Nicer for the British than Americans

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 77

Review summary

This was the third in series of back to back cruises lasting 45 days. The purpose was to rest from the prior two which were excursion intensive and experience luxury and ballroom dancing. The ship is pretty but not gorgeous. The balcony stateroom was just like any other. Bathroom smaller than prior two, Holland America and Carnival ships. Food was blah and unimaginative as other review says. This is truly British slanted menu with lots of duck, muttom, lamb, and not familiar dishes. After 17 prior cruises, I felt I could adjust my palate to any ship but QM2 changed my mine. I abandoned the dining room for room service and the buffet. I lost the weight I had gained on the prior cruises on QM2. All service is geared to the predominately British number of guests. I was asked to move at lunch one day to a chair with back to the water so a British couple could have our seats. Entertainment was good. The dancers are beautiful young people with obviously better training than most ships. The singers are not so good. The ventriliquist was GREAT! Classical pianist was wonderful. The theater group presentations were so good. The speakers were wonderful, particularly the speaker on the Middle East. The BEST BEST BEST thing on the ship is the dancing. Ilona and Wilfried are international dance champions who give lessons everyone can follow. They are funny and delightful with patience beyond belief. There dance demonstrations were gorgeious.They were the redeeming factor in this disappointing cruise. Our time with them was what we had hoped for. Didn't go to the Planetarium which is much bally-hooed. This is a cattle call at 9AM on days of show. Everyone has to rush down to internet office, queue up don't you know and push and shove for tickets for this popular show. There is no limit to how many times the first in line can see the show, or those behind never see show as tickets run out. This wasn't luxury sailing so we demurred. CUNARD COULD LEARN FOM NORWEGIAN, WHO LIMIT ATTENDANCE TO THEIR MAINLINERS LIKE BLUE MAN UNTIL THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEE THE SHOW HAVE A CHANCE. No announcement or discussion on disembarkation about arrangements for early independent flights. We went to customer service and were told no one could accomodate us to move up our luggage time and we would have to carry our own luggage off-4 large bags+carry ons! So much for White Star treatment and luxury accomodation. We went to the tour office who finally gave us early time luggage tags. Never had to go through so much to get off a ship. They aren't interested in helping independent travelers. There was the constant feeling that more would be done if we didn't sound so American. We left Southhampton amid champagne, British flags waving from everyone's hands and "Rule Brittania" blaring from a full band on deck amid other British patriotic music. We sailed into New York harbor at daybreak with the sun coming up just in time to see the Statue of Liberty and the new buildings going up. This is, for many Americans, an emotional arrival made more poignant by 9/ll. We were all out there on our own. No announcements on the decks, no music for those up and viewing. I realize some were still asleep but they could have accommodated those of us excited by the arrival on this bright crisp morning. Didn't seem to matter to Cunard. My husband summed up this cruise we had wanted to go on for some time and started with great anticipation--"Queen Mary 2, been there done that."

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