A transatlantic voyage on the QM2 recaptures the luxury of a bygone era without sacrificing the comfort and convenience of contemporary technology.
Note: All prices are in U.S. dollars.
size matters
QM2 is the longest, largest cruise ship ever built: She's 1,132 feet long, 236 feet tall and 135 feet wide. To put that into perspective, this boat is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall, or the equivalent of nearly four football fields. QM2 weighs a staggering 151,400 tons and was built at an estimated cost of $800 million.This liner has 1,296 staterooms, room for 2,620 passengers and an international crew of 1,253. Passengers are grouped in three descending classes of suites: Queens, Princess and Britannia. The smallest staterooms are 157 square feet and three-quarters of them have balconies. The most lavish accommodations are the five duplex apartments which, when combined, add up to a total of 9,000 square feet. With such a range of accommodations, QM2 attracts passengers from all over North America and Europe.
Along with these unprecedented dimensions comes power and state of the art technology. The QM2 has four huge diesel engines powering the largest and most powerful Mermaid propulsion pods ever built, which give her an impressive cruising speed of up to 26 knots.
In spite of her record-breaking bulk and might, the QM2 remains extraordinarily nimble, with thrusters that allow her to maneuver in port without tugs and a dynamic positioning system controlled by a single joystick on the bridge. She also offers an exceptionally smooth ride thanks to advanced stabilizers that can reduce the ship's roll by 90%.
tasty "sea food"
There's plenty of diesel for the QM2 to devour, but passengers need their own fuel. Well, there's plenty of that too: The QM2 has not one, not two, but 10 restaurants onboard. You can sample hearty pub fare at the Golden Lion or have a more formal meal at the swanky Britannia restaurant. Some of the restaurants are open to all passengers, but others, like the Princess Grill and the Queens Grill, are reserved for those staying in the Princess and Queens rooms. The popular Chef's Galley, where you can watch your meal being prepared, requires reservations and charges an extra $35 cover charge. Extra fees like these are automatically applied to your shipboard account, often with a 15% tip included (the big spenders can sign for more).The QM2 also features a Mediterranean-style restaurant run by acclaimed celebrity chef Todd English, with a menu that boasts his renowned Paella Olivacious and Thai Iced Coffee Tiramisu. This restaurant was so popular that passengers almost came to blows over reservations on QM2's early cruises, prompting Cunard to charge a supplement to eat there ($20 for lunch, $30 for dinner). It still fills up fast.
no more cabin fever
Once you're filled up, you can take advantage of QM2's extensive exercise facilities. The ship has numerous indoor and outdoor swimming pools, including the Pavilion Pool. Located on Deck 12, the Pavilion Pool is covered by a retractable glass roof. This allows passengers to go for a dip no matter what the weather is like outside. Some of the more expensive suites even have their own private exercise facilities.Passengers will also be pleased to discover the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the first branch of this legendary franchise to be found on a ship. Canyon Ranch offers a total of 24 massage, body and skincare treatment rooms, a gymnasium and weight room with more than 50 pieces of cardio and weight-training equipment, and a juice bar. Use of the Fitness Center is complimentary, but you'll be charged extra for access to its lockers and showers, as well as for other professional services, like hairstyling and massage.
For those just looking to relax, Canyon Ranch's thalassotherapy pool features airbed recliner lounges, neck fountains, a deluge waterfall, an air tub, and body massage jet benches. Nearby is the thermal suite, which offers herbal and Finnish saunas, reflexology basins and an aromatic steam room.
high life on the high seas
Gyms and spas are all well and good, but you'll want to have something to do in the after-hours. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the QM2 has her own nightclub, the G32. This two-level discotheque is one of the most popular at sea (it doesn't hurt that westbound transatlantic passengers have an extra hour of sleep to look forward to every night).For a more laid-back evening, there's gambling at the Empire Casino, jazz at the Commodore Club, or even some bubbly at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar (which is, you guessed it, the only one to be found at sea). So there's plenty to do on a night out on the QM2 -- and you never have to worry about finding a cab.
stargazing
Dozens of celebrities, from Hollywood stars to royalty, have already been on the QM2 during her first year afloat. Those who have boarded her include Antonio Banderas, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, and Elizabeth Hurley. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh have toured her decks on one side of the pond, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Hillary Clinton have on the other. QM2 was also the flagship vessel at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where she hosted other dignitaries like Queen Sophia of Spain and former President George H. W. Bush.If you're more interested in celestial stargazing, QM2 has its own planetarium, Illuminations (which also doubles as a lecture hall and movie theater). For live entertainment, there's the Royal Court Theatre, which has hosted performances by Dame Shirley Bassey, Jon Bon Jovi, Harry Connick Jr., and Beyonce Knowles.
light wallet, broad mind
There are a number of famous, brand name boutiques onboard in the Mayfair Shops area, including Harrod's, Dunhill, Chopard, and Hermes. Considering the prices, you might be better off waiting until the next port of call to get your sweetheart a gift. In the meantime, the Mayfair Shops are a good place to leave her for a bit if you want some peace.If you're looking for repose -- or enrichment that won't leave you poor -- check out the QM2's library, the largest on the seven seas. It boasts everything from bestsellers to classics, with an archive of 8,000 hardcovers, 500 paperbacks and 200 audio books. If you'd rather improve your mind without burying your nose in a book, you can attend onboard lectures put together by Oxford University, on topics as diverse as photography and Monty Python.
now you're going places
The QM2 is the first transatlantic liner to be built since the Queen Elizabeth 2 was christened in 1969. Today, it is the only cruise liner to make regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton, England. But this is not the QM2's only route. She also sails from New York and Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean, and throughout Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Additionally, she makes "fall foliage" cruises along the coasts of New England and Canada. In 2006, QM2 will sail through the Caribbean, along the coast of South America around Cape Horn (becoming the largest cruise ship to do so), then back up to Los Angeles, where she will embark on a round trip to the Hawaiian Islands.With so many amenities and destinations to offer, and having broken so many records, the QM2 proves that getting there isn't half the fun -- it's all of it. Traveling on this gigantic, floating resort is a vacation in itself.
Resources:
http://www.cunard.com/QM2/home.asp
http://www.qm2-uk.com/
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=294
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