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• Christmas celebration and more!

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  Christmas celebration and more! We set sail on a snowy day in Southampton, after waiting 30 minutes we boarded to find our cases already outside our stateroom..result!

  This was our 3rd trip on the Queen Victoria and so after unpacking we went to the Lido for a spot of lunch and then later watched as a brass band played as we sailed away with Mr & Mrs Christmas on the quay waving us off.

  Our first port of call was La Coruna where unfortunately it was raining. That night there was a strong gale which made walking in heels a bit of a challenge but Queen Victoria handled the seas well.

  Next it was Lisbon, one of our favorite places and again it didnt disappoint, a wonderful town with lots to see and do with some of the friendliest people you could wish…

  Christmas celebration and more! We set sail on a snowy day in Southampton, after waiting 30 minutes we boarded to find our cases already outside our stateroom..result!

  This was our 3rd trip on the Queen Victoria and so after unpacking we went to the Lido for a spot of lunch and then later watched as a brass band played as we sailed away with Mr & Mrs Christmas on the quay waving us off.

  Our first port of call was La Coruna where unfortunately it was raining. That night there was a strong gale which made walking in heels a bit of a challenge but Queen Victoria handled the seas well.

  Next it was Lisbon, one of our favorite places and again it didnt disappoint, a wonderful town with lots to see and do with some of the friendliest people you could wish to meet.

  Gibraltar next, 24th December and warm enough to sit in a swimsuit on the balcony!

  Christmas day on board was a delight, good food, entertainment and a little gift from Cunard, very nice.

  On the 26th December we were in Lanzarote, while here we went on a trip to Fire Mountain, a trip not to be missed and the landscape is awesome!

  Our next stop was Gran Canaria followed by La Palma, where it was 74 degrees, and then on to Madeira. We stopped overnight at Madeira and were moored out in the bay when the fireworks went off at midnight New Years eve. It was a fantastic display and from our balcony we had a spectacular view.

  As always the service on Cunard couldnt be faulted, the only disappointment were the shows which were a repeat, except for the comedians, of the entertainment we saw in August and July the year before! Come on Cunard, if you want us to keep returning then update the shows. Read the Canary Islands ports review by Susan SkeltonChristmas celebration and more!5

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• QM2 Holiday Cruise - Dec/Jan 2010

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  QM2 Holiday Cruise - Dec/Jan 2010 Holiday Cruise R/T NYC to NYC on the Queen Mary 2. December 19, 2010 to Jan 3rd, 2011

  We arrived at the pier around 12:15. Our party is 5 people: My 97-year old father-in-law in a scooter, 2 adults, and kids 6 and 8 years old. We pulled up and immediately gave the longshoreman a $35 tip. We had a ton of stuff (including the heavy scooter) to unpack and we wanted to assure that our stuff all made in onto the boat. He got us into the building and into the handicap line (where there was basically no line at all.) There are benefits to traveling with the elderly!

  The staff at the counter were efficient. We had pre-registered, so they really just needed to see our passports, take our photos, swipe our credit card and…

  QM2 Holiday Cruise - Dec/Jan 2010 Holiday Cruise R/T NYC to NYC on the Queen Mary 2. December 19, 2010 to Jan 3rd, 2011

  We arrived at the pier around 12:15. Our party is 5 people: My 97-year old father-in-law in a scooter, 2 adults, and kids 6 and 8 years old. We pulled up and immediately gave the longshoreman a $35 tip. We had a ton of stuff (including the heavy scooter) to unpack and we wanted to assure that our stuff all made in onto the boat. He got us into the building and into the handicap line (where there was basically no line at all.) There are benefits to traveling with the elderly!

  The staff at the counter were efficient. We had pre-registered, so they really just needed to see our passports, take our photos, swipe our credit card and we were ready to go. Total time to check in, less than 10 minutes. We headed right onto the boat with no annoying waiting in a lounge to be called

  As we walked onto the ship there was a bit of a crowd, confused about where to go. They only had one person "directing traffic", so she was definitely overwhelmed. She told us to use another elevator down the ship, which was fine. We went right to our cabins to check them out, which was nice that the cabins were already available. We then went to the Kings Court (aka the Lido deck) for lunch. It was busy already, but we got a table for the scooter and then brought back food for all of us.

  If you need a walker or scooter, be sure to get a handicap-accessible cabin. We booked late on a great deal, so we couldnt get a handicap room. My father-in-laws walker JUST barely fit into the cabin door. We had to rearrange his room so that he could use the walker to move around the bed and get to the balcony and the bathroom. It worked, but it was sub-optimal. He had a handicap room on the last HAL cruise that was much easier for him to maneuver in. We parked the scooter in the "Atlantic room" (the little-used room for card games) down the hall. Others parked theirs in the elevator vestibules, as we have done in the past. The scooter was able to access just about every other location on the ship, although one pool deck is only handicap-accessible by passing through the Todd English restaurant. There were probably about 20 people on the ship with scooters.

  We loved being on deck 11, near the front of the ship. We had easy access to the B staircase that takes you to and from the show each night. We also were near the self-service laundry and the large Observation deck on the front of the ship as well as being directly down 1 flight from the pool on deck 12. The only downside is that we had to travel the length of the ship to get to the dining room. Beware of deck 6 on the port side. It leads to the Kid Zone and the outdoor pool. Those cabins have noisy crowds walking past their doors throughout the day.

  The Food: We ate most meals in the Britannia restaurant (the dining room.) My wife and I agreed that the QM2 food and service was nearly exactly on par with that we have experienced on our last three Holland America cruises. Very good quality. Very attentive service. HAL always has a few stock items that are always available (chicken, a steak etc.) While QM2 lacked that, you could order non-menu items (we had Caesar salads often) and if they COULD get what you wanted, they always would. (If you wanted something that they have at the Kings Court, theyll get it for you if you ask.) Our waiter learned that we like a basket of bread and a cheese plate every night, and it was always there waiting for us.

  Each menu typically included a red meat (beef or lamb usually), a seafood item (mahi-mahi was great), a veggie item, sometimes chicken, but not always and then one more (maybe pasta etc.) There is a different soup for every meal and just about all of them were excellent. As elsewhere, if you want to remove parts of a dish that you dont like, you can. You can also mix-and match items from one dish to another and french fries are always available.

  Desserts were just OK. The baked goods are all beautiful, but they are suited more to the European palate, I believe. A couple of soufflé desserts and creme brulee were outstanding.

  We found that the time it took to serve each meal on QM2 was a bit faster than on HAL. I would say that a typical dinner lasted a bit over an hour, while on HAL it would have been closer to an hour and half. The wait after you order and between courses was shorter, which I thought was great. We CERTAINLY were never rushed out, but neither did we sit wondering when the meal would end, which sometimes happens on HAL.

  The Ship: Public rooms were nicely decorated for the Holidays. Every restaurant and bar had its own unique Christmas tree. And many of them were just gorgeous. Many passengers got in the spirit too, by decorating their door or "mailbox" with small wreaths or stick-on Santas or bows or stockings. One person wrapped their entire door in Christmas paper, like a giant present. It was fun to see all the original ways that people added a bit of decoration to their rooms.

  Most days we participated in the afternoon trivia contest in the pub. We met many very nice (and smart) folks by joining new trivia teams each day.

  Entertainment: The shows were similar in quality to those on HAL. I was impressed that they almost never used prerecorded vocal tracks or canned music (just one show, "Love Crazy", featured lip-synching.) The orchestra was very good. I find that all ships choose odd acts at times. We had a show starring a harp soloist and another with a violinist. Both were very talented, but how long can you sit and be entertained by a woman playing the harp? New Years Eve featured Des OConnor who apparently is famous in England. He was like a UK Merv Griffin (he sang a bit and told stories about his famous show-biz friends) which might have been entertaining if we knew who the heck he was.

  For Christmas Eve they had three sessions of group sing-alongs of well known Christmas carols in the Grand Lobby. I was very moved by the emotion of singing along with hundreds of other folks who chose to come and join in the festivities. I was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, but that night turned out to be one of the highlights for me. New Years Eve featured events in several areas of the ship. A big ball in the Queens room (dancing etc), the calypso/rock band in the Grand Lobby and disco in the disco. They all had a balloon drop and complementary champagne at Midnight. A fun night.

  The Pools: There are basically three. One family pool (The Minnows), one 18-and-over pool and the indoor pool (with retractable roof) for adults and kids alike. As we had many days of unpredictable weather, the roof of the indoor pool was only open one or two days. We found that the pools were not well maintained; that is, they were dirty. When we got on, there were piles of some black stuff piled on each corner of the Minnow pool. Id estimate that there was 1 to 2 cups of that black stuff in each corner, so Im not talking about just a little speck of dirt. We called the purser at least 4 times about that, as well as telling people near the pool. Nothing was ever done. On the day we left the ship, I walked by the indoor pool before we disembarked and noted that there were piles of sand in each corner of that pool too. That said, we did use the pools just about every day and I must say that the water didnt look murky. Still, its a weakness.

  The People: There were around 200 "kids" under 18 on the ship, ranging from babies to teenagers. The teens tended to move around in a pack of 10 to 20 of them, occasionally taking over one of the pools and jacuzzi. They seemed like basically good kids, although they can be a little loud when they all get together. The average age of the rest of the guests was probably in the late 60s to early 70s. While we bonded with LOTS of people on the ship and had many wonderful conversations, there was an undercurrent of rudeness and unpleasantness among plenty of the guests, particularly the older ones. We saw people being short (and downright rude) to the staff. Nothing seemed to please them and they just seemed like they had come off a crowded subway car and everyone better watch out! It was not the ship that caused these people to be in such a foul mood. Its Christmas for goodness sake. Lighten up and enjoy yourself.

  Our Cabin: We had an inside cabin and my father-in-law had a balcony down the hall. We were on the 11th deck, near the front, so we made a habit of taking a quick walk out onto the Observation deck (also on 11) each morning to see where we were and what the weather was like. They also have a channel on TV that shows a view of the front of the ship, but its not the same as being outside to really see whats up. The bathroom was typical, although perhaps a tad smaller than our last couple of HAL bathrooms. Our cabin steward was efficient and helpful. He knew when we left for meals and I think only once was still cleaning the room when we came back. Special requests, like a cork screw or extra tissues were handled quickly and with a smile. The room was in very good condition. The TVs have been upgraded to flatscreens. Our rug had not been replaced, as I read that some others have been. It was OK, but ready to be changed.

  I suppose Im behind the times, as people now routinely travel with their entire music collection in their shirt pocket, but I missed having music available in my cabin. They do not have CD or DVD players and there are no "music" channels on TV, aside from the Musak on the webcam channel. If I came back to the cabin by myself, it was strangely quiet. On TV they have a menu of movies that runs each day. They seem behind the times in that you cannot call up a movie "on demand". As such, we saw parts of many movies, but never saw one all the way through. Im not going to plan my day around watching some old movie.

  Smoking: We were pleased that smoking is now restricted to only a few spots on the ship. The pub, which was very smoky 4 years ago, is now free of any smell. People can smoke in their cabins and so we sometimes smelled strong smoke in the halls, but that was the exception, not the rule. The only inside location that reeked of stale smoke was the disco.

  The Ports:

  St Thomas - Weve been to Meghans Bay and its really just OK. We tried Sapphire Beach this time. About the same distance from the boat 20-40 mins based on traffic. The beach was great: Very clean and beautiful. Good surf but not rough. Shared taxis from the pier were $11 per person, but since we filled the van we were charged $10 and the kids were free. On the way back, there was no discount and I paid $11 each for adults and kids. Chairs at the beach were for rent at $7 and there was a stand selling drinks and snacks. There is a bathroom and a diving rental store. No real restaurants. Less "locals" hanging around smoking than at Meghans. Were not shoppers, so while St Thomas looked to be a good place for shopping, I cant really say. US cell phones work here with no roaming fees.

  St Martin: Went to Dawn beach. Its closer than the famous Orient beach and much quieter. Chairs and umbrellas for rent ($15 for 2 chairs and an umbrella) and a nice (Id even say pricey) restaurant/bar on the beach. (You can use their toilets.) This was the nicest beach on our trip until we got to Barbados. Great waves, perfect smooth sand and friendly people. Definitely worth a visit.

  St Lucia: You have to tender-in here. It rained terribly all day, so since we couldnt go to the beach (I had heard fantastic things about Pigeon Island) we just stayed on board.

  Curacao: Weve vacationed here before, so we know the island quite well. It was a short visit (out at 2:00) and it was Boxing Day so many of the shops were closed. (In the end Id say that 2/3 of the stores were open by Noon.) The shopping area is quaint and not as full of Little Switzerland-type stores as other ports. Plenty of t-shirt shops. Always worth a walk into, even if just to cross the floating bridge. If you come here, the nicest beach is Porto Marie.

  Barbados: We read on CC that Crane beach was great for body-surfing. Since the kids love that, we went there. We were quoted a price of $20 per person R/T, which for the 4 of us seemed steep at $80. We pleaded for a "even for the kids?" discount and agreed on $60 R/T. We arrived at the end of a street and the driver showed us how to get to the beach, by walking across concrete stepping stones that crossed an outcropping of sharp coral, down to the beach. Oh and what a beach! Incredibly soft sand, nice boogie-boarding waves and just about the most serene place you could ask for. Chairs, umbrellas and boogie-boards are available for rent. We watching daring youth jump from the cliffs into the turquoise sea and then went and jumped in too! Wow, what a day! There is a shack selling drinks. At the far end of the beach is a small outside shower. You can enter the beach through The Crane Resort and they have facilities. Im told that they charge you for entering that way and to use the facilities. We didnt, so Im not sure about the cost. Note that even though this beach was PARADISE, there was no place to change or go to the bathroom. Id suggest arriving in your bathing suit, as we (and many others) used the trees just off the beach as our public changing area.

  Dominica: Not much of a beachy island and very limited shopping. We almost went back to the ship, but were talked into a tour by one of the local vultures who will descend on you as you cross the street from the dock. They all pretty much do the same tour, which is to see the sulfur pools and Trafalger Falls. The tour was about 1.5 hours and we were charged $20 for adults and $10 for the kids (fair enough.) The driver stopped along the way to show us flora and fauna and then on to view the bubbling hot pools. (You can also pay extra to visit one of the mineral spas for a soak, but thats not our thing.) From there you go to Trafalgar Falls (admission $5 per person.) You walk about 5 minutes on an easy climb trail to an observation point where you can see the falls. Very impressive. For the more daring folks (that was me and the kids, but not my wife) you can continue down an even rougher trail that takes you to large boulders at the base of twin falls. If you climb over them (its fairly challenging) you can "swim" in the small pools just down from the falls. Many folks came prepared for this with their swimsuits under their clothes. My son just fell in with his clothes on instead. A very cool place! After leaving the falls, the tour then visited the Botanical Gardens (the crushed school bus from a hurricane in 1979 was a highlight) and then on to a viewing spot high above the city where you can see the ship and all that surrounds it.

  There is an inexpensive Internet café/phoning place right behind the bank as you exit the pier.

  Greneda: Very friendly people here. I forgot to bring cash and as the tender was arriving we contemplated just staying on and heading back. My wife had $25 and we were able to plead with the taxi guy to take us to Grand Anse beach R/T for that $25. This left us with nothing to pay the $1 fee to use the bathroom, but even the folks there were very kind and let us change and use the toilet. The beach is quite close and has all the facilities. Guys selling watersports are walking around. It was a shame that we had only a short time there, as it was a very comfortable beach.

  We wanted to go visit the spice plantations and processing plants, but apparently those tours take a long time and you need to be off the ship pronto in order to have time to do them. We took our time and it was too late to go. Our loss I think.

  St Kitts: Kind of rainy, so we just walked around. Too bad as I was excited about beaches I had read about. Lots of shopping but the prices were high. T-shirts mostly $15 and up. No bargains here. Liquor prices similar to New Hampshire.

  Tortola: A short day in port. Very long (30-45 minute) tender ride in. There is shopping about an 8 minute walk from the pier but we went to Cane Bay beach. There were 3 ships in port and the beach was very crowded. Its about 20 minutes from the pier by taxi ($8/person each way) over treacherous hills. Quite a ride. We actually got a different taxi back (there are tons available) because the shifter handle on the first taxi was falling off and we feared for our lives. The beach is nice with many beach bars and the usual chairs for rent. Not a quiet spot, but fine for our last day on a beach for 6 months.

  Tortolas currency is US dollars. There is a bank near the pier that had a big line at their ATM as Americans restocked their cash supply. We had just gotten a cash advance on the ship, or we would have been in line too.

  Summary: We did have a great time on the ship. 15 days go by very fast. We would definitely consider taking this cruise again in the future.QM2 Holiday Cruise - Dec/Jan 20105

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• Queen Victoria - will we travel on her again? - You bet!!

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  Queen Victoria - will we travel on her again? - You bet!! Our cruise on Queen Victoria was one sector of the ships 2010 World Cruise, ie San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand.

  We have just booked another cruise (Venice to Fort Lauderdale) for later this year and on looking at the reviews on this forum have been absolutely staggered at the degree of negative responses to Cunard and its ships.

  It almost seems that some travellers simply set out to be as negative as possible.

  Obviously there are going to be the occasional problems with any airline, hotel or cruise operation .. especially when you are dealing with 2000 passengers and 1000 crew ... but our experience was that when these were brought to the attention of the proper person they were promptly fixed.

  We cannot speak…

  Queen Victoria - will we travel on her again? - You bet!! Our cruise on Queen Victoria was one sector of the ships 2010 World Cruise, ie San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand.

  We have just booked another cruise (Venice to Fort Lauderdale) for later this year and on looking at the reviews on this forum have been absolutely staggered at the degree of negative responses to Cunard and its ships.

  It almost seems that some travellers simply set out to be as negative as possible.

  Obviously there are going to be the occasional problems with any airline, hotel or cruise operation .. especially when you are dealing with 2000 passengers and 1000 crew ... but our experience was that when these were brought to the attention of the proper person they were promptly fixed.

  We cannot speak highly enough of the officers and crew on QV - and on the ship itself that provided all the service and comfort that was expected.

  We look forward to our next Cunard adventure and suggest to some of the critics on this forum that they should take a deep breath and enjoy themselves. Isnt that what cruising is all about?

  Disclaimer: We are not associated with Cunard or any other travel organisation and have submitted this review as personal feedback. Read the Australia & New Zealand ports review by James CoultonQueen Victoria - will we travel on her again? - You bet!!5James Coulton

  Review By James Coulton

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• British elegance and quality

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  British elegance and quality It was slightly less than what we expected.

  The food was unsurprising,not imaginative or original.

  We understand they cater to varied tastes.

  What we disliked most were the pastries.

  Great wine list but rather expensive.

  Starting dinner at 8,30 pm followed by a show at 10,30 pm means a very late bed-time.Because of this we missed many shows. We liked the magician and the dancers.

  Dressing up each evening is a hassle. Dinner is a fussy affair on this ship.

  You have the option of the self service though.

  Cabin adequate with comfortable balcony.

  Staff most friendly and polite at all times.

  One great plus : the LIBRARY ! The weather during most of this cruise was frisky and cloudy. So we spent a lot of time there.

  …

  British elegance and quality It was slightly less than what we expected.

  The food was unsurprising,not imaginative or original.

  We understand they cater to varied tastes.

  What we disliked most were the pastries.

  Great wine list but rather expensive.

  Starting dinner at 8,30 pm followed by a show at 10,30 pm means a very late bed-time.Because of this we missed many shows. We liked the magician and the dancers.

  Dressing up each evening is a hassle. Dinner is a fussy affair on this ship.

  You have the option of the self service though.

  Cabin adequate with comfortable balcony.

  Staff most friendly and polite at all times.

  One great plus : the LIBRARY ! The weather during most of this cruise was frisky and cloudy. So we spent a lot of time there.

  One last BIG complaint. Not for the cruise line. Disembarkation took 4 hours

  because of long lines at re-entry U.S. immigration.We lost a full half day of our holiday because of this disagreeable interminable long wait.

  The cruise had a stopover in Ensenada. I would gladly have missed this kitschy,seedy tourist-trap if it had meant a faster disembarkation.British elegance and quality5christian

  Review By christian

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• Not the QM2 but.....

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  Not the QM2 but..... We love QM2 so thought we would try QV. Embarkation, with priority boarding was a breeze,from drop off to on board about 20 minutes. Cabin 8040 is A-1 fwd with balcony. Very clean BUT the bathroom is so small one can brush teeth, pee, and shower all in one place...if you are tall..well, mind your head. Did manage to stow all of our stuff however..suitcases fit nicely under the bed.

  Our cabin steward, Rick, did a super job taking care of us.

  We liked the lay-out of the ship, nice feel in all the areas,even tho the ship was full did not feel crowded...we found the staff and passengers extremely friendly, did not encounter and grumps!

  Our recent experiences have been on QM2 PG dining room so we struggled with the Britannia dining room for dinner. Tho the service was ok…

  Not the QM2 but..... We love QM2 so thought we would try QV. Embarkation, with priority boarding was a breeze,from drop off to on board about 20 minutes. Cabin 8040 is A-1 fwd with balcony. Very clean BUT the bathroom is so small one can brush teeth, pee, and shower all in one place...if you are tall..well, mind your head. Did manage to stow all of our stuff however..suitcases fit nicely under the bed.

  Our cabin steward, Rick, did a super job taking care of us.

  We liked the lay-out of the ship, nice feel in all the areas,even tho the ship was full did not feel crowded...we found the staff and passengers extremely friendly, did not encounter and grumps!

  Our recent experiences have been on QM2 PG dining room so we struggled with the Britannia dining room for dinner. Tho the service was ok the main courses were...tasteless...apps and soups and salads and desserts were good...several times we just had soup and salad. We did enjoy in the Lido, very good fresh made pizza, burgers and great fries, and a good salad selection. Also for breakfast fresh cooked eggs to order.

  Entertainment & speaker we are split on. I thought the after dinner shows were great the speakers good except for one who was teaching a class...in a dull voice!

  We had loads of laughs in the Pub for games after the show..or dancing every night in the Queens Room. Cunard has the very best ships for ballroom dancers afloat. Large dance floors! Afternoon tea or a classical concert. Cunard does a super job keeping passengers busy. Or a quiet read in the very nice library.

  If you enjoy meeting new people than you cant go wrong with a Cunard cruise, we have always found our fellow travelers very interesting and well traveled!

  We had 4 formal nights in 14 days...I love it...

  All in all the only problem we had was dinner in the Britannia dining room, we are Calif foodies...and we found the dinner hit and miss!

  Disembarkation in LA was very smooth. Our time was 8:50am we were at the curb by 9:15am! Read the Hawaii ports review by At sea daysNot the QM2 but.....5At sea days

  Review By At sea days

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• LOVED IT !!!!!

  Passenger Rating:

  LOVED IT !!!!! We had booked the cruise from Cape Town to Adelaide 12 months in advance and I have been that excited to get on board. But months before departure I started reading many negative reviews about Cunard and the Queens in general. That I started to get paranoid and was thinking should I cancel this trip. I even rang Cunard and raised my concerns. Well I am so glad I didnt. This was my wife and I 10th cruise, so we were not beginners. We had the best most relaxing time ever. The food was excellent, spa excellent, great movies , the addition restaurants with surcharges was some of the best meals I have ever tasted. The staff were excellent, we even tipped our restaurant staff on top of the Cunards automatic tipping. Our standard inside cabin was spotless and excellent steward "Jason" kept it that way all…

  LOVED IT !!!!! We had booked the cruise from Cape Town to Adelaide 12 months in advance and I have been that excited to get on board. But months before departure I started reading many negative reviews about Cunard and the Queens in general. That I started to get paranoid and was thinking should I cancel this trip. I even rang Cunard and raised my concerns. Well I am so glad I didnt. This was my wife and I 10th cruise, so we were not beginners. We had the best most relaxing time ever. The food was excellent, spa excellent, great movies , the addition restaurants with surcharges was some of the best meals I have ever tasted. The staff were excellent, we even tipped our restaurant staff on top of the Cunards automatic tipping. Our standard inside cabin was spotless and excellent steward "Jason" kept it that way all trip. The decor was amazing, I just loved the art deco theme with the history mixed in. The wide passageways and the whole experience was very Grand. The trip on Queen Mary 2 was full of lifetime memories we will never forget.

  1/ The minor negative to mention was when the Ship arrived in port and you had day tour guests and people planning to do there own thing the movement in the passages seems to be disjointed and there were never enough staff to guide people in the right direction.

  2/On elegant casual nights men should be able to dine Jacket free.

  3/When the get into Australian waters they should broadcast Australian Sky TV - not the one from London So I just cant get my head around so much negative feedback - things are always never perfect in life but when you are on holidays, there is no need to stress and whinge the whole time - enjoy life enjoy the fact that you had the funds to board a Cunard liner - Life is to short to whinge about every little detail. I know there are thousands of travelers out there that compare the QM2 to the QE2 that its not as good but its not the same liner and now its not the same operators.

  Final Comment - Cunard in my mind is very good value for money if you are content to stay in a inside cabin (sorry stateroom).LOVED IT !!!!!5Atiu

  Review By Atiu

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• HAWAIIAN ADVENTURE ON QUEEN VICTORIA

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  HAWAIIAN ADVENTURE ON QUEEN VICTORIA This was our third voyage on Cunard, the first two on the "Queen Mary 2", this

  one on the "Queen Victoria". Comparing the two ships was easy! They are both beautiful, but the "QM2" shines! She has that extra pizzaz and "wow factor" that is missing on the "QV". After talking with several fellow passengers, the consensus was the same.

  We loved our balcony cabin with its tiny shower in the bathroom. One of our tablemates suggested that you soap the shower walls and then "twirl"! Didnt try it, but sounded like a hoot! We had plenty of drawer and closet space. Our room steward, Benny, was very efficient. He kept our cabin spotless and the ice bucket filled.

  The weather on this particular voyage wa quite cloudy and windy....not what we expected on crossing the Pacific…

  HAWAIIAN ADVENTURE ON QUEEN VICTORIA This was our third voyage on Cunard, the first two on the "Queen Mary 2", this

  one on the "Queen Victoria". Comparing the two ships was easy! They are both beautiful, but the "QM2" shines! She has that extra pizzaz and "wow factor" that is missing on the "QV". After talking with several fellow passengers, the consensus was the same.

  We loved our balcony cabin with its tiny shower in the bathroom. One of our tablemates suggested that you soap the shower walls and then "twirl"! Didnt try it, but sounded like a hoot! We had plenty of drawer and closet space. Our room steward, Benny, was very efficient. He kept our cabin spotless and the ice bucket filled.

  The weather on this particular voyage wa quite cloudy and windy....not what we expected on crossing the Pacific Ocean in February. In the fourteen days we were sailing, we had two sunny days on the ship and only two of the four islands had sunny warm weather. Definitely not Cunards problem!

  Our dinner in the Britannia every night was delightful. Sandy, our head waiter, was absolutely flawless in his presentations. He has many years experience with Cunard, and it shows! His assistant, Jacek, from Poland, was my favorite! He is young, eager and ready to go far in this world! What a smile! Our wine steward, Rao, was new on the job with this cruise, and learned his duties very quickly. Three out of the six at our table requested drinks with a little extra flair (blue cheese stuffed olives in their Manhattans and Martinis) and Rao came through! The food was delicious! We ate most of our meals in Britannia,and a few lunches in the Lido. The portions were just right, soups and entrees always hot and tasty. The desserts were spectacular! We had the same delightful tablemates at dinner every night, and sat with different people at breakfast and lunch.

  We saw all of the shows in the Royal Court Theater. Every one was professional and elegantly done. The costumes were amazing. Two shows featured John England, a pianist who "blew our sox off"! He played requests that passengers asked for during the trip. I do know that "As Time Goes By" will never sound as good as when he played it.

  My only complaint was that on a cruise to Hawaii, it would have been nice to be presented with a flower lei on landing at any one of the four islands. You could buy them after leaving the ship in the four ports, but that extra touch from Cunard wasnt there. There was no luau on board or offered in the tour packages on any of the islands.

  We had a wonderful vacation that was a year in the planning and flew by too quickly! I would sail on the "Queen Victoria" again in a heartbeat!HAWAIIAN ADVENTURE ON QUEEN VICTORIA5sewqueen

  Review By sewqueen

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• I did it *my way* . . . and it was fabulous!

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  I did it *my way* . . . and it was fabulous! A little background: Im a solo traveler by choice, love to be on my own, dont like being held to a schedule, and am very happy if I do nothing more each day than sleep late, read my stack of books, and spend time on the internet. I wanted a voyage that would allow me to do things my way instead of being regimented, and I wanted to avoid all sorts of crowds, queues, announcements in my stateroom, and distractions of any kind. I also very much wanted great food and service in an intimate setting. Queens Grill on Cunards Queen Victoria gave me all of that and more. Embarkation in Ft Lauderdale was effortless; I arrived about 2PM, was taken directly to my suite, and within 15 minutes my bags had arrived. Galvin, my butler, helped me…

  I did it *my way* . . . and it was fabulous! A little background: Im a solo traveler by choice, love to be on my own, dont like being held to a schedule, and am very happy if I do nothing more each day than sleep late, read my stack of books, and spend time on the internet. I wanted a voyage that would allow me to do things my way instead of being regimented, and I wanted to avoid all sorts of crowds, queues, announcements in my stateroom, and distractions of any kind. I also very much wanted great food and service in an intimate setting. Queens Grill on Cunards Queen Victoria gave me all of that and more. Embarkation in Ft Lauderdale was effortless; I arrived about 2PM, was taken directly to my suite, and within 15 minutes my bags had arrived. Galvin, my butler, helped me unpack and in less than an hour clothes were hung and bags stowed under the bed. Next I checked with Maitred Andrew Nelder in Queens Grill and was delighted to learn that my request for a table for one had been arranged. I felt very lucky as I had dreaded sitting for hours at a large table, and at that moment Andrew became my hero!The most important event for me each day was dining in the Queens Grill. I have crossed on the QM2 in QG but thought the dining room was one of the least attractive high-end restaurants Ive ever been in. Not so on QV . . . the room is drop-dead gorgeous and the lighting superb. And additionally, Andrew Nelder is the archetypal Maitre‘d, both in appearance and in the professionalism that radiates from him. Hollywood casting at its best couldnt have done any better! He looked after me so well during those 16 days that I was nearly in tears when the time came to say goodbye. We sailed on schedule and my first dinner in QG set the pattern for the entire trip. Very good wait staff, a wonderful sommelier named Stalin, and simply marvellous food and service... that first night I knew Id found a very special place where I was sure to come back to. The great thing about QG is ordering off-menu and I did this several times, but always with 24 hours notice. My favorites were Chateaubriand for one, dover sole, steak Diane, crepes suzette, cherries Jubilee -- all done at table with flames and flourishes. I also loved the cold fruit soups, especially the raspberry with sloe gin which I repeated at dinner one night in a soup plate, giving me about 3 portions instead of one that comes in the soup bowl. When my waiter learned that I was fond of cinnamon ice cream a supply was kept in the freezer for me. Best of all, I requested a dessert made with lemoncello and the next night I was offered a choice of two: roulade or lemoncello jello. The roulade was excellent, but the following night I tried the jello... it was the star and I had two servings of it.My suite was midship on deck 7 and although we had four days of strong gales I was never bothered by the motion. The bed was a dream... lots of wonderful down pillows and bedding of the highest quality. Loved the configuration of the suite: sitting room and bedroom separated by a heavy curtain, ample storage space and a good clothes closet. With this set-up I could order a cold breakfast (hot coffee in the thermos) and sleep as late as I liked knowing that when I awoke my breakfast would be on the table. The piéce de resistánce of my suite was a huge deep jacuzzi tub with separate shower in one room, and a toilet and hand basin in an adjoining one. There were high quality toiletries and plenty of shelf room at each end of the counter. Marble galore... floors, walls, counters, everywhere. I was surprised that there was no double sink in the bathroom, especially as this Q6 suite was to become Q4 on the voyage following ours. I skipped entertainment completely -- no shows, no lectures or concerts, and no scheduled activities. Used the fitness room a couple of times and liked their equipment. Had a manicure and pedicure at the spa (very good) and also a scalp massage and treatment for my dry hair (massage was great, treatment was not). Checked out the library and was surprised not to find a single biography of Queen Victoria. But there were prints, watercolors, sketches and photos of Victoria, Albert and the family (including favorite dogs) scattered about the ship and I loved seeking them out and putting names to the faces. We called at seven ports: I didnt leave the ship in Cape Canaveral, did a stroll around Nassau, another stroll at the port in Bermuda where there was a very nice ‘shopping mall -- architecturally rustic and quite attractive with some good shops. Then came the Azores where I joined up with two other cruisers whom Id met on the cc roll call for a wonderful drive through the most amazing countryside. The island is a treasure -- green, lush, fabulous plants and flowers in riotous colors, cloud-covered mountaintops -- totally unspoiled and breathtakingly beautiful. The time there was all too short, I so hope that Ill be able to return one day.Next stop was Lisbon. I had arranged for a full day private tour with a highly recommended guide; as I had spent time in Lisbon before we headed north to the hill town of Óbidos, a beautifully preserved example of medieval architecture lying 100 km north of Lisbon. The streets and squares were filled with color and bright flowers were everywhere. We also stopped in Sintra, a World Heritage Site, and then drove along the coast where many once-royal personages had lived in exile, and finally back to the ship. Cohb, Ireland was charming, I did my usual stroll around with some friends, and we ended up at a terrace cafe where we drank very good Irish coffee and watched the world go by. Final port was Le Havre but I stayed on the ship to get my packing organized for debarkation the following morning.For months before the sailing I had been apprehensive about clothes: five formal nights, six semi-formal and something different each night was the message I was getting from reading the boards. So I shopped too much and I packed too much and in the end I learned a lesson about 16 day cruises: no one cares if you wear the same outfit twice or even three times. And another thing, gowns dont have to sweep the floor, they can be ankle length or even shorter. I mention this as I read many other posters asking these questions and I want to reassure them that you can take less and feel completely comfortable and appropriately dressed.Debarkation was smooth with no glitches. I was sending a bag home with the White Star Luggage service and their representative had been very helpful on board taking care of the paperwork, so all I had to do was leave the bag at their pick-up point and be on my way. I stayed on in England for four days and when I got home last night the bag had already arrived safe and sound. Bravo White Star Luggage!My one quibble -- and it is an important one -- is the internet. The problem is that its both incredibly sluggish and incredibly expensive. Ive heard that nothing can be done about the speed but I dont think thats true. Its a simple matter of money; to upgrade the system to 21st century standards Cunard will have to invest money. I hope they will decide to do that... the internet is almost what makes the world go round these days. For me, this comes close to being a deal-breaker... without it a two week cruise would be my limit.Internet aside, Queen Victoria has turned out to be an excellent match for me. Although there were nearly 2,000 passengers aboard I never had the feeling of being crowded or overwhelmed. I could easily find the peace and quiet I craved without raining on anyone elses parade. I had come aboard with only two priorities -- being reclusive by day and dining superbly each night. Both of these were fulfilled far beyond my expectations.I did it *my way* . . . and it was fabulous!5alita

  Review By alita

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• Very Satisfied Cruiser - New to Cunard

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  Very Satisfied Cruiser - New to Cunard We are retired in our 60-70s. Have cruised for 30+ years - elite on Princess, Celebrity and 3 star on HAL. We had been looking for a Cunard cruise for a few years to try. The recent Transatlantic with a stop in Cobh Ireland caught our attention, so we booked it thru a local travel agent in 2009. At the time we were very surprised that we received an on board credit of $600. We have had on board credits on other lines but not that much. We were not sure we would like Cunard because we generally special order with the Head Waiter in the dining room on other lines. Inquiries before we went on the cruise about the opportunity to do so on Cunard were mixed. Some folks suggested this was only possible in the suite categories and others suggested that…

  Very Satisfied Cruiser - New to Cunard We are retired in our 60-70s. Have cruised for 30+ years - elite on Princess, Celebrity and 3 star on HAL. We had been looking for a Cunard cruise for a few years to try. The recent Transatlantic with a stop in Cobh Ireland caught our attention, so we booked it thru a local travel agent in 2009. At the time we were very surprised that we received an on board credit of $600. We have had on board credits on other lines but not that much. We were not sure we would like Cunard because we generally special order with the Head Waiter in the dining room on other lines. Inquiries before we went on the cruise about the opportunity to do so on Cunard were mixed. Some folks suggested this was only possible in the suite categories and others suggested that doing so was inappropriate. Regardless, we decided to give it a try. Much to our surprise this was no problem at all in the MDR and for Room Service in our cabin. Cunard was most responsive to our requests. We had a table for 2 in the MDR. I also noticed others around us special ordering as well. We booked a A-4 category cabin, balcony on deck 5. Very pleasant and comfortable cabin, comparable to what we would have on other lines. Lots of closest space, drawer space is limited. Bathroom is adequate, shower only. We loved the entertainment options on the ship. Having dancing available both before and after dinner every night til midnight in the Queens Room was most enjoyable. The singers and dancers and production shows on board were outstanding, better than we have seen on any line. We felt the Lido area which we did use for breakfast was spacious and comfortable. We had eggs to order and egg white omelets most mornings. The short order cook in the Lido making eggs was outstanding. He remembered everyone and what they wanted and did special things for many folks. The only negative on this cruise was the weather, quiet windy, crossing was more northerly then we have done in the past. Ship rocked a lot at night making sleeping soundly impossible. Crossing are like that, sometimes the weather does not cooperate. Regardless, we enjoyed the cruise so much that we decided to book the Queen Victoria again in October, next time in the Mediterranean out of Rome to the Holy Land. We booked on board and received another healthy on board credit. I am writing this review for anyone wishing to try Cunard. If you like dressing for dinner, dancing and good quality entertainment and very good service you will enjoy Cunards Queen Victoria. Cobh Ireland was the only new port of us on this cruise. We enjoyed our visit there. Stayed in Cobh, visited the Irish Immigration Museum right there and walked and shopped in town. Charming peaceful place, wonderfully quiet. We enjoyed lunch on our balcony the day in port.Very Satisfied Cruiser - New to Cunard5pris993

  Review By pris993

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• 40th anniversary treat

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  40th anniversary treat My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise,we found the ship to be better than our expectations.My wife has retired from nursing and I am a semi retired postman so we decided to literally push the boat out ,we were hoping that this ship wouldnt be too "posh" for us,and it wasnt.We had no complaints about anything,the service,food ,entertainment were all good.There seems to be something for all tastes on board from popular shows in the theatre to small intimate jazz sessions in the bar,computer lessons,art lessons, song writing workshop etc.We were fortunate to have a smooth crossing and having opted for a table of 8 ,had very nice table companions who we dined with every night so did not get to sample the other evening dining venues ,hopefully we will cruise again and try them then.We enjoyed dressing up on the formal nights ,its a…

  40th anniversary treat My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise,we found the ship to be better than our expectations.My wife has retired from nursing and I am a semi retired postman so we decided to literally push the boat out ,we were hoping that this ship wouldnt be too "posh" for us,and it wasnt.We had no complaints about anything,the service,food ,entertainment were all good.There seems to be something for all tastes on board from popular shows in the theatre to small intimate jazz sessions in the bar,computer lessons,art lessons, song writing workshop etc.We were fortunate to have a smooth crossing and having opted for a table of 8 ,had very nice table companions who we dined with every night so did not get to sample the other evening dining venues ,hopefully we will cruise again and try them then.We enjoyed dressing up on the formal nights ,its a complete change for us ,and on the last night of the cruise when we were all in casual attire it looked quite bland.We stayed in New York for 3 nights in Times Square ,Cunard could not have picked a better location,the Marriot Marquis was excellent.We then flew to Las vegas for three days and stayed at the Luxor,not the best location on the strip ,the service given overall by Cunard was great. Read the Transatlantic ports review by ronaldalfred40th anniversary treat5ronaldalfred

  Review By ronaldalfred

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• The greatest ferry of them all

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  The greatest ferry of them all Just coming back from a "best of Britain" tour this is a review of a short 2-night cruise from Hamburg to Southampton. With little exceptions which nevertheless were noteworthy the QM2 delivered everything we expected. That its the most beautiful ship around is of cause something no one needs to repeat too much. Its just the truth.Before embarkation we got a note that we would be upgraded to a deck 6 balcony cabin, which came as a nice surprise. Embarkation was smooth, and while I was an hour early, and my girlfriend an hour late, everything went fast and without a problem. The stateroom was nice, well serviced, clean and sizable enough, though the enclosed balcony isnt too useful other than for the occasional 5 minutes to have a look at the sea. A free-of-charge Demi bottle of champagne was waiting. I had a…

  The greatest ferry of them all Just coming back from a "best of Britain" tour this is a review of a short 2-night cruise from Hamburg to Southampton. With little exceptions which nevertheless were noteworthy the QM2 delivered everything we expected. That its the most beautiful ship around is of cause something no one needs to repeat too much. Its just the truth.Before embarkation we got a note that we would be upgraded to a deck 6 balcony cabin, which came as a nice surprise. Embarkation was smooth, and while I was an hour early, and my girlfriend an hour late, everything went fast and without a problem. The stateroom was nice, well serviced, clean and sizable enough, though the enclosed balcony isnt too useful other than for the occasional 5 minutes to have a look at the sea. A free-of-charge Demi bottle of champagne was waiting. I had a late lunch in Kings court shortly after embarking. While the food was very good, the design and layout of Kings Court is clearly the worst public space on board, not much better looking than a shopping Mall´s eatery, and unfortunately the most centrally located one. Here Cunard must do something as its not at all of the standard of the otherwise grand public rooms. Leaving Hamburg was a great experience, pleasure boats following and thousands of people lining the shores as we passed the grand Elbchausee and beautiful Blankenese suburb on one side and the harbour and the Airbus factory with a number of new A380s on the other. Best was the hundred or so bedsheets being waved by guests and staff of the Jacob luxury hotel, including playing "Rule Britannia".Dinner at the stunning Britannia was a fine experience though the staff appeared a bit stressed and the glasses showed stains from the dishwasher - an absolute no go on a ship called "Queen Mary 2". Food was excellent though the wish for a Caesar salad (gosh, how exotic is that?) was turned down. Also the space near the windows on the upper level was somewhat limited, downstairs at breakfast it was better.Afterwards we went for champagne to the beautiful Commodore´s Club underneath the bridge. As the windows were sadly blinded so not to irritate the bridge we chose to sit down in the intimate boardroom next to it.One of the nicest places on board QM2 is the library and bookshop. We also enjoyed cocktails in the G32 with an excellent band playing. The tiered decks are wonderful and so much nicer than on a normal cruise block of flats. Walking on them at night with the fantastic red funnel above is quite a unique experience. The North Sea was flat as a Hyde Park and we felt no moving of the ship whatsoever during our two days aboard. The (German) lectures were nice, but to our disappointment the planetarium was closed. I found the time to chat with a former Formula 1 driver, as most of the ships company was of the friendly and entertaining side.A very nice place and something that is rare on cruise ships is the space above the bows with the spare propeller.One thing to criticize is the quality of the repainting of the ship in places. Its obviously done by people who havent the highest standards of working ethics. Crudely over painted seals were especially seen on the enclosed walkway above the bridge, but also elsewhere in open places.We slept like babies despite slightly above expectation propulsion noise, the beds were very comfortable and we were really sad when we had to say goodbye to the Queen. If it would not have been for the US visa requirements we probably may have stayed aboard until New York and would have dropped the week of England holidays waiting for us (which turned out to be great too though).This "glorious ferry" short cruise was certainly not our last time on the QM2. We do hope that Cunard improves on the little shortfalls mentioned which do not do the QM2 right and are disturbing more than the same things would do on any ordinary ship.The greatest ferry of them all5QM1

  Review By QM1

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• QM2 Transatlantic

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  QM2 Transatlantic Having read a few reviews re trip from Southampton to NY on 10th May I feel I must reply.My husband and I were on the this trip and also the returning trip from NY to Southampton and both ways I could not fault anything I experienced on the ship. Every member of staff from the moment we entered in Southampton to our leaving 14 nights later were always smiling never passed you without a word of recognition.Re dining experience, on the trip from Southampton to NY were were seating on the lower level of the Britannia Restaurant with another two couples and had a wonderful time, out waiters were exception and were always happy to oblige with any requests we had even providing dishes which were not on the menu for one of our table guests. On our return journey on the first night we had no table…

  QM2 Transatlantic Having read a few reviews re trip from Southampton to NY on 10th May I feel I must reply.My husband and I were on the this trip and also the returning trip from NY to Southampton and both ways I could not fault anything I experienced on the ship. Every member of staff from the moment we entered in Southampton to our leaving 14 nights later were always smiling never passed you without a word of recognition.Re dining experience, on the trip from Southampton to NY were were seating on the lower level of the Britannia Restaurant with another two couples and had a wonderful time, out waiters were exception and were always happy to oblige with any requests we had even providing dishes which were not on the menu for one of our table guests. On our return journey on the first night we had no table companions, we did not complain about this at all but the maitre d came to us at the end of our meal to apologise and advise he would try to get us moved, we said we did not mind and not to worry about it. The next morning I received a call to say he would like to move us to another table which was the chief medical officers table and that night we were shown to a lovely table and had another two lovely couples sit with us who also had no dining companions on the first night. We were joined on the formal evenings by either the doctor or the senior nurse who were exceptional pleasant and very friendly. Our waiters at this table were again exceptional and extremely helpful and nothing was too much trouble for them. Perhaps the staff respond well to a smile and a friendly approach from passengers. On the subject of staff, I went to the pub one day after playing shuffleboard on a cold windy day and saw hot chocolate on the menu, I asked for this and was told it was not served in the pub but was available in Sir Samuels bar. I said I did not want anything else and would just wait for my husband. A few minutes later the waiter appeared with my hot chocolate which he had gone to Sir Samuels to get this for me. I did not ask him to do this and I was surprised but very happy with this level of service.Everyone, is well aware of the dress code before embarking on a Transatlantic trip on QM2 and if they do not wish to have this experience perhaps should not take this particular ship.The only downside to my trip was the tables of rubbish for sale in the main hallways during the day but I just ignored this and spend my time elsewhere.Perhaps I am easy to please, I dont think I am, I always treat everyone the same and in reply I always get a smile and excellent service.I will be back on board.QM2 Transatlantic5Margaret Carruthers

  Review By Margaret Carruthers

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• QM2 New York and back

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  QM2 New York and back June 2011, Along with my wife we sailed to New York and back on the Queen Mary 2 to celebrate our wedding annniversary and birthdays. We had previously been on a similar voyage before on the same ship.

  The staff were excellent and very well mannered, always polite and ready to help if needed. The choice of food was also excellent with more than enough choice for every taste. The service in the Britannia Restaurant was of the highest standard and something to look forward to every evening. The food was always nicely presented and every meal we had was enjoyable.

  The ship is very big and getting about can take some time but everywhere is easy to find once you have your bearings. We went to two performances by West End performer David Shannon, a singer of…

  QM2 New York and back June 2011, Along with my wife we sailed to New York and back on the Queen Mary 2 to celebrate our wedding annniversary and birthdays. We had previously been on a similar voyage before on the same ship.

  The staff were excellent and very well mannered, always polite and ready to help if needed. The choice of food was also excellent with more than enough choice for every taste. The service in the Britannia Restaurant was of the highest standard and something to look forward to every evening. The food was always nicely presented and every meal we had was enjoyable.

  The ship is very big and getting about can take some time but everywhere is easy to find once you have your bearings. We went to two performances by West End performer David Shannon, a singer of the highest quality, we even managed to have a chat with him afterwards. On a negative point far too many people come into the theatre after the performance had started which I thought was very bad manners and did spoil some of our enjoyment. The pub quizzes were great fun and a good chance to meet other passengers, we even won a few!

  The Commodore Club was a nice quite place to sit and read on the way out but on the return journey it did attract some people with loud voices who just would not shut up, shame.

  Our cabin was small, we knew this beforehand but it was comfortable and we did not spend too long in there, too busy enjoying ourselves with what this magnificent ship has to offer. The stair wells do smell of smoke although I never saw anyone smoking, perhaps it comes from the staff rooms. The furniture in the Kings Court is starting to look a bit tired and needs up grading but this did not detract from the pleasure of our voyage. For four days the sea condition was described as rough but we found it hardly noticeable, did not spill a drop!

  All in all a fabulous round trip voyage which we would be happy to repeat any time in the future.QM2 New York and back5David Doolan

  Review By David Doolan

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• Cunard now known as QNard

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  Cunard now known as QNard Despite the worst-ever embarkation in Southampton (Group4 security had a fault on a scanner) crossed the Atlantic on Q Victoria - lovely ship and excellent service. Thought we were in for a treat on QM2 until some German friends told us they didnt like it. Oh dear - we have a World Cruise to look forward to!

  Im afraid its true - the buffet on Deck 7 (Kings Court) isnt a patch on The Lido on QV and if you dont mind a queue thats the place to be! Salads? - what salads? The whole deck needs a refit - its like a motorway cafe with furniture to match. To get a complete meal you need to try 3 different serveries 1/2 mile apart (its a big ship!)

  Shows and atmosphere excellent, cabin nice and spacious, but service in public rooms really bad.…

  Cunard now known as QNard Despite the worst-ever embarkation in Southampton (Group4 security had a fault on a scanner) crossed the Atlantic on Q Victoria - lovely ship and excellent service. Thought we were in for a treat on QM2 until some German friends told us they didnt like it. Oh dear - we have a World Cruise to look forward to!

  Im afraid its true - the buffet on Deck 7 (Kings Court) isnt a patch on The Lido on QV and if you dont mind a queue thats the place to be! Salads? - what salads? The whole deck needs a refit - its like a motorway cafe with furniture to match. To get a complete meal you need to try 3 different serveries 1/2 mile apart (its a big ship!)

  Shows and atmosphere excellent, cabin nice and spacious, but service in public rooms really bad. All the best staff have gone to Queen Elizabeth and the management know it.

  This shop has been attacked by the beancounters. When we booked in 2009 the alternative dining on Deck was free (Only Todd English was extra) Now you pay between $10 and $20 for the Asian or Italian options. Cost-cutting is obvious and staff are not happy with their new contracts

  By comparison with Queen Victoria or Norwegian Gem this ship is a 1960s throwback in service attitude.

  Hope it gets better after our chat with the World Cruise concierge Read the Southern Caribbean ports review by Robert DossorCunard now known as QNard4

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• Overall enjoyable

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  Overall enjoyable Husband and I did the transatlantic crossing in June 2010 and booked this Caribbean cruise at that time. We received an amazingly generous on board credit and the cruise price was excellent. Overall we enjoyed the cruise but (there is always a but) I noticed the service was not the same excellent level from 7 months earlier. The dining staff took a couple of nights to pick up the pace in the Britannia restaurant and we had to generously tip the wine steward early on to get his attention. The food was good but not spectacular and a decent cup of coffee is hard to find. However the tea is excellent.

  Our cabin stewardess was a friendly, pleasant older lady who was at the end of her 6 month contract and heading home to eastern europe after this cruise. She looked ready for a break as she…

  Overall enjoyable Husband and I did the transatlantic crossing in June 2010 and booked this Caribbean cruise at that time. We received an amazingly generous on board credit and the cruise price was excellent. Overall we enjoyed the cruise but (there is always a but) I noticed the service was not the same excellent level from 7 months earlier. The dining staff took a couple of nights to pick up the pace in the Britannia restaurant and we had to generously tip the wine steward early on to get his attention. The food was good but not spectacular and a decent cup of coffee is hard to find. However the tea is excellent.

  Our cabin stewardess was a friendly, pleasant older lady who was at the end of her 6 month contract and heading home to eastern europe after this cruise. She looked ready for a break as she hobbled through the corridors. The room cleaning was not up to par but as I said she was very friendly and had some great tips on places to visit in the different ports.

  The ship is spectacular in its interior decor and you really get the feel of a true ocean liner. We hit rough weather on the last sea day back to NY and the ship handled the seas as she was designed.

  I would book another Cunard cruise but the next ship will probably be the Queen Elizabeth or Victoria.

  As a final note I agree with many other reviewers that the evidence of Carnivals cost cutting/recovery is an unfortunate reality. Its a shame to see these once grand companies reduced to bargain basement sales of store inventory at the end of the cruise.Overall enjoyable4

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