Anyone planning a once-in-a-lifetime transatlantic cruise, or voyage that oozes classic cruising, will know that Queen Mary 2 is the ultimate host to any adventure at sea.
Since her debut in 2002, Queen Mary 2 has become popular, and very much loved, among Cunard and traditional cruising fans – and has even been featured on a special Sky Arts episode and ABC television.
With Queen Mary 2’s spa, a planetarium (the only one at sea), staterooms to accommodate 2,600 passengers and classy sophisticated interior, it’s the perfect way to see the world in 21st-century comfort!
In this blog, we’ll take a look at what makes Queen Mary 2 so special, and reveal some facts you may not know about this very special ship…
1) She’s Actually Not A Cruise Ship
Queen Mary 2’s sisters, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, are cruise ships designed to look like old-style ocean liners.
But as the only liner who sails the route she was designed for – the transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York, alongside other worldwide itineraries – Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only, and last, bona fide ocean liner.
For her 2,600 guests, the experience is all about the voyage itself hence why there are no port calls! Instead, the emphasis is on the incredible onboard experience and arriving at the best port of all, the Big Apple.
2) She’s Big
At 148,528 tonnes Queen Mary 2 was the largest cruise ship ever built at the time of her maiden voyage in 2004.
Now eclipsed by Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, who is just plain showing off with her 236,857 tonnage, Queen Mary 2 still feels astonishingly large when you first see her. She’s fast too, clocking up a maximum speed of 29 knots (33 mph) compared to the cruise ship norm of 24 (27.5 mph).
3) And Long
When Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, made her maiden voyage back in 1840, her size caused a stir – well it’s going to when the average Joe is used to looking at a two-person horse and cart! But at 1,130 feet compared to Britannia’s piffling 230 feet, Queen Mary 2 makes her ancient relative look like a mere dinghy!
That’s equivalent to a 23-story building (and she only stopped there as she has to get under the Verazzano Narrows Bridge in New York!).
If you still need a bit of help imagining this behemoth, put it this way – her length is equivalent to four football pitches. She’s more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall (550 feet), more than 3 ½ times as long as Big Ben is high, or 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 feet).
She needs every inch of this space to fit in all those fabulous staterooms, restaurants, bars, library, theatre, spa, and not forgetting that cruise essential – the planetarium!
4) Sea And Be Seen
Queen Mary 2’s 360-degree promenade deck is a faithful re-creation of bygone eras where ladies and gentlemen ‘stepped out’ for a stroll to get a bit of sea air, pass the time of day and check each other out from behind those handy old-fashioned hats and parasols!
These days nothing has changed, except everyone’s decked out in cotton rather than crinoline.
The promenade deck, whose circumference spans more than a third of a mile, is well stocked with traditional steamer chairs – so there’s no need for any vulgar bagging of these with strategically placed bags or cardigans (or parasols, if you so wish).
If the wind’s up, there are interior promenades circling several decks so you can take your daily stroll without the weather messing with the glamorous blow dry!
5) Rain On Your Parade?
There’s no chance of this with Queen Mary 2’s state-of-the-art retractable glass roof that means you can swim in the Pavilion Pool on Deck 12 come rain or shine. But if you’d rather swim inside (perhaps before a relaxing massage or facial) you can do so in the indoor swimming pool in the spa.
Mix it up by heading for the main pool on Deck 8 or feel on top of the world in the Splash Pool on the top deck. Little ones will love the Minnows pool next to the play area on Deck 6 (and parents will love the nannies who will supervise little ones in the Play Zone while they go off for a relaxing dip. Now that’s just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!).
6) Fly Me To The Moon
Yes, it’s that planetarium at sea again – we know we keep going on about it but it really is an amazing thing to find on a cruise ship (sorry, ocean liner!).
The stars look incredible from the middle of the ocean anyway, as the lack of light pollution makes them shine extra bright and the Cunard Enrichment Programme provides telescopes and binoculars plus expert tuition from the Royal Astronomical Society for mesmerizing on-deck star gazing.
However, the 150-seat full-size planetarium, Illuminations, means you can take a (virtual) flight to these distant planets during one of the stunning constellations shows! Talk about out of this world…
7) An Audience With The Queen
When a Queen speaks, everyone listens and this is especially true when it comes to this floating monarch – when her whistle blows, it can be heard for 10 miles!
The sound of QM2’s whistle is a nostalgic echo down the years as it’s the original whistle from Cunard’s Queen Mary who ruled the waves between 1936 and 1946.
Cunard loves to mix old and new where it can and this little nod to times past is a nice touch (and sure to be of interest to the cruise line geeks onboard!).
8) She Puts The Luxe Into Library
Bookworms are in for a treat onboard Queen Mary 2! With cosy carpets, lit bookshelves and great views over the bow, the Queen Mary 2 onboard library, plus its choice of more than 8,000 books, is the best library at sea bar none.
If there was a bestseller’s list for libraries at sea, this one would consistently take the number one spot. It’s a great place to curl up on a comfy chair for an hour and play Lord or Lady of the Manor, even if you’re only reading the latest blockbuster.
9) Feeling Good
Queen Mary 2’s Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa brings the exquisite pampering packages and facilities of this prestigious American chain to the seas.
There’s an emphasis on health as well as pampering (better save that glass of bubbles for afternoon tea!). This emphasis extends to the spa’s extensive treatment list, varying from Bamboo massage – which includes bamboo canes being rolled on the body to relieve knots and pressure points – to acupuncture (just make sure not to make any sudden movements!).
10) Pack Your Pet
Never mind the kids, you can bring Rover or Felix along for your cruise with Queen Mary 2’s kennels service, which even has its own dog-walking area!
All pampered pooches and kitty cats will receive a Frisbee (every self-respecting pet needs its own Frisbee, don’t you know!), nametag, food dish and scoop, fleece blanket and premium food but there’s no need for your pet to stress about the dress code – black tie is not required for dinner!
