I realize that for many people, slower is not often an option. Frequently, our clients have only a few days of vacation available to them and they want to maximize their trip. It’s completely understandable. However, I’ve come to appreciate that, when possible, slower is usually better. That’s especially true when sailing the Queen Mary 2.
What is the Queen Mary 2
Most obviously it’s a ship and it’s owned by the cruise company Cunard. However, the Queen Mary 2 is not a cruise ship. Cunard will proudly tell you that fact at every opportunity, because the QM2 is an ocean liner, the only one in the world. The distinction matters because an ocean liner is meant to cross oceans, repeatedly, and this ship is meant to cross the North Atlantic in particular.
That means that it goes faster than many other ships and does so through rougher waters and worse weather. Not that you notice the weather much onboard, because she’s built to cut through it all without disturbing the passengers.
The Queen Mary 2 spends most of her time crossing between European ports (most often Southampton) and New York City, just like ships of yesteryear. And like those ships, she carries a heritage of elegance and sophistication.
Taking your time should be something desirable.
Crossing the Atlantic in such a fashion is slower than air travel. Flying from London to New York takes about seven hours. Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to New York takes about seven days. If you can take the time, though, I argue that the Queen Mary 2 is the better option.
Who is this for?
The Queen Mary 2’s most appealing feature, at least by my estimation, is the chance to experience a bit of the ocean liner days. When dozens of ships, like the Aquitania, crisscrossed the Atlantic. Those vessels are part of Cunard’s history, so of course the QM2 carries that heritage forward. There are practical reasons to sail the ship as well.
We have family in Europe and visiting them always means jet lag. The roughly seven hour flights into Europe always are part of two or three connections that day and you find yourself in airports or airplanes for around 24 hours total. By contrast, the Queen Mary 2 departs in the morning on day one and you have six more days to slowly adjust to the new time. Unlike a flight, you have a proper bed and meals. Not to mention, it’s often cheaper.
Consistently, fares on the QM2 are competitive with business class airfare. That’s doubly true if you don’t mind an inside cabin. Sometimes, you can even beat main cabin fare – we highlighted it in this article. Keep in mind that this is paying for seven nights of accommodations and food, which certainly puts the price into perspective. Speaking of the food…
Dining on the Queen Mary 2
We found that there is a remarkable variety of food of uniformly high quality. The large main dining room – the two-level Britannia – is located in the center of the ship because, as the designer informed us, he wanted people to have the most stable dining experience possible while the ship was sailing. At this time it might be worth mentioning that, no, we never got seasick and the stabilizers work very well.
In addition to the main dining room, there is an extensive buffet called the Kings Court. You can also get light bites throughout the day at the Carinthia Lounge. Of course, there are specialty dining restaurants available to indulge in for a small surcharge.
As with any ship, lounges and bars are plentiful. Our personal favorite is the Golden Lion. Designed to evoke a classic British pub, on many days you can get a proper pub lunch there, which is included in the price of your voyage.
Things to do
Britain has a long history of public educational lectures, most famously the Royal Society Christmas Lectures. It makes sense, then, that The Queen Mary shines particularly brightly with their educational speakers. The fields of the experts vary widely, from the fields of art and entertainment, to history, astronomy, geology, music, etc. Our absolute favorite speaker was Stephen Payne, the designer of the Queen Mary 2.
A stunning library on the Queen Mary 2.
Continuing their educational focus, the QM2 boasts the largest library at sea, with over 10,000 books. The space is beautiful – polished wood, chrome, and glass – makes it a wonderful place to sit and read or work. There is also a small bookstore attached to it, if you’re looking for something to keep.
It doesn’t end at lectures and a library. So dedicated to educational activities is the Queen Mary 2, you’ll even find a planetarium on the ship.
Aside from the educational things, there is usually a scavenger hunt, which we highly recommend. You are typically given 24 hours to complete it and take pictures of yourselves around various parts of the ship. It can be challenging, and it gives you the opportunity to explore parts of the ship you might not otherwise experience.
There is an outdoor pool, but because the QM2 sails across the North Atlantic where the weather can be notoriously cold or wet, there is a second pool which is covered and heated. This makes for a delightful experience on otherwise damp days.
Perhaps the most British activity you can partake in is afternoon tea. On the Queen Mary 2, taking afternoon tea is utterly delightful and you will feel very proper. It is served in the Queens Room, which is also the main ballroom. Most importantly, unlike other cruise lines that offer an afternoon tea, on the Queen Mary 2 it is included in the price of your fare. You should never sail the QM2 without having afternoon tea at least once.
Nothing Quite Like It
The QM2 is a distinct experience. It’s very British in style but you will find the passenger mix will be UK residents, Australians, Canadians, and Americans. As a line, Cunard tends to be more formal than others, though it is less formal than it was 3 or 4 years ago. Onboard, there are numerous opportunities to really dress up. That being said, you shouldn’t worry if you don’t have a tux or evening gown nor should you worry about being overdressed.
The Queen Mary 2 retains naval traditions, such as ringing the ship’s bell. Each day, at noon the bell is rung eight times. This dates back to changing of the ship’s watch. It also has a kennel aboard. Much like ocean liners of the past, people who use them would bring their pets with them. On the QM2, the kennels fill up faster than the human cabins; people often need to book at least two years in advance. Even if you don’t have a pet on the ship, if you’re an animal lover, there is the daily parade of the pets on board near the kennel.
The Queen Mary 2 Is Special
The Queen Mary 2 is obviously different than any other ship in any other cruise line. It’s doing something that you really don’t get to do anywhere else. It’s a way to experience some aspect of, as Cunard says, “the golden age of cruising.”
Yes, it is slower than flying, but that’s what makes it worth doing. The chance to slow down and take your time is something that should be sought after. That’s why I think you should seize the opportunity and take seven days, instead of seven hours.
