qe2 mediterranean cruise

What It Was Like to Cross the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth 2

By Madison Flager

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In the last decade, cruising has grown immensely , with hundreds of ships regularly ferrying passengers to nearly every corner of the globe: from Miami to the Caribbean, around the Cape Peninsula, through the Panama Canal, up and down the Mediterranean Sea. There’s a route, and a cruise line , for every type of traveler. But for many seasoned cruisers, one ship, and one iconic route, will always stand out as the crown jewel: Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 , more affectionately known as the QE2 .

In operation from 1969 to 2008, the QE2 brought the rich and famous— Neil Diamond, Nelson Mandela, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, and several members of the Royal Family among them—from New York to Southampton, England, and vice versa. The ocean liner was a luxurious—and for some, less nerve-wracking—way to cross the Atlantic, and, at one time, was the only way to do so by sea.

When she was finally taken out of service, and eventually brought to Dubai to be turned into a floating hotel , crew and former passengers alike were “distraught.” We spoke to some of those former crew members and guests to find out what it was like to be on board, and what exactly made the ocean liner so alluring.

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Sleek, streamlined, and elegant

The QE2 ’s design stands in stark contrast to the ships most travelers see today. “There are no ships like it today, quite frankly,” says Andy Dinsdale, a former cruise director on the QE2 . “She was the fastest ship of her type in the world at that time. You look at the ships nowadays, they're all sky rises on ship bases. The QE2 was sleek, she was slim. She was made to cut through the ocean waves and she did it beautifully—fast and elegantly.”

Tim Davey, who worked as a crew purser and hotel officer onboard the QE2 in the early 90s, echoes the importance of the ship's design. “This thing had some really sexy shapes about it, you know? It was well maintained, always immaculate. And it was the pride and joy of Cunard every time it came into port. You knew you were on something special, whether you were a passenger, or a crew member.”

When she first came into service, the QE2 had a slick modern '70s “space-age-y” design, Dinsdale says. Public spaces were decorated with plastic laminates, modular furniture, and abstract art. Over the years, refurbishments led to a slightly more grandiose aesthetic, but many original structural elements remained.

Christian Reay , who sailed as a passenger in early 2007 and has since been on 17 cruises, said in an email that he remembers the ship’s “sleek, yacht-like” design, the “intricate ceilings and space-age pillars” of The Queen’s Room, where afternoon tea was served, as well as “her funnel in the traditional Cunard red and black livery, and the beautifully tiered aft decks and superstructure.” 

“I still remember being in the taxi, approaching the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at Southampton docks, and seeing QE2 for the first time, and being completely in awe,” Reay said.

The interior of the Queen's Room, where afternoon tea was served and cocktail parties were hosted, 1969

A dining experience ‘second-to-none’

Guests on the QE2 dined according to the tier of room they paid for. Still, though, the food in any dining room was considered five-star. “From top to bottom—even if you're in the Columbia Dining Room, which was for those in the lower cabins, the food and the experience were still magic,” Davey says.

Drinks were a given, too. “The cocktail waiters were just magnificent. I've never seen mixologists like that before,” Dinsdale says.

Former guests concur. “No midnight buffet has ever been the same since,” Benedict Montgomery , who sailed with his family around the Norwegian Fjords aboard the QE2 in 2006, said in an email. “From elaborate ice sculptures to fresh oysters and lobster to whatever your heart desired, there was so much choice.”

British traditions were a highlight, too. “Afternoon Tea took place each day, promptly at 3 p.m., and it was an event not to be missed,” Reay says. “Immaculate white gloved waiter service, and a vast selection of finger sandwiches, cakes, French fancies, and scones with jam and clotted cream.” Altogether, “The dining experience was second to none,” he says.

Passengers in a VIP lounge during the QE2's first year of service, 1969

An elaborate event

Entertainment abounded on the QE2 , especially for Atlantic crossings. Guests could enjoy a drink at the piano bar, listen to classical music or jazz orchestras, practice ballroom dancing, or attend lectures given by filmmakers, former Concorde pilots , and more. “When you're doing a five day transatlantic, you want to know that you're going to have the opportunity to meet a famous author and do some education across the pond as well,” Davey says.

Harrison Pierce

María Casbas

Jessica Puckett

Occasionally, a themed cruise would be on offer, sailing with soap opera stars, former Olympians, or comedians. Beyond the notable names, guests mingled with one another—“The QE2 had this way of attracting people from all around the world who would come to sail on here, so there were always interesting people around,” Davey says. And guests dressed for the occasion, wearing suits and gowns to dinners. “You were really going on the QE2 to be part of an elaborate event, and it made it special.”

Luxury from start to finish

Also unique to the QE2 ? Its partnerships with other luxury modes of travel at the time. Packages were available to allow guests to travel on the Orient-Express train to Southampton, sail over to America, stay a night or two at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, then fly a chartered Concorde plane back to London. “That means of traveling the world—you’re going in the lap of luxury on all three” modes of transport, Dinsdale says.

Janice Jeffery, who took the Concorde to Singapore on her 21st birthday while working for Cunard, and arranged these packages for guests, says the experiences helped to put the cruise line back on the map.

“Now I meet people, and they always say, ‘my big regret was I never did Concorde and I never did QE2 ’ because they were iconic," she says. "I don't think we'll see anything like that again. There are too many ships and too many planes.”

Sailing out of New York, 2008 

A warm welcome

In the QE2 ’s heyday, world cruises were still somewhat of a novelty—so much so that locals would crowd into ports to see the ocean liner coming in. Jeffery and Davey recall hundreds of small sailing boats and motor vessels that would sail in with them in ports like Rio de Janeiro and Sydney , and the excited crowds that would greet them, lining the decks as they sailed into places like South Africa ’s Port Elizabeth.

Davey remembers sailing into New Zealand , “and just the flotilla of boats that would come and greet you and sail into the harbor with you was amazing.” Stateside, locals would stand on their balconies around Fort Lauderdale ’s port with air horns and flashlights. ”The captain would sound the QE2 horn three times, and then they would all answer with their horns. And it became a ritual sailing out of Fort Lauderdale,” he says.

The end of an era

The nostalgia for the QE2 is evident, carved out of her long history, penchant for carrying notable guests, and white glove service. "It reminded people of a bygone era which sadly none of us will ever experience again,” Montgomery, who has since sailed on 13 more cruises, says of the fanfare over the liner. “She evoked a lot of real love in passengers and crew,” says Jeffery.

With 1,800 passengers and 1,200 crew, there was much more attention paid to each guest, too. “It didn't matter what level of cabin you were in, you were treated like royalty,” Davey says. Montgomery, who sailed at age 11, recalls the wait staff “always went out of their way to ensure a fussy child, like I was, enjoyed the experience.”

That level of service is at the core of the QE2 ’s legacy. “Why do [travelers] go to The Savoy in London? Why do they go to The Ritz ? They want to have that feeling of being looked after in a way that the Romantic era of the Victorians were,” Dinsdale says.

While cruisers can no longer experience a transatlantic crossing or world cruise on the famed liner, they can still spend a night on board , docked in Dubai's Port Rashid; former crew say she’s been well looked after, too. Says Davey: “If you have that hankering to go and see the traditional old lady, you still can, and that's a great way for it to end up.”

• Cunard Line

QE2 Mediterranean Cruise... any questions?

By 2dream4 , August 17, 2004 in Cunard Line

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I just returned from the 2 week Mediterranean cruise on the QE2, including a 3 day stay at the Cunard advertised hotel, with all Cunard transfers. It was great. Fire away with any questions you may have on the trip! I have been collecting data to answer any questions you may have on the cruise, or extras, including the shore excursions !

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I was on this trip as well and had a fantastic time. QE2 is looking great and has certainly not gone 'downmarket' as some of us feared after the arrival of QM2. I think both the food and entertainment have improved since I travelled last year. She is well looked after. Interesting to see that some of the staff who transfered from QE2 to QM2 have now returned to QE2. This was also the last voyage for Captain Ray Heath who is retiring.

Vic The Parrot

hello simwil!

It's good to hear that 'my ship' is being well cared for!

I found her to be in good condition before the re-fab, a little rust spots here and there, but nothing that made her seem like it was time to go out to pasture.

I can't wait to see my baby again!

thames_side

I see we board at 12.30. Can we get anything to eat on the ship then or should we grab a bight on the way to the port?

I read the Terms and Conditions. At 6.5 it says "If the guest brings on any stage of the package any alcohol in excess of the quantity permitted for landing duty free at the point of disembarkation such alcohol shall be placed in bond aboard the vessel or other relevant means of transport during the package and returned to the guest upon arrival at the last stage of the package"

Seems a bit odd. You can keep your duty free allownce with you in the cabin - and presumably drink it. Any more and you hand it over. But once you've drunk it you can buy another duty free allowance at the next port? Anyway for UK residents there is virtually no limit to the duty free allowance for alcohol bought in the EU!

Anyway how does the policy seem to be carried out on the ship?

Much looking forward to the trip. Glad to here the ship is in good shape. I've cruised before with Cunard but not on the QE2.

I was pleased to discover that although QE2 is almost exclusively cruising nowadays she is not just chugging along. When crossing the Med from Gibraltar to Sicilly we exceeded 29 knots at times.

That's pretty impressive! 29 knots

She STILL has it!!

Hi thames side

I didn't have any problems bringing 2 bottles on board.

They were in my carryon, and not concealed.

Had a bottle of champagne, and a 5th of scotch.

The cruise throught the Mediterrancean on the QE2 which ended last week was fantastic. For those that have been worrying about the air conditioning, be rest assured it is working just fine. The little alarm clock I brought with me also had a temperature setting on it, and I can assure you the temp in my room stayed a constant 70 degrees F even through the blistery heat and humidity of the Mediterranean.

I thought the ship looked much better than previous years. I was very surprised and interested in the demographics of this cruise: approx 1800 passengers ( they announced the cruise was fully booked ) and approx 1600 were from the UK ! Only 160 from the U.S ! I noticed some childen between the ages of 8 - 15 no college age or extremely young.

Don't worry about the alcohol issue ( bringing on board) ... I too brought mass quantitites of wine, with no problems! Sad to see Captain Heath leave. His wife and daughters took part with my group in our shore excursion to the Isle of Capri. a lovely family... then ran into all of them ( including Capt. Heath) in Rome at the Trevi Fountain ! Thomas is as glamourous as usual. The Sr staff did a cute skit the last afternoon at sea during the talent show. Thomas as a ballerina ina pink tu-tu and blond curly wig! THe Heritage Trail was as special as ever, with newtrinkets on the wall since my last cruise. Be wary if you are returning from Southampton to Heathrow after desembarkation. Lots of construction and traffic delays around Heathrow... I almost missed my flight ! The Cunard sponsored bus tranfer assured me we would be there in approx one hour.... try 2 hours and 15 minutes. I was beside myself scrambling through Bristish Airways. thank goodness they had a "late arrival" check in... or I would still be in line trying to get on my return flight to the US.

Food was fantastic, the pool and sun deck were a welcome reprieve to all of us after a long day of touring in the heat... and we all saw a wonderful meteor show the night we were returning and crossed through the Straights of Girbralter. THey turned off the lights on the sun deck, and at the funnel, and we sat in lounge chairs and watched the meteors. Next day was whale watching and porposies as we head back to England. sigh.... it was great!

friedchickN

Glad you had a great trip on the QE2. The Mediterranean cruise sounds wonderful. Have been dreaming about a trip like that myself. What specific changes did you notice in the ship? and in which category were you sailing?

The trip was grand; I had a sinlge on three deck, Mauretania late sitting. The only downside was that dinner took FOREVER ( 2.5 hours) but I feel that was due to our waitress who insisted on personally greeting and talking to each person assigned to her tables. She was so gracious and caring, I think she forgot we were there to eat ! I told myself I was going on the cruise to see the Mediterranean, not to eat lavishly in Priness or Queens, and the food in Mauretania did not disappoint me It was fantastic with HUGE selections! Here are some changes I have noticed since my lsat cruise:

*the menu now includes a "Fitness Spa Suggestions" for those looking for a healthy, low calorie, low fat alternative to dining...

*the air conditioning is MUCH better... could definately feel the cool air in the public areas, much improved....

* bathrooms have been upgraded... showers, shower doors and sink appear to be new ..along with the bedspread ( rememeber I have not been on the QE2 for 5 years!

*the Funnel Bar on the sun deck is fun, and new. Vincent, from Cape Town, SA has been reassigned to the Funnel bar and he is wonderful. While we were docked in Naples, ( we had a late departure at 11 pm) Cunard thought of everything. We backed the ship into naples harbor for a fantastic view of the city and Bay.. then, we had a wonderful cookout BBQ on the sun deck overlooking the Bay of Naples and the city during the evening. I would have sworn the fireworks we saw off in the distance must have been arranged by Cunard ! as it was a perfect evening to a wonderful day.

* More memoribalia on the Heritage Trail conducted by Thomas

*of course the computer center was new since my last voyage

*art auctions are new since was last voyage

* NO more paying and reserving deck chairs on the QE2! now it is first come, first served.. even with the extreme heat and beautiful weather, I never had a problem sinding a lounge chair

* new paint job, and I swear the ship looked cleaner.. looks like rugs etc had been cleaned... also new fun uniforms for the crew!

Did I forget anything anyone ???? any more questions??? ask now while it is still fresh in my mind, and while I am still numb from the excitement of just returning from 2 glorious weeks !

I was on the same cruise and am pleased to read your comments and wholeheartedly agree with them all. Particularly pleased that the air conditioning was working well as we had very hot weather. Pleased to report that service on board was excellent despite some established staff had transfered to QM2 (interesting to note that some have since returned to QE2 at their own request - one told me that he had found it difficult to get to know passengers and give the personal service he wanted to give passengers)

so sorry I did not get the chance to meet you during the cruise. Do they have a cruise critic sign in book on the QE2? I asked in the library, and bookstore, and they looked at me like I had two heads!

May well have met you and not known! Not sure about a C.C. book in Library - I understand there is one on QM2.

• 8 months later...

watta_wally

A med cruise this year will be my first ever. I'm trying to find out if the ships excursions to Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes & Gibralter are worth the expense or if they cn be done equally well self propelled and a lot cheaper. Any advice gratefully received.

Great posts guys! I will board QE2 on May 28th for the Norwegian Fjords.

What was sailaway like? When we crossed the atlantic in December 2002, we had a muster meeting in the Queens Room. I rushed down to get my life jacket in my cabin but once on deck the ship had already moved away from the dock side and no band. What was it liek this time?

I am so happy to hear about the Mauretania food and service. Really look forward to that. What time do they start boarding and what time does the Lido open for lunch? Last time I also nearly missed out on that because they closed due the the muster.

What was the age catagory on board? The cruise I take ends in Amsterdam so I imagine there will be lots of Dutch passengers onboard too.

Oslo, Norway

Please post your review when you return. We are on the July 30th Fjords trip on the QE II and are looking forward to it so much. We sailed on the QE II in 1972 and can't wait to be on her again.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Timeline: a look back at the life of the QE2

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic QE2 cruise liner. Now moored as a floating hotel in Dubai’s Port Rashid, we look back at her colourful history, from playing a pivotal role in the Falklands conflict to surviving 95ft rogue waves.

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By the time the QE2 left the docks of Southampton in late 2008 – for what would be her final ever voyage – she had sailed over six million nautical miles and hosted 2.5 million passengers over a 39-year career.

It brought to a close what had been a colourful history. Over the years, the iconic liner counted amongst its well-heeled patrons various members of the British royal family, as well as Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth Taylor and George Harrison.

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Across its lifetime, the QE2 also encountered bomb threats; played a role in the Falklands conflict; rescued 500 passengers from a burning naval ship; and survived a 95ft rogue wave – all before finally being decommissioned and sold to become a floating hotel in Dubai in the year of the great recession.

Then the story went cold. Years passed and many wondered whether the QE2, moored and inactive the Gulf city state, would ever see life again. Rumours persisted of those hotel conversion plans having fallen through; instead, it appeared, she was doomed for the scrapyard.

But in a case of better late than never, the QE2 did finally open its doors as a hotel on Port Rashid in 2018, and this year celebrated its 50th birthday.

Thankfully, the property doffs its cap to its heritage, its refurbishments based on the ship’s original design, from its porthole windows and artwork to carpets and even restaurant menus.

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That said, in its stationary capacity, it is doubtful the QE2 will ever lead such an evocative existence as she did on the high seas. Below is a timeline of the liner’s most memorable moments.

2 May 1969: the maiden voyage

The Cunard liner embarks on her maiden transatlantic voyage. Despite persistent rain, well-wishers descend upon the port of Southampton – amid a sea of balloons and streamers – to wave the ship off from her berth towards New York.

Carrying 1,400 passengers and a 928-strong crew, the QE2 arrives in Manhattan exactly four days, 16 hours and 35 minutes later, making her the world’s fastest passenger ship.

8 January 1971: the rescue of the Antilles

While passing through the Caribbean, the QE2 rescues passengers from Antilles, a French liner, which had run aground on fire close to Mustique.

Braving heavy seas and strong winds in the middle of the night, the liner successfully conducts the transfer aboard of 501 Antilles passengers from the beaches of the tiny island.

17 May 1972: bomb threats and a hoax

En route from Southampton to New York, the QE2 receives a bomb threat as part of a ransom demand. SAS and bomb disposal officers are scrambled to the middle of the Atlantic.

While the threat is soon proven by the FBI to be a hoax – played a by a New York shoe salesman – the episode serves as a valuable lesson in interservice cooperation and maritime security.

April 1973: panic as Gaddafi threatens attack

The liner sets sail for Haifa to mark the 25 th anniversary of the state of Israel, with Jewish passengers invited to celebrate Passover festivities onboard.

The QE2, however, soon finds itself at the centre of an international diplomatic crisis, with Libya’s leader Colonel Gaddafi threating to attack the ship in retaliation for Israel’s downing of a Libyan aircraft. The threat is taken seriously with 26 specially-trained commandos brought in to join the cruise.

The incident has been subject to much speculation since. Some historians credit Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat with talking Gaddafi down from carrying out his threat.

25 March 1975: Through the Panama canal with a foot to spare

The QE2 makes its first passage through the Panama Canal. With less than a foot to spare as it passes through the canal locks, it is the biggest ship ever to pass through the famous canal.

May 1982: QE2 turned troop carrier

As conflict escalates in the Falklands between British and Argentinian forces, the QE2 is requisitioned from cruising duties by Margaret Thatcher’s government in order to transport 3,000 troops to the South Atlantic. They are joined 650 volunteers belonging to the Cunard crew.

In anticipation of service, much of the liner is reinforced with steel plating, while two helicopter pads are installed. It arrives back in Southampton June 11, on the whole unscathed.

11 September 1995: 95ft waves strike

While in the North Atlantic, roughly 200 miles south of eastern Newfoundland, the QE2 runs into a rampaging Hurricane Luis.

While passengers are ordered to remain in their quarters, the ship’s bow is hit by a 95ft rogue wave at around 4am. From the vantage point of the bridge, the wave is akin to a large wall of water, leading Captain Ronald Warwick to comment later: “It looked as though the ship was headed for the white cliffs of Dover.”

2007-2008: time to retire

In June 2007, Carnival, the Cunard Line’s owner, announces the QE2 is to be retired from service. The move is attributed to incoming regulations, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which would necessitate large and expensive levels of retrofitting to the vessel.

That same month, the vessel is bought for £50 million by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, which reveals plans for it to become a luxury floating hotel in the city state.

A farewell voyage is pencilled in for the following year, with the QE2 leaving Southampton docks for the final time on November 11, 2008, bound for the Gulf.

18 April 2018: rest in peace, luxury floating hotel

After almost a decade of being moored at Dubai’s Port Rashid, in which it has remained inactive, the QE2 finally opens its doors as a luxury floating hotel.

According to owner PCFC Hotels, the renovation has brought the ship “back to life”, while retaining several of its original features, including porthole windows and paintings.

The launch puts to bed years of rumours in which the QE2 was supposedly bound for a Chinese scrapyard. Former London Mayor Boris Johnson is also said to have given his backing, whilst in office, for the QE2 to be returned “home” to the UK capital.

2 May 2019: The QE2 celebrates its 50 th birthday

To celebrate its anniversary, the QE2 puts on a show with a selection of theatre experiences and gala dinners. Cunard also launches the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship – the youngest vessel in its fleet – on a 17-night Mediterranean voyage, starting from Southampton, UK. Guests and former QE2 captains enjoy historical talks, gatherings of past passengers, and even QE2-inspired menus and quizzes.

“When QE2 came into service in the 1960s, many critics said she wouldn’t last a decade in the age of the jet, but her unique design as a dual-purpose ship meant that she was versatile enough to operate both as a transatlantic liner and a cruise ship,” said Cunard vice-president Angus Struthers prior to the voyage.

Ian McNaught, the last captain to ever set a course on the QE2, payed a fitting tribute to the perennial cruise liner: “QE2 has been gone for nearly a decade now, however on her 50th anniversary the memory of her is still strong.”

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Queen Mary 2 Overview

The Queen Mary 2 is famous for making her regular transatlantic crossings from London (Southampton) to New York. During these crossings passengers are welcomed to participate in tons of activities. During the day you can take acting classes hosted by performers from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art or get some exercise playing a tennis match on the Sports Court. The liner’s piece de resistance is the full-scale planetarium, where you can gaze above as you learn about the mysteries of the universe. At night get ready to break out your dancing shoes when you attend a formal ball. All throughout your cruise you’ll be meet with helpful staff and taste some of the finest food at sea. It’s truly a royal sailing experience. 

• Passenger Capacity: 2,691 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2004
• Last Refurbished: 2020

Queen Mary 2 Cruise Destinations

Cunard Line is famous for its transatlantic sailings, but they offer an impressive set of destinations and some fantastic itineraries all over the world. Visit four continents and hundreds of ports-of-call ranging from Tortola, British Virgin Islands to Tallinn, Estonia. Whether it be a historically enriching cruise to Northern Europe, or a tropical Hawaiian vacation, one of Cunard’s three regal ships will proudly be your vessel. 

From Mauritius to Cape Town, immerse yourself in the rugged beauty and special historical, cultural and culinary attractions of a cruise to Africa with Cunard Line.

Delight in the historic treasures and scenic pleasures of the Far East on a cruise through Asia aboard Cunard Line’s world-famous ocean liners.

Fall Foliage will delight you and the quaint history and culture will engage you onboard a cruise to Canada & New England.

Eastern Caribbean

Live the island life with Cunard in the Eastern Caribbean, where the sun is always shining. 

History comes alive when you visit sites like the Colosseum in Rome, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. 

Northern Europe

History of royalty, fjords of Norway, and Baltic delights—Northern Europe cruises are an exciting vacation option.

Panama Canal

See man-made and natural wonders on a serene Cunard Line sailing through the revolutionary Panama Canal.

Transatlantic

Enjoy the excellent experience that is a vacation away from the everyday, sailing across the Atlantic and stopping at intriguing ports—try a transatlantic cruise.

Find adventure. Indulge on fine cuisine. Interact with everything from dolphins to wallabies. Travel the world with a World Voyage.

Queen Mary 2 Departure Ports

Traveling across the pond, there’s no cruise line better than Cunard, with more than 150 years of history, this brand makes routine cruises from Southampton to New York City and vice versa. However, they offer more than just transatlantic sailings. You can sail around the world with Cunard from Tokyo to Athens to San Francisco. Call The Cruise Web for a great offer on a Cunard cruise.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is a modern city that people from all nationalities flock towards to indulge in designer clothes, fancy hotels and the high life.

The near perfect days, beautiful scenery, pristine beaches and sparkling water offer the perfect backdrop for any dream adventure in Sydney, Australia.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China

One of the world’s most exciting modern cities, Hong Kong offers a true East meets West experience where you can shop for traditional Chinese cure-alls and attend high tea all in the same afternoon.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

Le Havre (Paris), France

In Northern France, explore Le Havre, a city with modern architecture and one of the most inspiring collections of Impressionist artwork.

Hamburg, Germany

A large city, Hamburg offers visitors an array of attractions. From the old buildings of the past to the vibrant red light district, there’s something for everyone cruising to Hamburg, Germany.

A cruise to Civitavecchia is a chance for you to hop a quick train to Rome and explore the enormous history through ruins, galleries and The Vatican museums.

The possibilities are endless when cruising to or from the City of Angels. Let your inner rock star shine as you explore the many wonders of Los Angeles, California.

Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s easy to be wowed by Quebec City as Old World Europe is mixed with North American cultures alongside breathtaking landscapes and the flowing Saint Lawrence River.

On a cruise from San Francisco you can experience all that the ‘City by the Bay’ has to offer, from its artistic, forward-looking culture to the beautiful coastline.

The cruise port of Southampton features tons of diverse attractions that provide insight into England’s culture and storied past, including fortresses, gardens and national parks.

Queen Mary 2 Deck Plans

Deck eleven, deck twelve, deck thirteen, queen mary 2 staterooms.

Balcony (BB)

Enjoy the view from your private balcony or the comfort of your luxurious interior as you relax in your well appointed accommodation. The Britannia Balcony staterooms have two beds, a shower, living area and balcony.

Balcony (BC)

Balcony (bf).

Balcony (DB)

Balcony (dc), balcony (df).

Balcony (BU)

Balcony (bv), balcony (by), balcony (bz).

Balcony (B3)

Our spacious balcony staterooms include a sitting area with sofa, ample closet space and bathroom with shower. (269 sq. ft.)

Balcony (A1)

Your Britannia Club Balcony offers space to relax, both inside and on your generous balcony. You will also dine in the Britannia Club Restaurant, a private area of the grand Britannia Restaurant, offering you the freedom to choose when you eat each evening. The Britannia Club Balcony staterooms have two beds, a shower, living area and balcony.

Balcony (A2)

Inside (KC)

From organised coffee gatherings to a host of daytime activities, solo travellers will always feel welcome and busy on board. Of course, thereÂ’s something to be said for relaxation too so you will find plenty of personal space both inside and out. The Britannia Single Oceanview staterooms have one bed, a living area and a shower.

Inside (IA)

Relax in complete peace and comfort, cocooned from the stress of the everyday. The Britannia Standard Inside staterooms have one bed, a desk area with seat and a shower.

Inside (IB)

Inside (ic), inside (ie), inside (if).

Inside (HB)

Relax in complete peace and comfort, cocooned from the stress of the everyday. The Britannia Atrium View Inside staterooms have one bed, a desk area with seat and a shower.

Oceanview (KB)

Oceanview (EF)

Gaze upon an ever changing seascape from your large window, which offers lots of natural light in your spacious stateroom. The Britannia Oceanview staterooms have one bed, a living area and a shower.

our Princess Grill Suite is spacious and relaxing. A private balcony and separate seating area offers space to relax and, of course you have exclusive access to the Grills Lounge and renowned Princess Grill restaurant. The Princess Suites have two beds, a bath and shower along with a living area and balcony.

Your Queens Grill Suite is the pinnacle of luxury at sea. A personal butler will see to your every request, a large lounge area offers space to relax and your suite will command the very best views. The Grand Duplexes have a bedroom and two master bathrooms upstairs. Downstairs you'll find a guest bathroom, a living and dining area as well as a balcony.

Your Queens Grill Suite is the pinnacle of luxury at sea. A personal butler will see to your every request, a large lounge area offers space to relax and your suite will command the very best views. The Penthouse Suites have two beds, a bath, a shower, a living area and a balcony.

Your Queens Grill Suite is the pinnacle of luxury at sea. A personal butler will see to your every request, a large lounge area offers space to relax and your suite will command the very best views. The Queens Suites have two beds, a bath, a shower, a living area and a balcony.

Your Queens Grill Suite is the pinnacle of luxury at sea. A personal butler will see to your every request, a large lounge area offers space to relax and your suite will command the very best views. The Royal Suites have a bedroom, bath and shower as well as seperate living and dining areas.

Photo Gallery for Queen Mary 2 Cruise Ship

Get a glimpse at the regal atmosphere that awaits you on a Cunard Cruise among one of their three Queens: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in this photo gallery. 

Commodore Club

Queen Mary 2

Winter Garden

Top 10 Queen Mary 2 Cruises

• Queen Mary 2 7 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Apr 2024 - Dec 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 7 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (May 2024 - Nov 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 9 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (May 2024 - Oct 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 2 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (May 2024 - Oct 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 4 NIGHT Europe - Northern CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (May 2024 - Nov 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 9 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From Hamburg, Germany (May 2024 - Jul 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 2 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From Hamburg, Germany (May 2024 - Jul 2026)
• Queen Mary 2 23 NIGHT Europe - Northern CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (May 2024)
• Queen Mary 2 3 NIGHT Europe - Northern CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (May 2024 - Jul 2025)
• Queen Mary 2 6 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Jun 2024 - Jul 2024)

Learn More About Cunard

Accessibility

Learn about Cunard Line's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities.

Savor variety of dining options aboard Cunard Line cruises, including the Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia restaurant, Queens Room, Todd English, Kings Court, Golden Lion Pub and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Cunard Line's onboard entertainment, including live music, the Royal Court Theatre, Commodore Club entertainment, Royal Night Theme Balls, Queens Room dancing, karaoke and more.

Onboard Activities

Participate in Cunard Line's onboard activities, including Cunard Insights lectures, Book Clubs, computer lab, duty-free shopping, sports courts, art galleries, dance classes, afternoon tea, deck games, golf simulators and more.

Service & Awards

Learn about Cunard Line's famous White Star Service and extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Cunard Line's cruising awards.

Spa & Fitness

Relax in Cunard Line's pools, the Royal Spa and Canyon Ranch SpaClub, where spa treatments range from relaxing massages to Ayurvedic experiences.

Special Events

Learn about Cunard Line's special cruises with exclusive speakers, activities and shore excursions, including Wine Lecture and Tasting voyages.

Explore Cunard Line's luxurious staterooms, including Queen and Princess Grill Suites, balconies, oceanviews and inside staterooms - each beautifully appointed in Cunard's classic style.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children aboard Cunard Line. Cunard's youth programs are for ages 2 - 17, including the Play Zone (ages 2-7), Kids Zone (ages 8-12) and Teen Zone (ages 13-17).

Cruise Type

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Home Blog The Return of the QE2!

The Return of the QE2!

Her original name was simply Hull 736. To her owners, she was Project Q4. And she was the very last of her ocean-going breed. Launched in 1967, her maiden voyage wasn’t until May 1969, and critics derided her – almost literally – as a White Elephant.

They were wrong, of course, but the controversial decision to send the Queen Elizabeth 2 to sea in a predominantly white livery was symptomatic of a series of unfortunate events and decisions that marred the ship’s much-hyped introduction, including a major malfunction of the new-fangled turbine rotors that needed four months to correct before she was deemed good enough for public work.

As if the QE2’s nine-year gestation period – a painfully long process of ‘Shall We? Or Shan’t We?’ by Cunard as the transatlantic passenger shipping business died a slow death during the early 1960s – wasn’t awkward enough, her early years were beset by setbacks, including a 1972 bomb threat that scrambled a British special forces bomb disposal team, which parachuted aboard in mid-Atlantic, thus inspiring the movie Juggernaut several years later.

QE2 History

Slowly but surely, the newcomer earned the affection of passengers far and wide. Her design, as a three-class cruise liner, was the pinnacle of evolution of more than 150 years of steel-hulled transatlantic architecture, true maritime greyhounds built for speed and navigation. Everything since has been a cruise ship, a crucial distinction in the modern age.

For QE2, life was rarely ordinary, however. In 1982, the Falklands War demanded that she be pressed into service as a troop carrier, refitted with reinforced steel plating, two helicopter pads and dormitories for 3,000 troops, with her return being greeted by full royal approval on the Solent, and much heralded in the national press.

A few years later, with her boilers increasingly inefficient, Cunard was faced with a major decision – build a new ship or take QE2 out of service for a complete conversion to diesel power. The latter decision made most economic sense, albeit at a price of £100million.

In 1992, the ship infamously ran aground on a previously uncharted shoal near the island of Martha’s Vineyard , Massachusetts, causing major hull damage. A renovation two years later proved another problem when the work was incomplete and the ship set sail with workmen aboard frantically trying to finish the overhaul. The media had a field day with passenger stories of flooded cabins and hasty repairs, and the negative publicity lingered for many months.

A rogue wave in mid-Atlantic caused more damage in 1995 but, by 2002, the vessel had sailed more than five million nautical miles – the most by any merchant ship.

QE2 Retirement

The records continued to pile up for QE2 through the 2000s – the longest-serving Cunard liner in 2004 (surpassing the 35 years of RMS Aquitania); the longest-serving Cunarder of all time a year later; the famous Three Queens meeting (with QM2 and Queen Victoria ) in New York in 2008.

But, by 2008, the venerable vessel was also facing a more critical historical marker – new regulations aimed at bringing all ships up to enhanced safety codes. Cunard had a decision to make: either undertake yet another major structural overhaul, or pension the Grande Dame off.

After nearly 40 years at sea, 5.6 million miles, 2.5 million passengers and 806 transatlantic crossings , QE2’s great career was at an end.

Inevitably, there was controversy about what would happen to the great liner next. Various bidders fought to take her variously back to Clydebank in Scotland where she was built, off to life as a hotel in Australia, or as a prestige monument in Dubai. The Middle East money won out and, in November 2008, she set sail for Port Rashid, all set for new life as part of the proposed prestigious Palm Jumeirah development of man-made islands.

Only, once there, the Dubai World investment company took a financial nosedive (along with many others during the economic recession of 2008/09). For almost 10 years, QE2 became an economic millstone, shuffled around the port as something the company could neither afford, nor afford to sell for scrap (although the threat of a Chinese scrapyard did loom large in 2012).

Attempts to buy her back and move her to London, or Fremantle, or Cape Town, or Singapore all fell through, and the great vessel’s fate seemed headed for ignominy. Until this year.

QE2 Restoration

Finally, after a near-pantomime series of on-again, off-again announcements of intent, the Dubai owners have taken the plunge and invested in a multi-million dollar restoration programme aimed at opening the ship up as a luxury hotel, still moored in Port Rashid, but now in far more glamorous surroundings than the port’s seedy backwaters.

In April, the first guests came aboard to witness the transformation of the legendary sea-going paragon, offering a variety of rooms in classic (but modern) nautical style, five (of an intended 13) restaurants, and other public rooms that maintain the ship’s sense of heritage, including the restored Yacht Club Bar, Golden Lion pub, Lido, Pavilion and Grand Lounge.

Period furniture and original portholes have all been maintained and, crucially, there is a proper nautical necessity, the QE2 Exhibition, which presents the glamour ship in her 1960s hey-day in interactive museum style.

More modifications, additions and updates – including those extra eight restaurants and more categories of rooms with balconies and even ultra-luxe suites, including two Royal Suites named for the Queen’s mother and grandmother – are due by the official October grand opening.

It has been a long haul, but the glory of the world’s most famous liner is now, finally, assured. Her fans can breathe easy again. Oh, and you’ll want to check out the possibility of staying on board the next time you’re in Dubai, so make sure you get in touch with us if you would like to find out more. We’ve also got an EXCLUSIVE Cruise & Stay option available which combines a stay on the QE2 with a Queen Mary 2 cruise from Dubai to Southampton – take a look here .

Did you sail aboard the QE2? What were your favourite memories, and would you want to stay on board this floating hotel? Let us know in the Comments section below.

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Queen Elizabeth

Cruise line Cunard

• Sydney (NSW Australia)
• Miami (Florida)
• Seattle (Washington)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• Yokohama (Tokyo, Japan Kanagawa)

Queen Elizabeth current position

Queen Elizabeth current location is at East Asia (coordinates 34.31024 N / 132.36721 E) cruising en route to HIROSHIMA. The AIS position was reported 33 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth current cruise is 19 days, round-trip Japan Grand Voyage . The itinerary starts on 07 Apr, 2024 and ends on 26 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Queen Elizabeth

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Queen Elizabeth Itineraries

Queen elizabeth review, review of queen elizabeth.

The 2010-built MS Queen Elizabeth cruise ship is same-designed as MS Queen Victoria (2007) and has as fleetmates the Cunard liners RMS Queen Mary 2 (2004) and the fleet's newest boat (2024-built) Queen Anne .

The vessel (IMO number 9477438) is currently Bermuda- flagged (MMSI 310625000) and registered in Hamilton . The flag state/registry was changed from Southampton (UK) to Bermuda in order to be able to host onboard weddings.

On the 10th of October 2007, Cunard announced the ship's name. Cunard's last traditional-design Atlantic Ocean liner RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (1969-built, IMO 6725418) retired in 2008 (on Nov 27th).

The cruise ship was named after and christened by HM Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). The namesake is the Royal Navy battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier (2014-built).

History - construction and ownership

Cunard Line is a British-American cruise brand, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Cunard is headquartered in Southampton (England UK) and is among the world's oldest passenger shipping companies . In 2015, Cunard Line celebrated its 175th anniversary.

The 2300-passenger liner Queen Elizabeth is a luxurious ocean liner. QE appeared in October 2010 when she was named in a grandiose ceremony by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Reminding the rich inheritance of the first Cunarder to bear the name, her stylishness both echoes that legendary age and improves her luxury modern charm. QE- the running mate to Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria has a modified design and is slightly larger than Queen Victoria, having more vertical stern.

With her black hull, white structure and red funnel signals, externally Cunard Queen Elizabeth has the charm of the company's British heritage, following Cunard's tradition. Modern luxury and the best of Cunard's values are what guests can expect onboard.

The ship is identical in design to MS Queen Victoria, although the max passenger capacity is slightly higher because of the steeper stern. This difference is the reason why the largest suites (at the stern) have smaller balconies. The games deck is covered by a roof at the end of deck 11, which is not similar to the sports deck on Queen Victoria with her not continuous canvas covering. RMS Queen Elizabeth's original whistle was used to make a copy of it for the new ship.

Unlike previous Cunard ships, this is not a true liner, as it doesn't have a heavy plating (throughout the hull). The bow is constructed with heavier plating in order to cope with Transatlantic crossings. Also, the ship has a high freeboard.

The ship's decor is different from Queen Victoria's, although with identical interior arrangements. As a tribute to the previous Elizabeths (the original one and the QE2), this cruiser evokes the 1930s, when Cunard's first QE was launched. A feature on Queen Mary 2 (not available on Queen Victoria) is the Britannia Club section of the restaurant, featured on Queen Elizabeth. This way passengers in Britannia staterooms are allowed to use single-seating dining arrangements, not having to upgrade to the more expensive Grill cabin grades.

Decks and Cabins

Cunard Queen Elizabeth staterooms (1043 total) include 127 Suites, 611 Balcony, 146 Oceanview and 162 Inside cabins, in all 9 types and 34 categories. The ship has 20 wheelchair-accessible and 9 studios (single-occupancy cabins). The largest are the Grand Suites (1495 ft2 / 139 m2 plus 970 ft2 / 90 m2 terrace).

Cabin types include Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia, Suites (Grand, Master, Penthouse, Queen, Princess), Standard Balcony staterooms, Outside and Interior (windowless). Most cabins (Britannia Balcony) are sized 190-420 ft2 / 18-39 m2, with cabin balconies sized 70 ft2 / 7 m2.

The boat has 12 decks (all passenger-accessible) of which 7 are with cabins. Of all staterooms, ~85% are outside, with 71% of them with step-out balconies.

The Princess and Queens Grill suites are situated around the ship, with excellent views, or in the midships, where balconies are deeper. Most of the top suites are on Deck 7, in addition to Queens Grill penthouses, two Master and two Grand Suites which include huge balconies, separate dining areas, and whirlpool baths. These are named after the knighted Cunard Commodores. The Master Suites have a bath with a sea view, and the top category- the Grand Suites offer outdoor dining and a wraparound balcony. Queens and Princess Grill offer personalized stationery and marble bathrooms. The intimate Grill restaurants offer exceptional menus (with sophisticated creams and browns that glitter crystal and gold) and exciting sea views- located on Deck 11. The doors open to the Courtyard, and steps will lead you to the upper Grills Terrace, providing more exclusivity than the lower one, available for all guests.

Theoretically, MS Queen Elizabeth is a classless ship, but passengers are actually separated (like on all Cunard liners) as their onboard dining locations are according to their cabin's category/cruise fares paid. Britannia Restaurant is for regular cabins, Princess Grill - for junior suites, and the Queen's Grill is for deluxe suites. All the other public rooms are free to be used by all passengers.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Four main dining rooms and the Verandah- an alternative restaurant, the Lido- a buffet and a changing specialty option, are Queen Elizabeth suggestions. The Britannia Restaurant is the main dining room on board the ship, where everyone dines except the Grills and Britannia Club cabins. You may choose between two seating- 6,00p.m. and 8,30p.m. Britannia is open for full served breakfast on sea days from 8,00a.m. to 9,30a.m., on port days from 7,30a.m. to 9,00a.m.; lunch is from 12,30p.m. to 2,00p.m., open seating at both. A wide choice is on the dinner menu- five appetizers, six entrees (two of which vegetarian choices), two salads, six desserts, including cheese.

A step up from Britannia is the Britannia Club, which is a separate room for inhabitants of top-grade Britannia cabins. The menu is as, in Britannia, the atmosphere- more exclusive, dinner is from 6,30p.m. to 9,00p.m., open seating, breakfast and lunch served also there. The two Grill restaurants are on Deck 10, accessible with special keycards, sharing the outdoor terrace with a splashing fountain, sheltered by high walls. The Princess Grill's menu is similar to Britannia, but with more items and a la carte menu. Queens Grill's menu is with bigger a la carte menu and you can have what you want.

The Verandah Restaurant on Deck 2 offers really outstanding food and is available to all passengers. It is open from 6,30p.m. to 9,00p.m., for lunch from 12,00p.m. to 1,30p.m. If you dine there you will enjoy a real luxury cruise. The Lido is a 24-hour casual dining venue on Deck 9. Breakfast is served from 4,00a.m. to 11,30a.m., and is followed by lunch until 3,00p.m., afternoon tea is at 6,00p.m., dinner- from 6,00p.m. to 11,00p.m., snacks available through the night. Other dining venues are Cafe Carinthia on Deck 3, which is open from 7,00a.m. and serves breakfast- pastries, lunch- quiches and salads, and afternoon tea. The Lido and the Queens Room offer afternoon tea and sandwiches, burgers, pasta and other, as well as the menu from dining rooms.

The Britannia Club, which is one of the four basic QE dining rooms, replaced the Chart Room bar which is available on Cunard's Queen Victoria, while the Todd English specialty restaurant, featured on both QM2 and QV, became The Verandah. This restaurant, managed by Cunard's executive chef, is remindful of the glory days of the first Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, on which The Verandah Grill was regarded as the finest restaurant at sea. The Midships Bar, which is another much-loved Cunard's feature, is back, as is the Yacht Club nightspot, which is a lounge fondly remembered by fans of QE2 for its late-night dancing. Despite that Cunard is American owned cruise company, there's no lack of British icons such as a Fortnum & Mason hamper ordering service, Harris Tweed for sale and a sunlit Garden Lounge that's spiritual by the glass houses of Kew Gardens.

When you book you may request a sitting. The Britannia restaurant has two for dinner - at 6 p.m. and at 8.30 p.m. Princess Grill and Queens Grill do not have sittings - when they are open, you can dine any time you choose. A note for confirmation sitting and table number will be left in your stateroom when you board. Lunch and breakfast do not require allocated tables or sittings.

During the day, passengers definitely tend towards country club casual dress code. At night, even when it isn't a formal-designated evening, people dress anyway. There are three dress codes in the main restaurants after 6 p.m. each evening - which one applies each night you will be told in pre-voyage documentation and daily program in your stateroom: Formal (men - dinner jacket with a black tie or dark business suit; women- evening dress); Semi-formal (men- jacket and a tie; women - cocktail dress/trouser suit); Elegant casual (men - a jacket, tie is optional; women - skirt, dress or trousers). Shorts and T-shirts or shorts are not permitted!

Follows the complete list of Queen Elizabeth restaurants and food bars.

• Verandah Restaurant (French specialty restaurant at a surcharge)
• Britannia Restaurant (1351-seat, 2-level Dining Room; serves open-seating Breakfast and Lunch. Dinners are waiter-served, with 2 assigned sittings at 6 or 8:30 p.m. Inside is the Britannia Club which is a private dining room for Britannia Club Balcony guests)
• Britannia Club Restaurant (single-seating, complimentary dining venue for AA-Balcony Room guests only)
• Lido Restaurant (450-seat buffet-style restaurant for Breakfast and Lunch; In two of its sections are offered itinerary-inspired dishes for dinner)
• Winter Garden Lounge (supper club/formal dining venue; features gourmet food and Afternoon Champagne Tea)
• Queens Grill Restaurant (142-seat, for Queens Grill Suite guests; with regular and an a-la-carte-priced menu)
• Princess Grill Restaurant (132-seat, Princess Grill Suite guests only; open-sitting, with the same menu as at the Queens Grill)
• The Courtyard Restaurant (40-seat; serves Grills staterooms guests only).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Queen Elizabeth cruise liner is quite similar in many aspects to her sibling, Queen Victoria, in most of the design, cabins and enrichment programs. The decor indefinably feels lighter; chic, geometric Art Deco-inspired interiors unlike to the heavier Victoriana. There is beautiful artwork, rich Italian marble, polished wood and soft light everywhere, diffused by glittering chandeliers. The rippling sounds of a harp, soft piano or gentle jazz trio throughout the public places emphasize the whole feeling of old-fashioned glamour. There isn't neon or glitz on this vessel, and there are some gimmicks. Instead of capturing the public's imagination with water slides and high-tech discos, Cunard cruise company cashes in on its awesome inheritance, a sense of cause and old-fashioned pursuits like ballroom dancing, lawn bowls or afternoon tea in the Garden Lounge.

Live music is played all over the ship. If you enjoy evening drinks in Midships bar or Cafe Carinthia, listen to the pianist and the harpist in the Grand Lobby. The Golden Lion pub presents a singing pianist, quizzes, karaoke. Every day dancing, morning, noon and night on Queen Elizabeth- most in the Queens Room built for the purpose, gold and blue. A large dance floor and stage for band complete the picture. Single ladies are accompanied by gentleman hosts. Jazz concerts and piano recitals are also held there. Every few nights Royal Balls are organized in the Queens Room. Other evening events are shows in the theatre, with 20 V.I.P. boxes. Forward is the Empire Casino and the Golden Lion pub. The pub is cozy and modeled as a British pub, is cozy enough. Roulette, Texas Hold'em, BlackJack and numerous slots are available in the casino- a nonsmoking area. The only smokers places are on balconies, the starboard side on Decks 3 and 10, in Churchill's Lounge on Deck 10. The Midships Bar has seating around a marble bar and comfortable armchairs. In Queens Room, where a lot of people gather each evening drinks are also served. Bigger lounges and bars are on Decks 9 and 10.

Family-oriented in terms of facilities, Queen Elizabeth has the look of a "grown-up" ship. For that reason, families might feel better on P&O or Princess lines. The Zone on Deck 10 is a teenagers' room for computer games, air hockey, Xbox, and for the smaller ones QE suggests a colorful children's playroom full with toys. Outdoor deck space is featured, as well. These operate on port days only, but you better book in advance.

Cunard cruise ship weddings, ceremonies, and parties could be held in some of the QE's lounges. There is no chapel on board the QE ship.

Follows the complete list of Queen Elizabeth lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Royal Court Theatre (832-seat, 3-deck, with a giant movie screen; hosts high-tech visual programs, grand musical productions, and shows, as well as theatrical spectacles, performances by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)
• iStudy (Cunard ConneXions; separate meeting rooms featuring Internet computers); Internet Centre
• Grand Lobby Atrium (with a grand piano, grand sweeping staircase, interior glass-wall lifts)
• Golden Lion Pub (116-seat traditional British pub bar; features a large selection of the UK and international beers, large-size TVs, live entertainment, small dance floor)
• Empire Casino (222-seat, 6000 ft2 / 610 m2; with 115 slots and 11 gambling tables, served by Casino Bar)
• Queens Arcade (quiet area for relaxation with panoramic views)
• Cunard Place (nautically themed museum); Clarendon Fine Art gallery; Images Gallery (photo gallery)
• Cunard ConneXions (a complex of 3 rooms which host onboard events)
• Chart Room (cocktail bar with live jazz)
• Queens Room (2-level formal dancing ballroom; hosts evening dancing parties and daily dance lessons)
• Veuve Cliquot (Champagne Bar); Cafe Carinthia (patisserie, specialty teas and coffees bar); Midships Bar & Lounge
• Royal Arcade (boutique shops, top name brands); Fortnum and Mason Shop
• The Alcove (a quiet room with a big jigsaw puzzle); Card Room
• Royal Spa & Fitness Centre (size 20000 ft2 / 1860 m2, 2-level; with a Spa, Thalassotherapy Pool, Thermal Suite, Finnish and Herbal Saunas, Treatment Rooms, Relaxation Lounge, Aromatic Steam Room, Beauty Salon)
• Fitness Centre (Gym Room and Weights area; with exercise bikes, Elliptical machines, treadmills, steppers, rowing machines, yoga mats; has Aerobics Room for classes)
• The Library (with a large book selection - over 6000 volumes)
• Pavilion Pool (with 2 Whirlpools and poolside Bar); Lido Pool (with 2 Whirlpools, Bar and Grill)
• Commodore Club (indoor observation lounge with panoramic windows and live piano music)
• Admiral's Lounge (premium liquors)
• Churchill's Cigar Lounge (smokers room with a selection of fine liquors and cigars)
• The Yacht Club Lounge & Disco (nautically themed, glass-domed)
• The PlayZone (indoor/outdoor kids area for children 7+ yo); The Zone (for children 8 to 12 yo); Teen Zone (teenagers club area)
• Games Deck (glass-domed; with tennis court, shuffleboard, croquet, quoits, giant chess, golf simulators, first time at sea complimentary fencing lessons)
• The Terrace (private outdoor area, Grill passengers only); The Grills Lounge (Grill Suites guests only).

Itineraries

Queen Elizabeth itinerary program each year has a World Cruise leaving roundtrip from Southampton UK , with several one-way itinerary segments. The liner also sails in Europe (Canaries, Mediterranean and UK mini cruises), leaving from Southampton.

In February 2018, Cunard announced that for season 2019-2020, the cruise liner will be deployed in Australia to serve a 101-day program. During this season (December 2019 through March 2020), the ship had scheduled 6 roundtrips from Melbourne and 2 roundtrips from Sydney NSW on itineraries to Tasmania, New Zealand, South Australia, Papua New Guinea (14-day from Sydney, with maiden port calls to Conflict Islands and Kiriwina / Trobriand Islands).

For season 2019 (February-March), the ship had a 54-day long Australian season with homeporting in Sydney NSW and Melbourne. In 2019 and 2020, the liner offered a unique for Cunard Alaskan program based on roundtrips from Vancouver BC Canada (read more in the Wiki section).

In summer 2021 (July through October), Cunard scheduled for Queen Elizabeth an ex-UK season with 10 "British Isles Voyages" and 3 "Sun Voyages" (3- to 12-nights itineraries). "British Isles Voyages" offered scenic coastal cruising including Jurassic Coast (Dorset England), Land's End (Cornwall England), Scotland's Isle of Arran , Kintyre Peninsula, Sound of Mull. Four ex-UK voyages visited Belfast Ireland , Greenock , Invergordon , Liverpool , Newcastle , Holyhead Wales (first-time for Cunard). Balcony cabin prices per person (with double occupancy) started from GBP 600/EUR 700/USD 830 (4-night British Isles Voyages), GBP 900/EUR 1050/USD 1240 (7-night Sun Voyages), GBP 1300/EUR 1520/USD 1790 (10-night British Isles Voyage). Bookings were opened only for UK residents.

In late-October 2021, Cunard canceled Queen Elizabeth's Asia 2022 program (a total of 19 itineraries planned between Feb 20 - May 17) which was based on homeporting in Yokohama Japan . The revised 2022 schedule included roundtrips from homeport Southampton to Norway, Spain's Canary Islands, and Western Mediterranean ports, ending with a Grand Voyage (westbound Transatlantic crossing and Panama Canal transit) ending in Vancouver (BC Canada) .

Queen Elizabeth - user reviews and comments

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Other Cunard cruise ships

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Queen Elizabeth Wiki

The Fincantieri Monfalcone -built Queen Elizabeth as vessel design is similar to P&O UK's Arcadia , Princess' Coral and Island , and Costa's Luminosa and Deliziosa . HM Queen Elizabeth II is the ship's Godmother. The naming ceremony was on October 11, 2010. The British monarch also christened Cunard's RMS Queen Mary 2 (2004), and in 1967 - Queen Elizabeth II (QE2 ship ceased operations in 2008).

The inaugural cruise/maiden voyage started on October 12, 2010, leaving from homeport Southampton to Canaries (Spanish autonomy territory). The itinerary visited Lisbon , Cadiz , Tenerife , Santa Cruz de la Palma and also Funchal (Madeira Island, Portugal) . For its first year of service, Queen Elizabeth did around 142,000 mi (230,000 km) of cruising to 100+ different destinations. Among the many celebrities who participated in the onboard show programs were Ruth Scott, Lord Jeffrey Archer, Brian Hoey.

The ship's first birthday was celebrated in Malta (Port Valletta) on October 12, 2011.

On January 13, 2011, the 3 Cunard liners met in the USA ( New York City ) on a second "Royal Rendezvous" to commemorate the second year after the first Royal Rendezvous. On this occasion, Elizabeth and Victoria crossed together the Atlantic Ocean. All Cunard ships gathered again in Southampton on June 5, 2012, to celebrate HM's diamond jubilee. A month later (on July 15), for the first time ever, Queen Elizabeth and QM2 docked together in Hamburg (Germany) .

In October 2011, the vessel changed its registry/flagstate  from the UK to Bermuda, which allows cruise wedding ceremonies to be held on the ship. The word “Southampton” on the stern was replaced with “Hamilton”.

On March 12, 2013, the liner passed by RMS Queen Mary - an earlier Cunard fleet member. QM is now permanently docked at Long Beach CA (Los Angeles) , serving as a ship hotel. On March 13, 2017, the ship departed on its ever first cruise leaving roundtrip from Japan ( Kobe-Osaka ). The 7-day itinerary (March 13-20) came after the local municipal government asked Cunard to schedule a Kobe-based cruise as in 2017 Port Kobe celebrated its 150th anniversary. The voyage included the Japanese ports Kagoshima , Busan , Hiroshima  and Kochi . This "surprise cruise" became part of the 2017 world voyage. CLIA's "2017 Summit at Sea" conference (May 9-17, 2017) was held onboard the ship. The itinerary (May 8-12) was roundtrip from Southampton to Hamburg .

In 2019, Cunard repositioned the liner for a 2-month long season in Australia (February-March), with departures from homeports Melbourne and Sydney on 7 cruises to NZ, South Australia, and Tasmania. For the liner's Australian deployment, Cunard partnered with 4 local brands (R.M.Williams / fashion, Akubra Hats, Starward Whisky/distillery, and Australian Dance Theatre). Under the Starward distillery partnership, the ship carried "The Seafarer" (a 225-litre barrel of the boutique whisky). It was loaded in Sydney NSW and positioned on the top deck to spend 12 months around the world, and will be opened in February 2019 at the Australian season's start. The partnership with Australian Dance Theatre will result in live performances, along with onboard dance classes and workshops.

Operated regularly and starting in January each year, Queen Elizabeth offers Cunard World Cruise deals with affordable pricing, popular destinations, and big-city ports to visit around the world.

Cunard cruises Alaska 2019-2020

In 2019, MS Queen Elizabeth had scheduled Cunard's first-ever Alaskan cruise season in over 20 years. The 27-day Pacific Ocean crossing itinerary (Asia-Alaska repositioning, May 5-31, 2019, Yokohama to Vancouver ) included as call ports Aomori , Tomakomai-Sapporo , Kodiak , Juneau , Anchorage , Skagway , Sitka , Ketchikan , Icy Strait Point . Cunard's 2019 Alaskan program included all four 10-night long roundtrips out of Vancouver to Tracy Arm Fjord and Hubbard Glacier .

On Queen Elizabeth, Cunard offers culturally-rich shipboard programming for all 2019 cruises to Alaska. The program includes four 10-day roundtrips (themed ‘The Last Frontier") with departures from Vancouver BC (2019 departure dates - May 21 and 31, June 10 and 20), with call ports Icy Strait Point , Juneau , Ketchikan , Sitka , Victoria BC , Skagway . Highlights include scenic cruising through Inside Passage , Hubbard Glacier , Tracy Arm Fjord . Cunard’s 2019 Alaskan program includes the following special onboard amenities:

• Lectures by Dr. Rachel Cartwright - a naturalist with 20+ years of experience in Alaska
• Live performances by Alaska Native Voices and members of Huna Tinglet tribe
• Presentations by LaDonna Rose Gundersen - cookbook author and commercial fisherwoman
• Dedicated in-cabin TV entertainment, including the documentary series “The Ketchikan Story”
• Complimentary hot cocoa and blankets provided on Sun Deck
• Live Navigation Bridge commentaries

On Queen Elizabeth, Cunard also planned a full 2020 Alaskan season (June through September). Due to high demand, the Alaskan 2020 program was doubled (in comparison to 2019) with 10 roundtrips from Vancouver (ranging 9 to 12 days) plus one roundtrip to San Francisco (overnight on Independence Day).

Each Alaskan voyage offers popular destinations along the coast of British Columbia (Canada) and Alaska (USA), and longer port times in Juneau , Ketchikan , Skagway , Sitka . In addition, these voyages offer scenic cruising in Inside Passage , Hubbard Glacier and along Sawyer Glacier ( Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm ). Cunard customers also can combine these itineraries into B2Bs (back-to-back cruises) . Cunard's 2020 Alaskan cruises include:

• 10-day "Alaska Voyage" roundtrip from Vancouver (June 2-12, 2019), fares start from USD 1600 pp.
• 3-day "Independence Day Celebration" from Vancouver to San Francisco (July 2-5), fares start from USD 600 pp.
• 16-day repositioning from San Francisco to Vancouver (July 5-21), fares start from USD 2660 pp.
• 29-day repositioning from Vancouver to Tokyo (August 29-September 28), fares start from USD 4460 pp.

Cunard Line offers for booking over 140 shore tours in Alaska, including "Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest", "Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest", "Taku Lodge Feast and Five-Glacier Seaplane Discovery", "Dogsled Adventure by Helicopter", "Wilderness Sea Kayaking Adventure", "Cooking in Alaska's Wildest Kitchen", "Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour", "Scenic Mountain Ascent and World's Largest ZipRider".

Other Alaskan shore excursions are themed as ATV Expedition, Wilderness Cruise and Silverking Lodge Seafood Feast, White Pass Scenic Railway (Luxury Class), Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and Crab Feast, Misty Fjords Seaplane Exploration, Ghosts, and Goodtime Girls Walking Tour, Exclusive Burro Creek Waterfall Lodge and Crab Feast.

Cunard also offers pre- and post-cruise rail tours, that include 3- or 5-day hotel plus 2 full days on the train. Rocky Mountaineer train travels through scenic destinations, such as the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, mountain passes, tunnels, and river canyons.

MS Queen Elizabeth refurbishments review

The ship's last drydocking was in 2023 (March 16 thru April 3) in Singapore , conducted at Sembawang shipyard (owned by Sembcorp Marine Ltd). The project was for regularly scheduled maintenance works, including hotel upkeep, technical overhauls, steel works, minor machinery updates.

The ship's 12-day drydock refurbishment in 2018 (November 15-27, at Damen Shiprepair Brest in Brest France ) resulted in the following changes:

• All staterooms (cabins and suites) were upgraded.
• (deck 3) Royal Arcade was redesigned.
• (deck 1) Royal Court Theatre (main show lounge) was completely overhauled (its audio and video equipment was upgraded).
• (Lido deck 9) open-deck spaces on Sun Deck were upgraded with new furniture, shaded seating areas were expanded.
• (deck 9) ship's wellness complex "Mareel Wellness & Beauty" (Spa, Beauty Salon) was extensively refurbished, and its treatments menu was upgraded via partnership with Canyon Ranch.

Maintenance works included stabilizers, ABB Azipods (azimuth thrusters), water-ballast tanks, EGCS (scrubbers/exhaust gas cleaning system), piping and ducting, safety equipment (lifeboats, liferafts), tender boats, renovations of hallways and corridors, cleaning and repainting the hull. All works were conducted at Damen Shiprepair Brest shipyard.

The boat's drydock 2014 was conducted by Blohm+Voss (in Hamburg Germany ) and resulted in the following changes:

• hull works (cleaning and repainting) and routine maintenance
• technology enhancements: filter system upgrade, scrubbers (new eco-friendly technology to lower exhaust gasses and bettering the fuel efficiency), Azipod (Azimuth thruster) propulsion modifications
• onboard enhancements: new carpeting in all public spaces, passenger cabins (new mattresses and flat TVs), restaurant renovations (plus new coffee-tea makers), new jewelry shops (on Promenade Deck 3), restyling of the Lido buffet area (Deck 9), Photo Studio upgrade (new touch screen photo processing system), new sun-awning systems (on open decks 9 and 12)
• 9 new single cabins were added on Deck 2 (8 Oceanview, 1 Standard Inside) taking some of the Casino space.

Timeline: a look back at the life of the QE2

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic qe2 cruise liner. now moored as a floating hotel in dubai’s port rashid, ross davies looks back at her colourful history, from playing a pivotal role in the falklands conflict to surviving 95ft rogue waves.  .

shutterstock.com/Umomos

By the time the QE2 left the docks of Southampton in late 2008 – for what would be her final ever voyage – she had sailed over six million nautical miles and hosted 2.5 million passengers over a 39-year career.

It brought to a close what had been a colourful history. Over the years, the iconic liner counted amongst its well-heeled patrons various members of the British royal family, as well as Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth Taylor and George Harrison.

Across its lifetime, the QE2 also encountered bomb threats; played a role in the Falklands conflict; rescued 500 passengers from a burning naval ship; and survived a 95ft rogue wave – all before finally being decommissioned and sold to become a floating hotel in Dubai in the year of the great recession.

Then the story went cold. Years passed and many wondered whether the QE2, moored and inactive the Gulf city state, would ever see life again. Rumours persisted of those hotel conversion plans having fallen through; instead, it appeared, she was doomed for the scrapyard.

But in a case of better late than never, the QE2 did finally open its doors as a hotel on Port Rashid in 2018, and this year celebrated its 50 th birthday.

Thankfully, the property doffs its cap to its heritage, its refurbishments based on the ship’s original design, from its porthole windows and artwork to carpets and even restaurant menus.

That said, in its stationary capacity, it is doubtful the QE2 will ever lead such an evocative existence as she did on the high seas. Below is a timeline of the liner’s most memorable moments.

The maiden voyage

The Cunard liner embarks on her maiden transatlantic voyage. Despite persistent rain, well-wishers descend upon the port of Southampton – amid a sea of balloons and streamers – to wave the ship off from her berth towards New York.

Carrying 1,400 passengers and a 928-strong crew, the QE2 arrives in Manhattan exactly four days, 16 hours and 35 minutes later, making her the world’s fastest passenger ship.

Image courtesy of The University of Liverpool Library, Cunard archive

8 January 1971

The rescue of the antilles.

While passing through the Caribbean, the QE2 rescues passengers from Antilles, a French liner, which had run aground on fire close to Mustique.

Braving heavy seas and strong winds in the middle of the night, the liner successfully conducts the transfer aboard of 501 Antilles passengers from the beaches of the tiny island.

17 May 1972

Bomb threats and a hoax .

En route from Southampton to New York, the QE2 receives a bomb threat as part of a ransom demand. SAS and bomb disposal officers are scrambled to the middle of the Atlantic.

While the threat is soon proven by the FBI to be a hoax – played a by a New York shoe salesman – the episode serves as a valuable lesson in interservice cooperation and maritime security.

panic as Gaddafi threatens attack 

The liner sets sail for Haifa to mark the 25 th anniversary of the state of Israel, with Jewish passengers invited to celebrate Passover festivities onboard.

The QE2, however, soon finds itself at the centre of an international diplomatic crisis, with Libya’s leader Colonel Gaddafi threating to attack the ship in retaliation for Israel’s downing of a Libyan aircraft. The threat is taken seriously with 26 specially-trained commandos brought in to join the cruise.

The incident has been subject to much speculation since. Some historians credit Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat with talking Gaddafi down from carrying out his threat.

25 March 1975

Through the panama canal with a foot to spare .

The QE2 makes its first passage through the Panama Canal. With less than a foot to spare as it passes through the canal locks, it is the biggest ship ever to pass through the famous canal.

QE2 turned troop carrier 

As conflict escalates in the Falklands between British and Argentinian forces, the QE2 is requisitioned from cruising duties by Margaret Thatcher’s government in order to transport 3,000 troops to the South Atlantic. They are joined 650 volunteers belonging to the Cunard crew.

In anticipation of service, much of the liner is reinforced with steel plating, while two helicopter pads are installed. It arrives back in Southampton June 11, on the whole unscathed.

11 September 1995

95ft waves strike  .

While in the North Atlantic, roughly 200 miles south of eastern Newfoundland, the QE2 runs into a rampaging Hurricane Luis.

While passengers are ordered to remain in their quarters, the ship’s bow is hit by a 95ft rogue wave at around 4am. From the vantage point of the bridge, the wave is akin to a large wall of water, leading Captain Ronald Warwick to comment later: “It looked as though the ship was headed for the white cliffs of Dover."

time to retire

In June 2007, Carnival, the Cunard Line’s owner, announces the QE2 is to be retired from service. The move is attributed to incoming regulations, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which would necessitate large and expensive levels of retrofitting to the vessel.

That same month, the vessel is bought for £50 million by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, which reveals plans for it to become a luxury floating hotel in the city state.

A farewell voyage is pencilled in for the following year, with the QE2 leaving Southampton docks for the final time on November 11, 2008, bound for the Gulf.

Stephan Backensfeld/shutterstock.com

18 April 2018

Rest in peace, luxury floating hotel .

After almost a decade of being moored at Dubai’s Port Rashid, in which it has remained inactive, the QE2 finally opens its doors as a luxury floating hotel.

According to owner PCFC Hotels, the renovation has brought the ship “back to life”, while retaining several of its original features, including porthole windows and paintings.

The launch puts to bed years of rumours in which the QE2 was supposedly bound for a Chinese scrapyard. Former London Mayor Boris Johnson is also said to have given his backing, whilst in office, for the QE2 to be returned “home” to the UK capital.

Editorial credit:  / Shutterstock.com

The QE2 celebrates its 50th birthday

To celebrate its anniversary, the QE2 puts on a show with a selection of theatre experiences and gala dinners. Cunard also launches the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship – the youngest vessel in its fleet – on a 17-night Mediterranean voyage, starting from Southampton, UK. Guests and former QE2 captains enjoy historical talks, gatherings of past passengers, and even QE2-inspired menus and quizzes.

“When QE2 came into service in the 1960s, many critics said she wouldn’t last a decade in the age of the jet, but her unique design as a dual-purpose ship meant that she was versatile enough to operate both as a transatlantic liner and a cruise ship,” said Cunard vice-president Angus Struthers prior to the voyage.

Ian McNaught, the last captain to ever set a course on the QE2, payed a fitting tribute to the perennial cruise liner: “QE2 has been gone for nearly a decade now, however on her 50th anniversary the memory of her is still strong.”

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Home > Southampton Cruise Terminals > QE2 Cruise Terminal

QE2 Cruise Terminal

QE2 Cruise Terminal, 38/39 Test Road, Eastern Docks, Southampton, SO14 3GG

Berth 38/39 is generally used by Carnival Corporation, which means that ships belonging to Cunard , Princess Cruises or P&O Cruises will normally be docked there.

Getting there:

Access to the terminal is via Dock Gate 4. Both Southampton Railway Station & coach station are just over 2 miles from the terminal building. Whilst you could walk to the port (approx 40-45 mins), it’s very busy around the docks, so we would recommend catching a taxi. There is a dedicated taxi rank outside the Arrivals Hall.

Southampton Airport is 5 miles away. You can get into Southampton from the airport either by taxi, or on the train.

Driving there yourself? You’ll arrive in Southampton via the M3 and M27, and there are clear signposts to the Docks. A short stay car park is available adjacent to the QE2 cruise terminal, which is pay and display. For long stay parking you’ll need to book through CPS valet parking service – and the car park for this is adjacent to the terminal building.

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Terminal telephone number: 02380 33 23 89.

A fully licensed bar and café (Ceanos) is available in the Departure Lounge, after check-in. Just visiting, or picking up? Visitors’ refreshment facilities are limited, and the viewing gallery is not open to visitors.

Lost Property?

Any Baggage enquiries for P&O, Cunard, or Princess Cruises , please contact The Baggage Handling Company  02380 87 31 11 For lost property for P&O, Cunard, or Princess Cruises please contact  02380 65 64 26

If your baggage or lost property enquiry is for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Lines & Azamara , please contact Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services – 02380 68 26 80

For all other cruise lines please contact the cruise line directly

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• RMS Queen Mary 2 Cruises

CUNARD QM2 SHIP CRUISE ITINERARY, SCHEDULE, PRICES, INFORMATION

• World Cruises
• Transatlantic
• QM2 Transatlantic Crossings

This is the Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise 2024-2025-2026  schedule of all one-way and round-trip Atlantic Ocean crossings. It shows all departures from New York ,  Southampton-London , and Hamburg as dates and prices per person. RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic crossings are part of the Cunard Line’s regular Atlantic Ocean crossing service between the UK and the USA (London/Southampton and NYC New York). Next is the link to our complete  QM2 itineraries and schedule  (all sailing dates with the lowest prices comparison). This link is to our review of QM2 cruise ticket prices .

Longest QM2 Transatlantic crossings are between New York and Hamburg (Germany /9-day itinerary with Southampton, England). The longest QM2 Transatlantic cruises are when the Caribbean or Canada New England is part of the Atlantic Ocean crossing itinerary.

RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise experience

The Cunard Line maintains a scheduled Trans-Atlantic Ocean passenger service between the UK and the US. It’s almost like a ferry cruise service – but it’s absolutely not a ferry one!

The Cunard Transatlantic cruise schedule offers at least one crossing a month between UK/Southampton and USA/New York City, in the period from April to November or early December. Most of the crossings are 6 nights / 7 days in length. On the Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary 2 ship, it’s definitely the most civilized and adventurous exciting way to visit the UK and USA – or both!

Doing the 7-day voyage on Queen Mary 2 is not a Transatlantic cruise – it’s an Atlantic crossing. Most of the Transatlantic cruises are operated only in the low season when quite a number of cruise ships reposition between Europe and the North or South American continents. But the huge number of QM2 passengers use the Cunard crossings as their preferred travel mode between Europe and the USA. And QM2 is not any ship and not a regular “cruise ship” – she’s a real-deal ocean cruise liner, which power and hull strength helps her to withstand the nasty North Atlantic weather.

Celebrating the 200th QM2 Transatlantic Crossing

To mark her 200th Atlantic Ocean crossing, RMS Queen Mary 2 performed on July 6th a sail-by of NYC’s most famous attraction – the Statue of Liberty. The list of onboard special events includes lectures and presentations by renowned speakers (by the “Cunard Insights” enrichment programme), Big Band musical performances, a most special Gala Dinner (on 11 July). Stephen Payne (a naval architect, responsible for the QM2 design) will present an insight into her construction. He is also guest of honour at the Gala Dinner. Another renown speaker is the BBC’s Nick Owen. Performing onboard is a jazz orchestra of 13 musicians and 1 vocalist from the Juilliard School (juilliard.edu). They will perform in the Royal Court Theatre (in the evening), an afternoon tea dance, lunchtime jam sessions (in the Chart Room), and a late evening in the Illuminations (planetarium).

RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing statistics and facts

• This cruise liner is one of the biggest (weight 151,000 tons, capacity 2,500+ guests, and 3,056 max/all berths, 1,250 crew), longest (1,132 ft), tallest (550 ft) and most expensive (cost to build USD 800 million) passenger ships ever built. QM2 is also the only one still operational ocean liner, and she is the fastest cruise ship in the world (service speed 34 mph). RMS QM2 is the most famous cruise ship afloat – simply there’s no other ship in the world to enjoy such respect and recognition.
• In the course of the vessel’s 200 Transatlantic Crossings over 500,000 passengers were carried. They have consumed more than 8,400,000 cups of tea; more than 980,000 scones; over 481,000 bottles of champagne; more than 644,000 eggs; nearly 960,000 liters of milk, and 22,400,000 meals have been served. More than 1,000 dogs have been transported in the QM2 kennels.
• In comparison to other Cunard ships, QM2 has many seasons still ahead – RMS Queen Mary (1001 crossings), RMS Queen Elizabeth (896 crossings), ms Queen Elizabeth 2 (812 crossings).

The Cunard’s flagship QM2 cruise liner is a classic/authentic Trans-Atlantic Ocean liner offering deals on regular one-way and round-trip Cunard crossings between UK/England and USA/New York (NYC, Brooklyn). The regular QM2 crossings also offer cruises between New York and Hamburg (Germany) – again with both one-way and longer round-trip itinerary. In this survey, we list only the regular crossings which do not include additional ports of call.

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic 2024-2025-2026 crossings (UK-USA-UK-Germany)

The following tables show all Queen Mary 2 ship departures from Southampton to New York and the reverse from New York to Southampton. They are part of the ship’s scheduled regular service on  Cunard Transatlantic Crossings: Westbound routes (from the UK to the USA) and Eastbound routes (from the USA to the UK). Prices are only indicative and subject to change.

QM2 schedule from Southampton to New York (UK-USA crossings) and Hamburg (UK-Germany)

The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship is usually departing from Southampton at 5PM and arriving in New York from 6:30 to 7AM. For exact New York USA arrival times please visit the Cunard Line’s website.

Cunard QM2 Southampton cruise port embarkation

There are four possible Southampton cruise terminals where you can board the Queen Mary 2 ship – so check your booking for the exact terminal:

• QE2 Terminal (dock gate 4)
• City Terminal (dock gate 10)
• Mayflower Terminal (dock gate 10)
• Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).
• The taxi service from Southampton Central is ~10 min, costs ~£7 to Mayflower/City, and ~£10 to QE2/Ocean terminals.
• For schedules and price information on all the trains to Southampton from London and other major UK cities please visit nationalrail.co.uk. For the port’s cruise ship schedule you can visit CruiseMapper (cruisemapper.com/ports/southampton-port-115).

Queen Mary 2 Southampton boarding/check-in services open at 1 pm, and close ~3:45 pm (the exact check-in time is on your Cunard ticket). The line will also send you or you can download and print information about your departure date and room number (print them and put one on each of your bags). Remember that the baggage weight limit is 23 kg / 51 pounds per bag (no limit about their number).

At the check-in service desk, you show your ticket, passport, and credit card for on-ship purchases, and a photo will be taken for security purposes. You will be given a plastic card acting as an embarkation card, room key, and charge card on the ship. After the security check, you embark on the RMS Queen Mary 2.

Cunard QM2 New York cruise port disembarkation

All QM2 NYC disembarkation procedures are delivered to your cabin 1/2 days before the Brooklyn arrival. The Cunard’s “Express disembarkation” service allows you to leave the QM2 ship ~1/2 hour after docking (~7:30am). The standard procedure includes delivering to your cabin of colored labels for your baggage 1 day before the NYC arrival (put one on each of your bags, move them outside your cabin by the door between 8-12 pm the night before arrival. Your bags will be st the Brooklyn cruise terminal next morning, in a dedicated zone marked with your labels color. Know that they disembark the more expensive rooms guests first. The QM2 disembarkation time is 8-11 am.

QM2 schedule from New York to Southampton (USA-UK crossings) and Hamburg (USA-Germany)

Qm2 new york cruise information.

The Queen Mary 2 ship is usually departing from the New York cruise port terminal in Brooklyn at 5 PM. The ship’s check-in services start at 1 PM, and close at 3:45 PM. QM2 arrives at the Southampton cruise port at 6:30 AM. Again, please visit the line’s website for the exact Southampton UK arrival times confirmation.

QM2 New York/Port Brooklyn embarkation

Queen Mary 2 New York boarding/check-in services open at ~1 pm to ~3:45 pm (local time). The embarkation time, along with the other standard procedures information are the same as those about the UK departures from Southampton, since this is the Cunard policy and not the port policy-related issue. So you have the e-tickets with all the info, Cunard will send you labels with departure dates/room numbers, the bag weight limit is again 23kg per bag, you get through the security check, join the queue for check-in, show tickets/passports/credit cards, they take your photo, give you the plastic card for onboard uses, and you embark the cruise ship Queen Mary 2.

The QM2 Southampton disembarkation procedures are also the same as those for the NYC disembarkation – you’ll receive a note explaining them outside your cabin 1 or 2 days before the UK arrival, you can choose standard or “Express” disembarkation, put labels on your bags, place the bags outside your cabin between 8-12 pm the night before the UK arrival, etc. The London/Southampton disembarkation is between 8-11 AM local time.

Note: For exact times and prices on trains to NYC leaving from major US cities please visit amtrak.com  (the Amtrak train schedule).

QM2 schedule from Hamburg to Southampton and New York (Germany-UK-USA crossings)

You can share our “QM2 Transatlantic” review and the RMS Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic cruise schedule via our social buttons. Enjoy the ever best of the best British cruise ships departing from Southampton and New York, and be always happy on your uniquely special Cunard Transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2 – the Royal Mail Ship of the 21st century!

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• Guided tour

River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat

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Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

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Who's going.

• Excursion River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat
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See photo of the meeting point

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

Moscow is a wonderful city to visit, and travelers on river ship cruise tours to or from St. Petersburg spend a few days in Moscow . This capital city of Russia was our last port on a river cruise tour, and we had about four days to see most of the highlights. Our first day we did an overview driving tour and rode the subway under the Mockba (Moscow) River to Red Square. The next day we toured the State Armory and the Kremlin.

These photos show some of the other highlights you can see with three or four days in Moscow .

The Northern River Terminal is located on the Moscow Canal in the northwest section of Moscow at the Khimki Reservoir.

Most river cruise ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg use the ship as a hotel while in Moscow. Because of traffic, it's often a long drive into the city, but the sights along the way are interesting, and you only have to unpack once for the river cruise.

View of Downtown Moscow from Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills is the best place to get a great panoramic view of Moscow. The Sparrow Hills overlook the Mockba River and are near Moscow State University.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow was founded in 1524, and was once used as a sort of prison for the unwanted wives and sisters of the Tsars. Peter the Great sent both his first wife and his sister to Novodevichy. Since the convent had such famous nuns, it was very wealthy due to the many donations of the Tsars and their families. At one time in the 1700s, the cloister had over 36,000 serfs working in 36 villages. Novodevichy was ravaged by the French armies in 1812, but the brave nuns saved the buildings by disarming the fuses set to blow them up. The Soviets wanted to make the convent into a museum in the early 1920s, but it was again saved.

Novodevichy also has a cemetery with the graves of many famous Russians, including Nikita Khrushchev, Anton Chekhov, Raisa Gorbachev, and Yuri Nikulin.

View of the Mockba River in Moscow, Russia

The Mockba (Moscow) River runs into the Volga via the 79.5 mile long Moscow Canal.

River ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg on the Baltic Waterways embark and disembark at the Northern River Terminal about an hour's drive from the city. The drive time can vary significantly in length because of the heavy Moscow traffic. The river looks peaceful here, as it winds around the cosmopolitan area of Moscow.

Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer (Cathedral of Christ the Savior) in Moscow

The Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, also known as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, is the largest church in Russia, holding 10,000 worshipers.

The original Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built over 44 years to celebrate the 1812 victory over Napoleon. It was completed in 1883. Stalin had the church destroyed in 1931, but it was rebuilt using mostly private funds in 1999. The new church is a replica of the original. Note that it took 44 years the first time and only 4 years the second to complete the church! Isn't modern technology impressive.

One interesting tidbit is that it took three attempts to blow up the church in 1931. Stalin planned to build a huge Palace of the Soviets on the cleared land, but engineers determined that the land was too boggy. In the 60 years intervening, the space was used for a variety of things, including a year-round swimming pool!

Vendors' Market and Ski Jump at Sparrow Hills in Moscow

The panoramic view of Moscow from Sparrow Hills is a stopover for most tour groups, so we were not surprised to see a large number of vendors. The ski jump was a surprise, but Moscow gets very cold in winter, so winter sports are very popular. This ski jump is near Moscow State University and has a great view of the city. Seeing this ski jump reminded me of the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, which also has a great view of that northern capital city.

Russian Soldiers' Memorial in Victory Park in Moscow

Matryoshka dolls for sale in moscow.

I thought this display of dolls was beautiful! The Matryoshka nesting dolls range in price from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

This small band greeted us at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow. They played a variety of band music and made us all feel very welcome.

Grand Triumphal Arch Celebrates the Victory Over Napoleon in the War of 1812

This arch looks a little like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and it is located near the Victory Park Metro Station in Moscow.

This Grand Triumphal Arch is decorated with the coats of arms from the 48 Russian provinces. To celebrate the victory over France in the war of 1812, it also includes bas-reliefs of the "Expulsion of the French." The arch was originally built in 1834, but has only been on this site since 1968.

It is a little ironic that this arch resembles the Paris Arc de Triomphe , which Napoleon built between 1806 and 1836 to celebrate his French victories.

Moscow Metro Station at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square)

This station near Red Square has many statues honoring the workers of Russia.

Moscow Metro Station near Victory Park

The Metro in Moscow is one of its shining industrial achievements. Construction on the Metro was begun in 1931 and continues today. The system has over 165 stations and 155 miles of track. Over 9300 trains, traveling sometimes as fast as 56 mph, navigate the huge system each day. Almost 10 million people ride the Moscow Metro every day, which is more than the New York and London systems combined. We found the Metro to be very efficient, with trains arriving every few minutes.

Navigating the Metro system can be somewhat of a problem for non-Russian speaking riders. Most of the signage is in Cyrillic only, and the stations are quite large. Trying to find the correct exit while walking long distances underground can be challenging.

On our cruise tour, we rode the Metro as a group with our program director from near Victory Park under the Mockba River to Red Square. Several of the group ventured out on their own during our time in Moscow, and many rode the Metro. They all returned with stories of getting lost underground, but none seemed the worse for the experience, and they all loved telling the tales.

Red Square in Moscow

Red Square in Moscow is a must-see for visitors to the capital city of Russia.

The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin is a favorite of Moscow tourists. Inside these walls are buildings for the government of Russia, cathedrals, and the wonderful State Armory museum.

Taras Bulba Restaurant in Moscow

We enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian lunch at this cute restaurant in Moscow before checking in at our hotel.

Buses Wait for Passengers Outside Museum

River cruise tour groups are usually divided into groups for the duration of the tour. Each group had their own bus when touring.

Military Airplanes at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

Although much of the military museum was indoors, there was quite a collection of planes, helicopters, missile launchers, and tanks outside.

Foreign Ministry Building, One of Moscow's Seven Stalinist-Gothic Skyscrapers

Seven skyscrapers with layers giving them a "wedding cake" appearance dot the Moscow skyline. The style is considered Stalinist-Gothic.

Russian and American War Veterans at the Central Museum of Armed Forces

Meeting with some World War II Russian War veterans was a highlight of our day at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow.

Rocket Launchers and Missiles at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow

The inside of this museum is particularly impressive, but you will need a guide since all of the signage is only in Russian.

Old Arbat Pedestrian Shopping Area in Moscow

We all enjoyed exploring the shops on this mile-long pedestrian shopping area.

Food prices were high in the tourist attraction, with two small pizzas, two small beers, and a bottle of water at an outdoor cafe costing $40. Many of our group ate at the large McDonalds, where prices were more reasonable.

Female Cosmonaut Model at Star City Cosmonaut Training Center near Moscow

Female cosmonauts play an important role in the Russian space program. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova from Yaroslavl was the first woman in space.

Souvenir Shop in Old Arbat Shopping Area in Moscow

The area of Old Arbat had many English signs to attract the tourist trade.

Centrifuge at Star City Outside Moscow, Russia

This 18 meter centrifuge is the world's largest. The centrifuge weighs over 30000 tons, and the maximum load is 30 G, but most tests are run at 3 or 4 G.

A centrifuge ride is the first test for a cosmonaut, whose entire training school takes from five to eight years. The centrifuge can simulate the extreme force of gravity that cosmonauts (and astronauts) face when going into space. A centrifuge training session lasts about 30 minutes, and the trainee experiences both the centrifugal force as well as the spin of the pod he/she is riding in. Just typing this makes me a little queasy!

Cosmonaut's Bathroom Facilities on First Space Flights at Star City

Just like in the USA, everyone who visits the Star City cosmonaut training center near Moscow wants to know how cosmonauts "go to the bathroom". They have more sophisticated equipment today, but this contraption from the early space flights is fairly self explanatory.

Star City Tank Used for Cosmonaut Weightlessness Training near Moscow

This 12-meter deep pool is used to simulate weightlessness training. The pool is flooded and the cosmonauts perform repair tasks on the model of the International Space Station. SCUBA diving underwater is very similar to the weightless experience the cosmonauts experience when working in outer space.

Mir Space Station Replica at Star City near Moscow

The original Mir disintegrated when it fell to earth in 2001. Mir, which means peace in Russian, was launched in 1986.

Marvel Paull with Statue of Yuri Gagarin at Star City near Moscow

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, and the Star City Cosmonaut training center was named after him in 1968.

River Cruise Passengers with Yuri Onufrienko, Russian Cosmonaut at Star City

In case you can't tell, Yuri is the one in the middle. My famous traveling mother, Marvel Paull, is on the left and Dick, a cruise friend is on the right.

A highlight of our day in Star City was a visit with Yuri Onufrienko , a Russian cosmonaut who spent extended time in space at the Mir space station in 1996 and the International Space Station in 2001-2002. Yuri patiently took many questions from our small inquisitive group.

Cosmonaut Space Suit at Star City near Moscow

Cosmonauts sit in this position on take off. Thanks to Jerry G. for the tip about the sign. It says, "Don't touch!"

Stained Glass Window at Star City near Moscow

Program directors at farewell dinner in moscow.

After 16 days of discovery, learning, and fun, we had a farewell dinner with the six Program Directors - Evgeny, Olga, Vladimir, Svetlana, Violetta, and Marina - in Moscow.

The Kremlin is a triangular, walled citadel in the center of Moscow. The Kremlin is considered by most to be the heart of the city. First conceived in the 12th century, the Kremlin (which means fortress) was expanded by Tsar Ivan III (Ivan the Great) during the 15th century. His architects designed the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption and the Faceted Palace, and the Kremlin was an interesting mix of both Russian and Renaissance styles. During the Soviet time of the 1930s, many of the Kremlin buildings were destroyed or vandalized, and the complex remained closed to the public until 1955.

Today the Kremlin is home to the Russian President and his administration. Many buildings are open to the public, but you may need to be with a guide (check in advance).

I visited the Kremlin when in Moscow on a Russian Waterways cruise tour from St. Petersburg.

The Kremlin was also one of the 21 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World.  

Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Red Square's name has nothing to do with Communism or Soviet Russia. The old Russian word for "beautiful" and "red" was the same; the square was supposed to be called "Beautiful Square". Red Square has been the center of Moscow activity since the 16th century when the Tsar cleared the area and allowed vendors, shoppers, and businesses to fill the square. Today this square is surrounded by the Moscow Kremlin, the State Historical Museum, GUM Shopping Mall , and St. Basil's Cathedral .

Many of the important events of the last three hundred years in Russia have been marked by parades or demonstrations in Red Square. Anyone who enters Red Square will have memories from TV or movie reels of this magnificent public square. Those of us who grew up during the Cold War era can remember the parades of soldiers, tanks, and other armaments past Lenin's Tomb just outside the Kremlin Wall. The World War II generation remembers Red Square as the site of a huge victory celebration at the end of the war.

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A Guide to Moscow: Capital of Russia, City of Domes

9 Things to See in Moscow's Red Square

Moscow in September: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

10 Must-Visit Palaces and Castles in Russia

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow: Planning Your Visit

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Soviet Sights in Moscow – Moscow USSR Sites

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The Top 12 Things to Do in Astrakhan

Moscow Metro: The Complete Guide

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Regensburg: Planning Your Trip

The Top 15 Places to Visit in Russia

The Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg

• Cunard Line

QE2 Mediterranean Cruise... any questions?

By 2dream4 , August 17, 2004 in Cunard Line

Recommended Posts

I just returned from the 2 week Mediterranean cruise on the QE2, including a 3 day stay at the Cunard advertised hotel, with all Cunard transfers. It was great. Fire away with any questions you may have on the trip! I have been collecting data to answer any questions you may have on the cruise, or extras, including the shore excursions !

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I was on this trip as well and had a fantastic time. QE2 is looking great and has certainly not gone 'downmarket' as some of us feared after the arrival of QM2. I think both the food and entertainment have improved since I travelled last year. She is well looked after. Interesting to see that some of the staff who transfered from QE2 to QM2 have now returned to QE2. This was also the last voyage for Captain Ray Heath who is retiring.

Vic The Parrot

hello simwil!

It's good to hear that 'my ship' is being well cared for!

I found her to be in good condition before the re-fab, a little rust spots here and there, but nothing that made her seem like it was time to go out to pasture.

I can't wait to see my baby again!

thames_side

I see we board at 12.30. Can we get anything to eat on the ship then or should we grab a bight on the way to the port?

I read the Terms and Conditions. At 6.5 it says "If the guest brings on any stage of the package any alcohol in excess of the quantity permitted for landing duty free at the point of disembarkation such alcohol shall be placed in bond aboard the vessel or other relevant means of transport during the package and returned to the guest upon arrival at the last stage of the package"

Seems a bit odd. You can keep your duty free allownce with you in the cabin - and presumably drink it. Any more and you hand it over. But once you've drunk it you can buy another duty free allowance at the next port? Anyway for UK residents there is virtually no limit to the duty free allowance for alcohol bought in the EU!

Anyway how does the policy seem to be carried out on the ship?

Much looking forward to the trip. Glad to here the ship is in good shape. I've cruised before with Cunard but not on the QE2.

I was pleased to discover that although QE2 is almost exclusively cruising nowadays she is not just chugging along. When crossing the Med from Gibraltar to Sicilly we exceeded 29 knots at times.

That's pretty impressive! 29 knots

She STILL has it!!

Hi thames side

I didn't have any problems bringing 2 bottles on board.

They were in my carryon, and not concealed.

Had a bottle of champagne, and a 5th of scotch.

The cruise throught the Mediterrancean on the QE2 which ended last week was fantastic. For those that have been worrying about the air conditioning, be rest assured it is working just fine. The little alarm clock I brought with me also had a temperature setting on it, and I can assure you the temp in my room stayed a constant 70 degrees F even through the blistery heat and humidity of the Mediterranean.

I thought the ship looked much better than previous years. I was very surprised and interested in the demographics of this cruise: approx 1800 passengers ( they announced the cruise was fully booked ) and approx 1600 were from the UK ! Only 160 from the U.S ! I noticed some childen between the ages of 8 - 15 no college age or extremely young.

Don't worry about the alcohol issue ( bringing on board) ... I too brought mass quantitites of wine, with no problems! Sad to see Captain Heath leave. His wife and daughters took part with my group in our shore excursion to the Isle of Capri. a lovely family... then ran into all of them ( including Capt. Heath) in Rome at the Trevi Fountain ! Thomas is as glamourous as usual. The Sr staff did a cute skit the last afternoon at sea during the talent show. Thomas as a ballerina ina pink tu-tu and blond curly wig! THe Heritage Trail was as special as ever, with newtrinkets on the wall since my last cruise. Be wary if you are returning from Southampton to Heathrow after desembarkation. Lots of construction and traffic delays around Heathrow... I almost missed my flight ! The Cunard sponsored bus tranfer assured me we would be there in approx one hour.... try 2 hours and 15 minutes. I was beside myself scrambling through Bristish Airways. thank goodness they had a "late arrival" check in... or I would still be in line trying to get on my return flight to the US.

Food was fantastic, the pool and sun deck were a welcome reprieve to all of us after a long day of touring in the heat... and we all saw a wonderful meteor show the night we were returning and crossed through the Straights of Girbralter. THey turned off the lights on the sun deck, and at the funnel, and we sat in lounge chairs and watched the meteors. Next day was whale watching and porposies as we head back to England. sigh.... it was great!

friedchickN

Glad you had a great trip on the QE2. The Mediterranean cruise sounds wonderful. Have been dreaming about a trip like that myself. What specific changes did you notice in the ship? and in which category were you sailing?

The trip was grand; I had a sinlge on three deck, Mauretania late sitting. The only downside was that dinner took FOREVER ( 2.5 hours) but I feel that was due to our waitress who insisted on personally greeting and talking to each person assigned to her tables. She was so gracious and caring, I think she forgot we were there to eat ! I told myself I was going on the cruise to see the Mediterranean, not to eat lavishly in Priness or Queens, and the food in Mauretania did not disappoint me It was fantastic with HUGE selections! Here are some changes I have noticed since my lsat cruise:

*the menu now includes a "Fitness Spa Suggestions" for those looking for a healthy, low calorie, low fat alternative to dining...

*the air conditioning is MUCH better... could definately feel the cool air in the public areas, much improved....

* bathrooms have been upgraded... showers, shower doors and sink appear to be new ..along with the bedspread ( rememeber I have not been on the QE2 for 5 years!

*the Funnel Bar on the sun deck is fun, and new. Vincent, from Cape Town, SA has been reassigned to the Funnel bar and he is wonderful. While we were docked in Naples, ( we had a late departure at 11 pm) Cunard thought of everything. We backed the ship into naples harbor for a fantastic view of the city and Bay.. then, we had a wonderful cookout BBQ on the sun deck overlooking the Bay of Naples and the city during the evening. I would have sworn the fireworks we saw off in the distance must have been arranged by Cunard ! as it was a perfect evening to a wonderful day.

* More memoribalia on the Heritage Trail conducted by Thomas

*of course the computer center was new since my last voyage

*art auctions are new since was last voyage

* NO more paying and reserving deck chairs on the QE2! now it is first come, first served.. even with the extreme heat and beautiful weather, I never had a problem sinding a lounge chair

* new paint job, and I swear the ship looked cleaner.. looks like rugs etc had been cleaned... also new fun uniforms for the crew!

Did I forget anything anyone ???? any more questions??? ask now while it is still fresh in my mind, and while I am still numb from the excitement of just returning from 2 glorious weeks !

I was on the same cruise and am pleased to read your comments and wholeheartedly agree with them all. Particularly pleased that the air conditioning was working well as we had very hot weather. Pleased to report that service on board was excellent despite some established staff had transfered to QM2 (interesting to note that some have since returned to QE2 at their own request - one told me that he had found it difficult to get to know passengers and give the personal service he wanted to give passengers)

so sorry I did not get the chance to meet you during the cruise. Do they have a cruise critic sign in book on the QE2? I asked in the library, and bookstore, and they looked at me like I had two heads!

May well have met you and not known! Not sure about a C.C. book in Library - I understand there is one on QM2.

• 8 months later...

watta_wally

A med cruise this year will be my first ever. I'm trying to find out if the ships excursions to Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes & Gibralter are worth the expense or if they cn be done equally well self propelled and a lot cheaper. Any advice gratefully received.

Great posts guys! I will board QE2 on May 28th for the Norwegian Fjords.

What was sailaway like? When we crossed the atlantic in December 2002, we had a muster meeting in the Queens Room. I rushed down to get my life jacket in my cabin but once on deck the ship had already moved away from the dock side and no band. What was it liek this time?

I am so happy to hear about the Mauretania food and service. Really look forward to that. What time do they start boarding and what time does the Lido open for lunch? Last time I also nearly missed out on that because they closed due the the muster.

What was the age catagory on board? The cruise I take ends in Amsterdam so I imagine there will be lots of Dutch passengers onboard too.

Oslo, Norway

Please post your review when you return. We are on the July 30th Fjords trip on the QE II and are looking forward to it so much. We sailed on the QE II in 1972 and can't wait to be on her again.

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