First Impression of Remastering

We boarded at noon today and I thought I'd share my initial thoughts:

I actually like the lobby carpet - it's nowhere near as LOUD as it looked in the initial photos that I saw.

We have a BU grade stateroom on deck 4 and we have a new carpet, curtains, couch and bedding. Our new widescreen tv is mounted on the wall opposite our bed and we have a tray with a kettle and a little holder with 2 x Dairy Pure half & half milk (semi skimmed to us Brits?), 3 x Twinings English Breakfast tea sachets, 6 x various sachets of sugar (3 x cane, 1 x demerara, 1 x Rohrzuoker and 1 x sugar stick), there are also 7 coffee sachets (4 x Nescafé classic and 3 x Cafe Hag) and also 2 x mugs and 2 x tea spoons where the old tv used to be. I think the only thing we don't have is the new padding on the wall above the headboard - we still have one of the old pictures. We are very impressed but OMG, the carpet is so light in colour - I'm honestly not sure how practical it's going to be! Also, apparently, electronic cigarets can be used in staterooms or on balconies but not in public areas. We passed an officer in the corridor whilst looking for our stateroom and so I asked him why the corridor carpet pattern was so one sided. He laughed and confessed he hadn't a clue!

Whilst typing this we are watching the safety video that is looping on the tv. One point that I've not noticed before is that it is being stated that if you wish to use a tender you must be able to get on and off it unaided as the staff are not able to lift, carry or support you - they will only steady you. Even if you use a mobility aid you must be able to get out of it and to board the tender unaided. Basically, you must be able to step over a gap of up to 1.5ft or 45cms and also be able to navigate steps unaided. Please note that I am only the messenger here!

We went straight up to the new Kings Court and, again, like it, however the new Carinthia Lounge is the place to go and, again, the food is all free in there. I can definitely see that lounge being well used. As Gary, I think, mentioned in one of his reviews, there are now wash basins in and around the new Kings Court - apparently a lot of people don't like using the gel that staff offer you. One thing to note about the new wash basins is that the taps and soap dispensers have electronic sensors but you have to reach up, behind the fascia (I hope that's the right word!) under where there's a picture of an oblong with a serrated bottom edge, to find the paper towel to dry your hands!

The new decking is looking superb.

Now off to investigate more of the ship - we only came back to the stateroom to unpack our cases but I hope our observations have answered some unanswered questions some people have.

Pepper - we finally found the outside scenic lift!!!!!! And, yes, we went up in it to the Commodore Club. It wasn't too bad as its enclosed, however, I still don't know that I'd want to use it whilst at sea!

half & half milk (semi skimmed to us Brits?)

Thank you for your initial report.

Sounds like some great improvements.

Pity about allowing e-cigarettes in cabins and on balconies. More and more places are forbidding their use inside, so that seems a retrograde step.

Hope you have a great voyage.

Are you going to take photos?

Hi Happyboating,

Thank you for your excellent post.

Sadly, the ten year-old who runs this site's entire I.T. dept from his bedroom has nipped out on his skateboard for a while and hasn't noticed that he left the "quote" function disabled.

So pleased you found the outside lifts at last :) .

I'll comment further when the quote function is restored... please don't wait up :rolleyes:

Have a wonderful time, thank you again for posting.

During the July 6 safety muster, I recall Captain Wells saying that e-cigarettes were not allowed on balconies or in cabins. I hope I'm not mistaken about this.

During the July 6 safety muster, I recall Captain Wells saying that e-cigarettes were not allowed on balconies or in cabins. I hope I'm not mistaken about this.

Thaxted, I will report back once we've had our safety muster - I'm getting my infirmation from the safety video playing on the tv. I have to report though that there is a very strong smell of stale smoke around the lift areas!!!!! A couple sat at the next table in the Kings Court at lunch were commenting on it too. We're wondering if the staff are smoking whilst they load the luggage onboard and its permeating up the lift shafts - I hope it's not a permanent feature!

Half and half is whole milk and cream (that is, higher in fat than whole milk, not lower). Semi skimmed is called reduced fat milk if 2% fat, or low fat milk if 1% fat.

 

Thank you for your initial report.

Thank you so much for the explanation re the milk - as you figured out, I hadn't got a clue what it was.

Ellie1145, yes I am taking photos but I'm honestly not sure anyone would want to see them! I think we'd all better wait until Pepper takes some.

The smoke smell was very strong on the 7/1 -7/6 trip. Wondering if it is the garbage/rubbish bin at the elevator. The tops seem to have been repurposed from ashtray to glass holder.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

We've now been down to Britannia to see if we can find our table - we couldn't as there was a private function being held in there. No worries though as we've never asked to swap tables, we just like to know where we need to go as, once, a waiter gave us a guided tour of the entire ground floor of the restaurant before finding our allocated table!

We LOVE the new look Chart Room but, to be honest, as its our favourite venue on the ship they'd really have to get it wrong for us to say we don't like it. We much prefer this new carpet to the last one though. Likewise with the Champagne Bar. That said, I can see us spending time in the new Carinthia Lounge too. The Commodore Club doesn't look any different to the photos I've seen of the last refurbishment but as those of you who know me will know, I personally prefer the Commodore Club on QE and QV.

Sir Samuals has now lost the free pastries that they had in there but they have been replaced by extra charge Godiva chocolates and cakes - they look good enough to pay for though so I'm not complaining and will definitely try them at some point during this 4 night mini cruise.

The new Photo Shop looks rather swish but I'm not sure that we'll be using it as we've reached the point that we don't really need any more photos. We were interested to note that the photographers were taking the welcome aboard photos in the Grand Lobby when we embarked - I guess since the new changes in Ocean Terminal there's no room for them there!

Possibly our most important observation is that, so far, we haven't found any potholes - YAY! I'll now have to use another excuse if I fall over!

I guess we should now make our way to muster as we'd like to get a seat.

Back later with an answer to the e-cig query.

Thanks for the reports, have a great time.

A couple of questions from me if you get chance to check.

Any sign of the bell and is G32 now completely no smoking.

Thaxted, I will report back once we've had our safety muster - I'm getting my infirmation from the safety video playing on the tv. I have to report though that there is a very strong smell of stale smoke around the lift areas!!!!! A couple sat at the next table in the Kings Court at lunch were commenting on it too. We're wondering if the staff are smoking whilst they load the luggage onboard and its permeating up the lift shafts - I hope it's not a permanent feature!

I've often noticed a very strong smell of smoke on some of the stairways. I think when I mentioned it before somebody said it was stairway B that is worse because it is close to the area where the staff socialise.

Just back from Muster. I'm pleased to report that when we went up in the lift to deck 7 the smell of smoke is no longer present so, hopefully, it was caused by the staff loading the luggage!

Thaxted, I'm really sorry to report that e-cigs weren't mentioned by anyone at Muster so I've queried their use with one of the staff who asked for our stateroom details and have said they will get back to me, however, they seemed to think that the safety video playing on the tv was correct as all they are really worried about is whether something is a fire hazard and as long as you don't leave them charging, unattended, they are happy for them to be used in staterooms and on balconies. It does actually state on the safety video that they shouldn't be left unattended whilst charging. I'm afraid this may be yet another case of one persons experience being different to another's but if the staff member who took our details doesn't come back to me I will repeat the query at the Pursers desk tomorrow. Clearly we were told at Muster that real cigarettes weren't to be smoked either in the stateroom or on the balcony.

Hattie, I will look for the bell tomorrow but I should be able to report back on the smoking situation in G32 later this evening - I do hope this thread isn't going to degenerate into another smoking thread!

Another interesting addition to our stateroom is a specially shaped cardboard keycard which actually slots into the key slot on the stateroom door - one side says "Privacy please" and the other side says "Please make my room up" - it clearly replaces the card that we used to hang on the door handle which, I guess, sometimes got knocked off and replaced incorrectly. We like it and, of course, if Cunard want to roll them out on QV and QE everyone will have a handy card to leave in the power slot in each stateroom.

Another thing we noticed is that not all staterooms on deck 4 have the new carpet - certainly one of the rooms forwards of us hasn't yet had the refurb because the door was open when we first boarded and so we were able to see the old carpet.

To be honest, our initial view is that QM2 has her old WOW factor back as she no longer looks tired like she did. I don't think we've been on her for about 5 years as we were so annoyed with the state of her last time we travelled onboard so it's good to see her gleaming and resplendent again. We didn't bother to book to come on her again after the last refit once people started reporting that the potholes were still present and there were still problems with the plumbing but I trust they have all been sorted with the $90m remastering.

So far, so good, we're happy - we like our surroundings and all the staff we've met have all responded to our smiles and returned our "hello". Service of drinks, so far, has been good too.

Hopefully they've learned from past repairs and the potholes won't make a reappearance. The carpet by the C elevators on 2 was repaired in 2012 and the potholes soon returned (perhaps in new locations).

Although it is not unusual for information given by shore side to differ from info given on board, it seems to be consistent in the case of e-cigs:

"Electronic cigarettes, including those which do not emit smoke, are not permitted in public areas but can be used in staterooms, balconies and designated areas of the open deck.

Although we recognise that electronic cigarettes are not covered by the UK legislation we have taken the decision to prohibit their use in all public areas in the same way as real cigarettes for the benefit of all of our passengers." -copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/fleet/electronic_smoking

Edited to add:

Opps, I spoke too soon! Here comes the contradiction:

"For the safety, comfort and enjoyment of our guests, smoking (including Electronic alternatives) is not permitted in staterooms, on stateroom balconies or in public rooms. You will find designated areas of the open deck on each ship where smoking is permitted, these will be clearly signposted on board and listed in the Daily Programme.

The only exception to this is Churchill's Cigar Lounge, which is reserved for cigar and pipe smokers.

This policy is designed through direct feedback from our guests and is for the safety and comfort of all guests. This means that all will be able to enjoy the use of all areas of the ship and their private balconies without the effect of drifting smoke"

-copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/fleet/posmoking1

Salacia, I'm already getting the feeling that the subject of e-cigs is going to be an ongoing contradiction! I will, however, report back as to what "I" get told.

Underwatr, someone I know had it explained to them a few years back that when they built QM2 they used an innovative new material to screed the floors with, however, it didn't withstand the movement of the ship and turned to powder which was why when they repaired one pothole another one appeared elsewhere. It was explained that the only way to solve the problem was to strip the ship right back, remove the faulty material and redo and I have to assume that's what they've done during this major remastering.

The contents of our Britannia bathroom are 1 x 100ml shampoo, 1 x 50ml conditioner, 1 x 100ml bath & shower gel, 1 x 50ml body lotion (all Quercus), 2 x shower caps, a large container containing cotton balls and cotton buds, together with 2 x small round bars of soap (Eco-Boutique natural soap), 1 in the bathroom to wash your hands with and 1 in the shower. There is also a box of tissues. Having just had a shower I'd forgotten how large the shower is on QM2 as opposed to the smaller shower units on QV and QE. I also like the fact that the shower head is removeable from its cradle, as opposed to the fixed shower heads on both QV and QE.

DH has noticed that as the tv has replaced a picture that used to be on the wall opposite the bed, the picture spotlight now shines directly on the screen so I've turned the ceiling lights off and we are now just using the table lamps.

Having looked at the back of the tv I can see 2 x USB ports, 1 x HDMI port and the type of port that you would plug a phone cable into, presumably for wifi. As I haven't brought my HDMI cable with me I'm afraid I can't say if the tv will allow me to play a movie stored on my iPad - sorry! Perhaps someone else can report on that?

I hope I've now covered all the facts in the stateroom and that my observation will at least help someone. Ok, if you really want to look for faults you can, of course, find them as all the fixtures and fittings in the staterooms are original and, in our stateroom, the door handle of the cupboard containing the safe - probably the most heavily used door handle - is marked, but I simply can't fault the furnishings in here - they are beautiful.

At least some of the ceiling lights are eyeball fixtures that can be aimed somewhat (they get really hot, so be careful). I wonder whether it's possible to aim the offending one away from the TV?

At least some of the ceiling lights are eyeball fixtures that can be aimed somewhat (they get really hot, so be careful). I wonder whether it's possible to aim the offending one away from the TV?

Alternatively, is it possible to remove the offending light bulb once it has cooled??

Thanks for the reports, have a great time.

A couple of questions from me if you get chance to check.

Any sign of the bell and is G32 now completely no smoking.

Hattie

G32 is completely no smoking

and the bell is located In The bulkhead up In The Lookout, been replaced with the one that was originally there I think.

... the bell is located In The bulkhead up In The Lookout, been replaced with the one that was originally there I think.

Here is a photo of the same case taken in 2011:

Well done Happyboating, a great series of comprehensive, and very observant reports. You've been so very helpful and kind answering the many questions, you deserve a vote of thanks from us all :)

I esp liked the information about the ceiling spot lights falling on the tv screen; I rarely use the main lights (only the wall and table lamps) so this annoying feature may have escaped my notice. Thank you :)

I hope you both really relax during your cruise on the remastered QM2.

I've 135 days to go before I get to see what you're currently enjoying!

It's been a long time since we three last met up, lots to catch up on next time :)

Well done again, have a fantastic time over the coming days.

Hi Pennbank,

 

Here is a photo of the same case taken in 2011:

 

That proves a point that is not then. Shows how observant I am. Thanks for correcting me,

Easily confused as they look identical to me.

That proves a point that is not then. Shows how observant I am.

Here is the bell "in action" in the Grand Lobby in 2006:

I was really hoping that they would have found a new, visible, home on board for this bell by now...

Sorry again, best wishes :)

Sorry :o , I wasn't sure about the bells being moved about, so I thought I'd have a look and see.

 

Here is the bell "in action" in the Grand Lobby in 2006:

 

 

I was really hoping that they would have found a new, visible, home on board for this bell by now...

 

Sorry again, best wishes :)

Many Thanks, I do so much enjoy your photos and look forward to the ones you will take on your next QM2 voyage.