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

[Sikwemu]

Just spent a happy half hour reading your review. Great work, appreciate the effort!

[cruiserking]

Thank You for your spectacular pictures and review of the revitalized QM2, Gazeroberts80. I am determined to cruise again soon on this glorious ship.

 

Jonathan

[nfcu]

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

 

 

Since you "hate to nit-pick", shouldn't you have stated that Carnival is headquartered in Miami, not California?

[jburton59]

Technically, Carnival is a Anglo-American dual partnership made up of two firms, Carnival Corp. and Carnival plc, with a global headquarters in Miami in the US and a corporate headquarters in Southampton in the UK.

Edited August 9, 2016 by jburton59

[Ray66]

.....both Carnival line ships (which I don't find appealing) and Cunard (which I love) are American.

 

P&O are also owned by Carnival Corp. Does that make them American too?

[ExArkie]

Technically, Carnival Corporation (US) and Carnival plc (UK) are two companies operating under what amounts to a general partnership agreement. They are jointly listed on the stock exchange in both New York and London. My understanding is that (a) this is the only company on both the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, and (b) P&O and Cunard fall under the UK company, while Carnival, HAL, Princess, and Seabourn are under the US company.

 

It is complicated.

[TexasGal55]

Thank you for your extensive review. We are looking forward to our first QM2 experience in October, 2016.

[jimmybean]

Since you "hate to nit-pick", shouldn't you have stated that Carnival is headquartered in Miami, not California?

 

I stand corrected. For some reason, I had in my mind that Carnival had corporate headquarters in California. I appreciate the correction, nfcu. I must have confused Carnival with Princess sometime in my distance (foggy) past.

[jimmybean]

P&O are also owned by Carnival Corp. Does that make them American too?

 

In my mind, yes…. But, ExArkie brings additional information to the question. It does sound complicated in terms of stock and stock ownership, in ways I was not aware. (Thank you for sharing this information, ExArkie)

 

But, if Cunard is umbrellaed by the UK Carnival (instead of US Carnival), why are dollars used as the on-board currency? My guess is that Cunard ships spend less time in US waters than they do in non-US waters---so, it can't be because Cunard ships are mostly populated by US citizens. Cunard ships travel far and wide and serve passengers from many countries.

 

I've never sailed on P&O. I'm curious: are charges for drinks, tipping, and purchases on-board made in dollars or pounds?

 

Again, Gazeroberts80, a great posting!

[jimmybean]

Here is explanation of my confusion. Cunard is based in California---not Carnival.

 

I'm not saying this is correct, but Wiki states Cunard is an American Company.

 

http://cunard-whitestarline.wikia.com/wiki/Cunard_line

[pepperrn]

P&O use the £ (GBP) as the on-board currency, so I understand.

 

Cunard use the $ (USD) for two reasons I can think of; historical (since the earliest days Americans have, I believe, been in the vast majority on most crossings), and because of Cunard's more international passenger mix.

 

As for ownership, my understanding is that EcArkie and jburton59 are correct; It is "Carnival Corp and Plc", a joint American and British company, listed on both US and UK stock exchanges.

 

"Cunard Line is an Anglo-American cruiseline based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation and Plc"

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunard_Line)

 

From what I've read, in the days when passengers paid cash for drinks etc during a crossing, they could pay in either £ or $, both were accepted. However at some date (I've not been able to find out when, but I would suspect it is when "sign & sail" charge cards started to be introduced) everything began to be priced in $ only on certain Cunard vessels.

I have Cunard brochures from the early 80s which seem to give passengers the option of paying by charge card (as now) or by cash.

In a 2003 brochure (after Cunard had come under the Carnival umbrella) it shows that the currency used on board the Caronia was £, however on board the QE2 it was $...

 

In my own view, despite all the stock exchange business, Cunard and Queen Mary 2 feel British, even if in the back of my mind I know that there wouldn't today be either Cunard or Queen Mary 2, if it hadn't been for American Micky Arison...

 

However it is still "Carnival Corp and Plc"... :D

 

:)

Edited August 11, 2016 by pepperrn

[Ray66]

The "trouble" with Wikipedia is that it can be edited by the general public. So anyone can write anything they want on it. Every time I look at the Cunard page, it seems to say something different. If you click on the "View History" tab you can see it has been edited a few times as recently as last month.

 

As for there being no Cunard if it hadn't been for Carnival Corp, there also wouldn't have been a Cunard if it hadn't been for the British Government (on more than one occasion).

 

I've often wondered why they use US dollars on board, so thanks for the explanation Peppern.

[pepperrn]

The "trouble" with Wikipedia is that it can be edited by the general public. So anyone can write anything they want on it. ...

You're so right Ray66,

 

On the original Queen Mary page there were many mistakes, most have been corrected over the years, but I bet there are still some even now. I always double check anything Wikipedia says ;)

 

I've often wondered why they use US dollars on board, so thanks for the explanation Peppern.

Thanks, but I'm not claiming to know for certain, I'm still researching the answer. Trouble is, I have no experience of crossing on the old queens, so can only go on what I read in books, and from the memories of past passengers. Often the books conflict, as do the memories! From contemporary diaries of the early voyages, and from reports I've read from the 30s and 50s, it appears that the stewards were able to easily operate in both currencies.

 

Best wishes to you Ray66 :)

[jburton59]

Here by the by is the description from the Carnival Corp & PLC website for their corporate description:

 

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and London, England, Carnival Corporation’s stock is dually listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange under the symbol CCL, and is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

[jimmybean]

Here by the by is the description from the Carnival Corp & PLC website for their corporate description:

 

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and London, England, Carnival Corporation’s stock is dually listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange under the symbol CCL, and is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

 

They should know! :) Thank you, jburton59 for bringing in the horse's mouth.

 

Thanks, Pepper, for your explanation of "why in dollars." Makes sense to me.

 

Sorry to disrupt this lovely thread and great posting with nationality discussion. Sailing on her is truly an international experience for any and all of us.

 

Jimmybean

[Underwatr]

In the "Midnight Feast" thread someone posted a link to some mementos of a 1991 QE2 cruise to nowhere in which recommended dinner wines are priced in Pounds. Was Pound pricing routine then or is it due to it having been a cruise to nowhere?