QM2 post-refit TA log

Just about to embark on two things that I thought I would never do: fly to meet up with a ship and book an 8-day TA. Some change in my work schedule meant that this would be my only opportunity this year to make a crossing. And with QM2 emerging from an extensive refit the time and opportunity said – do it!

Since I’m still in my Hamburg hotel I’ve only caught a glimpse of the ship but I can comment on the Cunard arrangements thus far. The voyage was booked about six weeks prior to sailing so that met the deadline for White Star Luggage Service. The paperwork was sent Fedex and gave detailed instructions on what was needed. DHL came for my case two weeks ago and Fedex arrived to pick up the backup document copies for the White Star office. The DHL tracking shows that my large case is in Hamburg so now I just hope everything makes it to my stateroom. Due to worldwide customs restrictions only previously worn personal clothing and shoes can be packed and the case must be left unlocked for inspection.

I did air on my own. For those in the NE US who might consider a sailing out of Hamburg, United Airlines operates a daily non-stop to Hamburg out of Newark EWR. (Lufthansa requires a connection through Frankfurt.) For those on a budget, a EWR departure means that it costs $13 for a combined AirTrain and NJ Transit ticket to travel between the airport and NY Penn Station.

The hotel was booked through a Cunard package that included transportation airport-hotel and hotel-pier. The only glitch thus far was not receiving any pickup information from the local operator and I had to call Cunard last Friday. The driver was waiting in the baggage area and it’s a long drive from the airport. (Money well spent when one is coming off a red-eye.)

My hotel is an outpost of an American chain but for just one night there’s hardly a chance to experience much of northern German culture. To fly across an ocean and half way over Europe on the same day of sailing is not something that I want to try. Upon checkin a letter from Cunard was waiting: Driver to arrive at Noon on Tuesday. Normal hotel checkin is 2PM but I was escorted to my room despite arriving before 10AM. The Cunard affiliation may have helped. Cost and convenience of a Cunard package, versus independent arrangements, are all things one has to consider according to their budget and the specific circumstances.

Now I wait boarding. With a Noon boarding time I’ll be among the first to see her non-CGI refurbished rooms. (The contractor images showed some staterooms but only with white duvets – no crimson or deep blue coverlets.)

The marina had Cunard banners on wide display. If the crowds that appeared just to see her towed out of Elbe 17 are an indication of how much this city loves QM2 there will certainly be an extraordinary sail away as she starts the next era of her career. While there is no formal night until the first sea day out of Southampton, I don’t think there will be any “backpack and jeans” passengers to spoil this event.

I’ll give the next update when I can get a connection. In the past the shipboard internet was not available until later in the evening.

So exciting! Can't wait for the nest update :D

Oh my. How exciting!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Bon Voyage!

As a first time Cunard passenger this summer, we are awaiting the review from your trip. Thank you.

Bon Voyage, BlueRiband. Come July 24 I'll be using your observations to guide my re-acquaintance with Queen Mary 2.

Looking forward to reading about your experience. Must say I am rather envious :D - I have to wait to next April :( unless I can find something in between.

Looking forward to reading about your experience. Must say I am rather envious :D - I have to wait to next April :( unless I can find something in between.

Indeed. Let's keep checking hey? If not, April from Singapore will be excellent.

Looking forward to reading your review.

Bon Voyage, BlueRiband. Come July 24 I'll be using your observations to guide my re-acquaintance with Queen Mary 2.

Us too. Cannot wait now. Its will be our first TA, our first time in New York and first time on QM2! Very excited.

Blue Riband: We'll see you on board! We too are at our Hamburg hotel awaiting a 12:00 boarding, and we too have sent luggage forward, for us through the German rail system since we were staying in Berlin for a month. Hope it's there! Fingers are crossed. And we very much look forward to the changes on board. Hope they are all done, but if not, we look forward to some drama.

Have a wonderful time, I hope there isn't too much drama!

My goodness I'm never going to get any house work done today :D I've been sitting here at my laptop drinking copious amounts of coffee since 6am this morning.

There are so many friends I know who are also on this trip from Hamburg to Southampton, that I can't get enough of their news and photos.

Bon Voyage to BlueRiband and tv24, looking forward to all your posts.

There are two areas I would be really interested in hearing about;

The new refit of the Grand Lobby.

The new Carinthia Lounge.

:)

I left Hamburg on QM2 after her 50th visit to the city last year. The fireworks were amazing. The city loves QM2!

Not a good start. Arriving at the Steinwerder terminal at 12:15 (my boarding time is Noon) finds a sea of humanity as boarding has not yet begun. Tempers are getting frayed and there is only very limited seating. Finally at 12:42 Priority Boarding is started. A Cunard rep was checking tickets to allow only Grills passengers into line – this was prompted when a group tried to gate crash. I hope we later get some explanation for the delay.

Just some quick observations: the Grand Lobby looks magnificent. The wall where the 2/3/7 elevators were removed is replaced with etched mirror panels. Kings Court is astronomically improved. It’s now a pleasant upscale place more fitting the ship.

As a make a quick tour the entire aft end of the ship is pretty sparse compared to the activity one expects on embarkation day. Carinthia Lounge is very quite with only a few passing through and just one laptop user actually sitting there. All of this might be due to the late start in boarding.

As for “deck 14” – yes, it is an open observation for passengers. There is a teak handrail but the walkway is steel and is now at the same level as the base of the radar mast. This will probably be open only on sailaways and when the ship is in port.

I went to check the new cabins. Work crews are doing something with the utility closets on both the port and aft sides of deck 13. As for the new single cabins, a passage door closes off the aft end on deck 2 so it looks like they want to avoid this becoming a thoroughfare.

Princess grill restaurant is completely revamped. The multiple serving stations which broke up the open length are replaced with two larger stations. There are also far more tables for two as this is what many couples demand.

My waiter tells me that at dinner I will need to use the D stairways and elevators as the aft entrance of Kings Court will be closed off to allow specialty dining. So it looks like using Kings Court on the port side as a thoroughfare won’t be allowed in the evening. (I can only hope they also addressed the problem of bathers cutting through the old Todd English.)

Will update with more. Muster in a few minutes.

Yes, we were off to a rocky start. Like Blue Riband, we arrived at about 12:15 for a 12:00 check-in and were faced with chaos, tons of people, nowhere to sit, no refreshments, no direction. They did begin priority check-in before 1:00, but I wonder how long the others waited. We've had many terrible chaotic embarkations on Cunard, so this feels like more of the same.

The ship, however, is beautiful. Corinthian Room is a stand-out with all the gorgeous new furniture and carpeting. Since the plan is to have music here, this could be a favorite place to hang out. Terrific menu of port wines to order.

Even Kings Court looks fantastic. Maybe I will have to stop whining about "King's Chaos?" It does look very good, totally new furniture and a new traffic flow around new food stations. Will the food be upgraded too? Wait for future reports.

Very very happy to be back on board.

Tom

Thanks for the initial impressions both.

Enjoy sail away

These reports might be the best way to kick off my summer reading list!

Can any of you please give a bit more information on the Carinthia Lounge? Is it all one area or split into sections?

Cunard say:

A tranquil retreat by day, the serene Carinthia Lounge provides the perfect place to relax and catch up with friends, or a good book, as well as enjoy light breakfast and lunch dishes along with premium teas and coffee, handmade patisseries and a special Champagne Afternoon Tea experience. When the sun sets, the atmosphere evolves into an inviting evening spot where carefully selected wines are paired with tasting plates, and relaxed entertainment.

Presumably there is a charge for some or all of this?

If they charge premium coffees no reason why the food couldn't be free. On QV Sir Samuel's (?) charged for coffee, etc. but little sandwiches and the like were free.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Whose idea was it to put color changing rotating lights in the Grand Lobby ceiling? For the pool area - yes. For what is supposed to be an elegant focal point of the ship – fail. What looks like it belongs in Vegas should stay in Vegas. I will however recognize a moment of sanity: The purser is still “Purser” and not the generic “guest services” or some other term more appropriate for in info booth at a shopping mall. The area where the lobby elevators had been is now flattened out. Gone is the bell which was rung at noon. It was a little ritual but a nice one. I don’t see any notice in the program that it has been relocated.

The new cabins 2 and 3 are located behind closed and unmarked doors. Cunard is trying not to have people walking through except for those booked there. On deck 13, where the entrances cannot be camouflaged, pedestal signs read Please do not Enter. The photo gallery is in a previous underused photography sales area.

Our muster was pushed to 5 due to the late embarkation process and sail away scheduled to six. But a fault light in the electrical problem was not resolved until well past 8PM. It’s too bad because much of the enthusiasm for the sail away evaporated.

At dinner only two of my table mates came. They had sailed over on the last WB and now say that this is their last voyage. It took them 4 hours to board the ship and they don’t like the changes. What’s that saying – you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. The passengers were not the only ones kept waiting. A Gentleman Host said he was told to come at 8AM only to wait with the rest of us. According to him the entire ship had to be re-provisioned with everything.

An item in short supply – towels. I’m in PG and had only washcloths until after dinner. We were told the pools were not yet open due to the water sanitization procedure but I’m going to guess the real reason – towels, or lack thereof.

On a positive note White Star came through and my large case arrived with all evening wear accounted for.

(P.S. - have not yet tried the Corinthian Lounge. By the time I got there it was evening bar service, no food.)

Blue Riband, thanks for taking time out from your voyage to share what's happening with us.

Rotating colored lights in the lobby - how awful. Could it be a one off? I'm hoping that's the case. BTW, does the casino encroach much on the lobby now that it's been 'condensed'?

Thanks again. Bon voyage,

Salacia

The rotating lights were turned off when the string quartet started to perform. You're right the lighting idea is entirely wrong for the venue.

The casino has been condensed and isn't spilling over into the lobby.

Tuesday morning and the sea state is somewhat calm. One can hardly feel the ship move.

A summary of my refurbished PG stateroom: The room looks sumptuous with the deep red coverlet and blue accent pillow with the Cunard logo in gold. The backboard paneling is replace with a grey leather like padding. The big LCD screen is much easier to view from in bed. The coach has been place against the wall rather than at the foot of the bad as was shown in the CGIs. The cabinetry is the same but refinished and the drawer pulls replaced. One major job would have been relocating the TV cabling and the wires for the climate control. The later had been on the wall now occupied by the TV and it’s now inside the glassware alcove. It’s also the place where the pod coffee maker and hot water kettle are provided. No coffee pods yet – just a couple of herbal tea bags and packages of Walker’s cookies. Lamps, sconces, light switches and electrical outlets were replaced. Nothing new in the bathroom and I’m glad the hand-held shower was not replaced with a “rain” shower as shown in the CGI or a tall person would have to bend their knees to get under it.

The balcony teak loungers are replaced with two wicker-like loungers. An ottoman holds the seat cushions outside of daylight hours so cushions no longer have to be placed between the curtains and windows.

I did get two bath and two hand towels but not until after dinner last night.

As mentioned all of the pools and hot tubs were closed yesterday. The deck 6 pool looks new and the aft kiddie water-cannon area now has an oval hot tub. The Pavillion Pool on 12 now has wind screens on the exit doors to the open deck.

Deck 14 forward was an immediate hit – very popular during sail away. One viewing area lost – at least on TAs – was the aft area on deck 12. This is gated off to allow more room for the dogs in the kennel to exercise.

The shops re-opened at 8 last night but I won’t be buying anything until after we leave Southampton. The ship is obligated to charge VAT as it is sailing directly between two EU ports. No “vices” for sale for the same reason. The most noticeable change it that Chopard is out and replaced by Michael Koors.

Most people were dressed nicely for dinner, with some women even wearing cocktail dresses or sparkly tops. As some have noted “informal” or “casual” for dinner on Cunard is a lot dressier than “elegant” of “chic” on other lines. When passing by Britannia I did see a young woman leaving the restaurant who was wearing cutoffs and a cotton tank top. Cann’t know if she was leaving on her own or had been turned away. Given the time she may also have been too late for the last dinner order.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write those great reports along with the pictures from the first voyage on board an almost brand new ship!

Very interessting to read. Some may love the new carpets, upolstery or whatever, some may not- they ( Cunard ) can hardly achive to please everyone.

The new carpets in the hallway´s are really something- quite daring I should say. First I thought they forgot to remove part of the plastic wrap. LOL!

WHAT DID I JUST READ- NO MORE EIGHT BELL´S ! I CAN´T BELIEVE MY EYES!!! WHERE IS THAT BELL??? SUCH A GREAT TRADITION!!! OH OH I CAN ALREADY FEEL THE OUTCRY... !

Again- thanks! I can´t wait to board the Mary in New York on July 6th - two more weeks to go!

Thank you for taking the time to post! Looking forward to hearing more...

I hope the boarding procedure will have been sorted out by tomorrow when we embark. Last year we had a fairly long wait but that was because the airbridge developed a fault.

Blue Riband, did you notice which bars were open on boarding. Not that I'm a lush but my holiday does not officially start until I have my first Bombay Martini in my hand whilst sitting on a bar stool. It used to be that the Golden Lion was the only bar open in the afternoon of embarkation.

MM