10 Reasons to Cruise on Queen Mary 2

Why choose a cruise on Queen Mary 2 over other cruise lines? I am going to give you 10 reasons why but first a little about the ship.

Queen Mary 2 is in a class by herself. Literally. She is the only transatlantic liner in regular service between Southampton, England and New York City.

Launched in 2004, Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of the Cunard Line. Her sister ships, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth are similar, however, only the Queen Mary 2 is intended for regularly scheduled crossings of the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, as of 2017 she is the only purpose-built passenger ship designed as an ocean cruise liner as opposed to a cruise ship.

The Cunard Line, founded in 1840, is a British cruise line, owned by Carnival and based in Southampton, England. Throughout the years, it has maintained the traditions and class distinctions of by gone years. Other ships sail the transatlantic route but none like Queen Mary 2. Think An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr on a transatlantic cruise on the original Queen Mary.

Today, we can still experience that elegance and tradition on Queen Mary 2, however, if you prefer a more casual, adventurous atmosphere, this might not be the cruise line for you.

I have cruised twice on this ship, once to the Caribbean and once transatlantic from England to New York. As I reminisce, I will share my reasons to cruise Queen Mary 2.

1. Traditional Afternoon Tea

Every day at 3:30pm passengers line up at the elegant Queen’s Room for Afternoon Tea. White-gloved waiters serve tea from silver pots. Following that they serve trays of scones, finger sandwiches, marmalade and herbed butter while musicians play classical music in the background.

Favorite teas served include black teas like Earl Grey and Assam as well as herbal teas like chamomile and mint. There is no additional charge for afternoon tea although upgrades are available such as the Godiva Afternoon Tea.

2. The Queen’s Room

The Queen’s Room is the largest ballroom at sea and the social hub of the ship. There is a large dance floor, an old-style band shell and double-height ceilings. In addition to Afternoon Tea this is the site of many activities such as dance lessons and acting workshops. In the evening a full orchestra plays dance music.

3. Dance Hosts

Cunard provides dance hosts for those without a dance partner in the Queen’s Room. They circulate to make sure that everyone who wants to dance gets a chance to do so.

4. Acting Workshops

I attended a 3 day acting workshop in the Queen’s Room taught by graduates of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. They taught basic concepts followed by students working in small groups. It culminated with a presentation of our skit and the issuance of a certificate of attendance.

5. Library

Many ships have eliminated the library. Not Queen Mary 2. It contains about 10,000 volumes making it the largest library at sea. Lush carpeting, leather sofas and armchairs complement the rich, lighted, wood-and-glass shelves. The floor to ceiling windows and cozy chairs make it an unforgettable experience for book lovers.

6. Illuminations Planetarium

Illuminations is the only planetarium at sea. The planetarium dome can send you on an epic voyage across the solar system. In addition it serves as a luxury 3D cinema and a classical music venue.

7. Insight Talks

Cunard Insights™ enrichment program offers talks, seminars and discussions by well-known historians, explorers, top diplomats, politicians, scientists and other notable experts.

8. Promenade Deck

Queen Mary 2 has one of the few remaining uninterrupted wrap-around promenade decks. In earlier times, a stroll around the deck in the evening was one of the pleasures of cruising. However, modern amenities such as climbing walls and basketball courts have taken up valuable real estate on modern ships causing the wrap around promenade deck became the victim of these updates.

9. Classic Wooden Deck Chairs

The classic wooden deck chairs take you back to bygone times when cruising by ship was a means of transportation across the Atlantic Ocean rather than a just a resort style vacation.

10. Kennels

Not many people realize that the Queen Mary 2 has pet kennels for those on the transatlantic cruises. Dogs, cats and ferrets are welcome for a price. The Kennel Master feeds and exercises the dogs and tends to the cats and ferrets. Scheduled visiting hours allow owners to spend time with their pets.

In Conclusion

Queen Mary 2 is an exceptional ship and perfect for those seeking a more traditional cruise. These 10 reasons for choosing her describe only some of her great features. If you are thinking of traveling to England in the future when cruising resumes, you might want to consider taking Queen Mary 2 one way and flying the other. I did that and it was a memorable experience.