This review was
written after a cruise I took aboard QE2 in 2002. The vessel was on
her annual World Cruise and I joined her in Sydney and cruised to
Fremantle - Australia. The voyage length was 8 nights and it was a
superb voyage. Queen Elizabeth 2 and Sydney Harbor are like
soul-mates. When QE2 is berthed in Circular Quay, there are three
world icons in one place - QE2 herself, the Sydney Opera House, and
of course, the Harbor Bridge. This is one of the most amazing
places to meet QE2 as she suits her surroundings so very well. I
was fortunate enough to repeat this cruise in 2005 and 2006 - but for the
purposes of this review, we will stick to my 2002 experience.
QE2 is, externally,
the most beautiful ship currently in service. She is magnificent in
design, perfectly proportioned and looks stunning in her traditional
Cunard dress of matt black hull, and white superstructure.
Boarding in Sydney was a painless process. It operates much like an airport - check in, photo id, security, customs and
departure lounge. Once cleared to board you are escorted to your
stateroom by a member of the staff who will carry your hand held
luggage aboard for you - very nice!
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There
are various cabin categories that are linked to where one will
eat dinner aboard QE2. At the top end there is the Queens,
Britannia and Princess Grills, and then Caronia and
Mauretania. The Grill Rooms are constantly rated the best at
sea, and have exclusive menus which allow diners to order
anything they want. They are rarely refused a dish despite how
unique the request may be. Caronia is seen as a step above
Mauretania, with a little more attention to detail (the cabins
are also larger and better appointed - some Caronia cabins
have baths.)
Boat
Deck houses the Queens Grill - and it is quite stunning in its
appearance. Entering through the private lounge, pre dinner
drinks can be had before progressing into the small intimate
restaurant with its palm tree centerpiece and cozy 'club
house' feel. Service is like that expected at the best
restaurants on land - spared no expense - what you ask for you
shall receive. Cunard's best staff serve in this Grill room, in
the traditions
of
the liners of yesteryear. |
Progressing down a
grade, the Princess and Britannia Grill are 'sister' restaurants,
catering for the same cabin category in different surroundings.
Princess Grill is decorated in reds and silvers with statues of
women that were created when the vessel was commissioned. Britannia
on the other hand, is in purples and leather with models of the RMS
Britannia - its namesake. Service here is also of an extremely high
standard - with an "open" menu much like that in the
Queens Grill.
The Caronia
Restaurant was reborn in late 1999 in a very "Old Cunard"
style design which incorporated wood paneling, crafted ceilings and
chandeliers. It truly is, the most visually stunning restaurant
aboard QE2 and when I say that, I mean it is superb. One must dress
up to feel right in this dining room as it is classic Edwardian
style. Service here is superb with a menu that changes every night.
Situated
on Upper Deck forward, the 'Mauretania' Restaurant (indeed named
after the famous 1907 built liner and not the country Mauritania) is
of first class standard in design, layout and comfort. Designed in
the 1994 refit, this room was to house the 'Caronia' Restaurant (one
grade above 'Mauretania'), and indeed from 1994 to 1997 it was
called the 'Caronia Restaurant' and catered for those paying for
Caronia suites aboard QE2. However, due to passenger demand, the 'Caronia'
and 'Mauretania' restaurants reverted to their pre 1994 positions in
late 1997, leaving 'Mauretania' passengers with a truly top class
dining experience.
Inside the
restaurant there are some unique design features. The aluminum "white horses" are the
centerpiece of the room,
illuminated in blue light, they are quite stunning and are designed
to represent the pattern that the ships bow creates as it cuts
through the water. The seats are comfortable and have high backs
allowing for tall people to sit comfortably. There is a mural
of a pond during an autumn sunset on the forward wall, which
compliments the colors in the chairs. Opposite the mural on the aft
wall is a model of the restaurants namesake - Mauretania of 1907.
The
tables are all laid wonderfully, with magnificent precision. Fresh
flowers every day complement the freshly folded napkins. There are
two to three service persons per table depending on the size. Tables
can seat 2, 4, 6 or 8.
Soups, starters,
mains and desserts are what Mauretania offers, with a large
variety of mains, none the same as the night before. The restaurant
manager welcomed patrons every night at the door, which led off the
Crystal Bar. Since Carnival took over ownership of Cunard,
"Sorbet" has disappeared from the menu in 'Mauretania' and
'Caronia' as an item unto its self, and now appears under dessert,
but ask for it between meals (to cleanse your palate) and you shall receive it. Mauretania
has a double sitting, and those partaking in the first sitting
should be aware that the service will be rushed due to the pressure
of clearing the restaurant and resetting it for the second seating -
thus take late seating if you wish for a more relaxed dining experience.
The ship's
accommodations vary widely, from lavish grand suites with two
balconies and over 1000 sq feet of living space, to small, twin
share "bunk bed" cabins on 5 Deck. Historically, Caronia
grade accommodation has been seen as the best value for money;
however Mauretania grade is today, with the increased discounting
evident since Carnival took control of Cunard, good value for
money. M1 and M2 cabins have a porthole and M3, 4 and 5 are inside.
Avoid M5 at all costs, although they do have a private bathroom, the
cabin its self is small, Spartan and uncomfortable, with
"bunk" beds. All other Mauretania grade cabins are
comfortable, with twin beds & a shower good sized bathroom. All
staterooms have 24 hour room service.
On the high end of
the spectrum, Queens, Princess and Britannia Grill accommodation is
stunning, some of the best at sea. They are typical "old
ship" cabins with large portholes, full length baths in marble
bathrooms and have comfortable chairs, couches and thick carpeting.
There are 32 balcony suites aboard housed on Signal and Sun deck and
these are also among the highest rated at sea, some with private
butler service. Lavishly decorated with wood panels, marble sinks
and gold taps, some even have gold leaf on the ceilings, these
cabins are like that found on the great liners of the past.
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All
passengers enjoy the whole of QE2 (with the exception of the
Grill Lounge). QE2 is a big ship, and there is a lot to do
aboard her. The Crystal Bar on Upper Deck is a superb location
and the best bar on the ship. The service here is superb and
the atmosphere is cozy despite the bar's large size. The
design arches back to that of the original Queen Elizabeth of
the 1940's. The bar offers before dinner cocktails and serves
drinks all through the day and is a great meeting place. While
on the topic of bars, on the starboard side of Upper Deck,
opposite the casino is the wonderful Golden Lion Pub, which is
decorated, in dark woods and leather chairs, with a dance
floor and live music. Plasma screens allow you to be in
constant contact with your favorite sport, and beer is
available "on tap". One deck down on Quarter
Deck is the QE2's Chart Room Bar. This is a beautifully
decorated bar with a map of the North Atlantic Route as its centerpiece. The bar is intimate and has a grand piano that
once was used aboard the original Queen Mary of 1936.
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Above: Chart Room |
The Grand Lounge is
the showroom aboard QE2, with its red decor and large stage it is
also a multi-purpose auditorium which is used for Bingo, shore tour
lectures and the passenger talent show. Its best use is at night
when it houses the evening show which can vary from world class
productions to local comedy acts. Just aft of the Grand Lounge is
yet another bar - the ships nightclub. Named "Yacht Club"
due to its Americas Cup theme, this bar is fantastic to look at, and
pleasant to drink in. It has an informal atmosphere with a view aft
and large windows looking over the side of the vessel in a raised
"hide away" area. The service here is very good and the
live band and DJ play every night until the last passenger leaves
the dance floor.
QE2's large Quarter
Deck library, with over 6,000 volumes, allows you to borrow books,
and videos to play in your cabin (those few
with VCRs). The Ocean Bookshop is great, with a large number of
bestseller ocean liner related books, such as "QE2" by
Commodore R Warwick. After buying some books, why not visit the
Cinema - although not as impressive as that on QM2 (although one
shouldn't compare the two), the Theatre on QE2 is good for movies and
also acts as a lecture hall for the Cunard ConneXions programme. I
always have thought that the Theatre should house the evening show,
as its design, layout and sight lines are far superior to that of
the Grand Lounge.
The Queens Room is
the ships ball room and is a unique blend of 1960's futuristic
design, and 19th century style. In 1999 the hallmark QE2
"trumpet" columns and bee-hive ceiling in this room were
merged with wood paneling, luxurious blue and crème chairs and
subtle lighting to create a room that looks very elegant. This is
the setting for the fantastic Cunard tradition of Afternoon Tea, and
also the Captain's Cocktail Party. On this particular cruise this
room was the setting for the Valentines Day Ball - which was
beautiful as it took place on the night we departed Sydney. The room
was decorated in a love theme with large heart arches created out of
pink balloons. Then, once the ball was over the well dressed
passengers came on deck for a midnight departure out of the amazing
Sydney harbor... what a treat!
For an informal
choice, the Lido is QE2's casual eatery. It works well as there are
two entrances and two buffet lines, thus there is no congestion.
Situated at the back of Quarter Deck, the Lido is the place to go
for waffles, bacon and eggs, or oat meal. There is a wide range of
fruits and domestic cereals. There are attendants who will
assist the elderly to tables and drinks are provided upon request.
Just below the Lido on One Deck is the Pavilion Cafe, which serves
burgers, pizza, and soft drinks as well as a self-serve ice cream parlor
and over looks the QE2 Pool.
One deck offers
contrast of lifestyles with the Beauty Salon and Chocolate shop.
Talking of shops, on Boat Deck you can find designer label clothes,
and gift items as well as a chemist and Harrods in the International
Shopping Promenade. Sadly, the layout of the shops is not great as
they overlook the Grand Lounge and become very busy when a special
is released. QE2 could really do with a modern show lounge but this
would require removing the shops - which are money makers, so it
looks as if the current design of the Grand Lounge will stay as well
as the poor design of the shops.
If all that shopping
has worn you out, down on Six Deck is the amazing Cunard Royal Spa,
run by Steiner's of London. The Gym on QE2 is pitiful and does not
compare to that seen on any modern ship. I used the gym once and
found the equipment to be antiquated, too close together and as a
result did not return. I do however like the ship's indoor pool as
it gives a heated option that can be used regardless of the weather
outside.
During the day, there
are many different activities. These include Heritage Trail Tours,
where a guide takes you through the ship and points out all the
historic artifacts that QE2 holds. QE2 is full of models of older
Cunard ships, as well as historical artifacts. In the Queens Room,
ballroom dancing lessons are held on the dance floor, and gentlemen
hosts are at hand for any ladies wanting a dance partner.
Some
enjoy watching the dancing, while other people like to just find a
quiet spot in the ship and read, or sit on the deck and relax as the
sea goes by.
The outdoor sports
centre is small, but does the job. It has a paddle tennis court that
is put to good use, and a basketball hoop, although no real game of
basketball could ever be played here as there is not enough space.
There is also golf driving, putt-putt and the more traditional games
of shuffleboard and quoits.
By night QE2 comes
alive with shows in the Grand Lounge, disco in the Yacht Club,
dancing or karaoke in the Golden Lion Pub, a midnight buffet in the
Lido (as if there was not enough eating during the day), and much,
much more. If you were bored aboard QE2, then you are very hard to
please indeed!
I absolutely love
QE2 - she is a 5+ star experience. She has a few little quirks that
come with age, but they make her so very special. She is a large
ship, yet provides an intimate experience. She is not a ship for
those wanting a sporty youth filled voyage, but rather for those
wanting a relaxing, high class experience in regal yet comfortable
surroundings. New passengers please remember that unlike many of the
new breed cruise ship where everything is over sized and glitzy, QE2
is elegant in an English country house kind-of-way. Smaller rooms
give a cozy and comfortable feel while disguising the vessels immense
size and allowing you to forget that there are 1,700 other
passengers aboard.
I feel very comfortable and 'at home' on Queen
Elizabeth 2 and can't wait to be back aboard her soon. Long may she
reign!
Note:
** This review is the opinion only of
the reviewer and is not a guarantee that the service or experience
aboard this vessel will be exactly that which is reported in this
review. Every cruise differs from the one before it. Images on this
website may be subject to copyright – do not reproduce images or
text from Chris’ Cunard Page.
