Round trip transatlantic and QM2 questions?

[JAMESCC]

I happened to go on the Cunard website the other day and saw that the QM2 does round trip transatlantic crossings. Its a little too expensive right now for us but in a few years it won't be. Its always been a dream of mine to do a Transatlantic crossing, but I don't fly so when I saw round trip crossings I was very excited. Anyone do this voyage? What did you think of it?

Now please don't kill me on my next set of questions. I am a HUGE Ocean liner fan, the old beautiful steam ships of the past and yes that includes Titanic of course. To take the same journey would just be a dream come true. The QM2 to me is an Ocean liner, not a cruise ship. Anyway how is the dress code on board? I know its more formal than I'm used to but just what exactly is it like? I don't mind a bit to putting on khakis and a nice shirt for dinner, but do you have to wear that type of clothing all day? Thanks for any insight into the world of Cunard and the beautiful QM2.

Edited July 12, 2016 by JAMESCC

[Scrapnana]

The "dress code" does not kick in until 6 pm. During the day Cunard is no dressier than other cruise lines like HAL, Celebrity, RCL, etc.

 

Gentleman are expected to wear a jacket to dinner in the evening (ties required for formal nights). It has been my experience that transatlantics are dressier (more tuxes and formal dresses to be seen) than other cruises.

 

From Cunard's FAQs....

 

Evening attire is effective from 6pm. Dressing up elegantly for dinner is one of the great thrills of a Cunard vacation, yet we also want our guests to feel relaxed. So each evening our dress code will either be formal or informal, details for which can be found on your Voyage Personaliser at vp.cunard.com. The evening dress code will also be specified in your ship’s Daily Programme, which is delivered to your stateroom each day.

 

On formal nights, guests wishing to dress more casually are welcome to dine in the Kings Court or Lido main buffet restaurant and relax in the Winter Garden or Garden Lounge bar. Please be respectful of fellow guests by avoiding the more formal areas of the ship, including our Alternate Dining restaurants.

 

Please note that after 6pm, shorts, blue or worn denim (for men and women), sandals and sleeveless tops (for men) are not considered appropriate within any of the ship’s public areas.

 

Formal: Dinner jacket, tuxedo or dark suit with tie for gentlemen. A range of gentlemen’s formal wear is available to hire on board. Evening or cocktail dress for ladies.

 

Informal: Jacket required, tie optional for gentlemen. Cocktail dress or stylish separates for ladies. No jeans or shorts.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Scrapnana

[JAMESCC]

The "dress code" does not kick in until 6 pm. During the day Cunard is no dressier than other cruise lines like HAL, Celebrity, RCL, etc.

 

Gentleman are expected to wear a jacket to dinner in the evening (ties required for formal nights). It has been my experience that transatlantics are dressier (more tuxes and formal dresses to be seen) than other cruises.

 

From Cunard's FAQs....

 

Evening attire is effective from 6pm. Dressing up elegantly for dinner is one of the great thrills of a Cunard vacation, yet we also want our guests to feel relaxed. So each evening our dress code will either be formal or informal, details for which can be found on your Voyage Personaliser at vp.cunard.com. The evening dress code will also be specified in your ship’s Daily Programme, which is delivered to your stateroom each day.

 

On formal nights, guests wishing to dress more casually are welcome to dine in the Kings Court or Lido main buffet restaurant and relax in the Winter Garden or Garden Lounge bar. Please be respectful of fellow guests by avoiding the more formal areas of the ship, including our Alternate Dining restaurants.

 

Please note that after 6pm, shorts, blue or worn denim (for men and women), sandals and sleeveless tops (for men) are not considered appropriate within any of the ship’s public areas.

 

Formal: Dinner jacket, tuxedo or dark suit with tie for gentlemen. A range of gentlemen’s formal wear is available to hire on board. Evening or cocktail dress for ladies.

 

Informal: Jacket required, tie optional for gentlemen. Cocktail dress or stylish separates for ladies. No jeans or shorts.

 

Excellent post, thank you. As I have said I don't mind putting on Khakis and a nice shirt but a tux ain't happening. I'd have no problem eating in the buffet every night. I suppose there is no dress code there other than no bathing suits or something like that? Thanks again for the post.

[ClanMcLean]

Hi there,

 

Buffet and room service is certainly an option for someone who hates to dress up, but just bare in mind that you won't be able to go to any of the bars, shows, casino etc also. If that's not going to be an issue for you, then go for it! :)

[JAMESCC]

Hi there,

 

Buffet and room service is certainly an option for someone who hates to dress up, but just bare in mind that you won't be able to go to any of the bars, shows, casino etc also. If that's not going to be an issue for you, then go for it! :)

 

You need a tux to all of those things?

[ClanMcLean]

You need a tux to all of those things?

 

No, but the evening dress codes apply, so for informal evenings a jacket and on formal evenings you could get away with a dark suit and tie.

Not everyone has a tux for the formal nights (my husband will wear his kilt for one of ours and a dark suit probably for the others) but the minimum would be a suit and tie. ;)

[JAMESCC]

No, but the evening dress codes apply, so for informal evenings a jacket and on formal evenings you could get away with a dark suit and tie.

Not everyone has a tux for the formal nights (my husband will wear his kilt for one of ours and a dark suit probably for the others) but the minimum would be a suit and tie. ;)

 

OK thanks

[old fool]

Dress code: on formal nights just put on a dark suit with a tie and you will be all set. Informal you can forget the tie. Simple and easy.

 

Everyone's taste is different but doing a back to back transatlantic is two weeks of pure bliss. Board the ship, unpack and enjoy the experience without distractions.

 

It will change your life for the better.

[Jacqueline]

It is significantly less expensive to book the trip in two (book the east bound and the westbound as two voyages, not one) innocent words, not as a round trip. It can be a thousand dollars or more difference.

The only drawback is that you would need to change cabins. The advantage is that you can book the best deals on each.

[cruiseluvva]

It is significantly less expensive to book the trip in two (book the east bound and the westbound as two voyages, not one) innocent words, not as a round trip. It can be a thousand dollars or more difference.

The only drawback is that you would need to change cabins. The advantage is that you can book the best deals on each.

 

Not always. Recently we considered one roundtrip TA that cost EXACTLY the same as a Westbound TA!

[Pennbank]

It is significantly less expensive to book the trip in two (book the east bound and the westbound as two voyages, not one) innocent words, not as a round trip. It can be a thousand dollars or more difference.

The only drawback is that you would need to change cabins. The advantage is that you can book the best deals on each.

 

As with others it can be more expensive booking two journeys, A lot of facters are taken, just play with the booking engine.

[DreamflightPat]

Excellent post, thank you. As I have said I don't mind putting on Khakis and a nice shirt but a tux ain't happening. I'd have no problem eating in the buffet every night. I suppose there is no dress code there other than no bathing suits or something like that? Thanks again for the post.

Would be such a shame to eat in the buffet and miss out on the wonderful experience of formal nights. That will probably be six nights of your cruise. It is what Cunard is known for. Do please reconsider your thinking. Enjoy your trip.

[Host Hattie]

Unfortunately khakis and a nice shirt doesn't comply with the informal dress code either so you would need to eat in the buffet every evening or have room service.

It would be a shame to miss out on the evening entertainment for the sake of not packing at least a jacket.

[pepperrn]

I happened to go on the Cunard website the other day and saw that the QM2 does round trip transatlantic crossings ... Its always been a dream of mine to do a Transatlantic crossing ... I am a HUGE Ocean liner fan, the old beautiful steam ships of the past ... To take the same journey would just be a dream come true. The QM2 to me is an Ocean liner, not a cruise ship.

Welcome JAMESCC to the Cunard board :) .

 

Your love of ocean liners comes through in your post, and you are correct, Queen Mary 2 is an ocean liner, the last one left in transatlantic service (for part of the year). Her interiors were designed to reflect the heritage of the grand ocean liners of the past.

A traditional transatlantic crossing on her should be on anyone who loves ocean travel "bucket list".

I took my first crossing in 2006 on her and it changed and enriched my life. She "feels" different than cruise ships, esp on a crossing (although I've only been on two cruise ships it must be said, much preferring QM2). I am sure you would be "wowed" by her, as I was.

 

Anyway how is the dress code on board? I know its more formal than I'm used to but just what exactly is it like? I don't mind a bit to putting on khakis and a nice shirt for dinner ...

As others have said, wearing casual clothes as you describe would mean that, each evening, you will be restricted within the ship to the following choices: The buffet area, one bar, the outside decks and room service in your cabin.

 

Meanwhile, the remainder of the passengers (with a few exceptions) will be enjoying cocktail parties/receptions, the main restaurants, the many bars (including the superb Commodore Club), pub, two theatres, casino and the nightclub, indeed all the public space on board.

To take a traditional transatlantic crossing on board a Cunard ship and miss out, for the sake of a dark suit/jacket (and tie), on the atmosphere each evening on board... well, to me and many others, would defeat the whole point of booking QM2.

 

The Cunard evening dress-code does not apply only in the restaurants after 6pm each evening; it is ship-wide in all the public rooms (except the two mentioned above).

 

I wonder if you'd be totally happy with Cunard and QM2 when I read your post here:

... I HATE getting dressed up, I despise it actually. I don't mind putting on nice khakis and a shirt but when you get looks because you are dressed that way on precious formal night I get annoyed. I am looking forward to not giving a... nice way to say it, a hoot.

As Cunard is the most formal of the lines, and a transatlantic crossing on QM2 the most formal of the Cunard voyages, I am concerned that you may feel you aren't getting value for your money if you restrict yourself each evening to one buffet and one bar, every night you are on board.

 

Your words above, and forgive me for being blunt, tend to indicate to me that you and Cunard would not be a good "fit".

As has been said many times here in the past, "It would be like booking a Disney ship, whilst disliking being surrounded by children". Speaking for myself, I'd never even consider booking a Disney ship.

 

I know you've enjoyed many cruise ships in the past that either have no evening dress-code most nights, or have one that is only optional, and then only on certain nights. There is a world of choice out there, with vast amount of options for those who prefer casual clothing.

 

For those of us who prefer to "dress for dinner" each evening, as those passengers did on the great ocean liners of the past that you profess to love, there is very limited choice.

 

I would urge you to book your crossings on QM2, pack a dark suit and tie (it is only evenings for two weeks after all) and live your dream on board the world's only liner, crossing (x2) the vast North Atlantic.

However, if you "dress-up" in casual clothing each evening you'll miss so much of what makes such crossings magical for many.

 

Best wishes for whatever you decide to do :) .

Edited July 13, 2016 by pepperrn

[July1963]

We have 2 cabins booked for four of us, 2 in each cabin on a eastbound 7/24 then westbound 8/1 crossing on QM2, separate bookings. It is considerably cheaper by thousands of dollars for us as Jacqueline mentioned. I monitored the bookings over a period of 5 or so months and at no time did the differential in price even come close. I would think it would be more cost effective for Cunard to make the round trip booking the cheaper option.

[Jacqueline]

July, we are on the very same round trip!

[wenlyn]

JamesCC

 

The first time we did a crossing my other half had to buy a load of clothes as our usual land based haunts don't require much in the way of "smart casual" (jeans are ok everywhere & khakis & a jacket do for a wedding and maybe a suit for a funeral.) He does own a tux which prior to discovering QM2 he probably wore once a year. Despite this change to his usual wardrobe we loved our time onboard - he felt the 4th formal night was perhaps one too many but honestly even if it does seem a faff to you it really is lovely to get in the swing of things, after all once you are dressed up it doesn't really matter. I suppose its just a case of finding suits that are a comfortable fit. (or high heels in my case!)

 

A transatlantic crossing on QM2 is an experience like nothing else, you just wander round with a warm inner smile at how lucky you are. The clothes of your fellow passengers may not reflect your usual style (it may not be their usual style) but if you want to go skydiving you dress up in the appropriate clothing in order to participate you could look at the Cunard dress codes in the same way. Its only after 6pm they apply the rest of the day you can wear what you like.

[JAMESCC]

I think you guys are right, not a good fit for me. As much as I love the old Ocean liners I'm gonna have to let this one go. Thanks for all the replies, those are actually the replies and this was actually the outcome I thought it would be.

[Host Hattie]

I'm glad we were able to help, happy casual cruising !

[Yoshikitty]

Excellent post, thank you. As I have said I don't mind putting on Khakis and a nice shirt but a tux ain't happening. I'd have no problem eating in the buffet every night. I suppose there is no dress code there other than no bathing suits or something like that? Thanks again for the post.

 

If you take our advise, get a dark suit, shirt and tie.

 

Dining in the main restaurant is an experience which should not to be missed - particularly as you want to have the full "ocean liner experience"

[david,Mississauga]

If you take our advise, get a dark suit, shirt and tie.

 

Dining in the main restaurant is an experience which should not to be missed - particularly as you want to have the full "ocean liner experience"

 

JAMESCC, It would be a shame to miss out on a real ocean liner experience because of concern about the dress code. You have said "a tux ain't happening" but would it be a hardship to dress in a mere suit and tie for just three out of the possible 21 meals per crossing?

 

I have been fortunate to have made several crossings in the Grills and not once did I talk to a gent who complained about the dress code. On a recent crossing in Britannia where, as most people know, breakfast and lunch is open seating, we met many people. Some of the men were moaners about having to dress for dinner. Upon cross-examination from me every one of them admitted it wasn't as much an ordeal as they thought it might be. Some of them were grateful to their wife for persuading them. Some even admitted that wearing a tuxedo was enjoyable.

 

The proportion of men wearing dinner jackets (I prefer that traditional term) varies from 50% to 90% in my experience. No-one will look down upon a man in a suit. Many of us traditionalists will wear a tie with the jacket on informal nights but, again, no-one will comment on those who choose not to.

 

Although I occasionally sail "round trip" I would never take a continuous round trip, often called "back to back" or as Cunard calls it: a logical voyage. My idea of a round trip is to sail across to England and, after a holiday, sail back. (At one time Cunard gave a 5% discount to those taking a round trip.) But if I were to take a "back to back" I would book it separately. Not only is it usually cheaper, as has been discussed, one will get two voyage credits towards the Cunard World Club status.

[Mr research]

Best of luck on your choice James.

 

I am going on my first 'TA' this year for simmilar reasons.

 

Whilst I have plenty of formal clothes, some of my family are joining and my brother in law doesn't. As an artist in his early 20's he isn't a fan of the fuss either.

 

We have got him a dark suit (suitably fashionable) that would work with the informal evenings as just a jacket or the formal evenings, complete with the suit trousers and bow tie as a make shift dinner jacket.

 

Only one outfit for him to bring, but should ensure he can attend what he likes. I think it helps when everyone is doing the same as well.

 

I hope this is useful and informs your choice

[Jacqueline]

I thought that I would never go back to back, either! Things happen. For me it is a rest and recovery trip. I have been fortunate enough to have done a lot of travel and sight seeing this year, and I'm not up to flying...so never say never!

I did not know about the credits when booking the segments separately. Thanks for sharing that information with us!!

Edited July 14, 2016 by Jacqueline

[Katgoesonholiday]

My 14 year old complained loud and long about wearing a suit when we booked a transatlantic voyage. But he ended up absolutely loving the formal nights and getting very grumpy when it was informal nights.

 

We wore jeans and tshirt a during the day and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful dinners in the classic ocean liner ambience in the evenings.

[Merry Maid]

You need a tux to all of those things?

 

As usual on this board when it comes to dress questions you are offered 'the counsel of perfection'. While it is true that the dress code in the brochure states exactly what has been stated above, it's observance is less than 100%. You will see guests dressed informally all about the ship after 6pm on formal nights. It is a pity but it is the reality I'm afraid. The dress code is very important to many contributors to this board, myself included. Unfortunately the interpretation of 'Formal' is often stretched to destruction. Personally I cannot understand the modern abhorrence for a tux or dark suit and tie but it must be accepted that the standard is, de facto, becoming attenuated.

It's a shame.

MM