Cunard’s QM2 crosses Atlantic in style
What’s the difference between a cruise ship and a true ocean liner? You only have to look up — way up — at Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 to spot the difference. At 1,130 feet long (345 metres), she towers over 60 metres above the waterline and has been specially designed with one task in mind: to offer regularly-scheduled voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, continuing the tradition that Cunard started in 1840.
Queen Mary 2 — or QM2 as she is affectionately known — is one of my favourite ships, and last year Cunard put her through the largest renovation since her launch in 2004.
This “remastering” affected nearly every corner of the ship, from new soft furnishings throughout the ship to new staterooms, updated decor for all staterooms and suites and several brand new public rooms.
I recently sailed on Queen Mary 2’s first eastbound transatlantic crossing of the year, a weeklong voyage from New York to Southampton, England, to check this remastering out — and the results were far more sweeping than I had thought.
The most obvious changes can be found on Deck 7, where the Wintergarden has been replaced, and the King’s Court Buffet stripped to the steel and rebuilt from the ground up to improve its decor and passenger flow.
The Wintergarden has become the Carinthia Lounge, a soothing spot that serves up Illy coffee creations by day and, by night, boasts an impressive (if rather expensive) selection of vintage port wines, in addition to more moderately-priced alternatives. This became one of my favourite new spaces to hang out in during the day and even became an attraction at night thanks to performances by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts artists on board.
The King’s Court is a colossal improvement from what it used to be. You’ll never have an issue finding a seat now, and flow is much improved thanks to better serving station placement and a more open design concept.
Solo travellers will want to book early to snag one of 15 new single-occupancy staterooms on Decks 2 and 3L.
Besides the new decor in all staterooms and public rooms, Cunard has also enhanced the ship’s cocktail menus.
One thing the line hasn’t tinkered with, however, is Cunard’s magic formula for crossing the Atlantic. With the largest ballroom at sea, white-gloved afternoon tea, the only planetarium on the oceans and guest lecturers galore, boredom is simply not an option aboard Queen Mary 2 — and this remastering has left her looking better than ever.
Visit fromthedeckchair.com for a day-by-day Voyage Report aboard Queen Mary 2.