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QM2 after remastering - A very detailed Review, with many pictures

Gazroberts80

By Gazroberts80,
in Cunard Line

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Host Hattie

Host Hattie

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I hope you don't mind me posting my very detailed review about my time on the Newly remastered QM2. Like many fellow forum members I had lots of questions about the remastering and attempted to answer as many as possible on my voyage. The review contains many images of the ship and compares and contrasts the remastered areas with the areas they have replaced. I hope some readers may find it a useful read.

 

https://cruisecritique.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/queen-mary-2-remastered-and-revisited/

 

Would you mind if I included a link to this in the Welcome sticky at the top of the board ?

I think it would be a great addition.

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Ab Ovo

Ab Ovo

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Brilliant work, Gazroberts80 … I've read CC fourteen years, three lurking, then signed on in 2005. I know well, sailed all, four Cunard Queens. Sometimes I post. I've seen many come and go via numerous postings here, having read the good, the bad, the ugly over the years. Never have I read a post as well-done, as thorough, as yours. I didn't book the post-refit westbound, but knew seventeen on and sent them your blog. You Got Raves! From Cunard blather pre-refit I thought to wait until my usual winter crossing in December. Now I feel as if I've already been on, seen the changes. No surprises for me! As well, your blogs on QV and QE are excellent, like being on ship. If Cunard were my line I'd have you on board in a heartbeat giving this blog as a presentation.

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Gazroberts80

Gazroberts80

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Would you mind if I included a link to this in the Welcome sticky at the top of the board ?

I think it would be a great addition.

 

Of course I wouldn't mind in the slightest. So delighted by how people seem to have enjoyed reading it. I am genuinely so grateful for all the kind words of people who have taken their time to thank me.

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Jack E Dawson Great Review Rare

Jack E Dawson

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This is GREAT information and obviously took you a lot of time and effort to put together. My wife and I will be taking our first ever cruise next year on the QM2 TA E to W. So many of our questions were answered in your report. Thank you very much.

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Gazroberts80

Gazroberts80

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Hello GR. Well done that was the most informative and comprehensive post I have ever seen on CC. It must have taken you an age to produce !!

 

All the more interesting as we and four other friends were on the same voyage. I say voyage as it was really two, two days end and beginning of a TA to/from Hamburg rather than a 'Cruise'.

 

For four of us it was our third trip on the QM2 and a first trip for our other friends. Like most we had deliberately booked this to see the new remastered ship.

 

I would agree with just about everything you have said and to see the pre-remastering photo's is particularly interesting as although we were only on the QM2 in December 2013 I had difficulty remembering how it had previously looked.

 

I think you have covered just about everything except the fact that trays are no longer available in the Kings Court so several journeys may now be required to get one's food. (apologises if I have missed your comment).

 

I think it is fair to say however that we (the six of us) were not quite as enthusiastic about the QM2 as you appear to be. It was OK but we all felt that there were 'little niggles' that hopefully were just down to getting to know the 'new' ship.

 

It also did not help that the service in the Britannia Restaurant, second sitting, Deck 3 upper tier near the windows was unbelievably slow - taking over 2 hours and then we would forego coffee and petit fours !! We missed half of the 4Tunes performance and it was just as well that the shows on the other 3 days were at 7pm.

I do not think it was down to our waiter. He seemed OK but more the inefficient way food is served on the top tier. It has to be bought from the kitchens to one end of the Britannia and then carried to the other end and then served. The wait between courses seemed an age - thank goodness it was only a four day trip otherwise I am afraid words would have had to be said.

 

Lastly, from my wife and my own point of view, was the major administration malfunction relating to our stateroom.

 

Although we booked this trip 4 months ago we were only allocated a Stateroom on the Monday before departure and only able to print labels the day before we left!! It then only got worse causing my wife in particular some stress.

On arrival at check-in there was no boarding/cabin card ready, so one had to be printed. Then when our Cabin Steward, Tino,(who was excellent), greeted us as 'welcome Mr and Mrs Mullar' er no we are not German, but his schedule listed our cabin in the name of Mullar. We thought no more until later that night when Hamburg disembarkation labels and information arrived (in German) personalised to our cabin number.

A trip to the Purser's desk - quote 'oh that is always happening just ignore' !!

The next day - no daily information sheet for Hamburg? Questioning Tino, his response was "well you are departing at Hamburg" er no we are not, but according to Tino's schedule we are now turning into Mr and Mrs Kirsten ??

Sure enough returning to our cabin following a trip into Hamburg, there outside our cabin, were suitcases belonging to the Kirstens !! Another trip to the Purser's desk, who said the error was with the Tour office??

My wife was becoming more and more concerned that the 'Kirstens' would have access to our cabin and it was not helped when before leaving Hamburg we received disembarkation information for Southampton again personalised to our cabin and in German. A final visit to the Pursers Desk where we saw the Manageress who apologised and said she would look into, but we heard no more.

 

I can guess what happened to cause the problem but somewhat un-nerving particularly for my wife and obviously an administration problem somewhere??

 

Having had such an excellent cruise on the QE only three weeks before, we all agreed that the QM2 has some improving to do.

 

Thank you for such detailed feedback and you raise some interesting points. I had so intended to mention the food trays and have now added that into my review. I do agree that in the past QE and QV have provided more polished experiences but this time unlike yourself we were lucky enough to feel the product was just as polished. I'm sorry for your unfortunate experiences and since again thank you for taking the time to give such thorough feedback.

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gaechann

gaechann

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Thank you so much for your detailed review! I'm taking my 90 year old Mother for a short cruise in February - she is beyond excited! Can't wait to share this with her!

Gae

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Gazroberts80

Gazroberts80

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I have added my review and many others on Cunard, P&O to this website. Please feel free to take a look as I have updated my initial review on QM2 remastered with additional content and pictures :) Feel free to like the Blog. My Facebook page or twitter for further updates. I am off on the Emerald Princess at the weekend and will be adding a review soon :) Once again thank you for the lovely comments they are massively appreciated :)

 

 

https://cruisecritique.wordpress.com

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candle in the wind

candle in the wind

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I hope you don't mind me posting my very detailed review about my time on the Newly remastered QM2. Like many fellow forum members I had lots of questions about the remastering and attempted to answer as many as possible on my voyage. The review contains many images of the ship and compares and contrasts the remastered areas with the areas they have replaced. I hope some readers may find it a useful read.

 

https://cruisecritique.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/queen-mary-2-remastered-and-revisited/

 

Thank you for your in depth presentation. Everything looks very sophisticated. The food photographs are more than appealing. I can hardly contain my excitement for the Fall Voyage.

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Smokeyham Great Review Rare

Smokeyham

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What a wonderful review! Thank you so much for taking the time to write your extensive review and the wonderful pictures which accompany it. Doing a transatlantic is on my bucket list and seeing these pictures gets me even more excited to do this trip aboard this lovely ship.

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jimmybean

jimmybean

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I've now had time to slowly read and digest all of your wonderful review. Especially appreciated is the time you took to make comparisons and show both before and after photos. Your food photos are out-of-this-world and made me want to book immediately (which unfortunately isn't in the cards---but your review tells me there is much to look forward to seeing, at some point, when I am able to sail in person).

 

After all your work, I hate to nit-pick and hope you forgive one correction. When describing the casino, you said it was smaller than on "American ships."

 

Actually, Cunard is owned by Carnival, whose headquarters is in California, USA. Despite its wonderful British history and an atmosphere that springs from that history, I don't understand how Cunard isn't "American." Note: any additional expenses on the ships are expressed in (American) dollars, even if fish and chips (instead of french fries) is served in the Golden Lion.

 

Character/ambiance of different American cruise lines varies appreciably, but both Carnival line ships (which I don't find appealing) and Cunard (which I love) are American.

 

Again, thank you for your wonderful review! Cunard could use your descriptions as an advertisement! You make us all want to book a voyage on the QM2.

 

Happy future sailings!

 

Jimmybean

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