Cunard Queen Mary 2 Cruise Review – a luxurious escape on the world’s last ocean liner

Wondering what it is like cruising with Cunard? Find out in my detailed review from a mini cruise I took on the Queen Mary 2.

Wondering if a Cunard cruise is for you? I was until I took a taster cruise with them. While I was keen to cross the Atlantic with them I was worried they would not be for me. So, before splashing out, I decided to take a short cruise to see what they were all about.

Get a glimpse into the world of Cunard with my review of my three night trip to help you decide if they are the right cruise line for your next getaway.

Cruising with Cunard

I’ve been considering a transatlantic cruise for a while. Sailing into New York City passing the Statue of Liberty and seeing the incredible skyline would be a moment to remember. It is definitely one of those cruises that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Cunard are probably the first cruise line that comes to mind when you think of a luxury transatlantic cruise. Yes, many other cruise lines cross the pond but none perhaps have quite the same allure as Cunard.

Their heritage harks back to a bygone era. A romantic image of cruising with ballroom dancing, afternoon tea and elegant evenings. It sounds a dream to be honest.

All that said, I’m not sure I’m one of Cunard’s target passengers. So I’ve been a little in two minds about cruising across the Atlantic with them. I’d read some Queen Mary 2 reviews which only had good things to say and had almost persuaded me to try them but still wasn’t quite ready to commit.

While browsing through their website I spotted a three night taster cruise and thought it was a good opportunity to try them out with out committing a lot of time or money. I was hoping to discover if they would be the right cruise line to take a transatlantic cruise with.

Leaving Southampton on a Friday night, there was a sea day on Saturday and a port day in Le Havre, France on Sunday. The cruise ended back in Southampton on Monday morning. 

 So, if you are in a similar position to me and would like to cruise with Cunard but are not quite sure, I hope this review of my experience gives you a little idea of what to expect and if it might be for you.

A little bit about Queen Mary 2 

The Queen Mary 2 is an iconic ship in the world of cruising. As the last ocean liner in the world, she is Cunard’s flagship and offers a slightly different cruising experience than you might expect or be used to.

A few facts and figures about QM2…

• she is 132 in length
• she can carry 2,691 passengers
• she has 1,173 crew

Queen Mary 2 cruises are known for their elegance and style. She was built to travel vast distances across the ocean, taking passengers on voyages in comfort while getting them there as fast as possible.

The nature of her voyages means there are lots of sea days. This is taken into account by her design and the activities offered onboard. There is a daily program of talks, ballroom dancing classes, afternoon tea, theatre shows and wellness activities. Alternatively, you can relax in one of the many bars or lounges, eat in one of the restaurants or spend a few hours reading in the library.

Researching my cruise beforehand I was a little worried about how I’d fit everything in, it seemed there was so much to do on this iconic ship.

Embarkation 

The excitement of embarkation day never gets old. Getting out of a taxi upon arrival at the cruise terminal I was immediately greeted by a porter who took my case. Entering the departure area I was directed to the check-in.

One thing I noticed was how calm things seemed to be. Of course, cruise lines do this day in and day out so you expect them to be organised. However, sometimes it can feel a bit like organised chaos.

There was none of that here. 

Check-in took a mere few minutes and I was cleared to board the ship. All in all, it took no more than 15-20 minutes to get from the taxi to the ship. It was comfortably one of the smoothest embarkations I have experienced. 

First Impressions

All the cruises I have done so far have been on new (or refurbished) ships. So I was a little worried that Cunard would be a little too grand and perhaps a little dated for me. Boarding the ship through the impressive lobby you are immediately struck by the elegance of the ship. And the amazing colourful carpet.

With the crew welcoming you onboard all suited and booted, there is definitely a special feel in the air, almost like you are being transported back in time. 

I headed straight to my cabin, a sheltered balcony cabin on deck four, to drop off my carry-on bag and freshen up from a long journey to Southampton. As I exited the lift, my suitcase was on the trolley in the lobby waiting to be taken to the cabin. That was probably less than half an hour after dropping it off. Within a further 10 minutes, it was outside my cabin door. Very impressive!

The cabin was perhaps the area I thought would be most dated but I was pleasantly surprised. More on that later.

After completing the muster formality of watching the safety video in my cabin and signing in at my muster station, I headed to Kings Court (the buffet) to grab a late lunch. 

My original plan had been to eat at the Golden Lion as I’d read on a lot of cruise forums that this was the place to head to on the first day before everyone else had discovered it. However, as my muster station was by Kings Court, it made more sense to eat there. 

In contrast to the elegant feel of the lower decks, this area felt very fresh and modern. Overlooking the wrap-around promenade it was light & airy with floor-to-ceiling windows in places. Obviously, the view wasn’t so great while in port in Southampton but when out at sea it was a nice place to sit with a meal or drink.  

There was a great choice of food (lunch was delicious), plenty of seating and it was spotlessly clean.

Exploring the rest of the ship, I found it took a little time to understand the layout and figure out how to reach the different venues and facilities. It wasn’t quite as intuitive other ships I have cruised on. In all honesty, I found it a little confusing. Even after three days and I’m not sure that was just down to my chemo brain.

If you are on a transatlantic crossing, I think by the time you reach the other side of the pond you might just have figured it out & remembered what stairwell you need for each venue. However, that was just a minor issue really and definitely not one that would put me off cruising on the Queen Mary 2 in future.

Perhaps the thing that struck me the most after my first day onboard was that despite being a full ship, it never felt crowded. That impression stayed with me for the whole cruise. I never really had any problem finding a seat anywhere or saw any queues. 

All in all, I was really impressed. While it did feel a little different to the other ships I’d been on, it wasn’t in a bad way by any means.

Sheltered Balcony Cabin

I often book inside cabins when I cruise. I tend not to spend much time in the cabin & I prefer to use the money I save for another cruise. However, when I booked this cruise the sheltered balcony cabins were the same price as the inside cabins so of course it made sense to book one. 

I was allocated cabin 4180 which was located at the aft on deck four. The cabin itself was great. Beforehand I thought the cabin might feel small and dated but it was kind of the opposite. It felt very spacious and more modern than I was expecting. The light decor was calming with the blue accents giving quite a regal feel. 

Yes, the bathroom felt rather old-fashioned but it didn’t bother me as much as I thought. It was functional and clean and that’s all that matters really.

The highlight of this cabin was the balcony. Enclosed as part of the ship’s hull, it was like having a picture window that changed every day. 

Much as I liked the cabin, there was one downside. As it was located above the Queens Room it was quite noisy until around midnight. You could hear the thud of the music from the live band playing. Thankfully it only bothered me for two nights (there was no noise on the first night). However, if you are taking a longer cruise then cabins in this area are ones to avoid if you can. 

Read more | Cunard Queen Mary 2 – Sheltered Balcony cabin review

Bars and Restaurants

There are a wide variety of places to eat and drink on the Queen Mary 2 from a traditional English pub to a formal dining room. So, whatever your taste, or mood, you’ll find somewhere suitable.

If you like to take your time (and why not when you are on holiday) the Britannia Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch & dinner with full table service. 

More casual dining can be found in Kings Court (i.e. the buffet) which is open almost the whole day with just a few short closures to prepare & set up for the next mealtime. There is also a late-night buffet here if you fancy a snack before bedtime.

For light bites, you have the Carinthia Lounge which does some amazing light dishes. I highly recommend the Mac & Cheese, it was amazing! I went back twice for that.

If pub grub is your thing then the Golden Lion can’t be missed. Decked out like a traditional English pub, complete with a dart board, it is a popular lunch spot. Get there early in your cruise though to beat the crowds.

Day 1 – Southampton

Once the embarkation excitement had worn off and I had finished exploring the ship, it was almost time for dinner. On this first day, you were allocated a time if you wanted to dine in the Britannia Restaurant (the main dining room). 

I had been given 6.15 pm which was a little early for me but I wanted to try it out so I thought I’d give it a go. Plus, the sail away was due at 8 pm so it was a good chance to eat before then. 

Tip | If you wanted to dine in the Britannia Restaurant on the remaining nights you are likely to be asked to book a time. Get in fast as if you leave it too late you may not get your choice of dining time. 

Arriving at the Britannia Restaurant, the staff were very welcoming and friendly. I was immediately taken to a table, no hanging around here.

There was a good choice on the menu, I went for the chicken presser to start with and a filet of cod as a main. 

The service here was very smooth and very quick. My starter arrived within minutes of ordering and the main wasn’t far behind. I had pretty much eaten both within half an hour. I was worried I’d be done and dusted within about 45 minutes.

Thankfully dessert and tea were a little more relaxed. While it may have been one of the quickest meals I’ve eaten, it was delicious and well-presented. 

One of the benefits of having dinner early is that it meant I could be on deck for the late sail away. I headed up to the Terrace Bar to watch the sun setting over Southampton as we drifted away. 

There is a wide range of things to do in the evening onboard the Queen Mary 2. As well as many bars and lounges you can hang out in, many of which have live music, there is ballroom dancing in the Queens Room and shows in the theatre. 

I headed up to the Commodore Club for a quick drink before heading to a show. Inspired by the captains of the Cunard fleet over the years, this lounge is a stylish and refined piano bar in the evening. Located high up at the front of the ship, it offers beautiful sweeping sea views during the day. However, at night the blinds are closed for navigational reasons.

As show time approached, I headed down to the theatre. The Queen Mary 2 has one of the nicest theatres I have seen on a cruise ship. It looked spectacular. The seats were comfortable and the viewpoints were great. It honestly looked like there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. 

Tonight’s show was a set by The BlueJays, a 50’s rock and roll swing band that often tour the UK with their Rave On show. Their set was great and certainly got the crowd going.

After the show, I headed up to Kings Court. Like most cruise ships, there is a late-night buffet on the QM2. Usually open between 11-12.30 pm and 1.00 am, they provide a range of snacks and refreshments. It’s a bit like a midnight feast at sea.

Day 2 – Sea Day

The second day (although the first full day onboard) was a sea day and we cruised along the English Channel. More exciting than it sounds, trust me. Cunard offers complimentary room service. This was the first time I’ve had this on a cruise so thought I should try it.

In your cabin is a card where you select what you would like and leave it out on your door by 1 am at the latest. My breakfast arrived about halfway through the time slot I had selected. It was well-presented and tasted great. Having breakfast in your cabin is definitely a luxury I hope to experience more often. 

As today was a sea day I planned to explore the ship to experience as many of the venues and facilities as I could.

My first stop was the Carinthia Lounge. This stylish area seemed to be a venue with many uses. During the day it was a great place to escape to. It felt like a cosy and tranquil lounge. A nice place to sit and relax with a coffee or drink. Many of the people I saw there were reading or watching shows or movies on their devices. At night it hosted quiz nights and live music offering a nice alternative to the other venues onboard.

They serve light meals here at breakfast and lunch so if you don’t fancy the more formal sit down of the Britannia Restaurant or the busyness of the buffet this is a good choice for some more causal dining. Breakfast options served here include pastries, fresh fruit, smoothies, juices and hot drinks. 

Next up was the Commodore Club. Having spent an hour there the night before, I was keen to see what it was like during the day. With the blinds up, the observation lounge with huge windows offered panoramic views out to the horizon. It was a great spot to sit and have a cuppa in the late morning. It wasn’t busy at all and each time I visited in the day I never had any issues finding a seat.

As much as I was tempted to spend the rest of the day in there, I had much more of the ship to explore so eventually I managed to draw myself away from the sweeping views.

Leaving the Commodore Club I stumbled across the scenic lifts I’d heard were a bit hard to find They travel between decks 7-11 and are glass fronted offering sea views as you go up and down between decks. They are well worth hunting out on a sea day.  

Perhaps the best way to explore a cruise ship is just wandering around. After leaving the lifts I came across the observation deck and the Bridge Viewing Gallery.

The observation deck is a small area at the front of the ship on the deck underneath the Bridge. It offers a view over the bow of the ship and is probably a great spot when sailing into port, particularly New York City.

If you are interested in the workings of a cruise ship, then it is well worth popping along to the Bridge Viewing Gallery. Here a narrow corridor leads into an area with a huge window looking into the Bridge so you can watch the crew as they work. You are asked not to take photos or distract them but is a great experience to be able to watch.

And I definitely got a smile or two!

Next, I popped up to the top decks. Here you find a sun deck, a sports area, a lookout, the indoor pavilion pool, a bar and a cafe. You can play deck games like shuffleboard, bowls or paddle tennis. You can even take a swing in the golf nets.

There is one surprise on this deck. There is a kennel. Yes, that is right, your dog or cat can travel in style with you as you cross the Atlantic.

The Queen Mary 2 is the only ship in the world where you can travel with your pet and they are looked after just as well as human passengers. With their own cage with bedding, regular feeds and exercise time it’s like a little holiday for them too. Of course, you can visit them throughout your cruise to with set visiting times.

You don’t have to worry about them feeling homesick either, Cunard has thought of everything and have installed a lamppost and fire hydrogen for them to do their business.

Tip: With only 24 kennels, they can get booked up so if you would like to travel with your pet, make sure there is space available before booking your cruise.

After this, I headed back down deck seven to have a wander around the promenade. This stately teak deck wraps around the whole ship so you can walk a whole lap. Three laps are equal to a mile so it is a great place to get your daily steps in.

On either side are deck chairs with royal blue padding facing out to sea. I think one of the best things I did all cruise was sit here with a cuppa enjoying the sea views.

An experience for the memory bank. If you do one thing on the Queen Mary 2, make sure you take some time to do this.

There is another observation area on deck seven and this one comes with something of a surprise. Stepping through the door into the area you are greeted by what looks like a couple of modern artworks. Nicknamed the Captain’s Cufflinks, they are in fact, spare propeller blades. So if a propeller is damaged or needs to be replaced they have some handy. It’s kind of the cruising equivalent of carrying a spare tyre in your car.

Afternoon Tea

One of the many things Cunard is famous for is the quintessential British afternoon tea it hosts every day at 3.30 pm in the Queen’s Room.

If like me you are fond of cuppa, then this is the place to head to on a sea day. Here you have an hour of dainty hand-cut sandwiches, cakes, scones and of course, unlimited tea. 

The afternoon tea starts promptly at 3.30 pm with a string trio striking up and the waiters bringing out the tea on silver trays.  

As you might expect, this experience is very popular. I  arrived almost an hour early (I didn’t want to miss out!) and the room was already half full. By 3.15 pm, all the tables were gone and a queue was beginning to form at the door. 

Once the afternoon tea was over I zipped down to Illuminations which is the only planetarium at sea. They put on some virtual reality like shows here. On my cruise, you could take a journey around the earth and solar system.

Queen Mary 2 Gala Evening

Our sea day ended with a Gala Evening. Cunard are famous for their Gala Nights which are often themed. On this night the theme was Red and Gold.

This was actually the evening I was most worried about. Much as it is great to dress up every now and then, I feared it might be a little stuffy and everyone would be wearing ballgowns. Also as a solo traveller, you sometimes feel a bit conspicuous all dressed up on your own. 

However, it all turned out fine. It wasn’t all ballgowns as I expected and I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb in my black dress accessorised with a red scarf and handbag.

Read more | What to wear on your Cunard Cruise

I actually took the easy option and ended up eating in Kings Court (a casual dress venue on Gala Night) before getting dressed up for the evening.I decided to try a different bar tonight before the evening’s entertainment in the theatre and headed to the Chart Room.

This turned out to be one of my favourite bars on the ship. Like the other bar areas, it was chic and sophisticated and had a nice range of cocktails. I had my favourite non-alcoholic cocktail onboard here.

Tonight’s show was Broadway Rocks, a nod to NYC, featuring the hits from many top theatre shows on Broadway. As someone who enjoys musicals and theatre, I thought this show was great. The Royal Court Theatre, Cunard’s in-house theatre group, put on a spectacular and enjoyable show.

Day 3 – Le Havre

This morning I tried out breakfast in the main dining room. It was very busy so the service was a little slow but my waiter did warn me there might be a bit of a wait so it wasn’t an issue. 

One thing I did notice was there was a coffee stain on the table cloth & the cup & saucer was missing a teaspoon. Now these are no big deal & definitely not something to lose sleep over but I did think it was perhaps something you would not expect on Cunard. You think everything will be immaculate. That aside, the actual breakfast was fine. I had a made-to-order omelette which was lovely. 

After breakfast, I headed into Le Havre to have a quick look around. Cunard put on a free shuttle bus which takes you from the port to the centre of town. 

Being a Sunday lots of places were closed but a few enterprising cafes were open & making the most of the cruise trade. Three ships were in so there were plenty of people about. There was also a Sunday morning market selling everything from food to furniture. 

Other places worth a quick visit here include St Joseph’s Church with its impressive skyscraper-like tower, and the city’s beach, a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town. 

It wasn’t long before I had to head back to the ship to pick up my afternoon excursion. 

Tip: One thing to keep in mind if you want to go back to the ship between trips or excursions is to build in some time for delays. We got held up at the port with the authorities doing some extra checks before we could board. 

A few ladies almost missed our afternoon excursion as they got held up for 10 minutes while disembarking the ship as the gangway was being moved. The coach was actually pulling away as they arrived. So it is worth building in more time than you think you’ll need just in case. 

One of the reasons I wanted to visit Le Havre was to get a chance to visit Honfleur. This is one of the most visited places in Normandy and a very popular shore excursion. 

After picking up the coach at the port we had a journey through the lush landscape of the Normandy countryside. Our guide for the afternoon gave a commentary on Honfleur & surrounding area. As we approached Honfleur we crossed the Normandy Bridge. This cable-style bridge crosses the River Seine linking Honfluer with Le Havre.

Once we arrived in the city, our guide took us on an hour or so walking tour around some of the city’s top sights and areas. We visited the picturesque harbour area with its yachts & colourful half-timber houses which were very reminiscent of Copenhagen, visited St Catherine’s Church and strolled around the market and art galleries.

As we did this, our guide shared lots of information on the maritime history of the city. Once the tour had finished we had around an hour of free time. This was the perfect amount of time  to be able to have a wander around the art shops, pick up a souvenir or just have a drink or ice cream and enjoy the harbour views.

Heading back to the ship after our excursion we were back on board within about five minutes of arriving at the port. It was much quicker than when I returned in the morning. So, it shows it can go either way but it is still worth building in time for all eventualities.

Tonight, I decided to have a relaxed one. It was nice to dress up for the gala night but I planned a quieter evening and wanted to make sure I was on deck for our sail away. I had cabin service once again so I could try out the day menu and had a lovely tomato soup and chicken ceasar salad.

A small crowd had gathered on the top decks to watch us leave Le Havre. Our departure involved a manoeuvre of moving back a few ship lengths before sailing out to sea. Even some of the crew came out to watch.

As Le Havre disappeared into the distance I popped down to Kings Court to get a cuppa & noticed another crowd. This time they were watching a beautiful red and and orange sunset. This is where my sheltered balcony cabin came into its own, watching the last of the day disappear over the horizon was another memorable moment on this Cunard cruise.

Day 4 – Return to Southampton and disembarkation

Disembarkation day is definitely the worst day of any cruise. I pretty much always self disembark so it was an early breakfast in Kings Court before leaving the ship. 

Like embarkation, this was one of the smoothest disembarkation I have experienced so far. I left my cabin at 7.42 am & was on a train to London at 8.00 am. My last experience with Cunard was just as impressive as my first.

The Last Word

Cunard mini cruises, like this one, are a great way to try them out without committing to a longer or more expensive cruise.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect on a Cunard cruise. I’ll admit I didn’t think they would be for me. Hence why I chose a taster cruise for my first experience. However, it was a lesson in keeping an open mind as I discovered that the Queen Mary 2 has a charm of its own. 

It seems to effortlessly blend modernity with elegance. The sense of space was also very apparent, despite being a full ship. The refined decor, attentive service, variety of bars and restaurants and choice of things to do onboard were really impressive. 

All in all, I really enjoyed my few days aboard the Queen Mary 2 and will most definitely cruise with Cunard again one day, maybe even on that transatlantic crossing. 

If you are considering a cruise with Cunard, I hope I have given you an idea of what you can expect and some suggestions on how to have a memorable cruise experience.

You may also like…

• Queen Mary 2 Sheltered Balcony Cabin Review
• Afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2