Jim_P

There was a photo floating around that looked like carpets were removed but I think it was just panels laid down the hallway to protect the floor. But I also truly hope those terrible carpets are gone. My first impression of the QM2 was heading to my cabin and thinking "wow, these carpets are really worn out!". I thought that for the entirety of the cruise. It wasn't until long after that I found out its a deliberate fade. Mind boggling design choice. I've seen photos of the original carpets, so much nicer.

I was on Deck 11 very close to the laundry. No real noise, just people talking sometimes but since the laundry closes at 9pm it wasnt an issue. It was actually very handy being close, easy to check when it was free, and I could just go back to my room while I waited. I found that the best time was around 8pm. People are at shows or dinner and the laundry was usually empty.

I was just looking at the Sydney port schedule and the QE is scheduled in regularly in the 2025/26 season so Cunard had her planned to be here. This must have been a very last minute decision. Given that other lines are expanding their presence in Australia (and Princess just announced that their flagship, the Discovery Princess, will be spending 2025 and 2026 in Australia) and theres a lot of talk lately about a new cruise terminal being built at Port Kembla to accommodate the cruise market which is set to grow by about 10% in Australia in the next five years, this is a strange decision. Especially with a fourth Cunard ship set to enter the northern hemisphere market. Disappointing that the only way I'll be able to go on Cunard in the future means hopping on a leg of a world voyage and seeing the exotic ports of Adelaide and Melbourne over and over unless I want to have to make my way home from China.

Pretty sure thats from exhaust vents for the trash disposal.

I was in an IF room in March (11015 to be precise) and I thought it was great. Yes, only two chairs and a table, no lounge chair. I was in it for 10 days and it certainly did the job and I wouldn't hesitate to book that room again.

Shades of the SS City of New York/Titanic incident with the tugs saving the day. The old girl is having quite an eventful year.

In my case it was sold out before it appeared in the program. Just go to the Tour desk on your embarkation day and ask if they're doing the tour so you can put your name down then.

I did the Behind the Scenes Tour on the QM2 in March. Apparently the first one since they started them up again. I was blown away by it, it was much more than I expected and was worth every cent (which from memory was something like $120). It lasted for about four hours (I wasn't expecting anything near that). We got to see many working areas of the ship (as an ocean liner fanatic I was in my element). Parts of the ship we visited included the docking machinery and anchor area below the bow, the engineering room, the hospital, the galley (which was followed by an afternoon tea in which we got champagne and got to try specialty treats usually only available to Grills Suite passengers), the waste disposal area, the crews rec area and mess, the backstage area and dressing rooms and the highlight - a visit to the bridge and a photo op with the Captain. We were also given some cool souvenirs and keepsakes. I loved it and highly recommend it if anyone has the opportunity. Get in fast though, very limited numbers. I went straight to the tour office to book it as soon as it was advertised in the program and was told it was already sold out. I told them how much I am into Cunard history and have built models of the QM2 and how devastated I was to miss out etc. They took my name and room number and two days later I got an invitation from the Captain in my cabin mailbox to invite me to the tour.