Design Secrets of Queen Mary 2 - Ocean Liner’s unique features explained by Chief Naval Architect

This video looks at some of the design secrets of the Queen Mary 2.
The Cunard Line flagship Queen Mary 2 is often referred to as the last of the great ocean liners.
Ordered by Cunard in 2000, and built in France, QM2 is the first true transatlantic ocean liner created since QE2 entered service in 1969.
Designed by Carnival Corporation’s Chief Naval Architect Stephen Payne - who oversaw a team of naval architects - Cunard’s QM2 is a feat of marine engineering, and has an expected service life of at least 40 years.
When QM2 entered service in 2004, she was the longest, largest, tallest, widest and most expensive passenger ship ever created. To this day she holds the title of the largest Ocean Liner ever built.
Yet there are some parts of QM2 that remain a mystery, even to regular travellers.
Why, for example does the ship have an enormous breakwater on her bow?
Why were pods selected to move the ship rather than propellers?
What is the connection between QM2’s spa and her not having a rudder, and what’s with those Deck 3L corridors that access the Queens Room?
To answer these questions and more, I spoke with QM2’s designer Stephen Payne.
Image Credits:
Rotterdam: This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication @ Wikimedia Commons: bit.ly/2VMF4PY
Britannia: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons - bit.ly/2VwioV7
Propeller Pod: Creative Commons 1.0 - bit.ly/3axxdLB
SS
Normandie: Wikimedia Commons / Flickr Commons - bit.ly/3bxp4bi
Some QM2 Image credits with thanks to Stephen Payne.
Thumbnail photo of QM2 (2023): Andrew Sassoon-Walker solentphotographer.com/ with thanks as always.
All other imagery is Chris Frame / Rachelle Cross.
Music: KZbin Audio Library.
For more Cunard information visit www.chriscunard.com/
#qm2 #queenmary2 #cunard #navalarchitecture #design

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks so much for watching - what's your favourite design aspect of Queen Mary 2?

[@charleslopez4325]

The Commodore Club

[@benjaminshamel9383]

I like the fact that she looks like my gurl QE2 on steroids. I quite like the bow, of course. I think the funnel is a little too squat, but of course I knew Stephen had to adjust it to fit under the VN Bridge in NYC. She's just an impressive ship from every angle, really. If Mr. Payne is able to see this, I want him to know how INCREDIBLE he is for designing such a masterpiece/beast of a ship. QE2 is a wave-riding greyhound of a ship (er, rather, was when I was last on her in 2007); QM2 just powers thru like no ship I've seen before, somehow both beastly and gorgeous. She's a beaut, and I'm so happy to have sailed on her in October; I definitely want to do the Fall Colours in Canada cruise again for sure!

[@AlbertoSegovia.]

Almost everything. Although the deck where the grills are located could have been higher. Just some 30 cm would make a difference to the feel of those spaces. But maybe there were some technical constraints? And, as an aside, I tell you, I loved the original interior design of the ship. The color palette, the patterns used, the furniture and furnishings. It had heightened originality, stately elegance, studied modernity, and sense of heritage. And it all all held together as a coherent set. But the retrofit was poorly done; rooms are no longer as delicate as before, garish colors, too modern patterning, impolite roughness; and everything feels disjointed as the traditional spaces don’t quite mix with the modern touches now. Just look at today’s Queens Grill, it looks too exaggerated to my taste. And I don’t know if the bottle displays exactly spell out elegance. Do you have any idea as to who made the original interior design and decoration? Thank you; nice video with you talking with the man himself!

[@Stevenet1]

She’s a beautiful ship. Wasn’t there a newer addition to the Cunard line after QM2? Was it the Victoria or are they commissioning a newer ship to replace her?

[@johnjohn-cs9eu]

The ballroom floor is impressively like hand-crafted marketry, carved and set into a piece of fine furniture.

[@robert5140]

Having sailed on this beautiful ship twice across the atlantic, and two other trips, I agree with your comments. In bad weather, QM2 is so stable.

[@vermas4654]

It's really stunning how stable she is. I didn't go on a trans Atlantic trip with her, granted, but the North sea ain't something to laugh about either. And while other ships I saw on the sea while on board were rolling around, QM2 just plowed through the sea, seemingly not Caring About waves

[@babyyoda1091]

lucky!

[@robertklein1497]

Very nice to get this designers inside information about the choices that were made to create this incredible ship. It's not always that we can understand what effectively led to how a ship works so close up. Great work

[@michaelwhalen2469]

Wonderful Video ! QM2 is the greatest Passenger Ship in existence today!! One of the grandest ocean liners of all time ! Thank You Steven Payne for creating this amazing ship ! So Sleek. So Beautiful . Simply a Marvel !! And Thank You Chris for all the hard work and dedication you put into all these wonderful videos you create !!! 👍 MikeW 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧❤️

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind comments.

[@RickyJr46]

Chris, I did two transatlantic crossings aboard QM2 in 2017 and enjoyed them tremendously! The eastbound left NYC on May 15th and was glass smooth throughout. My return trip, on June 7th, was much more of an adventure with a big storm and an at-sea rescue of stranded yachtsman Mervyn Wheatley. One of my favorite places is forward on Deck 3, the row of single seats positioned next to large windows. It's quiet, perfect for reading a book or just watching the sea. Or, in a real storm, looking at waves reaching up to window level! Despite my 2020 trips being cancelled I really do look forward to more time on Queen Mary 2.

[@angelametcalfe953]

Thx for that, it was very interesting. We are sailing on her next May (20230) NYC to London. I can't wait.

[@corrion1]

Stephen did a great job on the QM2's design despite being under financial pressure to jam as many balcony suites onto it as possible.

[@Boypogikami132]

What!?!

[@tonyaanderson311]

Thank you for my balcony room. I can see the lifeboat too. Perfection.

[@katearmstrong6592]

I sailed trans Atlantic NY to Southampton a few years ago Jan 3. Excellent! Smooth and walking the deck. I am eager for Feb 22 2022 NY 14 day Caribbean. Wonderful ship!

[@m_shaf2139]

I was working on my model while watching this!

[@abacuscalculator7478]

Fantastic Chris.

[@sgillard960]

Our 2nd cruise on QM2 is this Sept and I so happy to be back on my favourite ship ever!!

[@lindawillis2746]

Sailed twice over the Atlantic on the QM2 visiting my brother in Rhode Island. Beautiful ship.....great video.

[@Hoshino_Aquamarine_Wolf]

I love the design of the QM2

[@brucefielder9312]

Excellent informative video. We just booked our transatlantic crossing on QM2 for May 2022 so I am exploring lots of videos about the ship.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thank you

[@ABAC6969]

I went on a transatlantic cruise on QM2 last year and it was fantastic. It was the perfect ship to go on my first cruise. I have since booked another Cunard cruise, this time on the Queen Victoria. Great video Chris!

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks for sharing!

[@matthewrichards8497]

It's cool how you get special speakers to give great insight into things I've never thought about or wondered, if not in the back of my mind. I didn't know most of these details. I wondered why it was called The Canyon Ranch Spa. My favorite feature of the ship is probably the boat deck and the special windows from King's Court, reminiscent of the 4-stackers of the early 1900s, that jet out to a 180 view of the Boat Deck. When in a storm, at least you still get a view of the deck and in quite the adventurous circumstances.

[@awaywithianalain360]

A fascinating video, Chris, thanks for posting it! Assuming that we all get to sail again on QM2 one day soon and you can gain access, a video exploring "below decks" would be wonderful. Crew quarters, engineering, etc. If anyone could convince Cunard to allow that, it would probably be you :-)

[@dl11950]

My favorite design aspects relate to the traditional express liner features - the promenade deck (including the enclosure at the bow) and the Britannia dining room. The promenade seems to be a special favorite of crossing passengers - I recall on my 2017 westbound crossing deck 7 access was secured due to force 11 winds, but there seemed to be a stream of folks on the promenade from the deck 8 or deck six exits. The 'Terrace' bar was open [bow into the wind], so I decided to hand out there for a while.

[@RickyJr46]

Dave, were you aboard the westbound crossing which departed Southampton on June 7th? Crew members told me it was the roughest they'd experienced in ten years. Passengers got a bonus thrill with the successful at-sea rescue of yachtsman Mervyn Wheatley and his speaking to us later in the ship's auditorium.

[@pamelapaterson2514]

I would go anywhere on the QM2. Was in a storm and hardly knew it, as compared to other ships we have been on. Love it. Hate the new cruise ships which don’t look seaworthy.

[@anne-mariepopieul4203]

i always love to watch your vlogs , it's inpiring thanks so much to sharing your comment's with us

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thank you 🙏

[@anne-mariepopieul4203]

@@ChrisFrameOfficial you're welcome :*

[@LadyMarie880]

Awe-inspiring ❤ it is like you have made it , one is standing in the Dining Room. It is Stunningly Beautiful. THANKYOU FOR SHARING.

[@attila.albert]

I couldn't really understand what the problem with the walkways around the dining room was. What did people criticise - that they are on some kind of mezzanine and not on the regular decks? Interesting video, thank you!

[@simondman3233]

I gotta say i really love the look of the beautiful ship

[@davidbartlett7344]

Best wishes and success

[@dinodesantis2056]

Brings back many memories, thank you Chris.

[@jimmypinetwinchell2454]

You're work is stellar, lad...Cheers from Texas...

[@samuelmaltry6727]

I love the design of this ship

[@77142957]

Each propeller pod weighs as much as a 747? Holy crap!

[@daveep9794]

And those fancy gold sculpture like objects near the front (Deck 7) are the spare propellers for those pods.

[@AreDoWeSheIt]

i hope they build another one like this one, with heavy steel plating throughout the hull. pools sun decks and hot tubs on the top deck just like cruise ships are fine but i just want another one like this

[@muhammadhanifkurnaen6689]

Hope cunard build the true ocean liner again like QM2 not cruise ship like QE and QV and upcoming ship from fincantieri. Altough QM2 last for 40 years up or til 2043.

[@gabrielmiller668]

You don't how much I would love to see a "ocean liner only" to be built with no balconies no pods and all the crappy jazz in modern ships

[@raymondleggs5508]

And the name would be.... Aquitania II? Lusitania II? Olympic II? she'd have to have some external design elements of any ship she'd be named after, or it wouldn't be worth it...

[@raymondleggs5508]

@@GoogleDoesEvil They're starting to build classic straight bows on modern cruse ships the AIDA class comes to mind so, The olympic's bow, the queen mary II's hull and stern, and a hybrid of the Normandie and Olympic's superstructure with the open promenade that runs from fore to aft, and the short funnels of the last 2 white star liners and a modern high efficiency steam turbine electric power plant.

[@sirankleknocker3122]

Gabriel Miller that’s like saying “remove the promenade deck”

[@GardeningLadybug]

Gabriel Miller she was called QE2 and she got retired 😩

[@noahmccammon8781]

Amazing

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Criminally under watched video

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

🙏

[@benjaminshamel9383]

Love your content!!!

[@gabrielmiller668]

The QM2 is a remarkable and the most beautiful modern liner to be built.. It's a little obvious that the standard rudder and propellers were not going to be a thing and I am not a huge fan of the fake "Italian inspired" stern... In the other end the interiors are quite astonishing but over all falls a little flat in the exterior design due to the tall balcony superstructure which is one of the areas where the QE2 absolutely trumps the QM2 But realistically the QM2 is the most elegant ship built in the 21st century and trumps all other modern ships because of her retaining some classic features and definately makes it a while worth option to travel over the absolutely dreadful in every possible way modern cruise ships

[@naelfontan8988]

Great vid liked very much! ❤💯

[@markrixson8565]

I was crew from 2006 to 2008 I did her 1st world cruise it my favourite ship

[@travelwithdebandnick]

Wow chris that was really interesting :)

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thank you Debbie!

[@johnjohn-cs9eu]

FABULOUS

[@stevehumphreys8666]

Hi Chris great video as usual and really can't wait to do the crossing again when we can ! And maybe get thoughs hurricane seas again! How good was that? Stay safe . Steve

[@nathanhardy7008]

The one question I have about Cunard is all the effort to design the QM2 to perform in the Atlantic yet her 2 sister ships resemble cruise ships (spirit class in particular so why isn't important they also perform as well? how are they still called ocean liner?

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Elizabeth and Victoria aren’t ocean liners. I’m actually going to upload a video about the difference tomorrow 🙌

[@muhammadhanifkurnaen6689]

Mightbe just too costly to build in the same way, while current design effort was able to give equal stability and comfort required for transatlantic passage. But it just didn't sail fast enough but the guest doesn't in hurry right?

[@RickyJr46]

I rode Queen Elizabeth in 2019, a short but sweet 5-nighter from Vancouver BC to Long Beach, California with a day in San Francisco. It was a fairly smooth trip with the only real choppiness coming after departing SF, as she turned south near the Farallons. Highlights of that sailing included passage by the San Juan Islands, two crossings below the Golden Gate Bridge (one at pre-dawn!), and seeing the original Queen Mary's spectacular July 4th fireworks show!

[@voipschmoip]

Thanks

[@karlreading3201]

Hi Chris, really interesting and informative video, thank you so much for sharing. I Sailed on her in 2019 and it was a true experience. One of the things we did find less than idea was getting to the queens room, although if that is the cost of the design being so magnificent for the main restaurant , then it was worth it. QM2 was a very different Experian was to when I sailed on Ventura, and Should covid 19 be handled by next year, I’ll be interested to see how QM2 compares to IONA when I said on her.

[@catrinlewis939]

The only objection I had was that the art in the gallery on my crossing was kind of meh. But one was soon past it and on to the fun astern.

[@duckworth_75]

Being on the QM2 myself, I don’t even know there was a spa!

[@RagavJanardhan]

We just gonna ignore each pod is the weight of a jet?

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Each pod is the weight of a B 747! Yes, should have added that in.

[@RagavJanardhan]

@@ChrisFrameOfficial thanks for replying so quick! You did mention they were as heavy as a jumbo jet but I did not see any comments on it which I found interesting

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

@@RagavJanardhan haha oops... clearly the self isolation is having an affect when I can't even remember what I said lol thanks for the comment! Yeah quite amazing to think how heavy they are - must have strong bolts!!

[@RagavJanardhan]

@@ChrisFrameOfficial 😂😂😂 keep up the great work! Loved your most recent vid

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thank you 🙏

[@edwardzamorski3711]

Looks more seaworthy and classy than the floating skyscrapers ugh

[@Boypogikami132]

Ugh cruise ships suck *hides Roblox cruise ship/ocean liner hybrid*

[@Shujaa24]

Also QM2 needs one more thing before her career ends... A RUNNING MATE! and I ain't talking about QE and QV

[@hoodatdondar2664]

Queen Alexandra? Queen Anne? Queen of the May?

[@BenjaminsWorldRoblox]

Poseidon from the movie "POSEIDON" (2006) would be a good running mate all that ship needs is a longer bow and wala!

[@catrinlewis939]

I vote for Queen Eleanor.

[@TaronTT]

I started watching the video, and all I though was: 'Stormworks Music.'

[@JPTBradbury]

Love your work Chris, saw your talk on QE in Feb Melb-Syd. Please get a new microphone for your KZbin vids though!

[@akiyl7479]

Did he just say those pods are approximately the same weight as a jumbo jet?? Hell a jumbo jet is like 330 000+kgs!!

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Impressive isn’t it!

[@michaelnunnery6394]

Thank you for posting this video on KZbin. Thank You for your time and effort. Do you have any news about the forth Cunard ship? What do you think she will be called? My money is on Queen Alexandra.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thank you. I’ve had no news on the new ships since the steel cutting commenced earlier this year. Hopefully there will be some news soon.

[@Shujaa24]

Does qm2 have variable pitch propellers because I noticed some extra blades on the foredeck

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

She doesn’t. The extra blades are spares for the mermaid pods incase of damage. They’re custom designed for QM2 so spares were made at the time of construction.

[@renorailfanning5465]

I didn't know Adam Clayton designed the QM2.

[@volksyes9477]

Is Stephen Payne in any way Related to Scott Payne the person who designed the PT9?

[@hoodatdondar2664]

Did not know the big scoops by the funnel were to make up for shortening it to fit under a bridge. Tech question; why do bigger scoops aid a shorter funnel?

[@warlord195711]

They help to keep the smoke away from the ship

[@gtaviation6924]

If she was made in the Clyde as Queen Mary, it would be beautiful.

[@njugunotsowildmonkey8338]

I enjoed this vid - thanks for posting, but the audio was a bit low.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks. Sorry about the audio!

[@chiefrabbischlomosteinberg4953]

@@ChrisFrameOfficial What’s the name of the song used in the beginning?

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

@@chiefrabbischlomosteinberg4953 "Cute Avalanche" - it's a KZbin Audio track provided by KZbin for use by creators. Someone uploaded the full version here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqe8imR-ZdiWe9U

[@renorailfanning5465]

The designer sounds like Adam Clayton Jr. from U2.

[@fargo007]

Stellar video, full of red meat. I can't wait to get aboard.

[@mikerieger5099]

The Queen Mary 2 we knows the hottie of. the north Atlantic

[@mohammednadeemanwar2213]

Ocean liners have elegance style. And class.. You can't buy that, without true heritage. Hopefully there will be a future SS France/Norway, it too had style. QE2, Italian SS Raffael and SS United States. But now have latest green fuel energy, technology and design. Cruise ships are ugly and tacky!

[@shirriejackson9455]

I learned a few things I didn't know about comdata future one wen millions of dollars I'm a sale on it qm2 Southampton

[@boogiestreet594]

No BS now, how much would an architect get for being commissioned of aving his design commissioned?

[@jokka83]

Great video, but your title kinda ruins it since these aren’t secrets.

[@reyljoymurilloestrada7106]

I tink the qm2 is beggist ship in the world the symphony of the seas is the beggist ship in the world

[@justplanecrazy5575]

Hold up so each of those pods weigh as much as a 747? That can’t really be possible unless those were stuffed with lead...

[@vector6977]

How about tons of copper windings?

[@mikerieger5099]

We all love her everybody loves the queen room to I don’t want to but he doesn’t see you don’t like her so we’ll just don’t understand hèrl

[@shirriejackson9455]

One thing I would do i when I board an ocean liner cruise ship cargo freighter or small little always familiarize myself with a lifeboat station location this way ever had to EMG evacuation of a vessel I get to musted station quek as possible and make sure others off to I'll put mine on lift jackets I will grab many available quickly handed anybody I see in the effort to do can save a lot of people it could happen anyplace anywhere anytime a disaster at sea when I board any vessel always prepared what case scenario happened to me on Oceania. Owned by Costco lins who did a very bad thing the Captain Crew took off let the passengers on board once I realized dangerous situation I made it to ship radio room I'm broadcasted emergency distress call and corrugated rescue many people off everybody got off that how about on and South African military Canadian Navy taking matter Hall all wonderful an ocean liner looks inside the article put that in your mind at that kind of disaster can happen

[@daveep9794]

Sailed on QM2 many times and watched this to the end waiting for some new "secrets" to be revealed. Sadly, nothing new here, it was all known in the first season. Also, one of the lower deck 3 walkways (port side) has now been converted in to cabins (err... staterooms) so is no longer there in it's original design. Shame.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

I thought maybe the propellers / Canyon Ranch link might be a surprise even for the QM2 fans but I guess you know the ship pretty well :)

[@catrinlewis939]

@@ChrisFrameOfficial Mareel has taken over the spa franchise. I saw the still photo of the salon at 7:56 and thought, "That middle chair, I've had my hair done in it!"

[@generalkaiproductions8680]

Why can't Cunard buy queen Mary

[@catrinlewis939]

Likely because it'd cost too much to get her seaworthy again. Better to build a whole new modern liner to succeed the QM2 when the time comes.

[@budgiemum9951]

This comment is directed to KZbin. An ad is blocking the entire width of the lower part of the screen. Very intrusive and interferes with enjoyment of the content. Unfair to KZbinrs who invest their time to post quality videos.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks! I think there may be a little X on the ad to remove it - might only be on desk top tho.

[@jonathanpardoe8722]

I did a survey of the ship's stern end whilst tied up at the keyside . What I saw made me cringe . AS a qualified welder , metal basher, restorer of old steel and Iron boats , my speciality is a good clean fillet of weld . What I saw on the qm2 was the worst horrific welding that I have ever seen , even on a repair on an old farm tractor . qm2's stern end was so crudely grafted on, I dont know how it ever got a sailing certificate .

[@Make_Boxing_Great_Again]

Qe2 is better

[@CrazyPetez]

You need to enunciate more clearly. I can hardly understand you with captions turned on.

[@GardeningLadybug]

So is that a volume problem or a reading problem?

[@siriusspica559]

Bad design too many balconys

[@JackJoToons]

Good design.