A cruise on the Queen Mary 2

A cruise on the Queen Mary 2 is a dream for many people. This is a classic experience, as the Queen Mary was already used as a transatlantic cruise ship in the 1930s. At the time, it was the largest cruise ship in the world. In the 1960s, cruises became unprofitable and the Queen Mary was decommissioned in 1967. But in 2004, the new Queen Mary 2 came into service. Also as a transatlantic liner between Southampton and New York with an exclusive and luxurious charm. We really wanted to find out what was behind it and whether a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 would meet our expectations of luxury and tradition. So off we went on a 13-day Norway cruise with the Queen Mary 2.

The ship: What can I expect?

The Queen Mary 2 has been sailing the world’s oceans since January 2004. The cruise ship was extensively renovated this year. The Queen Mary 2 spent three weeks in dry dock at Blohm + Voss. You will soon be able to read a separate article with lots of photos about the many new features. The ship has 14 decks (one of which is deck 3L – a mezzanine deck) and is 345 meters long. There is space for 2,691 passengers and a further 1,292 crew members on board. The number of passengers seems quite large, but the ship is very crowded. Only in the buffet restaurant can there be a rush at lunchtime. However, there are also many alternatives for having a snack.

There are four different cabin categories: Britannia (inside, outside and balcony cabins), Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill. The Queens and Princess Grill cabins are suites. Each cabin category has its own restaurant area for dinner. You can dine either in the assigned restaurant, in the Kings Court buffet restaurant, in the Kings Court’s inexpensive additional payment options on theme evenings or in the paid restaurant The Verandah (additional payment of 50 dollars per person in the evening).

There are many ways to spend a varied day on board. For example, there is a planetarium, a theater, a library, the Canyon Ranch Spa, fencing and much more.

The cabin: Britannia balcony cabin with loggia

We opted for a Britannia balcony cabin with loggia (cabin 5055). What does that mean? It is a kind of balcony cabin. However, this balcony is closed with a metal casing. Only a large hole the size of a panoramic window is open. This means you still get fresh air and have a wonderful view while standing. A clear advantage on the Norway cruise was that you could stand on the balcony and enjoy the view despite the cold wind. The metal sheathing protects against strong winds.

When the sun is shining, you can even sunbathe wonderfully on the sun loungers in the shelter of the loggia, even if it’s still fresh outside. Besides, it’s still better than an outside cabin for us, because the loggia makes the room seem very large and you can take photos at any time without having to go straight to the outside deck. The only drawback is that you can only see the sky when seated.

Of course, having breakfast on the balcony without a sea view is not quite as nice as with a sea view, but this minus point can be tolerated due to the lower price. A cabin with a loggia often costs around 1,000 euros less than a balcony cabin. However, there are also offers where the surcharge is only 100 euros or less. It is therefore advisable to simply browse a little.

A small bottle of sparkling wine is served in the Britannia cabins as a welcome gift. This is of course very nice, because you can toast to the exciting journey as soon as you arrive. The joy is naturally great.

The cabin is well equipped and very elegantly furnished. The bed is very large and has two large and two small pillows. There is a minibar (not included in the price) in which there are always two glasses of water to keep them chilled. You can also buy 6 large bottles of water with 1.5 liters each for the cabin for about 20 dollars. The hairdryer is located in the drawer under the kettle. In addition to the bed, there is also a sofa with a height-adjustable side table. There is also a flatscreen TV opposite the bed with German channels. The very special highlight, however, was the kettle and the daily replenished tea and coffee varieties as well as two small packs of cookies.

As always, there are of course slippers, bathrobes, a safe and plenty of clothes hangers, although these can only be used in the closet. There is also individually adjustable air conditioning, which works very well. If you want it warmer in the cabin, the temperature rises quickly.

The bathroom has a large shower cubicle with a shower curtain and raised threshold to prevent water from overflowing. Shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are available in small plastic bottles. There is plenty of storage space next to the washbasin and there is a metal shelf where you will also find a round container with lots of cotton pads and cotton buds. Cupboard space can be used under the washbasin, where you will also find disposal bags and a tissue box. Another tissue box is located in a built-in dispenser next to the toilet. The toilet paper is better than with some other shipping companies. The washbasin is unfortunately a bit small. Overall, the bathroom is well equipped and it’s fun to get ready there.

Advantages and disadvantages of the cabin on board the Queen Mary 2:

We have summarized our impressions of the cabin here and listed the advantages and disadvantages for you:

Advantages:

• Free 24-hour room service and breakfast service (breakfast in bed)
• Large balcony (loggia) with two comfortable sun loungers
• Large and comfortable bed with lots of pillows
• Kettle with tea, coffee powder and cookies in the room
• The small side table in front of the sofa is height-adjustable
• Lots of storage space in the closet
• Large shower cubicle with shower curtain and no overflow
• Lots of cotton pads and cotton buds in the bathroom
• Tissues (cosmetic wipes) in the bathroom in a built-in dispenser and another box under the washbasin

Disadvantages:

• All sockets are located in the room at the desk, including 4 US sockets (110 volt, 2 pin socket) and 4 UK sockets (220 volt, 3 pin socket)
• Two further sockets are hidden under the lamp in the bathroom
• Little light in the shower cubicle when the shower curtain is closed
• Small table on the balcony
• The air conditioning does not turn off when the balcony door is open
• No central switch for the light in the room

The 13-day voyage can be spent wonderfully in this well-equipped cabin and the sheltered balcony cabin with loggia is particularly recommended for Norway. Next, you will soon be able to read a report on the renovation of the Queen Mary 2. There will be lots of photos of the interior, so stay tuned!