Once in a lifetime and everything I dreamed

I've been lurking for a little while, seeing the good and bad, and I thought I'd share my experience (which I realise is not the experience of everyone). My friends very generously paid for me to do the transatlantic crossing on QM2 to New York, spend some time in America, and then do the return transatlantic a few weeks later. I am intensely grateful to this, as I could never have even slightly afforded this sort of holiday (or any sort of holiday, I'm 38 and haven't been away before this since I was a teenager on family holidays). Even for how 'affordable', relatively speaking, cruising could be, it's still something far out of my price range. I had no idea what to really expect, never having been on a cruise before and never having even really heard of Cunard before everything was booked. Let me tell you now, it was the most magical experience of my life, and I will always remember and cherish it. I felt like some kind of secret royalty sitting at such a beautiful restaurant with white linens and amazing food, with other lovely people dressed in smart clothes. The food was divine! I tried so many things new to me (and quite a lot I had no idea what I was ordering before it came, due to an unfamiliar name), and devoured it all. The presentation was gorgeous, the staff amazing, and the atmosphere wonderful. The décor on the ship made me feel like I ought to tiptoe around in case I spoiled how beautiful it was, and I can't even explain how lovely all the live musicians were. I had no idea the pool wasn't heated until I jumped in and got a lovely cold surprise, but what a stunning place to swim! The promenade deck, the outside spaces, all so gorgeous. My cabin was a basic inside, and it was perfect. I got a little giddy every time I came back from the evening activities and found it all turned down with chocolates and the next programme! I am a rabid quiz enthusiast, and I cannot even explain how delightful it was to find teammates and pit our wits for stickers in the Carinthia. I was even talked into karaoke one night by a pair of older ladies I met (I was dreadful and fled the room immediately afterwards)! I walked through the ship all the time with a beaming smile, saying hello to everyone (apologies if I annoyed anyone). I'll never be able to do something like that again. I'm on the poverty line and my budget for days out is more a free picnic in the local park, than a world-renowned cruise. But I'll remember every single moment for the rest of my life. And if I ever win the lottery, you better believe I'll be right back on board that gorgeous ship. Maybe things have declined recently as some people have said, I have nothing to compare it to as I've never done it before, but for me it was everything magical. I wish you all such happiness in your time aboard, whether you're a first and only timer like me, or someone doing their thousandth cruise.

Super staff and sailing fun

Hello! I have also just returned from my first Cunard cruise and totally enjoyed my time aboard the Queen Mary to Norway from Southampton and back. The Queen Mary is an elegant ocean liner, sophisticated and opulent. The cabin was spacious with amazing facilities and luxurious bathroom toiletries. We opted for a sheltered balcony on deck 5 which was fantastic. The staff truly are amazing and go above and beyond. So many to mention from the room stewards to the waiters and waitresses. Everybody worked so hard to make the cruise such an enjoyable experience. The service was fantastic. We are in the Britannia restaurant for breakfast and dinner. Trying to recall the female Head Waitress at the Britannia restaurant - it began with an A... any help gratefully received... thank you in advance :-) If you are on the next cruise, perhaps you’ll know? Wishing all those on board an amazing experience with memories to treasure.

The only ocean liner

As an American, nothing fully prepares you; life onboard is very different. Fellow passengers are mostly older, well-dressed, and very polite and considerate. No foul language at all, no yelling, no behavior or provocative dress that you would wish you could un-see. Ballroom dancing is a major draw, couples who dance gracefully, stunning gowns, with only one who resembled a sausage bursting out of a much too short casing. Surprises: Boarding took 1 1/2 hours. Dining room options are very old-school continental, Galantine and Ballotine and many other culinary terms to learn about. Flavors are not overpowering, wine helped. The North Atlantic is a very cold place to be in March, icicles formed. The cabin creaked constantly, affecting sleep till I got used to it. The ship rolled a lot. Disco Inferno in the nightclub was random pop music, not even close to being an inferno. There was a volunteer passenger choir that rehearsed all week and sounded fantastic. Disembarkation isn't too early, you can have a proper, relaxed breakfast. There is tea-making paraphernalia in your cabin, storing it in the closet top shelf freed up counter space. Room service breakfast is complimentary, your morning coffee magically appears. In closing, if your ancestors came across for a free and better life, or if your great-grandparents ever travelled abroad before air travel, here's the closest thing. Service was outstanding and I felt very pampered.

Great Crossing With Kids

We have had a great transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2. We thought the food and entertainment was great. The ship is in very good condition for being 20 years old, except perhaps some areas of the spa, which were fine but looked a bit dated. The staff were good. We have done the trip once previously about 15 years ago, and there are some subtle changes, but all things considered we had a great time on both crossings. I didn't see a significant decline in quality over the years. We had our children with us, ages about 10 and 14, and they had a great time too. There are very few kids on these trips, but our children were made to feel welcome nonetheless. The kids club was great and not crowded at all. Our kids like things like: shopping for nice outfits, dressing for dinner, seeing an evening show, and dancing in the ballroom-- so this was great fun for them. They also enjoyed the pool, table tennis, and family time together. If your kids like these types of activities, this can be a fun trip. The outdoor activity on a crossing is a bit limited-- walking around the deck in good weather is great. There are outdoor shuffleboard and other types of courts, but the cold/wind/rain make these types of activities less desirable on all but the best days. We booked two connecting cabins for the 4 of us and it worked out great. We also had the cabin steward open the divider between the two balconies. This was much nicer than I thought it would be. Lastly we bought a drinks package for adults and children and this was very convenient and helpful too.