Major QM2 interior refit 2016

[majortom10]

Sorry but not impressed by the remastering of Todd English into a Verandah Grill. Tables for two are far too close together in some parts only 6 inches apart. Takes away the possibility of service at your table for any course and will not be paying a surcharge to dine in Verandah Grill as its not my idea of speciality dining.

Edited December 8, 2015 by majortom10

[Bell Boy]

Sorry but not impressed by the remastering of Todd English into a Verandah Grill. Tables for two are far too close together in some parts only 6 inches apart. Takes away the possibility of service at your table for any course and will not be paying a surcharge to dine in Verandah Grill as its not my idea of speciality dining.

 

Like everything we have seen ,this is only an artist impression ! it'll sure look better in real life. I thought I could see the original bar still in place ? I was given to understand from an F&B manager that this bar ( very under used or not used at all ) was going to be removed. And as for those folk who insist on using the restaurant as a thru walkway, hopefully Cunard have come up with rectifying this ? ......For me this will be the main issue if I will pay a supplement to dine there, not the closeness of the tables. :)

[BlueRiband]

The bar looks the same as Todd English. I was actually hoping the bar and walkway would be completely separate from the new Verandah Restaurant. A walkway out to the pool is still needed on Deck 8, and not sure this will change any of that.

 

Also no updated deck plans which I was hoping for.

 

The new Carinthia Lounge bar is also in the same place as the one in the Winter Garden. These are close to impossible to relocate because of all their associated plumbing and beverage supply lines.

 

I agree however that Cunard badly needs to address the problem of the walk through bathers. (Like a trap door dropping the offender to the aft coal bunker? :D) How far or close the tables are placed to each other is a moot point if the ambiance is disrupted by the inconsiderate.

 

...I just hope they don't forget the broken seats in the planetarium...

 

And hopefully won't forget to address the burned out lights in the Britannia restaurant ceiling. How embarrassing that a signature space like this should show neglected maintenance. :(

Edited December 8, 2015 by BlueRiband

[lannp]

I'll miss the Fallen Chocolate Cake in Todd English. The main reason for dining there.

[Joserus]

It is definitely an improvement on the decor of Todd English. I see that there are homages to the surrealist paintings on the Queen Mary. Overall I think that it is a bit safe and I'm a little underwhelmed by it compared to the renderings of the Queen's and Princess Grills which are amazing transformations. It would be nice for them to push the design a little more toward what they were going for in the luxury eateries. Although a clean and elegant design, this rendering just doesn't get me excited about dining in this venue, sorry to say.

I really like that they are keeping the surcharge instead of a la carte pricing.

[deck chair]

Hello

 

As one who has eaten in TE several times for both lunch and dinner one thing I noticed, especially at dinner is that it really isn't a special occasion sort of place, no happy to be here kind of place, no this is a fabulous festive romantic place to be. There is no draw.

There is no buzz to speak of especially at night. No piano music for example. No special lighting. Usually the place in half empty for dinner..at best...

 

I hope with the new design something is done about that. A buzz! What do you think?

 

Deck Chair

Edited December 9, 2015 by deck chair

[bobby1119]

If the re-design team hasn't effectively addressed the walk-through problem with a structural reconfiguration rather than an ignored sign, then the remastering of TE will be nothing more than re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

Then there remains the issue of the view from the restaurant: fleshy bathers, hacking smokers, etc., during the day; overall feeling of not being special in the evenings, as noted in a preceding post.

 

I find myself wondering if the refit plans are too ambitious for the amount of drydock time allocated. I always remember the PR nightmare of QE2's major refit in 1994. Top news story the December night she rolled into New York only to be impounded by the USCG - all recorded by the press.

[JollyJackTar52]

I'm sure that those lessons have been hard learned. I wouldn't be surprised if some preparatory work is already going on behind the scenes, both on board and at Blohm & Voss.

 

For example, the new structure on Deck 13, and those new staterooms on that deck are likely to be pre-fabricated structures. They'll probably be sitting on the dockside ready for installation as Queen Mary 2 arrives.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing a deck plan of 7 & 8 now to better understand how these changes will work.

 

The problem for me about Todd English in comparison to the Verandah on Queen Elizabeth is the location. If it were off The Grand Lobby, it would be much more special and have better views. If she were my ship, I'd have perhaps switched Todd English / The Verandah's position with the Empire Casino, or perhaps the Winter Garden/Carinthia Lounge as part of this refit.

Edited December 9, 2015 by JollyJackTar52

[jimmybean]

I'm sure that those lessons have been hard learned. I wouldn't be surprised if some preparatory work is already going on behind the scenes, both on board and at Blohm & Voss.

 

For example, the new structure on Deck 13, and those new staterooms on that deck are likely to be pre-fabricated structures. They'll probably be sitting on the dockside ready for installation as Queen Mary 2 arrives.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing a deck plan of 7 & 8 now to better understand how these changes will work.

 

The problem for me about Todd English in comparison to the Verandah on Queen Elizabeth is the location. If it were off The Grand Lobby, it would be much more special and have better views. If she were my ship, I'd have perhaps switched Todd English / The Verandah's position with the Empire Casino, or perhaps the Winter Garden/Carinthia Lounge as part of this refit.

 

I think you are correct, JollyJackTar. Large changes, like adding new staterooms, will be more a matter of installation, then starting from scratch with raw materials onboard.

 

It is going to be fun to see how everything turns out. : )

[Joserus]

Yes, I sure hope that the refit is documented by either CC or others like Maritime Matters. Will be great to see the process. I imagine that the cabin structure on deck 13 will be lowered onto the ship already assembled much like what was done on the Holland America ships a few years ago.

[Germancruiser]

I am quite happy with the changes- I love the QM2 decor as it is - with a few expetions- one is this the rather " Tacky" Wintergarden- which thank the Lord is gone soon. Never dinned in TE- I agree neither location nor decor appealed to us!

I heard Farcus has retired now- so he can´t ruin anymore ships! LOL

[MCC retired]

I'm still anxious to see what will happen with that 1/2 of the Casino that is left after they squeeze in those extra cabins ?

Quite pleased with the changes so far , but adding cabins into public spaces does nothing for me :(

Edited December 12, 2015 by MCC retired

[Loveboat1995]

I am excited for the addition of the single cabins. It will be easier on the pockets of single travelers like myself. Not that QM2 is a "budget ship." in the slightest. I hope they keep the Winter Garden's fountain in the new room they are replacing it with. I always found it so restful.

[Underwatr]

Shop carefully. If you look at pricing a single cabin generally costs nearly as much as a double cabin occupied by one passenger.

[BlueRiband]

I am excited for the addition of the single cabins. It will be easier on the pockets of single travelers like myself. Not that QM2 is a "budget ship." in the slightest. I hope they keep the Winter Garden's fountain in the new room they are replacing it with. I always found it so restful.

 

The new single cabins hardly provide any savings. I just pulled this from a mock booking for a solo traveler where KB is the former casino area and KC the former photo gallery:

 

• EF $2,711.00 Oceanview Fwd/aft
  
• KB $2,689.00 Standard Outside Single Mid
  
• KC $2,619.00 Standard Outside Single Mid-Aft
  

If $22 or $92 is going to make a difference between going and not going one really cannot afford to travel.

 

The Winter Garden fountain will be gone. The renderings showed a service pantry at that location. The refit was bound to cause some disappointment for those who liked some original ammenities on the ship.

[Germancruiser]

Agreed if the price difference is so less- I go for a balcony single use anytime!

[minz56]

Cunard made such a hullabaloo about the new single cabins on QM2 saying that they were responding to the demands of solo travellers. Well, yes, but what solo travellers actually want is a single fare that is significantly less than the 175% they would have to pay for a regular cabin.

 

Having said this I recently booked an October 2016 crossing in a KC cabin at a fare that was significantly less than anything else. The current fares on this cruise if booked in New Zealand are:

 

KC Outside single NZ$1923

IF Inside Double at single rate NZ$2859

EF Outside Double at single rate NZ$3754

DC Balcony at single rate NZ$3681

 

I am not sure these fares are available worldwide - another quirk of Cunard pricing. But I'd like to see more of this sort of pricing for the KC and KB cabins.

[JollyJackTar52]

http://www.cunard.co.uk/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/accommodation/

 

Many on this board have speculated about the removal of the Glass Lifts in The Grand Lobby. Take a look at the picture at the top of this webpage. It took me a few moments to clock it, but the lifts are gone.

[Bell Boy]

Some of us who have had privy to one or two things, have been trying to drop a few hints to you all, that in this refit you are in for a treat ! ;)

 

Isn't that right BlueRiband ;);)

[jimmybean]

Some of us who have had privy to one or two things, have been trying to drop a few hints to you all, that in this refit you are in for a treat ! ;)

 

Isn't that right BlueRiband ;);)

 

Many of us who haven't been privy appreciate the information that has been shared (and are excited to see changes and treats : )

 

Thank you, fellows.

[Joserus]

There are updated deck plans in the 2017 brochure that you can download from the Cunard website on the home page. Although the Winter Garden and Todd English are now listed as Carinthia Lounge and the Verandah, it still shows the elevators in the lobby and up to the King's Court. Perhaps these are not the final deck plans.

[deck chair]

http://www.cunard.co.uk/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/accommodation/

 

Many on this board have speculated about the removal of the Glass Lifts in The Grand Lobby. Take a look at the picture at the top of this webpage. It took me a few moments to clock it, but the lifts are gone.

 

Hi

 

I can certainly be wrong but I don't think the elevators are at this end of the lobby that is pictured. If my memory serves me, the glass elevators are on the other end of the lobby....so I think the 2017 deck plans are correct. The elevators are not going to be removed.

 

Deck Chair

Edited December 15, 2015 by deck chair

[eroller]

Hi

 

I can certainly be wrong but I don't think the elevators are at this end of the lobby that is pictured. If my memory serves me, the glass elevators are on the other end of the lobby....so I think the 2017 deck plans are correct. The elevators are not going to be removed.

 

Deck Chair

 

 

I think the picture is looking directly at where the lifts are currently located, and they are removed in the rendering. The lifts are on one side of the lobby, and the grand stairs at the other end. This rendering appears to be taken from the angle of standing on the stair landing and looking aft. Today from this same angle you would be looking at the two lifts. I think they just haven't updated the new deck plan yet. Even if the lifts stayed, they would no longer go up to the Kings Court. It's the only way they could get the extra floor space needed to do what they want to do up there. Without the ability to go to the Kings Court, the lifts would be pretty useless.

[pepperrn]

The glass lifts are going, the CGI render is correct. It looks aft, with the Champagne Bar on the left. The lifts are gone.

 

Also, in the previous image of the buffet counters in the Kings Court (the main image looking across the width of the ship) in the distance can be seen a "double bay window". There are five bay windows down each side of the Kings Court, four single bays and one double. This double bay lines up exactly with the top of the glass lifts on this deck. The lifts are missing and have been replaced with the self-serve buffet counters shown in the CGI render of the "new" Kings Court.

 

No more interior "scenic" lifts... :(

 

Hope this helps.

Edited December 15, 2015 by pepperrn

[Underwatr]

I'll have to spend Christmas week riding up and down then... ;)