ROLLING OUT ROYAL TREATMENT
Queen Mary 2 spoils seafarers
Over the years, I’ve learned there are two camps of people: those who absolutely love the idea of taking a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean, and those who can’t understand why anyone would ever want to do that. No ports of call — and no land in sight?
That’s exactly what Cunard Line’s (cunard.com) imposing flagship, Queen Mary 2, spends the majority of her year doing: sailing across the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Southampton, England, with the odd crossing that goes all the way to Hamburg, Germany. You don’t stop at ports. You don’t get off the ship for a full week. And it just happens to be one of the coolest experiences you can have at sea.
Point No. 1: There’s the Queen Mary 2, built in the grand tradition of ocean liners like Mauretania, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2. She’s the only modern ocean liner at sea.
Point No. 2: She’s massive — and there’s absolutely no way you can ever be bored. The Queen Mary 2 boasts an authentic English pub onboard; cruising’s only oceangoing planetarium; the biggest ballroom at sea; a two-storey nightclub; a massive two-storey dining room; the largest library at sea; a massive 20,000-squarefoot SpaClub operated by Canyon Ranch; and more restaurants, bars, lounges and other fun diversions than you could ever hope to experience in a week. Plus, she’s built for the Atlantic, which means that for those of us who like to get tossed around a bit in a storm, she’s disappointingly stable.
But the real reason to make the crossing — other than the significant nostalgia factor of crossing the ocean to begin with — is that Cunard offers a number of special themed crossings that change every year. Past theme voyages have included the National Symphony Orchestra, musician James Taylor and comedian John Cleese.
This year, jazz lovers will want to get in on one of two Blue Note Jazz Cruises that are offered aboard Queen Mary 2. Herbie Hancock headlines the Aug. 1 crossing between Southampton and New York, while Gregory Porter and Dee Dee Bridgewater perform on the ship’s Oct. 25 sailing from Southampton. All three Grammy-award-winning artists will perform intimate shows for guests in the Royal Court Theatre.
My personal favourite — the Nov. 19 crossing from Southampton to New York — will feature a 13-piece big-band orchestra and special musical events throughout the ship to commemorate Cunard founder Sir Samuel Cunard’s birthday on Nov. 21. He was born 229 years ago in Halifax and later founded the shipping line that bears his surname (first known as the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company) in 1840. Cunard also just announced a special partnership with celeb- rity auction house Julien’s Auctions that will showcase highlights from the world’s largest collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia onboard Queen Mary 2’s Aug. 9 crossing from New York.
Some big changes are in store for Queen Mary 2 this spring — ones that will no doubt please old and new guests alike. On May 27, the 12-year-old ship will arrive at the Blohm+Voss shipyards in Hamburg, Germany, for a 25-daylong refit — the biggest in the ship’s history. On tap: 30 brand new Britannia Club balcony staterooms (and an expanded Britannia Club restaurant); a completely remodelled King’s Court Buffet area that has been stripped down to the walls and reimagined; the removal of the underused Winter Garden and its transformation into the Corinthian Lounge, which will feature afternoon tea, premium wines and small plate dishes, along with the option of a Veuve Cliquot champagne afternoon tea service.
Queen Mary 2 will also be expanding her onboard kennels from 12 to 22 due to meet increasingly high demand.
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