QM2 Review: Eastbound crossing in January!

I just returned from an eastbound transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 with a 2-night post-voyage stay in London.

As I usually do for my reviews, after a brief synopsis I will make entries journal-style, day by day, as I wrote them at time of occurrence [except omitting real names in order to provide anonymity]. I feel this will provide a similar effect to a "live from" thread; a type I much enjoy reading here on CC. After the daily accounts, I will provide a synopsis of thoughts at the end as well. There will be a smattering of pictures included as well!

In addition, I had the pleasure of meeting some lovely fellow CCers on board but will refrain from mentioning names due to privacy. Of course, they are free to comment and reveal themselves if they wish.

Any questions, feel free to ask. Thank you for reading and enjoy!

Background:

This trip consisted of myself [34 y/o] and my mother [63 y/o], sailing eastbound from New York City to Southampton on 03 January 2017 through 10 January 2017 in a sheltered balcony, Britannia-grade stateroom on Deck 5.

This was my second time on the lovely QM2 as I'd done a westbound crossing with DH in the fall on 2015. Since he could not get time off work, mom, an avid cruiser, decided to join me for her first time on Cunard.

11.28pm

Mom and I left for NYC at around 8am for what should have been a 3.5 hour drive to the terminal. We stopped twice in CT along the way so it took about 4.5 hours instead. Traffic was pretty light with the exception of a small amount near LaGuardia. When we got to the rental car drop-off, they gave a bit of a hard time as they said they were full and we were not scheduled to drop off there. When I picked up that car I had confirmed multiple times that it would be a one-way rental to Brooklyn and was promised it would be no problem. After a little bit**ing and phone calls to the MA office, the eventually agreed to accept the car return. We then took a taxi [$12 flat rate] to the pier and were quickly checked in. We were aboard QM2 by quarter past 1 and did not have to wait in the terminal at all. Quickest boarding ever!

Once on board we dropped our hand luggage in the stateroom and headed to King's Court for lunch. The refurbished staterooms are beautiful although the drawer pulls are quite sharp! The King's Court remodel is quite nice as well and there were plenty of seats available. It's so much brighter then before.

At 5pm I went to the FOD meeting in the Commodore Club and it was PACKED! There must have been at least 30 people there. I couldn't chat with everyone since it was so crowded but the people that I did meet were all very cook. D1 & A1 from England were in their 70s and had been onboard for 3 weeks already. They did the Soton > NYC > Caribbean > NYC and were now heading back to England. They had another friend named D2 with them who flew in a couple of days ago just for this crossing. There was another couple, in their 30s named S1 and S2 who had also been on for 3 weeks. L1 from the US and J1 from England rounded out the bunch today.

Mum and I were assigned to a table for 4 at our 8.30 dining time. The other two people did not show up but there was a 2nd table for 4 right next to us that was full. It was really like an 8-top as the tables were no more than 6 inches apart. M1 and her husband L2 along with A1 and T1 were all from Wales. I had the prime rib of roast beef which was cooked perfectly well done and had the most wonderful, very spicy, horseradish sauce. Mum said her filet of sole was quite good as well. Tomorrow is the first full day at sea!

Stateroom 5059

Grand Lobby

Carinthia Lounge

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Thanks for posting, I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Treacle Pudding

Ready for dinner

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The refurbished staterooms are beautiful although the drawer pulls are quite sharp!

I totally agree. The designer must have selected them by their appearance without ever trying them on the actual doors and drawers.

And to rub it in, they retained the original handles on the cabinets in the bathroom.

11.58pm

Today was the first full day at on board. Mom and I took breakfast in King's Court before strolling around the ship for a bit. Deciding to catch up on some reading, we finished off the morning with our books [i'm reading Megyn Kelly's "Settle For More"]. Mom sat in the Commodore Club whilst I sat in Churchill's so I could have a couple of cigars. We set the clocks ahead one hour today at noon. Changing mid-day is a bit of an annoyance!!

At 2.15pm we went to Kate Hafner's lecture on the Wallich Villa in Berlin and the effects of East Germany on the house's fate. It was actually quite interesting and she is a decent storyteller. After the lecture it was just about time for afternoon tea which mom really enjoyed. We got a table right at the edge of the ballroom floor so were able to really hear and enjoy the string quartet playing some lovely Strauss waltzes.

The FOD meetup was even busier today than yesterday. The standing-room-only group overflowed to the sections of the lounge behind our reserved area. I caught up a bit with A1 and D1/D2 as well as meeting with M1 from California. I also got the chance to meet fellow CCer "H1" and his bf B1.

Dinner tonight was filet mignon and mushroom soup with crepes Suzette for dessert. A2/T1 and M1/L2 were more chatty tonight. It turns out they have been friends and neighbors for 46 years! The other 2 people assigned to our table didn't show up for the 2nd night in a row.

Churchill's.

Afternoon tea in the Queens Room.

With the spare propeller blades on deck 7

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11.59pm

Today started off with the idea that there would not be much to do. However, we still ended up having quite a busy day. After breakfast, we went to the immigration check so our passports could be stamped ahead of arrival. What an efficient process this is!! Then we went to the duty free so we could buy some cigarettes during the extra 15% off sale.

Mom wanted to see one of the planetarium shows so we went for tickets but they were all gone by the time we got there. Instead, we went to the Carinthia lounge to have some port and listen to the string quartet. Then it was off to read for a couple hours before I went to the FOD meetup and mom played in the casino.

The FOD was packed as usual. A1 and D1/D2 were hilarious today with their bickering. At dinner, we had the Chateaubriand which was fabulous with a lemon souffle for dessert. The show tonight was Appassionata which I saw on my last crossing but mom wanted to go. It was okay but paled in comparison to the Opera Boys who performed yesterday and were amazing!

After the show I saw T2 and J2 from Palm Springs and got the chatting. They are headed to Pairs for two weeks and then flying home. We ended up having cookies whilst we chatted and though I REALLY didn't need a second dessert haha.

Beautiful eclair and a 10 year old Ferreira white port in Carinthia Lounge

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10.40pm

Sitting in Churchill's now with a Macanudo Hampton Court after a wonderful dinner of veal confit pasta in a mushroom sauce. We ordered a terrific Portuguese vinho verde with dinner tonight. Today breezed by so quickly that we forgot to do laundry even though we had intended to. We'll have to be sure to do it tomorrow.

We went to lunch in the Golden Lion Pub today for the fish & chips. Everything was delicious but the mushy peas were especially wonderfull. After that, we went to a lecture on the Kennedy assassination. It was a good way to pass the time but nothing too profound. T2 and J2 sat with us for the violinist performance tonight as they had spotted us in the theatre. Mom is spending more time in the casino whilst I'm here in Churchill's.

There is quite the cast of characters in here tonight talking about healthcare between the US and UK. Then, the older Englishman, Giles [not real name] delighted us with tales of his former cat, now deceased. I'll likely head up to deck 8 for a cigarette before bed and to see if L2 from Liverpool is out there. She is hilarious to sit and chat with.

Punch Romaine a la Carpathia in Commodore Club

Fish and chips in the Golden Lion

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11.56pm

Mom is still down in the casino as I write this. This morning I finally did laundry and attended William Lokey's lecture on myths and legends of natural disasters in between washing and drying. It was quite interesting to hear how other cultures have created legends about why a volcano or an earthquake happens. After, mom and I have a light lunch in Carinthia Lounge so we could listed to the string quartet again.

I had a very quick swim in the deck 8 pool this afternoon but it was quite cold out so I only lasted about 10 minutes.

L2 came to the FOD this afternoon with her husband E1! and was a great hit with the gays. She put on a curly blonde wig and wore rhinestone heels! She's truly a blast.

I got an invitation to a cocktail party from a fellow CCer and his friend in their Queens Grill suite tomorrow evening. We had communicated on CC before the trip but I just finally met them this evening.

The gossip at the deck 8 smoking spot was so dramatic tonight. It seems as if there is a prostitute on board with a guy who is 40 years older than her! SCANDAL! Of course this is just want some of the other passengers who saying. Who knows if she is REALLY a prostitute...

Chocolate bees at King's Court

Chocolate treats.

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11.50pm

Today seemed like the busiest day even though we didn't do much of anything until 5ish. After breakfast we just sauntered around the ship and chatted with people we'd run in to. We saw D3 and P1 in the casino so we played a few slots and then just sat in the lobby with them to chat a bit. D3 has been doing quite well at roulette this week. They are two of the nicest people! She surprised P1 with this crossing and 3 days in NY first for his birthday. P1 even bought mom and I each a drink later on in the evening. Such sweet people.

We also ran in to C1 and K1 in the lobby so talked with them for a while as well. They are from Basel and K1 would be performing in the passenger talent show later in the evening which we promised to attend.

Before the talent show was the auction for the ship's navigation chart from this voyage. They got $5,000 USD for it this time!! At least the money is going to charity and not to Cunard profits. K1 was wonderful in the show btw!

Mom came to FOD with me for the last half hour after the talent show. All the English gay boys love her; probably because she can be loud and over the top at times haha. L2 and E1 were there again too so mom chatted with them for a bit.

After FOD, we came back to the stateroom to shower and get dressed for the evening. I went to the CC member's cocktail party and had a wonderful time. I must be sure to send a thank-you note to their suite.

Dinner tonight was pheasant with escargots to start. After, we went to the show Broadway Rocks with T2 & J2. I wore my masquerade mask for the rest of the night! It was a big hit haha. We dipped into the Queen's Room for a couple min to see the other masks but then went to the casino where I won $150 on a slot! I ended up blowing $50 at roulette so a I put the rest on the stateroom account so I didn't lose that too.

Passenger Talent show

Mom and I with two of the Cunard dancers after Broadway Rocks

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11.58pm

Short entry tonight as it is the last night on board and we must wake up at 6.30am!

Today was a pretty lazy day. We spent some time packing and saying goodbye to all the wonderful people we've met on this voyage. The singer tonight, Stephani Parker, sang a collection of Whitney Houston songs and was amazing! She was one of the best performers we've ever seen on a ship. We had afternoon tea in the Queens Room and spent some time in the casino with D3 and P1. Mom also got a London phonebox charm at the Pandora store on board. I said goodbye to all the new friends I made and exchanged contact info. We still have a busy 2.5 days in London before going home though.

11.22pm

After arriving in Southampton, we took the National Express to London Victoria. We were able to walk to our hotel [The Beverley] and it is lovely but SO SMALL. The stateroom on QM2 was actually bigger!

Once we checked in, we took the tube to Harrods to shop a bit before going to the evensong service at Westminster Abbey. Then we went to Fortnum & Mason to stock up on teas. Another exhausting day tomorrow as we try to cram in as much as possible on this short trip.

11.50pm

We slept in a little today as we were both so exhausted from our time on QM2. A around noon we went to the Tower of London and had a wonderful time. We took the guided tour with the Yeoman Warder which was well worth planning for. It really gives one a lot of info about the history of the Tower. We had a couple hours so I got to see a lot more than I did back in 2003 when I last visited the site. We had originally planned to go to the National Gallery in the afternoon but spent more time at the Tower than expected so we skipped it and headed to Bond St. instead.

Mom got a beautiful passport case at Smythson as they are still having their January sales. We headed to Hermes next and I must say that the customer service at the Bond St location leaves a bit to be desired. No on was rude or anything but it was a chore to get an associate to assist me. We weren't greeted when we went in and no one offered to help us without being asked. I left empty handed and will try to store at Heathrow instead to find when I'm looking for. Next up was Gieves & Hawkes on Saville Row. The men working there were so kind and helpful! I ended up buying two pocket squares from the sale.

We ate dinner at the Queen's Head in the West End. FABULOUS! Steak & Ale pie with a cider, followed by sticky date pudding for dessert. Everything was truly delicious.

After dinner we went to see Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap at St. Martin's Theatre. It's currently in its 65th year of being performed. What a fun experience it was to see the world's longest running play.

Back home tomorrow. Sad to leave this fabulous city.

Tiny room 113 at The Beverley

At Tower of London

Fortnum and Mason

Queens Head Pub

At The Mousetrap

View from our balcony at the hotel.

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Just spent a great half hour reading your daily posts and enjoyed all of it so much. Glad that you and your mom had such a wonderful trip together. Thanks for taking the time to post all of this on here. Can't wait for your next voyage.

Don't have access to deck plans at the moment, but is that a sheltered balcony?

We have one booked next month, on four I think.

Just spent a great half hour reading your daily posts and enjoyed all of it so much. Glad that you and your mom had such a wonderful trip together. Thanks for taking the time to post all of this on here. Can't wait for your next voyage.

Why thank you for reading and for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Don't have access to deck plans at the moment, but is that a sheltered balcony?

 

We have one booked next month, on four I think.

Thanks for reading! Yes, it is a sheltered balcony. It was perfect for a winter crossing and the balcony is larger than the glass-fronted ones.

This was a wonderful crossing and I'm already yearning to sail on Mary again soon! Some final thoughts...

Food:

Whilst always subjective, we found the food to be very good on this crossing. I was a bit disappointed that there was no beef Wellington in Britannia but, alas, what can one do. The puddings often had the same [or very similar] vanilla sauce on them which, whilst good, was a bit repetitive. The small bites for lunch in the Carinthia Lounge were outstanding. Do try the BBQ pork flatbread!! King's Court had typical, but well executed, choices for breakfast and lunch. The wonderful scones in the Queens Room are still wonderful.

Service:

We had the sweetest, most attentive assistance waiter in Britannia at dinner time. He always had a smile on his face and remembered our preferences after the first day [cream with coffee...never milk]. Our lead waiter was professional and courteous but not overly warm towards us. Our stateroom steward was also wonderful; friendly yet unobtrusive. Cunard also had the foresight to staff the Commodore Club with an actual FOD during the time of the FOD meetings; he was a lot of fun and a wonderful waiter.

Decor:

QM2 was always a lovely lady but now is more stunning than ever. The new updates were tastefully done and truly elevate the luxury factor of the public rooms. The Carinthia Lounge is beautifully decorated and was well utilized on this crossing. The string quartet at lunch is delightful. King's Court is a complete 180 from before the remodel; so bright and airy feeling now! The stateroom updates were well done although the new carpet is already starting to show dirt [cream is NOT a good idea for high foot-traffic areas] and the drawer razors, I mean pulls, were not thought out well. The blue and gold accents were lovely though, as were the new sofa and historic photos. The large display of fresh flowers in the lobby was changed over once during the week; a nice touch to switch it up halfway through the trip.

Entertainment:

FABULOUS! Stephani Parker was one of the best singers we've heard on any ship. The Opera Boys were wonderful [i am an opera fan so may be a little biased] and the Broadway Rocks show was a lot of fun. Apassionata is Apassionata...take that how you will. The string quartet was very good and they played in numerous venues throughout the week.

Sole Complaint:

I do not wish to start an ongoing smoking discussion but I do need to mention my own opinion regarding this. One smoking area, in the unsheltered aft of deck 7, is NOT enough for a ship of this size. It was too small an area and was not protected from the elements. I heard many complaints on this crossing from smokers and I do hope Cunard figures something out. Last crossing, one was able to smoke in G32 as well as decks 7 and 8 aft. They reduced 3 areas to 1 and not even a comfortable one. This needs to be rectified. Apparently Cunard did take note of the many complaints as they opened a small area on the aft of deck 8 for smoking that was at least covered from the sun/rain. Again, it was too small for the number of people using it but at least there was a covered option in addition to the uncovered one. This is important during rainy days as well as hot/sunny days.

Thank you so much for taking the time to report. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I couldn't keep your new friends straight....but so glad that you enjoyed them so much. Lovely read and the pictures added the final touch.