QM2 have I made a mistake???

Hi,

We have booked the QM2 for a five day trip next year. I have since seen lots of bad reviews and even how dirty it is and they have a cockroach problem.

I am now wondering if it is realy that bad and should I cancel?

J+

You have made no mistake.

If you feel you have made a mistake, I'll take the tickets for free.

I do not think so. I think that you have made one of the best choices you could have made and once you have sailed on Cunard, you will have a hard time going on anything else. The ships, crew, and service are marvelous. Some may differ to some degree, but that is always the case.

As for the bad publicity, it relates to a low grade received on an inspection by the US Public Health Service. Cunard responded immediately to cure the problems found. In my humble opinion, the whole thing has been blown out of proportion as it seems to have only related to one locker on the ship. If you want to read the CC thread on it it can be found at

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1434475&highlight=health+inspection

I hope that you do not cancel, because, if you do, again, in my humble opinion, you will be missing out on an experience of a lifetime--to be repeated on the QM2, Queen Victoria, and, most especially, the Queen Elizabeth, if your experience is at all like ours has been.

for the link and information, you have helped put my mind at rest.

J+

Hi,

 

We have booked the QM2 for a five day trip next year. I have since seen lots of bad reviews and even how dirty it is and they have a cockroach problem.

 

I am now wondering if it is realy that bad and should I cancel?

 

 

J+

Hi 1partyjan;

Have you read any of the Capnpugwash posts? He is practically live on Queen Mary 2. If he is not worried; I am not worried. I am sure next inspection; Cunard will get 100 points. I my husband and I just booked the full 2013 world cruise.

Best regards

Marie

Oh Please, where are the LOTS of bad reviews ?? I have only seen opinions of a review. Not any first hand report let alone LOTS.

Why don't you go and tell us how it was. Nothing like a first-hand report of whatever

So be nervous, be scared, I'll take your place

Have Fun, somewhere

MA.

While I am critical of some aspects of Cunard, you should not be concerned at all about the cleanliness. We were onboard for 94 days this year, never saw any type of bug, dust or dirty anything. We are quite picky, I even had my own container of sanitizing wipes, which went largely unused (mostly to clean knobs, etc after each time one of us had a cough or cold to not infect the other one).

Our cabin was cleaned thoroughly consistently through the trip. Common areas were also cleaned, and carpets steamed, all the time. The first day or 2 of each segment of the cruise, all doors to public bathrooms are kept open so they aren't a contributor of contamination.

Hi,

 

We have booked the QM2 for a five day trip next year. I have since seen lots of bad reviews and even how dirty it is and they have a cockroach problem.

 

I am now wondering if it is realy that bad and should I cancel?

 

 

J+

Not at all, Carnival and Princess will get the issues that arose on Queen Mary 2 in line if they are not already. While the report has been downplayed, particularly by Cunard cheerleaders, it was a fairly extensive list of issues some fairly serious and some seemingly mundane. I think the issues are probably remedied for the most part now.

Oh Please, where are the LOTS of bad reviews ?? I have only seen opinions of a review. Not any first hand report let alone LOTS.

 

Why don't you go and tell us how it was. Nothing like a first-hand report of whatever

 

So be nervous, be scared, I'll take your place

 

Have Fun, somewhere

MA.

Once the report was made public, the story was picked up by many news outlets. For some reason, the news didn't hit all places on the same day, so the story kept popping up over several days. I can understand how someone might notice the story in different places at different times and not realize it was the same news being repeatedly trotted out as something new.

BTW, scroll back a few pages on the Cunard board. The first thread on this subject did have first-hand info--it had a link to the actual report.

And to the OP, don't cancel!

Some rouge inspector finds one coachroach and now the whole ship is infested for eternity. Do you live in a coachroach free place on earth? I'd like to know where it is.

Just off the 5 day last week and believe me I looked and found not one. No dirty dishes.

No miggots in my spinch salad. No hairs floating by me in the hot tubs (and I tried them all to be sure so I didn't miss one). It's a first class cruise.

We are quite picky, I even had my own container of sanitizing wipes.

Thought better of what I was posting - kids gotta eat some dirt ...

]Some rouge inspector [/color]finds one coachroach and now the whole ship is infested for eternity. Do you live in a coachroach free place on earth? I'd like to know where it is.Just off the 5 day last week and believe me I looked and found not one. No dirty dishes.

No miggots in my spinch salad. No hairs floating by me in the hot tubs (and I tried them all to be sure so I didn't miss one). It's a first class cruise.

Well, let's not go too far here in bashing the CDC inspectors, or exaggerating aspects of the inspection report such as roaches, while ignoring other very important notations on the report, including those having to do with potable water supply.

While I agree the public areas of the ship were kept very clean constantly, it was almost as if the ship were on high alert. The July 1 cruise was my 9th cruise on QM2, and as others have commented upon, I also found no fault with public areas, but then again passengers do not have access to all the same areas as CDC inspectors.

It would be very interesting to see inspection reports on cabins, if only such inspections took place.

FALoar: no roaches have been found in my house, and I know several others who also don't have roaches. However, after heavy rains, ants recently took up residence in my kitchen- but I've asked them to leave.:eek::) -S.

Hi,

 

We have booked the QM2 for a five day trip next year. I have since seen lots of bad reviews and even how dirty it is and they have a cockroach problem.

 

I am now wondering if it is realy that bad and should I cancel?

 

 

J+

1partyjan, I'm sure you've also read very postive reviews, right? So what it comes down to is your own personal experience, and you won't know until you've actually experienced the ship for yourself. Since you've booked a short five day cruise, that would give you an opportunity to try the ship for a short period of time at a reasonable cost.

Just to add that I recently took a five day cruise (July 1 Canada/New England), and my husband and I had a lovely time. Hope you enjoy your voyage too.

Regards,

Salacia

My hubby and I were on for three weeks............it was just great! We had many concerns since we had never been on Cunard. They were all put to rest by the second day. If you like cultural things, it will be the ship for you. As far as cleanliness , it was kept very clean. I realize I was not exactly behind the scenes, but we were never sick and we ate almost all meals on the ship.

Hi,

 

We have booked the QM2 for a five day trip next year. I have since seen lots of bad reviews and even how dirty it is and they have a cockroach problem.

 

I am now wondering if it is realy that bad and should I cancel?

 

 

J+

There's a bit of wear & tear, but no real issues. Drydock this fall should correct this.We've been on 6 times & it's gotten better each time. It's true we've gone to the Grills so I really can't speak for all. We did have a friend of my mother who sailed with us last fall. She was a "rower" as Salacia would say, but had a grand time. She's now pestering us about our next trip. She & my partner want to do Hawaii(Queen Victoria). If we do..well probably no Grills, as it's a costlier trip. It's a shame the QM2 is cutting back on Caribbean trips, as this is what we usually do.

We just got off the Grand Norweigan Fjords & Falls. It was our first time on Cunard and it definetely exceeded our expectation. The ship was spotless. No dust/dirt. The theatre's looked new to me. I know they are going into dry dock in the fall. There was wear and tear in the hallways. The carpets need to be replaced. But they are steamed cleaned daily.

Enjoy your trip. I'm jealous. My husband & I are already looking to book our next trip. :)

Our last trip on the QM2 was the Holiday Cruise. We had the Noro Virus on board and that has to be one of the worst of expectations and Cunard stepped up all the way. If it hadn't been for passengers fighting Cunards rules every step of the way, it might not have become such a serious issue.

The QM2 is my favorite ship and we've never, ever, had a complaint about cleanliness. If there are a few worn spots in the carpet, well, she's going into drydock. No different than any other ship in any other fleet. We are looking forward to our sailing on Aug. 22.

Enjoy your trip with no worries. :)

the only big mistake you will make is if you cancel the problems you have read about have been cleared up since the outcome of the report

We're on the QM2 now having embarked in NYC on July 27 and are on our way to Hamburg. BTW, as I understand it, there was another CDC inspection that day & the ship passed.

We've been on many ships and the QM2 remains our favorite. She's showing some wear and tear now, but she is getting older (aren't we all?) and fortunately is going into dry dock in November where she'll be spruced up and rejuvenated.

We've booked our next QM2 cruise while on board since we like the OBCs and Cunard is good about applying price decreases.

The food is outstanding, the entertainment 1st rate.

There have been some changes like they no longer have an ATM or take traveler's checks and there is now a $10 pp surcharge to eat in some of the King's Court restaurants in the evening. Also the table stakes have gone up in the casino and are now the same as those throughout all the ships with Players Club Casinos (the Carnival corp casino mgt)

The shops have limited inventory this trip since on previous cruises there were a lot of serious shoppers and the stock wasn't replenished in Southampton. They also ran out of Gin in the shop on the eastbound crossing but that stock was replenished so for now there is gin available.

Some of the cabins really need some perking up, but they are clean. Is the ship perfect? No, but she certainly is a joy to sail on.