Tom Ogg

Age: 50s
Occupation: Self Employed
Number of Cruises: Many
Cruise Line: Cunard Line
Ship: Queen Mary 2
Itinerary: Cruise to Nowhere

The Setup:
Joanie and I had been invited to participate in the inaugural of the QM2 for a “Cruise to Nowhere” out of Ft. Lauderdale. We had just gotten off the Splendour of the Seas with a group of travel professionals and had made our way to Ft. Lauderdale before boarding the QM2. The hype surrounding the arrival of the QM2 was unbelievable. Her picture was on the front page of Ft. Lauderdale's Sun Sentinel, she was the lead story on every news program on every channel. People were parking on the 17th Street Causeway draw bridge overlooking Port Everglades taking pictures of her and everyone was talking about the QM2 every where we went. Joanie and I went to one of our favorite restaurants the evening before we boarded the QM2 and passed over the bridge in front of the Marriott that overlooked Port Everglades and saw her for the first time. She was lit up like a small city and towered over all of the other ships that happened to be in port.

The QM2 in Ft. Lauderdale

I was very keen on seeing the QM2 having made several crossings on the QE2 and knowing the history of the original Queen Mary, which is now a floating hotel in Long Beach. I find the machinery of the ocean liners to be fascinating and the fact that QM2 is the largest, longest, tallest and widest cruise ship ever built, had me mesmerized. I couldn’t wait to board her.

The Ship:
QM2 was docked on pier 29 across from the Crystal Symphony. We parked our rental car at the pier and proceeded to check in arriving right at the requested 2 pm.. Cunard had not only debarked a full passenger load in the morning, but had also hosted several thousand people to inspect the ship with 1,700 or so for lunch. Check in was slow, but totally understandable given the logistics Cunard was facing. By 3:30 pm we had embarked the ship and had made our way to our cabin for the next three nights.

Cabin 11-006, deck 11, port, forward;
We were treated to a balcony cabin on deck 11 and were quite pleased with the accommodations. However, there is a huge difference between the cabins on the QE2 and the QM2. The QE2 was built for world cruises and her cabins reflect the prospect that one might reside in the cabin for 100 days or more. They feature tons of closet space in the walk-in closets, large bathrooms and a large stateroom quite ample for any purpose.

Our Ocean View Cabin with a Balcony

On the other hand, QM2 was built for rapid transatlantic crossings (26 per year) and the Caribbean 7-12 day market. Her cabins reflect the reality that one doesn’t need tons of storage space for extensive wardrobes. The size of the cabins is more in line with the size of cabin one would expect to find for a market specific cruise ship in a 7-12 day cruise market. The bathrooms are also designed for the shorter cruise market and features the size and materials one would expect to find in that market. Once one understands the concept of the QM2, one begins to appreciate the ship.

Our balcony was quite large enough for two full sized lounge chairs and was quite private. Being just below the bridge and back about 3 cabins we had a clear view of what was going on on the left-hand quarter and the overhang of the bridge. We enjoyed the sunshine in our lounge chairs and Joanie would have spent the entire cruise there if it weren’t for the fact that the QM2 kept changing directions affecting the amount of sunshine that hit the chairs.

There was a generous sitting area with a comfortable sofa and small table that also acted as a dining table for room service. Adjacent to the sofa was a desk with ample mirrors, 2 110v and 2 UK 220v outlets, a small refrigerator, and several drawers. All in all, it was quite spacious for a shorter cruise. There is also a hair dryer affixed inside the drawer on the left hand side of the desk area, but the cord is barely long enough to allow one to stand while they dry their hair. HINT: Bring your own hair dryer if you regularly use one. I would also suggest bringing a 6-foot extension cord. The bedding is of extremely high quality and we slept like babies on this ship. Two nightstands with lights compliment the bedding. The Closets offered ample storage for a shorter cruise with two separate closets and a 3-drawer shelf (there is also a safe in the cabin.)

QM2 Bathroom

The bathroom has a typical shower that one would find on a newer ship, however everyone thought the textured floor was an excellent feature. The water flow and temperature control is excellent. There is one sink and plenty of storage for toiletries for a 7-day cruise, however I always suggest one bring a hanging toiletries bag as this frees up the counter space making the bathroom much more useable.

I was able to take a shot of one of the inside cabins, so I included it here for you to see.

QM2 Inside Cabin

A Tour of the QM2:
The best way to explore the QM2’s numerous cubbies, rooms and features is to simply start at the top and work our way down to the bottom of the ship. While the QM2 is huge there are few areas of the ship that let you know that you are on the world’s largest ship. If you have ever been on the QE2, or in an old section of a town where streets and alleys do not seem to have been designed with one another in mind, you can start to contemplate the QM2. I am not sure how long it would take to see everything on the ship, but suffice it to say that if you spent a week on her, you would just begin to get to know her many nooks and crannies.

The QM2 has 4 separate stairwells, each leading to various rooms and areas of the ship. It is not uncommon to change decks while trying to traverse the entire length of the ship and some areas can only be reached by using certain stairwells (and elevator banks) Here is a tour of the ship. Going all the way forward to the “A” stairwell and taking the elevator all the way to deck 13 here is what you will find as you exit the door.

The Lookout

Deck 13
Exiting the door to the outside deck presents you with access to the Lookout that is about ten steps above the deck. The Lookout is covered to protect one from the normally breezy conditions that are created by the QM2 moving through the ocean. It runs the entire width of the ship and is a great place to see where the ship is going. It is directly above the bridge. Moving aft from the Observation deck is the sports area featuring a golf driving area (enclosed with netting) and then a basketball ½ court.

Regatta Bar

Moving aft on deck 13 one finds the Regatta Bar, which offers a quiet spot to enjoy a cocktail while laying out on the sun deck by the small splash pool that is reasonably protected from the wind and elements.

QM2 Sun Deck Helipad

The sun deck also doubles as a helipad in medical evacuations and is clearly marked for helicopter landings. Once past the helipad, deck 13 leads to a stairway down to deck 12, which is all cabins forward of this point.

Pavilion Pool

Deck 12
The forward section of deck 12 that sits under deck 13 is all cabins and at the foot of the stairway from deck 13, the Pavilion pool (a completely enclosed and temperature controlled pool area) and Bar are located. This wonderful spot is perfect for lounging in its warmth and would be my favorite spot on a trans-Atlantic crossing if the weather were not perfect for the aft pools. There are a good number of lounge chairs and nooks to enjoy them in.

QM2 Funnel

Shuffleboard Anyone?

Along the sides of QM2’s huge funnel offers golf simulator (Fairways) on the port side and shuffleboard on the starboard side. Behind the funnel is a wonderful area with outside tables intended for dining for passengers selecting to enjoy the food at the Boardwalk Café. Similar to the pool restaurant on the QE2, the Boardwalk Café offers, burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips and so on. It would be a great choice for the kids.

The Boardwalk Cafe

The Kennel on the QM2

The kennel is also located just aft of the Broadway Café on the starboard side. One can bring their loved pets with them on vacation and keep them in the kennel and presumably take their pet for a stroll on deck 12 when the urge rises. This is a really wonderful feature, especially if folks are doing a trans-Atlantic crossing.

Aft Decks on the QM2

Looking aft from the aft railing of deck 12, one can see the various pools and exterior areas that make up the stern of the QM2.

The Atlantic Room

Deck 11
With the exception of the most forward space, deck 11 is all cabins (this is where ours was). There is a wonderful card room hidden away (the Atlantic Room)  on the most forward section of deck 11. One enters on the port side through a rather innocuous looking doorway. Once inside, you will probably have the entire room to yourself. Outside of the card room is the Observation Deck, which wraps around the entire bow of the ship and is protected from the elements. One gains access to the Observation Deck through the door leading to the exterior deck to the left of the door entering the Atlantic Room.

Deck 10
The entirety of deck ten is passenger cabins.

Churchill's Cigar Club   The Commodore Club   The Boardroom

Deck 9
Deck 9 is mostly cabins with the exception of the aft deck, which is exclusively for the Grill class passengers only. The forward most portion of deck 9 offers Churchill’s Cigar Club on the starboard side of the ship and the Commodore Club on the port side. Just aft of the Commodore is a nice little public area named the Boardroom. Both Churchill’s and the Commodore Club face directly forward offering a nice view of what lies ahead of the QM2 while. While we didn’t get to enjoy the piano bar in the Commodore Club, it looked to be an excellent place to spend an evening.

A Small Part of the QM2 Library

Deck 8
Once again, deck 8 is primarily passenger cabins. Forward on deck 8 is the QM2 Bookstore and Library. The bookstore is awesome with tons of books on cruising and cruise history. The library is quite extensive and offers thousands of books (even current issues of many magazines) On the port side of deck 8 forward is the Canyon Ranch Beauty Salon.

Todd English Entrance

Todd English Restaurant

All the way aft and on the starboard side of the ship is the entrance to the QM2’s alternative restaurant, Todd English. Every passenger on the QM2 may enjoy Todd English, but only once if they are not in the Grill class. Reservations are mandatory for every one.

The Terrace Pool

Aft of Todd English is the Terrace pool and bar. There is a large sun deck here with two Jacuzzis and a pool. This is the place to head when it is warm outside and you want some sun.

Deck 7
This is the first all public area decks and it is where one will find a number of dining opportunities for breakfast, lunch and dinner, should they want to not dine in the main restaurant.. Starting from the very forward spot on this deck is access to the outdoor promenade deck (there are several other ways to get outside) as deck 7 is surrounded by the promenade, which encircles the ship.

The QM2 Gym

The gym occupies the most forward portion of deck 7 and is quite large. There are actually three separate sections of the gym. On the port side are step machines and other aerobic machines. Treadmills reside in the center section, while both Cybex machines and free weights take up the starboard side of the gym. There is ample equipment for the size of the ship for an excellent workout without being crowded.

Winter Garden

The world-famous Canyon Ranch Spa and Club is just aft of the gym and was very popular with all the guests on this cruise. Aft of the Canyon Ranch Spa is a large bar area known as the Winter Garden. We used this spot to meet with folks during the cruise and it offered a quiet and relaxed environment in which to conduct business and socialize. Afternoon tea and sandwiches were also served at this location.

King's Court Buffet

Going aft on the starboard side one enters the Kings Court. This huge buffet area covers several separate buffets for breakfast and lunch. Each serve different dishes, so you should make sure you visit each of the buffets before making a decision. I especially enjoyed the Asian dishes that were made in the first buffet as you enter as I suggested.. During the dinner hours, King's Court is divided into four separate restaurants, each serving its own unique cuisine. Lotus Asian Cuisine, serving Asian delicacies, The Carvery, serving British cuisine, La Piazza, serving Italian cuisine and finally, the Chef's Gallery.

Princess Grill Restaurant and Table Setting

Queen's Grill Restaurant and Table Setting

Traveling aft of the King's Court one enters the exclusive Princess Grill on the port side and the Queen's Grill on the starboard side of the ship. These are the top restaurants reserved only for those that have booked themselves into the QM2's Grill Class category.

Queen's Grill Lounge

Directly across from the entrance to the Queen's Grill on the starboard side of the ship is the exclusive Queen's Grill Lounge, again for the exclusive use of those booked into Grill Class.

The Zone and the Minnow's Pool

Deck 6;
Deck 6 is entirely made up of staterooms with the exception of the very aft section. Gaining entrance from only the port side of the ship is the children's area known as the Zone, the Play Zone and the Minnow's Pool. What a great kid's area! They have their own rooms with tons to do and even have their own Jacuzzi and small pool to enjoy.

Deck 5:
This deck is made up entirely of Staterooms.

Deck 4
Once again, this deck is entirely staterooms.

The G32 Nightclub

Deck 3:
Starting from the very aft of deck 3 is the G32 Nightclub. With its innocuous entrance, the G32 Nightclub is the swinging place on the QM2. It was packed each night and the music was excellent.

The Queen's Room

The Queen's Room is directly forward to the G32 Nightclub, in fact, the G32 Nightclub entrance is seen clearly from anywhere in the Queen's Room. This room is used as an entertainment venue and ballroom dancing. As the largest ballroom on any ship, it is most impressive.

Britannia Restaurant

The upper floor of the Britannia Restaurant occupies the area forward of the Queen's Room, but is only accessed from the other side of the restaurant. A stairway and walkway allows one to go under the restaurant as they make their way forward. The main entrance to the upper level of the restaurant is extremely impressive and the dual arching stairway leading to the lower level is equally impressive.

Sir Samuel's Wine Bar

Along the port side of the ship one finds the Photo Shop. Disposable cameras, film, batteries and such are available in the photo shop. Just forward of the photo shop on the port side is the Sir Samuel's Wine Bar. We loved this bar with its excellent wine list and pub like environment.

The Chart Room

Just across from Sir Samuel's on the starboard side of the ship was another great bar, the Chart Room. There was a trio that played here nightly and the bar was very comfortable to enjoy.

The Grand Lobby Staircase

One of the most impressive spots on the QM2 was the Grand Lobby. Surrounded by the Mayfair Shops, the Grand Lobby featured two spiral staircases along with two exterior elevators that ran the length of the atrium.

The Champagne Bar

The Champagne Bar was a very small and intimate bar to relax with a glass of wine.

The Central Hallway

One of the things that impressed me was the grand corridor that led from the Britannia Restaurant most of the length of the ship. It was the broadest and most impressive I have ever seen and there was never a crowded feeling when dinner was over and folks were making their way to the next venue.

The Royal Court Theater

Forward of the shops was the main entertainment venue, the Royal Court Theater where the shows are held in the evenings. The theater offers great sight lines and is very accommodating i its two levels. Seating 1,200 guests at a time, finding a seat is not a problem.

Illuminations (The Planetarium)

The Planetarium known as Illuminations, is unique to any ship and offers programs about our solar system and beyond. While I didn't get the opportunity to attend a show, those that did absolutely loved it and found it completely distinctive. Other virtual reality presentations, as well as lectures take place here.

QM2 Hallway with Typical "Maritime Quest" Artwork

This part of the QM2 becomes very interesting as there are walkways meandering here and there and it is quite easy to become disoriented. Of course, it is quite hard to get lost on a ship, but spending some time enjoying the artwork in this area is well worth it. Taking the recorded "Maritime Quest" tour throughout the ship's 5,000 pieces of art will certainly keep one entertained for a good amount of time.

Deck 2:
Deck 3L and deck 2 are basically the same deck, it is just the the elevation changes to accommodate the various rooms above on deck 3.

Cunard Connections

All the way forward on deck 2 is the Internet Cafe known as Cunard Connections. The download speed was slow during our sessions, but adequate for the pricing that was offered. There were ample terminals with ample privacy for folks to have a quality session. Note that there are also terminals in the Library on deck 9.

QM2's Conference Center Main Desk

The conference center also resides in this location just aft of the Internet Cafe. I attended a press meeting in one of the rooms and was surprised at how large the room was. It had great acoustics and sight lines and would make an excellent place for meetings. There were several break out rooms, as well as a computer center that could be used for training.

The Empire Casino

The Empire Casino resides on deck two and is quite large. The casino bar is intimate and there are a good number of slots arranged in row after row. This casino certainly would provide hours of fun for those that like to gamble.

The Golden Lion Pub

The Golden Lion Pub

The Golden Lion Pub was one of my favorites. I loved this same pub on the QE2 and Cunard has captured the same flavor on the QM2.

The ship's photography gallery and art gallery are also located on this deck aft.

Deck 1:
Unfortunately, deck one was not accessible on this cruise, but one would find the medical facility as well as four large tender waiting rooms.

Summary:
I can't wait to do a crossing on the QM2. While she is beautiful, her real strength is in plowing through rough seas in the most difficult situations. As the world's largest ocean liner, I can just imagine what she will be like in those conditions. The Captain was doing some maneuvers to test and set the auto steering and she handles quite well. At one time he had her listing about 10 degrees and she came back upright without hardly noticing it.

The physical layout of the QM2 will make even the most astute cruiser experience awe when they board her and there is plenty to do for a voyage on her to keep everyone amused and entertained. Great job Cunard!!!!

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