rubbish but even saving RAW and X.Fine jpg can get a huge number of shots on a card. I use a WiFi FTP Server to backup the jpg files to phone, which then backs up to cloud and in turn to desktop.

 

Cons: Much bigger/heavier than a phone and doesn't fit in pocket. Needs a much sturdier tripod or selfie stick than a phone.

Pros: Supposed to be smallest/lightest full-frame available. Rangemaster viewfinder keeps it as compact as possible, my right eye is fine with that. Battery lasts 700+ shots.

I can take it most places in a small camera bag, a tote bag or light back pack.

Otherwise I've never had a serious camera to compare it to.

 

It is expensive of course. I've spent close to €4,000 between the A7C with 28-60 kit lens and a variety of others. Spare battery, charger, tripod, flash equipment, SD cards, bags. Some of the kit was second hand saving about €400.

Some Sony lenses are very expensive, so the second hand ones have been Samyang. I did have a cheap second hand APS-C 55-210mm, which I removed the baffle from to get max zoom with minor vignetting, but I recently got a new Tamron 70-300mm. I should replace the baffle and get the 55-210mm up for sale.

With such a great piece of equipment, where can we see some of your photos? :)

[tjunmin]

On 4/3/2024 at 10:33 PM, NE John said:

Just a quick add, the Winter Garden on QM 2 was removed after the 2016 dry dock redo, not during the recent Nov 2023 dry dock. And yes, the Winter Garden was a soulless and uninspiring venue back then. The Carinthia was a great improvement for that space. So many nice venues on QM2…

This is what I love about this forum. There is such a wealth of knowledge in the community. It is a wonderful resource to learn from!

[tjunmin]

Today QM2 reached Mauritius. I was apprehensive with the weather forecast predicting chance of shoers. I saw a huge downpour in the distance during lunch time, while enjoying a delightful typical Mauritian meal, but thankfully no rain anywhere during the day on the Southern side of the island where I was visiting!

 

Now three more sea days until we reach Durban, enjoying everything QM2 has to offer!

 

Photos of Mauritius here [link] and Britannia Restaurant meals here [link].

 

Thom

[D&N]

8 minutes ago, tjunmin said:

With such a great piece of equipment, where can we see some of your photos? 🙂

Probably the best ones are of Coco-Canel and Ursel (linked). There are others on that thread but some are taken with a phone and any Christmas cards are compiled from various sources. There will be lots when we're next on QM2 in June 2025 and September 2026. Hopefully I'll be expert by then. Any from the A7C should be in 6000x4000 format. And would have been posted since February 2023.

 

[Jim_P]

They should ditch the Winter Garden on the QE and QV too. Pointless areas. Turn it into a Corinthia Lounge and turn the existing Corinthia Cafe into a Sir Samuels. 

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, Jim_P said:

They should ditch the Winter Garden on the QE and QV too. Pointless areas. Turn it into a Corinthia Lounge and turn the existing Corinthia Cafe into a Sir Samuels. 

The Winter Garden/Garden Lounge on the Vistas often seem full when I walk through. This suggests spaces many enjoy using. So why are they pointless?

[NE John]

3 hours ago, Jim_P said:

They should ditch the Winter Garden on the QE and QV too. Pointless areas. Turn it into a Corinthia Lounge and turn the existing Corinthia Cafe into a Sir Samuels. 

I’ll further comment on this space after June. I too wasn’t impressed with that space last time on QE. 

[alibabacruisers]

We used to visit the Garden Lounge almost daily late last year on our cruise.  We would stop and play some backgammon early in the morning.  As the day progressed the more crowded it would become with music and quizzes.

[Jim_P]

13 hours ago, exlondoner said:

The Winter Garden/Garden Lounge on the Vistas often seem full when I walk through. This suggests spaces many enjoy using. So why are they pointless?

It was never full when I was on the QE. From what I saw it was mostly being used as a meeting point for people before going into the buffet. People hardly ever seemed to be using the bar. It's completely devoid of atmosphere. Meanwhile the Corinthia Cafe is always full.

Edited April 7 by Jim_P

[exlondoner]

2 hours ago, Jim_P said:

It was never full when I was on the QE. From what I saw it was mostly being used as a meeting point for people before going into the buffet. People hardly ever seemed to be using the bar. It's completely devoid of atmosphere. Meanwhile the Corinthia Cafe is always full.

Well, in the first part of the day, I’ve seen people eating their breakfast brought though from the Lido, then later on people doing quizzes which seem very popular.  In the afternoon there often seem to be sports events being televised. I sometimes use the bar for a non alcoholic cocktail, and usually other people seem to be using it for other things. In the evenings I’ve enjoyed the Dixieland Jazz there. At other times, I have found it hard to get a seat for all the people in there sitting reading and chatting. So, recollections may vary.

[Victoria2]

2 hours ago, Jim_P said:

It was never full when I was on the QE. From what I saw it was mostly being used as a meeting point for people before going into the buffet. People hardly ever seemed to be using the bar. It's completely devoid of atmosphere. Meanwhile the Corinthia Cafe is always full.

Do 'you' need an atmosphere to sit and chat, or read?

 

I don't sit there all day but for a quiz or listening to a guest singer/duo at night time it was always full on QV and if I'm walking through, it's never empty.

It's a very useful area.

[LittleFish1976]

16 hours ago, Jim_P said:

They should ditch the Winter Garden on the QE and QV too. Pointless areas. Turn it into a Corinthia Lounge and turn the existing Corinthia Cafe into a Sir Samuels. 

The Wintergarden was extremely well used when I was on board QE 12 months ago for all sorts of events - music, trivia, even a talk as well as being a very pleasant place for a drink. Perhaps it depends on the itinerary. I'll be on board very soon in a different part of the world so will be interested to see how well it is utilised, but it will undoubtedly be one of my go-to areas during the day and sometimes the evening as well.

[exlondoner]

I imagine it is appreciated by people with inside cabins, as it is a nice sunny part of the ship to sit and read when it is rather breezy outside.

[exlondoner]

1 hour ago, LittleFish1976 said:

The Wintergarden was extremely well used when I was on board QE 12 months ago for all sorts of events - music, trivia, even a talk as well as being a very pleasant place for a drink. Perhaps it depends on the itinerary. I'll be on board very soon in a different part of the world so will be interested to see how well it is utilised, but it will undoubtedly be one of my go-to areas during the day and sometimes the evening as well.

In contrast, I sometimes have a (very nice) snack lunch in the Carinthia, and never have a problem getting a seat.

[tjunmin]

The QM2 is currently approaching Durban, where it will arrive tomorrow. We are definitely not in the tropics anymore. The unbearable heat is behind us, and as we approach the Cape of Good Hope, the temperature has come down and the waves have gone up, accompanied by gorgeous sunrises and sunsets [photo].

 

We had a minor fire incident in the engine room a couple days ago, in the early hours in the morning, which was very quickly brought under control by the competent and well trained staff on board.

 

Cunard Insights has brought us interesting speakers, including Sally Gunnell, OBE [photo], among others. 

 

And what else to do on a sea day, other than enjoying the good food onboard, both at The Verandah [photos] as well as at Britannia Restaurant [photos].

 

Looking forward to a great first port of call in South Africa tomorrow!

 

Thom

[tjunmin]

QM2 had a glorious day in Durban. Despite the threat of rain according to the weather forecast, thankfully the skies held the rain until the end of the day. 
 

Here are my Durban and Valley of a Thousand Hills photos [link].
 

Thom

[NE John]

3 hours ago, tjunmin said:

QM2 had a glorious day in Durban. Despite the threat of rain according to the weather forecast, thankfully the skies held the rain until the end of the day. 
 

Here are my Durban and Valley of a Thousand Hills photos [link].
 

Thom

You need to publish a coffee table book of your voyage with these outstanding photographs. The colors are stunning. 

[tjunmin]

On 4/10/2024 at 2:47 PM, NE John said:

You need to publish a coffee table book of your voyage with these outstanding photographs. The colors are stunning. 

You really flatter me, John. I'm always looking forward to improving my photography skills. Glad that you are enjoying my photos!

[tjunmin]

I'm currently in the middle of my voyage from Singapore to Southampton. Tomorrow QM2 will arrive in Cape Town. My original plan was to write a full review of my first Cunard experience at the end of the cruise, but after two and half weeks onboard, I feel comfortable sharing my early views on the product offered by Cunard, so far on this voyage.

 

I've always travelled with my spouse in our first 2 years with Royal Caribbean, followed by 16 years on Celebrity. Moving forward, I'll be a solo traveler. Last year Celebrity decided to start charging solo cruisers over 100% single supplement. Their corporate greed has driven me (and many others) to look for other cruise lines. 

 

In the past few years my spouse and I had been travelling in lower and upper suites on Celebrity - which are the equivalent of PG and QG in Cunard - and I'm currently in a sheltered balcony on QM2. Therefore, I won't be able to make fair comparisons in regards to accommodations, dining and service, but I'll do my best sharing my views when it comes to the public areas and activities.

 

Art Deco is one of my favorite design styles, and the QM2 is a feast for any art deco lover. I absolutely love the old world charm that the QM2 exudes, with its warm and rich wood and metal work.

 

EMBARKATION

 

My embarkation time was 1:45 PM. Arrival at Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre was hassle free. Baggage handlers at the cruise terminal were disorganized, letting some passengers cut in and ushering them into the terminal, while making others wait in line. Once inside the terminal, a process was in place to manage the high volume of passengers arriving for check-in at that time.

 

I appreciated the updated muster drill process, watching the safety video in the cabin at my own convenience and then checking-in at the muster station.

 

ACCOMMODATION

 

Sheltered balcony cabins feature a pleasant decor, with a neutral palette accented in gold and blue. The balcony itself is more spacious that I expected, and provides great protection against wind when the ship is under way. The bathroom is adequate, but its decor betrays the age of the ship. Newer Celebrity ships offer a more updated and luxurious feel to the bathrooms, even in the entry level cabins, compared to QM2.

 

I found very cute that everything needed to make tea is available in the cabin.

 

RESTAURANTS

 

Food is very important for me in a cruise.

 

Britannia Restaurant

 

Lovely grand atmosphere, with more intimate spaces on the sides. 

 

I had originally requested a table for two, but was assigned a table for 8. Thankfully the maître d' was able to accommodate my table for two request. 

 

I've been going to Britannia Restaurant primarily for dinner. I've only had lunch there twice so far; I would have had more lunches at Britannia, but a number of Cunard Insights lectures are unfortunately scheduled at 12:15 PM.

 

Julius (waiter) and Bernance (assistant waiter) have been providing good service and work well as a team. After two weeks of long dinners, I started asking for quick service in the past couple of nights, which they've been delivering, greatly improving my dining experience.

 

Food has been fine so far. Main courses are generally speaking quite good. Appetizers and desserts have room for improvement.

 

Steakhouse at The Verandah

 

I've read much in CC about the lack of ambiance in this venue. IMHO the problem is that the windows face the aft deck and swimming pool, and people use the restaurant as a passage way to the aft deck. The two issues combined  ruin the atmosphere of the venue. It just does not feel special enough to warrant the price surcharge.

 

Service from the waiters is attentious. Reduced lunch menu still offers a good experience for patrons. Brioche bun with maple butter is nice. Aberdeen Black sirloin is better than the Aubrey Allen rib eye. Side salad was better than I expected; the dressing helps cutting the richness of the meals. Wild Strawberry Pavlova is a delight to the eyes and the palate.

 

Bamboo

 

Good and friendly service. Great attention to detail, adjusting the menu for a mild food allergy I have. 

 

Nice appetizer presentation. Mandarin Crispy Chilli Beef main course was tasty; it could have used a little bit more heat. Pleasing dessert platter selection. Very satisfying meal.

 

Kings Court

 

Bright and contemporary space offers a welcoming space for quick meals.

 

Made-to-order omelette at breakfast time is good. Fruit so far has been sweet, which has been delightful. I've also been enjoying the sushi station, perfect when I want a light meal.

 

Sir Samuel's

 

A lovely quiet space, perfect for relacing and enjoying your favorite hot beverage, accompanied by delectable sandwiches and sweets. 

 

The Jumbo Croissant Wiltshire was tasty. The Open Whole Wheat Bloomer Sandwich was also so well prepared. The Caramel Chocolate Truffle Fudge Cake is a fudge lover's delight, with it's rich and dense chocolate fudge.

 

Carinthia Lounge

 

This is my favorite space on the ship for a quick bite. The limited selection of food offerings is carefully prepared and offer complex flavors with a more refined experience. I usually have breakfast and lunch here. The only issue I noticed is that the dishes sitting under the heated surfaces get very hot.

 

Golden Lion

 

Nicely decorated space, evoking a traditional pub ambiance. 

 

Chicken Tikka Masala was the dish I most enjoyed there. There are better dessert options elsewhere onboard.

 

I understand that a lot of people enjoy this venue and receive good service, but I personally have received the worst service here. The first time I went there, service was bad; I was ignored, did not get any service, could not get anybody's attention, and only after everybody who arrived after me was served that someone finally came over to take my order. On my second visit, the service was absolutely horrendous; it took 55 minutes to receive my fish and chips order; I asked them why it was taking so long, and they said they had lots of orders; but the straw that broke the camel's back was when someone who arrived 40 minutes AFTER me received his fish and chips BEFORE me! I was fuming. I have absolutely no plans of going back there.

 

ACTIVITIES

 

Cunard Insights

 

I've been really enjoying all the speakers so far. I attend all the talks and find the variety of topics approached entertaining and refreshing. 

 

It would be awesome if they did not schedule talks at 12:15 PM, allowing passengers to have lunch at lunch time.

 

Craft Class

 

I had the opportunity to meet Sue and her husband David over lunch, and was invited to attend her craft class. It was an interesting experience to meet such a lovely group of ladies, and spend an afternoon in their jovial company, doing something that I've never done before, sewing!

 

This is it for now! I'll share a full review at the end of the voyage.

 

Thom

[tjunmin]

A brief comment on the Carinthia Lounge on the QM2, it has been well attended throughout the cruise so far. In addition to the tasty bites, the comfortable sitting and activities such as trivia make the venue quite busy!

Edited April 12 by tjunmin