QM2 and CONDE NASTE

[deck chair]

HI Gang!

 

I've sailed wonderfully numerous times on QE2 but haven't yet had the chance yet on QM2. Perhaps this late summer to europe. I noticed that Cunard and QM2 did not make the list of best cruise lines in the latest edition of Conde NastTraveler Magazine. The list was dominated by HAL, Celebrity, Oceania, Silverseas, Crystal and the like but no sign of QM2/Cunard which is supposed to be so great. I wonder why. Could it be Cunard simply doesn't deliver what it promises unless you are a Grill Pax? Could it be that you will pay a great deal of money for a mediocre experience? Could it be that the Cunard name is nothing more now than a beautiful mask fronting for a mass market cruise line?

 

PAtrick

Baltimore

[wripro]

patrick,

 

it could be and IS. Unless you're sailing in Grill Class the QM2 is a mass market cruise ship in ocean liner's clothing. once you step out of the grill rooms and lounge you are in for a mass market experience. The "White Star" service they advertise is only to be found in the grill rooms. that is why the ships do not make any of the best cruise lines lists. Btw, the QE2 is by far a nicer experience.

[bobby1119]

I totally agree. I have sailed in Queen Mary 2 two times, and even in the Grill Rooms it is still not the classic Cunard experience of "the good old days." I have sailed many more times in QE2, and she still retains much of that feeling, although she, too, suffers from the effects of the Carnival and Princess gremlins. The grill rooms and even the Caronia Restaurant on QE2 still offer an experience worthy of the Cunard name and tradition. But in the end end, Cunard today is only a name and nothing more. It is most obvious on Queen Mary 2. Everything is geared to reminding passengers of the name and the heritage, right down to the pretentious placards about the history of the line and the experiences of the Golden Days that are everywhere, ultimately reducing Queen Mary 2 to an oceanliner "theme park" and virtual "Golden Age" experience at best. Cunard/Carnival/Princess is a cynical marketing act.

[bobby1119]

I totally agree. I have sailed in Queen Mary 2 two times, and even in the Grill Rooms it is still not the classic Cunard experience of "the good old days." I have sailed many more times in QE2, and she still retains much of that feeling, although she, too, suffers from the effects of the Carnival and Princess gremlins. The grill rooms and even the Caronia Restaurant on QE2 still offer an experience worthy of the Cunard name and tradition. But in the end end, Cunard today is only a name and nothing more. It is most obvious on Queen Mary 2. Everything is geared to reminding passengers of the name and the heritage, right down to the pretentious placards about the history of the line and the experiences of the Golden Days that are everywhere, ultimately reducing Queen Mary 2 to an oceanliner "theme park" and virtual "Golden Age" experience at best. Cunard/Carnival/Princess is a cynical marketing act.

[snowshovel]

These guys actually sell Luxury cruises and they have Cunard listed 2ND.

http://www.mustcruise.com/luxury-cruises/index.html

[travel-to-go]

These guys actually sell Luxury cruises and they have Cunard listed 2ND.

http://www.mustcruise.com/luxury-cruises/index.html

 

It's in Alphabetical Order!

<G>

Karie

[2moose]

I totally agree. I have sailed in Queen Mary 2 two times, and even in the Grill Rooms it is still not the classic Cunard experience of "the good old days." I have sailed many more times in QE2, and she still retains much of that feeling, although she, too, suffers from the effects of the Carnival and Princess gremlins. The grill rooms and even the Caronia Restaurant on QE2 still offer an experience worthy of the Cunard name and tradition. But in the end end, Cunard today is only a name and nothing more. It is most obvious on Queen Mary 2. Everything is geared to reminding passengers of the name and the heritage, right down to the pretentious placards about the history of the line and the experiences of the Golden Days that are everywhere, ultimately reducing Queen Mary 2 to an oceanliner "theme park" and virtual "Golden Age" experience at best. Cunard/Carnival/Princess is a cynical marketing act.

HERE HERE AFTER SAILING THE GRILL CAT ON BOTH SHIPS THE QE2 IS THE ONE FOR ME!!! THE GRAND DAME VERSUS THE MODERN BEHEMOTH,(IF YOU WILL)

[wynkys]

I have sailed Princess Grill on both ships and I heartily agree with the previous posters that QE2 is by far the better experience. QM2, for the price, is not in the same league as the Premium and Luxury lines.

[snowshovel]

It's in Alphabetical Order!

<G>

Karie

 

"R's" seem to be following "S's" in this alphabet?

[snowshovel]

The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) 2005 awards competition gave Conde Nast NO awards. You seem to be quoting a loser? The winners for all 36 categories are here:

 

http://www.natja.org/awards/2005/2005_winners/

[oldsilverfox]

We have booked the QM2 in Nov and I shall be interested to compare her with the Summit.

Here in the UK we have the Berlitz totally independent cruising guide, published annually. In the 2005 edition the scores were;

QM2 Grill class 1754 =5*

QM2 Britannia class 1601 = 4+*

Summit (one class) 1697 = 4+*

Judging from these results I suspect that the posters suggesting that the Britannia class is only just above average are not far off the mark !!!

[snowshovel]

2006

 

Queen Mary 2 – Named 5-Star Ship by Frommers

2006 Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call

 

2005Queen Mary 2 – Best Luxury Cruise Ship

Travel Weekly Reader's Choice AwardsBest Luxury Cruise Line

Cruise Line of the Year

British Travel AwardsQueen Mary 2 – Best Megaship

Queen Mary 2 – Best Onboard Educational Programs

Queen Mary 2 – Best World Cruise Itineraries

Porthole Magazine

2004

Queen Mary 2 – Awarded Maritime Oscar, rated 7th out of more than 260 luxury vessels

Queens and Princess Grill Accommodations – Five Stars

2005 Berlitz Complete Guide to Ocean Cruising and Cruise ShipsQueen Mary 2 – Awarded four Gold and one Platinum Awards

Gold: Feature Placement Broadcast, Entertainment Tonight

Gold: Feature Placement Print, USA Today

Gold: Feature Placement Print, Time Magazine

Gold & Platinum: New Ship Launch

HSMAI/Adrian Public Relations Awards

Queen Mary 2 – Named Best New Ship, Best Ship Overall and Best Luxury Ship

Travel Weekly Readers' Awards

Queen Mary 2 – Illuminations wins Best Overall 2004 Award

Second Annual ARCHI-TECH AV

Queen Mary 2 named "Largest Passenger Liner (Cruise Ship)"

Guinness World Records

Cunard Line awarded "Best Cruise Line"

Observer and Guardian Newspapers Travel Awards (UK)

Queen Mary 2 named Outstanding Cruise Concept

Queen Mary 2’s Illuminations – planetarium, lecture auditorium, cinema – named

Outstanding Cruise Lounges

ShipPax Awards at the 2004 Ferry Shipping Conference

Queen Mary 2 named “Best of the Best” in the Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship category

Robb Report 2004 issue of “Best of the Best”

Cunard Line named one of the Top Cruise Lines in the Readers’ Survey

Departures

Queen Mary 2 named “Ship of the Year”

Commodore Ronald Warwick, master of Queen Mary 2, named “Shipmaster of the Year”

The Nautical Institute and Lloyd’s List

Computerworld Honors Laureate – Award to recognize the technology aboard Queen Mary 2

Computerworld

2004 Golden Web Award

International Association of Web Masters and Designers

2003

Cunard Line named among the Top 10 Large-ship Cruise Lines

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards

Cunard Line named one of the Top Cruise Lines in the Readers’ Survey

Departures

Cunard named 'World's Leading Cruise Line' by travel agents from around the world

Annual World Travel Awards

Cunard Line - Awarded the Reader’s Choice Award for “Best World Cruise Itineraries”

Porthole Magazine

Reader’s Choice Awards for Cruise Lines – Large Ships

Cunard Line # 2 with top score for ambience/décor and food/restaurants

Conde Nast Traveler

2002

Cunard Line - "Editor's Choice Award" which recognizes quality in travel

Travel Holiday

Top Cruise Line in the World – 2002 Annual Reader’s Survey (Large Ship Category)

Conde Nast Traveller – UK

Cunard Line - Awarded the Reader’s Choice Award for “Best World Cruise Itineraries”

Porthole Magazine

QE2 – Five Stars to Three Plus Stars

Grill Class Overall Score = 1,763 Rated 1st in Large Ship category

2002 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

QE2 – Grill Rooms 6 Black Stars (the highest ranking)

2002 Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation

Cunard Line selected as having the “Best Ships for Singles” Men and Women 50 and up

QE2 selected as one of the “Best Spas at Sea” and “Best Dining Rooms at Sea”

QE2 – 5 Stars “A very special cruise experience.”

Cruise2.com as compiled by Fielding’s Worldwide Cruises

2001

Cunard Line - Awarded the Reader’s Choice Award for “Best World Cruise Itineraries”

Porthole Magazine

Cunard – Named one of the “Top 10 Large Cruise Lines” in the annual World’s Best Awards

Travel & Leisure

Cunard – Cunard Line’s QE2 included as luxury pampering.

Foder’s Healthy Escapes

Cunard - Selected as one of the “Nine Top Cruise Lines for Families.”

Travel Smart

QE2 – Selected as one of the “Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers” – awarded to tourism establishments offering superior childcare and excellent facilities to guest under three years of age and their families.

Family Travel Forum

QE2 – Eastern Coast and Canada Cruise, Transatlantic Crossings, Africa Cruise and Circumnavigation selected for inclusion among the “100 Best Cruise Vacations.”

100 Best Cruise Vacations

Cunard Line - Voted fourth for large cruise ships in the Reader’s Travel Awards.

Conde Nast Traveler Online

QE2’s Golden Lion Pub voted one of the Top Bars at Sea

Cruisecritic.com

2000

Cunard – Cunard’s 30-year QE2 wins in the best traditional, old-time ocean liner category.

“Cunard is among the biggest consumers of caviar on earth - get the picture? Catering to a wealthy, well-traveled clientele, the line offers an onboard experience that’s high-brow British all the way.”

Frommer’s 2000 Caribbean Cruises and Ports of Call

QE2 - Four Plus Stars-“New carpets, drapes and furnishings add a much classier look to this elegant old lady and it’s wonderful to find her beautified. We found service and cuisine at a much higher level than we’d experienced two years ago. Drop dead gorgeous are QE2’s restaurants after the 1999 refurbishment.”

Cruisemates.com

Cunard Line awarded Editor-in-Chief Award for Best Traditional Cruise Line and Best World Cruise Specialist; Queen Elizabeth 2 awarded the Platinum Award for the Best World Cruise.

Porthole Magazine

QE2 - Overall Five Anchors-“Her recent refit brought her up to and beyond many of the features and amenities available on new ships. …She is a sophisticated city afloat…(service is) superb, comparable to the most elegant restaurants on shore.”

TheTotalTraveler.com

Cunard Line voted number four in its “Best Floating Hotel” category.

Gourmet Magazine's Annual 'Rooms At The Top Readers Choice Awards

QE2 - Five Stars - Grill Rooms rated number one in the large ship category – “The Queens Grill has the best waiters and service, a fine, formal atmosphere for dinner, and food that can be best described as memorable.”

2000 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

QE2- Six Black Ribbons (Grill Rooms) Five Black Ribbons (C-Grade Cabins)

“An especially elegant, sophisticated experience. … in the three grillrooms…the experience is that of a super-elegant, intimate restaurant rather than a dining room on a ship

2000 Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation

1999

QE2 - Five Stars - Grill Rooms rated number one in the large ship category – “Ideal for the many people who do not like to fly, who enjoy the grace and pace of the ship.”

1999 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

QE2’s Grill Rooms – Six black ribbons – “An especially elegant, sophisticated experience.”

1999 Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation

1998

Gold List, Top Ten Cruise Lines

Conde Nast Traveler

Top Ten Cruise Lines

Travel & Leisure

Best Cruise Line in the World – 1997 “Best of the Best” Readers’ Poll

Business Traveler International

QE2 - Five Stars - Grill Rooms rated number one in the large ship category - “This is the last of transatlantic liners and a truly superb experience.”

1998 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

Cunard Line – Best Itineraries - Best of the Best 97-98

The Unofficial Guide to Cruises 1998

QE2’s Grill Rooms –Five black ribbons – “A grand ship that exudes class and tradition.”

1998 Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation

QE2 – Five Stars – “A very special cruise experience.”

Fielding’s Worldwide Cruises – 1998

. . .

[oldsilverfox]

Hi snowshovel,

Thanks for supplying that impressive list of awards that Cunard have one, there is one more.

 

The only cruise line still operating a class system.

 

Therein lies the problem that many of the posters on this thread are alluding to. Obviously there are two different products on offer from Cunard, rather like there still are on airlines. My guess is that many of the glowing references to the quality of the line are coming from "critics" who for various reasons are mainly travelling Grille class. To me that is rather like reviewing the overall performance of an airline from travelling in a business class seat, whereas I think that the true marque of any travel company is how it treats the majority of its passengers. On this basis, Cunard's Britannia Class appears to be a tad above average but nothing extra special.

I am NOT dissing Cunard, I have booked to sail with them. If the experience turns out to be vastly superior to Celebrity, I shall be suprised and will happy to admit to you that I was wrong.

All the best (literally !!)

[snowshovel]

Good day to you oldsilverfox.

So you’re giving the QM2 yet another award for operating a class system. This is, by it self, a controversial subject deserving more focus in its own thread. Hope you would agree. There are so many cruise ship pseudo class systems in play as well, based on room category, number of times cruising with a line, etc. etc. how does one keep track? Wish you would have included a picture of the award though. Truly, we’d have 1000 words.

Your guilty-until-proven-innocent position regarding the QM2 as she might compare to the Celebrity Summit, followed by your condescending offer to retract and apologize if you decide you’re wrong, all supported by clobbering any favorable QM2 comments as probably coming from critics sailing in Grill class, was amusing, if not puzzling.

Dyslexic denizens unable to recognize an unordered list, Pouncing posters quoting loser travel rags and sordid speculators proffering an ominous outlook. I feel like I’m talking with those who, having spotted a nose hair on the Queen, would not only rush a story to press, but would make every effort to fit the word booger into the headline. It’s appalling.