Review: Queen Mary 2

What is the line? Cunard

Name of ship? Queen Mary II

Passenger occupancy? 2,691

Itinerary? Southampton, England to New York City, USA

Relive the golden age of stylish slow travel, indulging in five-star treatment and high-end entertainment.

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

This is a classic brand of cruise liner known for luxury, high-quality entertainment. Expect  refined dining, sartorial elegance, haute cuisine, fine wine, and high-end entertainment from the playful to the cerebral.

Tell us about the ship in general

Launched in 2004, the Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of Cunard Line and the largest ocean liner ever built. Carrying up to 2,691 passengers, it has the distinction of being the only ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship – there’s a difference) still in service, and the only transatlantic one at that. Never to be outdone, it has the first planetarium at sea, and its 8,000-volume library is the largest of any cruise vessel. Scattered around its 13 decks are 5,000 commissioned works of art by 128 international artists.

Who is onboard?

Mostly fiftysomething-plus retiree couples or friends traveling in pairs; bon-vivant bucket listers fulfilling lifelong dreams of classic ocean voyaging.

Describe the cabins

We stayed in the penthouse suite, which was three times larger than a regular cabin, its lounge big enough for us to entertain our new passenger friends. They used the guest bathroom while the main bathroom had two showers and a jacuzzi bath. Patio windows opened out onto a large, private balcony, and there were powerful, tripod-mounted binoculars to check out the dolphins.

The Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites come with more compact lounges, marble bathrooms and private balconies. The lowest-tier ‘Stateroom’ cabins are snug with shared balconies, and decorated in bright, fresh colors.

Tell us about the crew

The crew and waitstaff are formal but warm and amenable and would go out of the way to help if requested. A healthy staff-passenger ratio means you’re never waiting long to get assistance. Guests in the penthouse, Princess Grill and Queen Grill suites have 24-hour butler service.

What food and drink options are available on board?

Guests in the superior Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites eat at the Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants. Their extensive wine list features excellent vintages that will gratify connoisseurs, and the haute cuisine menu is loaded with the classics, including Dover Sole Meunière and Chateaubriand. The croquette of suckling pig and mango panna cotta were divine standouts. Meanwhile, make sure to get a reservation at specialist restaurant The Steakhouse at The Verandah, which serves cooked-to-order prime cuts sliced by your personal choice of steak knife.

Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The Mareel spa has almost every form of water therapy on offer, from Finnish sauna, to a sizable pool and jacuzzi, and an aqua therapy including a massage pool where neck and back pains are pounded away by forceful water jets or waterfall shower. Reflexology basins are also available, while the relaxation lounge is so spacious you won’t have to compete for lounge chairs.

Activities and entertainment

“The ship is the destination,” says Cunard’s management team, which lays on a cultural program like no other. It runs the gamut from Shakespeare plays at the Royal Court Theatre productions; a planetarium, and an esoteric range of talks from experts: we listened to a former police officer talk about drug mules, and an art expert discussing investment in art, and a professional guitarist deconstructing and performing Jimmy Hendrix’s best riffs. Harpists and a string trio perform in quiet corners each day, while guests wanting something more contemporary can bop to 70s-90s pop classics at the G2 disco after dinner. Once a year, the Queen Mary 2 hosts the incomparable Literature Festival at Sea, bringing in top authors like Bill Bryson and Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo to discuss their work.

Physical activities include croquet on the top deck, table tennis by the swimming pool, darts, swimming, water-painting classes and bridge lessons.

How was the experience for families?

It’s not the most family-centered liner – the few kids onboard were above 12 years old. Nonetheless, children aged 2 to 17 are welcome and can join activity clubs or do sports and gaming in dedicated entertainment areas.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

Southampton to New York City. Seven days and six nights on the wide open sea. 14 days roundtrip.

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Cunard is installing Advanced Air Quality Systems (AAQS) throughout its fleet to remove sulfur compounds and particulate matter from the ships’ exhaust fumes.

Anything we missed?

Each day through the loudspeaker, the captain gives insightful nuggets of information about navigation, such as ‘the circle’, which is the practice of navigating a ship along the earth’s curved surface. And don’t miss out on the last-night gala where guests dress up and live out their retro fantasies. The theme on our trip was the Roaring Twenties: ladies dolled up in flapper-girl hats and dresses, doing the Charleston with their tuxedoed partners.

Why is this cruise worth booking?

It’s rare to enjoy such cerebral and high-quality dining, entertainment and service with an old-school flavor and charm. You’ll disembark with the feeling that you’ve not just rested your body and mind but cultivated them too.