A Right Royal Look at Queen Mary 2

Top cruise blogger Danielle Fear, aka Cruise Miss, offers her views of her tour around the Cunard flagship.

First impressions of Queen Mary 2 are numbing. I had been eager to visit this ship for quite a long time so to finally be on board in Greenock was a little surreal.

We embarked on Deck 3 and were instantly drawn to the Casino. It reminded me of something you would find in a ‘Wild West’ movie, it had that kind of feel about it but with more class. From here, we made our way towards the Britannia Restaurant, which is where we would meet for lunch later in the day. More importantly, right outside was the elevator cluster and our gateway to the rest of the ship! 

 

I always prefer to start at the top and work my way down and we arrived mid-ships to a vast open space that was host to several tables and chairs for the small beverage section on the port side and then a fair few sun loungers for catching rays on the starboard side. It was a huge space, one I expect would be very lively on a hot summer’s day. 

 

From here we made our way down her starboard side and came across the sign, ‘Danger These Animals May Bite’. We had reached the doggy deck! Sadly, the kennels were off limits but we wandered along until we reached the end and were ultimately greeted by a stunning view - this is what I had been waiting to see.

The aft section of Queen Mary 2 (left) is nothing short of breathtaking and I could envision myself spending many perfect sea days here, with tier after tier of inviting sun loungers, hot tubs and pools. Pictures certainly do not do it justice. We had a quick peek in the Princess Grill then made our way through The King’s Court buffet style dining option and side-stepped into the Chef’s Galley, which is home to a small burger café.

We next entered the Winter Garden, which would certainly be my favourite inside space in which to sit and relax. It was bright, full of character and the waterfall that covered one entire wall set the tone perfectly. Our look around the Canyon Ranch Spa was quite brief as there were quite a few people using the various facilities. However, what we did see was impressive and the gym seemed to go on forever!

As we made our way to our next stop, the Planetarium, we were met by the famous ‘Stars On Board’ wall of fame. I didn’t have time to read every one but it was heart-warming to see all the familiar faces that have graced a Cunard ship over the years. including Walt Disney, Ella Fitzgerald and the Kennedys.

Once 12.25 arrived it was time to head back to the Britannia restaurant for a three-course lunch. The service was wonderful and the food delicious. After lunch it was time for a quick cabin tour before disembarkation. We had the pleasure of viewing a Queens Grill Cabin, which was very nice indeed, smaller than I expected but very well decorated. The bathroom was a good size, as was the walk-in wardrobe and kitchenette area. We also viewed a balcony cabin and an inside cabin. The same decoration ran throughout all of them, and they were a good cut above many other cabins  I have seen in my time.

Overall, Queen Mary 2 may well be the ultimate vessel. She has more space on board, both inside and out, than any other ship I have been on; her interior design is an art deco enthusiast’s paradise; and I really did feel like I had stepped back in time the moment I went aboard. She has soul and character and is entirely her own vessel, a trait I think many of today’s ships struggle to achieve, regardless of how unique their features may be.

She is dated to a specific period in time in many ways but her touches of modern life and glamour bring everything together perfectly. 

 
Look for more pictures on the Cruise Miss Facebook page on this link.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.