How Has QM2 Changed since 2004?

I know how Cunard has changed. QM2 and the old QE2 are quite different.

But I'm curious to know what others think about how QM2 has changed. I first travelled on QM2 in 2004, when she was sparkling with newness. I think she still had some similarities to QE2 during her first few years also in terms of ambiance.

But since then, what changes do you think have occurred?

Also, do you think there is a different vibe on QM2 on different sailings during the year?

I know how Cunard has changed. QM2 and the old QE2 are quite different.

 

But I'm curious to know what others think about how QM2 has changed. I first travelled on QM2 in 2004, when she was sparkling with newness. I think she still had some similarities to QE2 during her first few years also in terms of ambiance.

 

But since then, what changes do you think have occurred?

 

Also, do you think there is a different vibe on QM2 on different sailings during the year?

How has QM2 changed since 2004? I sailed on her in 2004 and the band/orchestra in the Queen's Ballroom had great difficulty playing the correct tempos for ballroom dancing.

I sailed on her again twice in the past year and the the dance tempos were excellent, thanks to band leaders Maurice Williams and Andrew Hillier.

So, that's a very welcome improvement for ballroom dancers.

Is there a different vibe on QM2 on different sailings? Definitely!

Much more relaxed and refined on longer and more expensive cruises. The short 3/4 day 'booze cruises' to the Continent from the UK very often lack the finesse one would hope for. Who says so? .. ask any of the staff/crew!

Since 2004, she is slower.:eek:

Since 2004, she is slower.:eek:

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Which to us, is a GOOD thing! We go for the ship, not ports!

Changes since 2004 ?

There certainly seems to be more seating in the King's Court area. In 2004 one struggled for a table sometimes but on recent cruises there always seems to be tables spare, even if one has to walk a little. So, another improvement there.

We also first cruised on QM2 in 2004 (NYC-St. Maarten-Martinique-St. Thomas-NYC); our most recent was in July of this year (NYC-Soton-Norway-Soton-NYC), plus eleven other crossing and cruise bookings in between. As Jim Avery said she goes more slowly now, 7 days to cross instead of 6 (and she could do it in 5).

I agree with eatsallinsects too that the extra sea day is great, but I do miss the occasional 28-knot dash.

Internet access has certainly improved. That is, now we have ship-wide wifi availability, although the actual internet connection is often painfully slow.

It's been all downhill for cigarette smokers. Ten years ago you could smoke in the bars; now, cigarette smokers are forbidden to puff in Churchill's. This is not Churchill's Churchill's.

 

There certainly seems to be more seating in the King's Court area. In 2004 one struggled for a table sometimes but on recent cruises there always seems to be tables spare, even if one has to walk a little. So, another improvement there.

Because the ship was not full perhaps?

One thing that has certainly changed is the quality of the food. The QE2 quality did seem to be transfered over to QM in the early days, along with Commodore Ron Wawick Sadly this has not continued to date.

David.

I always liked to play the slots in the Casino: loved seeing the coins falling into the "basket" thingy but No More!

All computer now! So, therefore, the Casino has lost my business (money)!

We also first cruised on QM2 in 2004 (NYC-St. Maarten-Martinique-St. Thomas-NYC); our most recent was in July of this year (NYC-Soton-Norway-Soton-NYC), plus eleven other crossing and cruise bookings in between. As Jim Avery said she goes more slowly now, 7 days to cross instead of 6 (and she could do it in 5).

I agree with eatsallinsects too that the extra sea day is great, but I do miss the occasional 28-knot dash.

 

Internet access has certainly improved. That is, now we have ship-wide wifi availability, although the actual internet connection is often painfully slow.

 

It's been all downhill for cigarette smokers. Ten years ago you could smoke in the bars; now, cigarette smokers are forbidden to puff in Churchill's. This is not Churchill's Churchill's.

i recall ash trays on the deck 7 railing

I know how Cunard has changed. QM2 and the old QE2 are quite different.

 

But I'm curious to know what others think about how QM2 has changed. I first travelled on QM2 in 2004, when she was sparkling with newness. I think she still had some similarities to QE2 during her first few years also in terms of ambiance.

 

But since then, what changes do you think have occurred?

 

Also, do you think there is a different VIBE on QM2 on different sailings during the year?

Sorry, but I could not resist......the only thing that has not changed is the group VIBES (?) same group, same songs every day and in most venues on QM2. We were on QM2 earlier this year and whether at the outdoor pool or indoor pool, the same exact songs were played...AND they were the same songs as when we first went on her (I believe) in 2009. I just could not believe it.

On another note, I think one change has been that they must have less waiters in the Britannia Dining Room because this last time they were running all over the place and said they had to work more tables.

What has changed?

-the gauntlet one must run past the photographers on the way to the MDR

-tat tables, and perfume sales that are enough to gag a camel

-change in dress code, and the ambiguity therein, most especially for women

-last minute bargain fares that rankle early bookers, especially when upgrades are given to newbies who paid less than half

-pre-booking tours and dining reservations paid in advance - to which on board credits do not apply

-regarding World Club: discounts for dry cleaning and laundry only apply after all on board credit has been exhausted (and even then it is sometimes not applied unless an objection is raised)

-reduction in crew members to allow more berths for those who are revenue enhancing contract employees such as shop keepers, salon employees, photogs, entertainers, etc.

-SLOWER SPEED, fewer ports on a cruise - more time at sea crawling like a sailboat without at wind.

-Less training time for servers in the MDR

-Increased turnover of the crew

-More aspects of Cunard of being "out sourced" to various companies

...I could go on, but who cares? It is what it is. <shrug>

I neglected to mention-

-Reflagging the ships to Bermuda for the reason Cunard gave: to allow [some] weddings to be held on board.

'

 

-Reflagging the ships to Bermuda for the reason Cunard gave: to allow [some] weddings to be held on board.

What do you mean by "some"?

David.

Well the sky may have fallen for some, but I can't see that a huge amount has changed between 2010 and 2013.

Changes I have noticed are:

• No more free caviar in the Princess Grill.
  
• No ATM in the casino.
  
• The drink stirers are no longer the blue and gold embossed Cunard ones.
  

That's all I can think of at the moment. I should mention that none of these changes ruined any of my cruises…..of course all due respect to anyone whose cruise was ruined by these changes.

Sorry, but I could not resist......the only thing that has not changed is the group VIBES (?) same group, same songs every day and in most venues on QM2. We were on QM2 earlier this year and whether at the outdoor pool or indoor pool, the same exact songs were played...AND they were the same songs as when we first went on her (I believe) in 2009. I just could not believe it.

Very true, and so boring of Cunard. One thing you forgot to mention is that some of the band members are unchanged. It must be a special kind of hell to have to play 'Red Red Wine' over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

In the very early days, afternoon tea was held in the Winter Garden. Truly lucky to find a seat then! It soon changed to the Queens Room.

The fares have certainly reduced for most trips since 2003/4.

She still cannot be beaten for a passage across the Atlantic, whatever is said!

We were on QM2 earlier this year and whether at the outdoor pool or indoor pool, the same exact songs were played...AND they were the same songs as when we first went on her (I believe) in 2009. I just could not believe it.

 

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Some of us would be very grateful to have no songs around pools.

David.

In no particular order, following is my perception of changes, both significant and inconsequential, in Queen Mary 2 over the years since her debut in 2004.

• Relaxation of the dress code and related onboard ambience
  
• More discounting/promotions
  
• More onboard revenue-generating programs and fewer “give-aways”
  
• Slower speeds
  
• Failure to complete aspects of the 2011 refit/refurbishment (i.e., replacement of sofas in Britannia class cabins, as stated by former director Peter Shanks).
  
• Ship-wide decline in the quality of food, especially in Britannia
  
• Increasingly understaffed and overworked serving crew (dining rooms, cabins)
  
• Replacement of Cunard logo/crest pool towels with ordinary beach towels
  

In addition, one cannot ignore the damage inflicted by the re-flagging to Bermuda on the overall culture of the ship and Cunard’s storied heritage.

Nonetheless, and in spite of the above, I continue to sail often with Cunard, particularly Queen Mary 2, because the experience, however diminished or homogenized, is still the next best after the incomparable QE2.

Well the sky may have fallen for some, but I can't see that a huge amount has changed between 2010 and 2013.

 

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The OP was referring to changes since 2004.

David.

The OP was referring to changes since 2004.

 

David.

Which includes the years between 2004 and the present year.

What do you mean by "some"?

 

David.

Some weddings are not permitted - specifically same sex weddings.

Some weddings are not permitted - specifically same sex weddings.

Thank you, didn't know that.

David.

Which includes the years between 2004 and the present year.

True, but the years between 2004 and 2010 were when the significant changes took place in my experience. In recent years the ship has not changed much as you say, but is certainly chalk and cheese to when she was brand new, with so much of the ambiance, and the crew, transferred from QE2.

And all the seating worked in Illuminations!!

David.

...

And all the seating worked in Illuminations!!

 

David.

And ten years ago the Planetarium shows were new!

...and Pluto was still a planet :D

...and Pluto was still a planet :D