My Transatlantic with the Queen

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to go on a Cunard Cruise across the Atlantic, departing from Southampton and going over to New York.

I was very excited about this trip but also very curious as to what the Queen Mary 2 ship could offer me for 7 full days of cruising without any ports of call.

But, first things first. With the embarkation closing at 3.30pm a member of our 36 strong party was still sat in Edinburgh airport at 1.30 waiting for her delayed flight to take-off. Thanks to her communication and Cunards organisation skills the lady made it, 15 mins late but she made it, Cunard had arranged a taxi to meet her at Southampton airport and with the client keeping the port updated with what was happening all ended well.

Once I was settled it was time to look at the daily programme for the following day. What jumped out at me was how much there was to do but how so many of these activities did not interest me such as-

Zumba, Watercolour Art Class, Lectures, Quizzes, Bingo, fencing, flower arranging, Seminars, Bridge Lessons, mahjong games, Line dancing, Ballroom dancing, lessons on using your Ipad, music trivia.

Then there is the golf simulator, crazy golf, shuffleboard competitions, table tennis games, Planetarium, live concerts, theatre shows, a fully equipped gym, Spa day passes at $15 and week pass at approx $80.

It turned out there was plenty to do, I have not even got onto the dining yet.

I found that most of what did not appeal to me was actually quite good fun, I mean, why not try it, most are free, I have time and no one is judging.

This cruise also has a singles club, as long as you are happy Cunard will sit you for meals with other singles, they have a singles club that meets for pre-dinner drinks and that takes everyone nicely onto the evening entertainment in the theatre, lounges or the G32 night club.

There’s an LGBT social hour, brilliant stuff, so many people think Cunard is quite stuffy but far from it, they think about and care about everyone.

So whilst busy doing the activities there is also the afternoon tea…. Not much you may think, that is what I thought but criminally I did not try it until day 5, gutted, the food and specifically the cakes were amazing, I so wished I had done it from day 1, I would have been there every day onwards. Click here for a few photos.

Sir Samuels tea and coffee shop featuring chocolates by Godiva was amazing, The latte at just $5 was one of the best I have had and I also did an afternoon tea here too, Godiva style, click here to see my photos.

Perhaps for me the highlight of the trip was waking up at 5.30am to go on top deck to watch New York come into view and see the sights of New York from the sea, it did not disappoint and there can be no better way of arriving into New York than by Sea, and by Queen Mary 2. I took millions of photos but here are a few.