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DESTINATION REPORTS

Queen Mary 2
Dick Spencer, CTC, Leisure Travel Manager
April 2004

This past April I had the good fortune and privilege to sail on a two-day inaugural cruise on Cunard Line's new Queen Mary 2. The ship's maiden voyage was actually three months earlier, but this was its first time to sail out of New York City. It was a short inspection cruise for members on the travel industry and the media. Even though we were on board for less than 48 hours, we experienced almost everything that regular passengers would do-from the lifeboat drill to the formal-dress captain's dinner to the elaborate entertainment in the theaters.

It is impossible to describe the ship without quoting a lot of statistics. At 151,400 gross registered tons, the QM2 is by far the largest passenger ship in the world. It has a normal passenger capacity of 2620 but can carry up to 3090 when the upper berths are in use. However, with only one exception, I never had to wait in line or felt that I was in a herd of people. There were many lounges, bars, and other public areas arranged in a way that gave an intimate and comfortable feeling. There were of course, vast rooms such as the two-tiered Britannia Restaurant and the Queens Room ballroom, which were impressive because of their size. The decor of the QM2 is somewhat Art Deco, and there are many photos and artifacts from the ship's namesake which was in service from the late 1930s to the late 1960s.

Even though the QM2 trades heavily on its predecessor's history, there are many things not found on the original ship or even on other ships of today. There is a 20,000-square-foot spa operated by Canyon Ranch and a state-of-the-art wellness center with a gymnasium and weight rooms that share a spectacular view over the bow of the ship. The Royal Court Theatre seats 1,100 people and serves as the ship's main show lounge. The elaborate musical production numbers that I saw there were performed by a nine-piece band and a troupe of 13 singers and dancers. Another large auditorium also contains a planetarium. There are five swimming pools and lots of deck space.

I could go on and on about the superlatives of the ship. It seems to have something for everyone. My only disappointment was the poor layout of the Kings Court, one of the alternative dining venues. This restaurant offers buffet breakfasts and lunches for those passengers not wishing to eat in the main dining rooms. The confusing placement of the serving islands caused long lines at both meals. I am confident that Cunard will find a way to overcome this as they get a little more experience operating the ship. The quality of the food in the dining room was good. I would not call it gourmet but the presentation and the service were excellent.

One of the highlights of my trip was sailing past the skyscrapers of Manhattan and by the Statue of Liberty. My two-day adventure came to an end all too quickly, and I look forward to the opportunity of a longer voyage. In the summers, the QM2 does transAtlantic crossings between New York and Southampton, England. Most of the rest of the year she cruises in the Caribbean and in Europe. Travel Service Everywhere will be happy to help you plan a trip on this truly unique vessel.

Travel Service Everywhere 306 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 USA Tel: 817.333.2000 Fax: 817.333.2001 E-mail: info@tsetravel.com

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