I woke up this morning to the most spectacular sunrise I’ve ever seen. I would have loved to have shared it with you, but it was something like 4 in the morning and I could only stare at it through the curtains. My camera was likely somewhere, but I wasn’t all that keen on dealing with anything electronic at that hour. I just wanted to look at it.
Being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is an experience like no other. I suppose it’s similar to being in outer space where there’s nothing near you at all except the vessel you’re traveling in and the natural world around you. It’s eerie and exhilarating when you think about it and traveling with an existentialist means that there’s plenty of discussions about the meaning of it all. (I guess that’s the price you pay for traveling with a pensive Frenchman.)
Also the Queen Mary 2 comes with plenty of history, and around the ship the walls are lined vintage photos and paintings that tell the story of various other vessels that once made their way through the oceans. Unlike other trips, and ships, this one has more of a purpose; most riders are taking it for the sheer experience of riding across the Atlantic. There’s not a lot of people partying it up or parents trying to calm overexcited children. And I have nothing against people partying, or kids. It’s just that everything has its place and the tone of the ship is somewhat sedate.
Some of that has to do with the ship having a dress code for various events, which might be responsible for keeping everyone on their best behavior. And some of it likely has something to do with the journey; it’s not everyone that wants to make a week-long trip across the Atlantic and I can imagine in the winter, it can get a little rocky on the open seas. But right now it’s mid-July, the weather is quite nippy, and for a little nap on the deck, the ship provides plaid woolen blankets to snuggle under.
Quite a few things on board are decidedly British, from the baked beans available for breakfast to queuing up for signing up for fitness classes.
I’m not British, but I’m finding a lot of their customs rather quaint and fun to participate in. I had an excellent gin martini at the bar last night. Interestingly, co*cktail prices are surprisingly gentle – maybe I’ve been living in Paris too long, but my drink was only around $7. (At the Ritz in Paris, a martini hovers at around €25.) But as I get older, I realize there’s only so many co*cktails I can have in one sitting. And malheursem*nt, one or two seems to be my limit, a big switch from those days when four or five didn’t affect me all that much.
I’m not normally a big tea drinker in the afternoon but I do like the idea of eating any time food is offered, and since it would’ve looked funny sitting there gorging on finger sandwiches and dainty desserts, tea is was. So the white-gloved waiter poured us Rooibos, a South African “tea” that’s I always say I’m going to buy some when I get home – because I like it so much – but I never seem to get around to doing so.
I had to explain, in French, what an “egg salad sandwich” was (and sticky toffee pudding), and when presented with crust-less little rectangles of bread filled with egg salad or cucumbers (I insisted he try the egg salad), he asked why they serve Venetian sandwiches with British tea. I didn’t quite know what to say, or who started the crustless finger sandwich first, but I’m not on vacation to be consulting dictionaries or encyclopedias. (Who wants to do that in the middle of the ocean?)
So back out we went, to walk around the deck, dodging joggers and people out for a stroll, to gaze at the ocean, which has been gently rocking us to sleep at night. It’s a lot milder than I expected and a few seasoned travelers told me that the Queen Mary 2 is the steadiest ship they’re taken. I’ve only been on a few boat trips but the other boat’s stabilizers vibrated like the magic fingers and when I got off, it took a few days to calm down. This ocean liner moves slightly, not enough to really be perceptible, but every once in a while, there’s a gentle drift to one side, and then we’re back on an even keel.
But all is pretty calm in the middle of nowhere, somewhere far off the coast of Britain, with not a single other ship in sight. Just the churning ocean.
(Note: This voyage was provided by the Cunard cruise lines, who hosted the trip.)
FAQs
On 22 December 2003, Queen Mary 2 left Saint-Nazaire and arrived in Southampton, England, on 26 December 2003. On 8 January 2004, the liner was officially named by Queen Elizabeth II. In June 2016, Queen Mary 2 underwent a $132 million/£90 million renovation at Blohm+Voss over 25 days.
How much does it cost to go on Queen Mary 2? ›
Cruises on Cunard Queen Mary 2 (QM2) start from $249 per person.
Is the Queen Mary 2 the largest cruise ship? ›
Queen Mary 2 is the seventh largest cruise ship in the world. The ship is managed by the Cunard Cruise Line.
Is Queen Mary 2 luxurious? ›
Queen Mary 2 is a remarkable flagship, and her style and elegance are legendary. Above all, it's the space she offers and the luxury for you to do as little or as much as you wish which set her apart.
Why is Queen Mary 2 so famous? ›
Entering service in 2004, the 2,691-guest QM2 is no mere cruise ship. Instead, she is the world's only ocean liner – the last example of that great breed built to sail with speed and comfort across thousands of miles of open ocean. With no direct rival, she is known and loved around the world.
What month is best for a transatlantic cruise? ›
While the weather on a Transatlantic Crossing can always be mixed, many prefer the months of April and May to sail. This is after the cold winter months, and before the start of the stormy seasons.
Do you have to pay gratuities on Queen Mary 2? ›
Passengers are free to tip cabin and restaurant stewards. Gratuities are welcome, but are not expected. If you still want to reward the entire hotel team on board with a tip, you will find a form in the cabin which can be handed in at Purser's Office on request.
Are drinks included on Queen Mary 2? ›
What drinks are included in my cruise fare? Tea, coffee, water and fruit juice are available all day at the Lido Restaurants on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, and Kings Court on board Queen Mary 2. Water during meals and coffee after meals are complimentary.
Is Cunard a luxury cruise line? ›
Keeping with its legacy as a traditional, old-world ocean liner, U.K.-based Cunard Line is one of the only luxury cruise lines to offer secluded dining areas for select passengers, meaning guests staying in standard staterooms dine in a different restaurant than passengers staying in suites.
How much does cruise ship captains make? ›
Cruise Captain Salary
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|
| Top Earners | $137,500 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $41 |
| Average | $77,625 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $17 |
Dubbed the "Grey Ghost" because of her stealth and stark color, the Queen Mary was the largest and fastest troopship to sail, capable of transporting as many as 16,000 troops at 30 knots. After the end of WWII, the Queen Mary began a 10-month retrofitting process, which would return the ship to her original glory.
Why is the Queen Mary ship closing? ›
Years of mounting financial woes, a pandemic shutdown and the need for an overhaul made for an uncertain future for the Queen Mary. Financial audits showed the ship was running a deficit, and at least one report warned that it was at risk of sinking if it didn't get that crucial repair work.
How much does it cost to stay in Room B340 on the Queen Mary? ›
Stateroom B340, which has reported paranormal activity for years, can be rented out starting at $499 a night beginning Friday, April 13. "The last time the room was occupied by a guest was in the 1980s," said Stephen Sowards, General Manager of the Queen Mary, in a statement.
Which is bigger the Titanic or the Queen Mary? ›
Queen Mary is only about 20% larger than Titanic. She is 1,019 feet long, weighs 81,000 tons, and has a beam of 118 feet. If you're looking for 2 times larger, look at the Seawise Giant. 1,504 feet long, 225 feet wide, and over 200,000 GRT.
Has the Queen Mary been renovated? ›
Since 2021, city officials said they'd completed at least 25 major projects on the ship. Most of the $45 million that has been spent on the work, city officials said, has come from revenue from the Queen Mary or related subleases.
Is QM2 having a refit? ›
The next maintenance for QM2 is presumably between October 22 and November 16, 2023. She finishes a crossing from New York to Hamburg on October 22, 2023 and resumes service with a cruise from Southampton on November 16, 2023.
When was the last time the Queen Mary was used? ›
The Last Great Cruise
By 1965 the entire Cunard fleet was operating at a loss and they decided to retire and sell the legendary Queen Mary. On October 31, 1967, the Queen Mary departed on her final cruise, arriving in Long Beach, California, on December 9, 1967. She has called Southern California her home ever since.
What happened to Queen Mary II? ›
She never settled down happily to life in England, however, and continued to be deeply troubled by her estrangement from her deposed father. Mary died of smallpox at the age of 32.
