Queen Mary 2 at sea
In March 2013 I was lucky enough to take a tour of Cunard’s magnificent Queen Mary 2 when she was in Brisbane.
Even before you board the Queen Mary 2 you are in awe of her. There are the usual statistics like she has a gross tonnage of 148,528 and when she was constructed she was the largest ocean liner in the world (a title that now belongs to Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas). But when you stand there looking up at Queen Mary 2 you know this is going to be something extra special.
Queen Mary 2 Grand Lobby
The common areas of Queen Mary 2 epitomise classic cruising luxury. Rich red carpets, pieces of art from around the world and fresh flower arrangements create a wonderful atmosphere.
Verve Clicquot Champagne Bar
No matter what your interest, you’ll be able to find somewhere to relax. My personal favourites were the library, which has hundreds of books in several languages, and the Verve Clicquot Champagne Bar. The planetarium (the world’s first at sea) is also worth visiting. But if none of those interest you there are five pools, a casino, a ballroom and a theatre to keep you entertained.
Canyon Ranch's hydro-therapy bath
Queen Mary 2’s Canyon Ranch Spa Club is the perfect at sea indulgence. Everything from facials and massages to a hydro therapy bath is available and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Canyon Ranch is something that Cunard is famous for and it’s easy to see why.
The Queen's Grill Restaurant
There are fifteen restaurants and bars on board. Your cabin category will determine which restaurants you are able to use. As with the majority of cruise holidays, meals are included in your fare however you can pay a surcharge to enjoy particular restaurants.
Queen's Grill Suite
The accommodation on board is just as special as the rest of the ship. You can treat yourself to a Queen’s Grill Suite which includes a queen-size bed, lounge suite, bathroom and balcony. Queen’s Grill Suite guests enjoy exclusive access to The Queen’s Grill Restaurant. The Princess Grill Suites are equally beautiful and also have an exclusive restaurant. The majority of suites are in the Britannia range and are both comfortable and stylish.
I would recommend Queen Mary 2 to people who want to experience classic cruise luxury. The dress code on board has relaxed recently making it more appealing to Australian cruisers... but you can still enjoy formal dining occasions so you have the full experience.
Queen Mary 2 does round the world voyages but sector fares are also available (eg. Hong Kong to Sydney).
