Looking for Recent Experiences on QM2 Grill Suites

[Cortesefam]

We mostly sail on Seabourn and Windstar, but are looking at a QM2 crossing to visit our daughter in the UK.  We last did a QM2 crossing with the family in 2008 in Britannia Club, and would like to try the Grill experience.  I've not found many reviews posted from recent Queens or Princess Grill travelers--we welcome any comments on the suites, restaurants and lounge, and the differences you've experienced between the two categories.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[NE John]

Here’s my PG review from June 2023. Not too recent so go to CC reviews and filter QM2 and Transatlantic and you’ll see more reviews:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702265
 

I believe the “Grills” experience may give you that small ship personalized service while you are in the Grills areas, along with giving you access to all the activities and venues on a real ocean liner. To me  - the best of both worlds. There is no “ship within a ship” system with the Grills or rigid class based system that you may read about or see on YouTube vlogs. While you get priority embarkation, there is no separate Grills seating at a theatre nor do butlers escort you to cut the line for an activity. I would have nothing to with that type of experience. Most people have no idea what “class” of person one is sitting next while at the pub, a show, or when dancing in the Queens Room. 
We really enjoyed our PG experience and thought the service was kind, plenty of theater tableside service, and the PG suites on QM2 are very livable for a TA or even longer. 

[Mickb]

We have crossed both ways in PG ( in fact we will only sail in PG).

I heartily endorse NE John’s comments. You get the best of both worlds and imo the food was better than Regent.

[WantedOnVoyage]

Princess Grill in QM2 is exemplary... we enjoyed a roundtrip "crossing" Southampton-West Indies and return direct in Jan 2022 and the service, cuisine and restaurant (which I rate as more attractive than the revamped Queens Grill) were really top notch.  There have been cutbacks since but PG in QV last week owed nothing in the essentials of service and cuisine.  On a crossing you won't notice the repetition of menus either but the wait between courses is an increasing issue.  It's still worth the wait. 

 

I also think the PG cabins on QM2 far nicer than QV and QE... my wife disagrees here but I think the decor far more attractive and I prefer the more spacious feeling square design with more more window exposure and wider balcony to the narrow QV/QE configuration. 

[Mickb]

Absolutely agree with Wanted on Voyage. The PG cabins are rectangular and feel far more spacious than the narrow deep QV/QE cabins.

[Cortesefam]

Thank you for your posts and insights.  We're now booked on the EB transatlantic departing August 23.  We're in a "PG guarantee" booking, with the specific suite to be assigned before departure--evidently we snagged the last one available.  It doesn't seem there are any bad PG locations so we're fine with this arrangement.

Just a couple of additional questions--how is the Grills Lounge, and have you done the Wine Tasting Lunch offered in the Verandah Restaurant?

We're excited to cross again on the QM2!

[NE John]

The Grills Lounge is not as bad as many have mentioned. The afternoon tea is nice there served with loose tea. Ask your sommelier if there are any wine events going on. 

[WantedOnVoyage]

I am in the minority in liking QM2's Grill Lounge... it's far more spacious feeling than on QV/QE.    Lacks the superb views but it has large windows overlooking the Promenade Deck giving it a classic shipboard aspect.  The decor is better than it was for sure but it remains a bit 1980s Business Class lounge in character.  And like Business Class lounges "back then", it's also quiet and often underpopulated.  Even better. 

 

I like that proper afternoon tea is served there (I really dislike on QV/QE they serve tea in the Princess Grill restaurant) and last time I was aboard in 2022, it was fully presented with a menu, cake and sandwich stands, etc., but I understand that's a victim of the relentless cutbacks of late.  Far more important to me is that in 2022 it had a superb South African lady bartender who knew how to mix a martini and actually put a decent measure of gin in it.  We often patronised it for pre dinner cocktails if for that reason alone (my choice!) but also when we could not face another route march to the Commodore Club.  If you've not been on QM2 before, you will soon develop your getting around survival skills and appreciate the Grills Lounge for its location more than anything else. 

[rmsEtruria]

1 hour ago, NE John said:

The Grills Lounge is not as bad as many have mentioned. The afternoon tea is nice there served with loose tea. Ask your sommelier if there are any wine events going on. 

“Loose tea”—I’m curious: does afternoon tea in the Queens Room mean tea bags?!

[NE John]

No tea bags at all.
Tea is served via tea pots by white gloved servers with all the savories and sweets. It’s a nice experience but busy and you have to get to the QR early. Tea in Grills Lounge is quieter with more personal service. It’s good to experience both teas. 

[ExArkie]

16 hours ago, Cortesefam said:

Thank you for your posts and insights.  We're now booked on the EB transatlantic departing August 23.  We're in a "PG guarantee" booking, with the specific suite to be assigned before departure--evidently we snagged the last one available.  It doesn't seem there are any bad PG locations so we're fine with this arrangement.

Just a couple of additional questions--how is the Grills Lounge, and have you done the Wine Tasting Lunch offered in the Verandah Restaurant?

We're excited to cross again on the QM2!

The one time we booked a PG guarantee, we ended up in a Q5.