QE2 Dining
Dining on the QE2 was truly special. During her service, the ship boasted five main restaurants. The most exclusive was the Queens Grill, a ‘first class’ single-seating dining room added in the 1972 refit. It featured a wonderful menu, and passengers could even order off-menu.
Located on Quarter Deck were the twin restaurants, Princess Grill and Britannia Grill. From 1994, these became accessible from the Crystal Bar on Upper Deck. While similar to the Queens Grill, they were slightly less exclusive.
Also on Quarter Deck was the Caronia Restaurant, originally named The Columbia Restaurant. This large, single-seating venue spanned the ship’s width and was considered first class with assigned tables.
The fifth restaurant, the Mauretania, was situated on Upper Deck. Initially called the Britannia Restaurant, it offered double seating. Though considered the least formal of the five, it still provided a spectacular dining experience.
Remarkably, the menu on QE2 changed daily throughout her 39 1/2-year career, reportedly never repeating. While the food quality and selection were considered superior to today’s Cunard fleet, modern ships offer a wider range of vegetarian, vegan, and special order options.
QE2 also offered a full buffet option in The Lido, snacks and takeaway in The Pavilion, and pub fare at the Golden Lion Pub. She also had 24/7 room service at no extra charge.
QE2 Sample Menu
Here is a sample of QE2’s menu from 1995. This was the menu I had on the second night of my very first QE2 cruise, in the Mauretania Restaurant.
QE2 Custom Print
This new range of Custom Print from The Cruise Maps is created in partnership with Cunard and marine illustrator Marc-Antoine Bombail. It is a complete collection of seven scale portraits spans 90 years of Cunard history, from Queen Mary (1936) to Queen Anne (2024).
We’ve known Marc-Antoine for decades and have always admired his wonderful artworks. We are proud to offer a 10% discount code in affiliation with The Cruise Maps.
Simply use the code “ChrisFrameOfficial” at check out. Browse the collection here.
Note: This is an affiliate code, meaning if you buy these prints you get a 10% discount and we get a small commission at no cost to you.
