QE2 next summer - mistake?

[Morgans]

We have booked ourselves a 12 night cruise next summer on the QE2 but have read many disparaging remarks from various sources regarding Cunard, the ship itself and her condition etc etc. We are looking forward to this holiday so much but are wondering if we have done the right thing. We have cruised many, many times on other lines & ships but this will be the first time on the grand lady herself. Is there anyone out there who can give us positive comments regarding this ship? We know not to expect a shiny glitzy modern fun ship - that's no problem as we love the old fashioned elegance and dressing up etc but we certainly don't want to end up with what some people have described on here. Reassurance please!!!

 

Margery M

[QE2 fan]

You most definitely have not done the wrong thing in booking to go on the QE2. We will be going on our 14th cruise on her next summer, and to honest if I was given a free cruise on any other ship, I would probably not bother going. We have been on 2 other ships, and they come nowhere near to QE2. You really feel as if you are going back in time to how travel by sea used to be. Also the staff onboard are miles ahead of any other ship we have been on. There are more of them, approximately 2 members of staff for every passenger, and we have never encountered any that were rude. Having said all this, if you normally like new and shiny things, you will not like QE2. Usually we find that people either love her or hate her, but she is one of a kind. You will not find the same anywhere else. Hope this helps.

[guernseyguy]

Margery,

 

To an extent it will depend on what you have booked. If you are in any of the Grills you should have a good to excellent cabins and superlative dining. If you are in Caronia (single seating) or Mauretania (two seatings) you will have very good dining - but your cabin by modern standards will be small and likely have a quirky layout. For perspective, on the Queen Mary 2 a 'small' inside cabin is 162 sq feet, while most 'standard' balcony cabins are 198 square feet. On the QE2, by contrast, the smallest inside cabin is 73 sq ft. A more typical M grade would be around 120sq feet - though many of the highest M grade are around 170 square feet - in other words, the biggest M grade cabins on the QE2 are about the size of the smallest cabins on the QM2 (tho some M1s are as big as 208 sq feet, the vast majority are in the 135 - 170 range). In Caronia the range is 103 - 218 sq feet, with a 'typical' cabin being about 180 sq feet. Princess Grill are typically 240 sg ft, and Queens Grill 350+.

 

So, if you are in Mauretania or Caronia and don't mind small cabins, you'll be fine - but having a good TA (or asking this board) about cabin size or location is important.

 

On the ship, I find I tend to spend most of my time on the old First Class deck - Quarter deck (easy to remember, as the one above 'Upper Deck' was for the 'lower classes'!) - I much prefer the Quarter Deck Chart Room bar to the Upper Deck Golden Lion or Crystal Bar - and the D staircase (the old First Class one) is the grandest of the lot - just compare it to Third Class' A staircase. So, armed with nuggets of history, its great fun to go exploring - getting lost from time to time because of her long vanished 3 class initial design, which means not all stairs or lifts stop at all decks....enjoy her while she's still there!

 

Peter

[carlmm]

If you do not expect "shiny", "glitzy", "modern" but love "elegance" and "dressing up" you will most probably enjoy the QE2 very much!

Tens of thousands of people enjoy her every year and many come back again and again.

Certainly not everything is perfect as on any other ship. There are people on this board who outright hate the QE2 and will do everything do make her look like the worst ship ever, some just went on the wrong ship ("we had to dress up every night", "the service was so formal, not so funny", "no entertainment at the pool", "the wood cracked", "some of the furniture is probably 40 years old", "no bright colours" etc. - one can know all of this beforehand) and some have valid complaints. Those need to be brought to the attention of Cunard (and I have a fair share of complaints about the lowering of standards) but should not deter anyone from the otherwise great experience.

 

As you said she is a "grand lady", with style and class, with history and an excellent, unobstrusive service. If you read the many positive comments people made about the QE2 and like the same points they do, you are looking forward to a great cruise. Enjoy!

[Bramcruiser]

Hi. To our OP, don't get so disparaged. Remember, those who have make remarks that can become discouraging to most of us are either old-timers who know the ship inside and out and are very particular by this point (and remember how things used to be which is probably a bad thing for us newcomers) OR are people who want a modern cruise-ship experience from something that just is NOT from that era. These may be honest remarks from those who have had bad experiences or feel certain ways about things but do not represent the whole.

 

I have never been on the grand old lady myself but will be for the first time in the summer of 2007. Flying all the way from Canada just to get the chance to be on the ship before her days are over. I think I am walking into this realistically and expect the truth to be somewhere in the middle. There are many positive comments as well regarding the old Queen and it has it's share of die-hard fans on this list.

 

I think you are going into this with realistic expectations so just plan away and make up your own mind as the journey goes along. Don't cancel just because a small vocal group continue to write disparaging remarks. I am doing the QM2 this December but realize I cannot expect my QE2 trip next year to be anywhere near the same experience.

 

David

[mufi]

There have in fact been many glowing reports about QE2 on these boards. You will always get diverse views on any subject - the only way to know is to go. No point worrying about it for the next six months.

 

David.

[transat_jon]

Hi Dave and Marge

 

You will always find positive and negative opinions about anything. People with negative opinions are statistically ten times as likely to voice their opinion (so you hear relatively more from them).

 

Don't worry about the negative opinions, I travel on QE2 once or twice a year and you will find dozens of people on these boards that do the same. This wouldn't be the case if there wasn't special about the old girl. Like all ships you will find your favourite places and activities and even if she doesn't capture your heart you will still have a great time. If the magic of ocean liner travel does capture your heart, you might become another regular!

[Morgans]

Thank you all for your sensible and informative comments. You have all made very valid points which I have read very carefully. David (Mufi) I shan't worry for the next few months but will look forward to this holiday greatly - it's very true that the due to the sheer size of the membership of the board that the comments will be diverse. I just seemed to read so many negative ones lately that I thought oops! have we done the right thing in booking. I am reassured that indeed we have. David, my husband (yes, yet another David) dislikes the flashy, modern, garish ships that are so prevalent today so I am reassured that we will be fine.

Peter's explanation of the staircases made me chuckle - have visions of wandering round the ship half the night trying to find our cabin and trying to negotiate the Staircases A, B, C, D or E ??? Apparently we have been told by cruise friends that 'E' stands for "everywhere" and C6 for "seasick" (or the Medical Centre!) Armed with this knowledge, we will be fine I'm sure. Part of the fun of the holiday, is after all, exploring and finding one's way about.

Thanks to all once again for being so helpful,

 

Margery

[captain_rad]

My wife and I were married on the original Queen Mary in Long Beach and fell in love with the old world style and elegance of the ship even though she is a bit past her prime. So when an opportunity to sail on the QE 2 came up this past January we jumped on it. We spent three months packing, getting more excited as each bag was zipped up.

 

We spent hours talking to people, exploring the ship, and just sitting in a deck chair watching the world go by. So here we are, 7 months later and still talking about what a wonderful cruise we had and all the great people that we met.

 

We did run into people on the ship that complained that the ship was old, (big surprise :confused: ) didn't like the fact that they had to dress for dinner, or that the restaurants were so formal and they actually enforced the dress code. I guess you will always find someone to complain about something.

 

We boarded the QE 2 in LA looking for a wonderful time and we found. Now we are counting the days for our next cruise on the QE 2, 49 days to Sydney.

 

 

Put your fears away and come join a small group that love sailing on the QE 2, and plan to have a wonderful time.:D

[Kindlychap]

I am doing the QM2 this December but realize I cannot expect my QE2 trip next year to be anywhere near the same experience.

 

Fair enough. So why bother with the Mary at all?

[Kindlychap]

Queen Elizabeth 2 is a very special ship indeed. You'll note that my nautical history is almost entirely QE2.

 

We have spent a lot of money with Cunard, and wouldn't do so if we thought it wasn't well spent.

[Bramcruiser]

Fair enough. So why bother with the Mary at all?

 

Ahh, because I want to!

 

Although I said one cannot expect the same as from the other I never said one was better than the other. Just different in their own ways.

 

There are lots of things about the new QM2 that interest me and I am also excited about it even if the die-hard QE2 fans disagree.

 

Besides after putting in a 50 + hour week at work and still taking work home for the weekend and back to the same grind next week the trip coming up in three weeks will be a pleasure to take.

 

David

[Kindlychap]

Besides after putting in a 50 + hour week at work and still taking work home for the weekend and back to the same grind next week the trip coming up in three weeks will be a pleasure to take.

 

Now that I can sympathise!

 

There are times at work when the prospect of a 1970's cross channel ferry, complete with the smell of fish, seems a better option than work!

[travel-to-go]

To the Morgans

I am a veteran cruiser. (Well, not as much as many of the people here) I have been on glitzt, glam and neon, I have been on old world teak and understated charm, but wearing a bit around the edges. No matter what cruise or ship I am on, I find the people and my own attitude are what determines how good a time I have. I still say one of the best cruises I ever had was also one of the worst in terms of things gone wrong. So it gives you something to laugh about or tell tales about later. those are the truly memorable ones!

 

I have missed an opportunity or two to go on the QE2. Now, as time passes, I regret that so much, though maybe now I might be mature enough to appreciate her charms even more (at age 52)- me, not the ship!) although I was never into the "vegas style neon and flash. I have been watching the cruises and crossing, waiting for the right one to come along. I have difficulties with flying, and what with having to pack for formal nights, it makes it even worse, with the airlines' lower baggage allowances. I'm not ready to try a European cruise yet, and keep hoping for maybe something afforadable at a time I can do it in either a Westboud TA on the QE2 or something out of NY.

 

What am I saying? I've been on these boards a while now. I've heard the complaints, I've heard the whining, the she's not like she used to be, etc. I am hoolked on balconies, but recognize that is just not what this ship was built for. So I have finally got myself to a point where I can stand <G> an outside cabin again, and will do my damndest to book passage on the QE2 as soon as i can.

 

Does that tell you any thing?

 

Karie,

who thinks you will have a marvelous time, fore-warned and fore-armed with information, and with reasonable expectations! Life is what you make it! I suspect you will make it marvellous!

[Morgans]

Thank you Karie for your wise words- indeed we will! What about you heeding your own words and trying a European cruise? You say you have missed an opportunity or two to go on the QE2, well go for it!!! You have encouraged us to go (and we are looking forward to it so much, but those negative comments kept popping up) so I hope you can make a booking asap too. Apologies if there is something personal stopping you from booking, I am relatively new to the Cunard boards so don't know if you have previously posted reasons.

I have been very much reassured by everyone's kind and positive comments and now the planning for this holiday will go full steam ahead!

You never know, we may even meet some of you on board at some time.

 

With thanks,

Margery M

[travel-to-go]

Margery,

There are a couple of reasons why I am not ready to do European, The primary one is of cost combined with the long plane ride.

I am "plus sized" so a long plane ride is not the most comfortable thing in the world for either me or the SO. I usually try to get a window seat in a three seat config with Marc in the middle so that I do not infringe on someone else's space. I can sort of squish up against the outside wall of the plane.

Additionally, with the baggage restrictions it becomes even more difficult and now with all of the new rules, just that much more of an inconvenience. It is difficult enough to pack for a cruise with multiple formal nights when only driving down the Brooklyn. Add in a flight with baggage restrictions and it becomes a nightmare! (Especially when your formal gowns contain twice the fabric- and often of some "durable" fabric such as canvas or stainless steel stiffeners- of everyone else's! <LOL> Od fatties need the extra support, you know!) All of this, of course, could increase the cost of such an excursion. Add to this the limits on how much time Marc can be away from his company (it is a small company he is one quarter of the work force, and a very critical part of it- without him, the business does not survive) and Europe is simply not in the cards for us presently.

Of course another reason is that when we are ready to book something, it always seems like the deal of the century comes along, or, like our Labor Day cruise, others we are friends with want us to join them. We set out last year to book the Noordam inaugural cruise (which would have been a medallion cruise for us) or thereabouts, and received a pamphlet in the mail from Cunard for previous cruisers with "an offer we coudn't refuse!" So that made our decision for us.

We considered the QE2 back in the mid nineties. The cost was simply prohibitive. A crossing of 6 days was much more than, say, a seven day on anything else. Plus, you have to fly back (of course that was included back then- well, cattle class, at least) additionally, QE2 at tht time still had the grill section completely "closed off" to non grill passenegers. (At least in theory) You could not go down those hallways, if I remember. In talking to an older extremely experienced cruiser who had just gotten off the QE2, she told us that the class system was still very much in evidence. This woman had done the QE2 in her heyday (the ship's not the woman's, altough I suppose it was hers, too!) and everything from the very highest class ships to "tramp steamers." Well, freighters that have a few passenger berths. I would love to do that someday, but you can't depend on where you will stop or when, so you have to be completely flexible. Some freighters have luxurious accomodations for passengers, including pools, some have very rudimentary, but comfortable accomodations, with absolutely no entertainments or distractions, some, not even so much as a library of worn tomes or a bar. These are working ships. These trips are for those who truly enjoy the sea and sailing, perhaps reading a book or sitting and enjoying the elements. I still would love to do this some day! Hopefully my finances and health will afford me that opportunity when I am retired and have the time to fully enjoy it!

 

Another show-stopper is that we keep going up in cabin class. We are hooked on balconies, and of course, the only balconies on the QE2 are out of our price range! I love being able to feel the wind in your face, not having to compete for a deck chair and even being able to go out scimpily clad after a bath, if i so desire, in the privacy of our won balcony (yeah, I know- don't lean over and plan where you balcony is, lest you be able to be seen from other balconies. For me, just being in a bathing suit is a freedom. On deck, I would likely wear a coverup. This body is not very pretty in a bathing suit! <LOL>) But I have finally come to grips with the fact that it is not a necessity. Despite my outgoing nature in a crowd, I am really a very private person in some ways, and like to have plenty of time when I don't have to be "on" You know- when you don't have to hold your stomach in, figureatively (and literally) speaking! Balconies afford me that privelege without the loss of the proximity to and view and smell of the sea and salt air, which I also love.

 

Trust me, I am keeping my eyes open. I finally convinced Marc that we could do a crossing. It's funny. We both hate flying commercial at all these days- such a hassle- and yet, we are both pilots! Go figure! I guess we both know the freedom of the air, and today's commercial flights are more like a gulag to us! I've considered a crossing on the QM2, but really do wish to reserve that honor for the QE2. I would love to find a way to do the April West bound, but alas, the trip is not open on this side of the pond. I kept trying to figure out a way to do a crossing and spend some time in Europe. It seemed such a waste to go over and right back. Otherwise, back to backs sound inviting, but It is not to be this year, I don't believe. I just got the TA book (the little one that is more narrative than brochure) and I keep dreaming and scheming! If I can only afford to do the TA one way, I want it to be WB, Make the most of the time available. But we'll get there. I promise. If the Grand Dame holds on, we'll make it eventually!

 

Karie,

who feels like the indomitable whoever right now! (Cue swelling music and fade out!)