I cruised with Cunard cruise lines for the first time: Here are my impressions. Plus: advice for YOU

[@chak06880]

QM2 is different and awesome because it’s the only ocean liner, not a cruise ship, afloat now. It rarely feels crowded. The Crossing is not for everyone with no stops but if you’re in the right mindset, it’s relaxing and fulfilling. There was a refit in Nov 2023 so that spruced it up. Nice first impressions. Thank you.

[@ClassicRoyal]

This is precisely what I’m looking for, but of course I love all this Royal and British!

[@kepckatherinec805]

I think your videos and reviews of the Queen Mary 2 are wonderful. They are insightful, comprehensive and honest.

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you so much!

[@josite2]

Love love love the Queen Mary two. You did a great job describing the advantages and personality of this beautiful stately lady. Wonderful videos showing the highlights.

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you! ❤️

[@HelpatHomeJim]

Hi Kelly! I love your videos of the QM2. I like your honesty as well as the great information. Great job!

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you!

[@marknewell3622]

This was my very first cruise I did the Norway part. As a solo traveller in my early 60s I thought it was amazing and suited me really well

[@SheSailsAway]

Sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

[@CynthiaMoore-q2p]

Very good and fair assessment of Cunard. Other ships just as good with excellent value and service. You must try them.

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you! I'm trying Queen Elizabeth next

[@lindawillis2746]

Sailed twice on the QM2....just a lovely ship....I found it so relaxing....loved spending time in the library....😊

[@SheSailsAway]

@@lindawillis2746 yes, the library was amazing!

[@merseywhogirl3430]

@@SheSailsAway I'm doing a double crossing Southampton-NYC-Southampton this Oct. Second time on Cunard - did a short cruise Southampton-Hamburg (4nts) last January on Queen Victoria. I CAN'T WAIT!! Great Video!!!!

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you! Enjoy!

[@francesgill8621]

I've been wanting to try the Queen Mary 2 on a transatlantic. Your experience sounds great.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@francesgill8621 thank you--it was!

[@a1villas123-iu2wg]

We are going on for 4 weeks in November. Southampton-New york-Carribbean-New york and then back to Southampton. Should be fun but the wife now wants 12 new ball gowns for all the gala nights.

[@SheSailsAway]

Sounds amazing! 😊

[@juniperdog5523]

Thanks for this! Did you find it much more expensive than royal? Was it like a Disney cruise, cost wise? I have never done a Disney cruise, I’ve just heard they’re very expensive.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@juniperdog5523 yes, those Disney cruises can really be pricey! This trip was not as expensive as a Disney cruise, but it was definitely more than a similar trip would have been on Royal Caribbean. I would say about 30% more.

[@ThePeaGoose]

Thanks for this helpful review. We did the trip a few years back and loved it. Booked for next year, but so many terrible reviews online, have been thinking about cancelling. Helpful to hear that it's not all as bad as folks say.

[@SheSailsAway]

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews myself, I'm so glad I went ahead and tried it out. I hope you enjoy your cruise next year! Thank you so much for watching and commenting

[@mkoury83]

You're not crazy, you just have discriminating tatste. Something hard to come by these days but is refreshing to encounter. I had never thought about the lack of safety glass on QM2, but I will now have another thing to take note of and appreciate - thanks to your review. Thanks propping up the greatest ship sailing today, obviously, I lover her too. Great content.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@mkoury83 thank you 😊!

[@connieserratt]

Thanks for your video - I enjoyed it. We're booked on the August 23 crossing from NYC to Southampton. If you have time, I'd appreciate it if you'd share what the weather was like on the crossing. And did you find the different venues on the ship to be too warm, too cold, or just right? (Working on my packing list!) Thanks - I am looking forward to more of your videos.

[@SheSailsAway]

I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise. As for weather on our cruise, we had a mix. We had two solid days of fog and drizzle, one day of gray weather, a few days of beautiful, spectacular weather. As far as temperatures in the venues, I was always very comfortable. My mother was usually quite chilled in the theater. We found the lounges and the dining room to be very comfortable, though. Always pays to bring a lightweight sweater with you! If you are someone who likes to sit out on the deck and watch the ocean roll by, even though it's August, you may want to bring a heavy sweatshirt. When you're flying across the ocean at fast speeds, that wind can be quite cold! Thank you so much for watching!

[@connieserratt]

@@SheSailsAway Thanks for your prompt response and the information! 😃

[@corner559]

Such a great video and commentary!

[@SheSailsAway]

@@corner559 thank you!

[@totoarriba]

Second QM 2 video on this channel I have watched. 2 more videos to 👀 .

[@triciarevill1617]

Thank you for this review. I look forward to seeing any further ones you do on QM2. We are hoping to sail on her in 2026 sailing from Southampton and then to Canada.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@triciarevill1617 thank you! That sounds like an amazing cruise!

[@GiantJake]

Sounds like a lovely adventure! We take our first sailing on Queen Mary 2 this October.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@GiantJake sounds great! Enjoy!

[@Geoff.Turner]

We were on the Norway section of the cruise. Looking forward to seeing more videos. Do you have any of ballroom dancing in the Queens room?

[@SheSailsAway]

@@Geoff.Turner I do! 😊

[@anneavenell3691]

@GiantJake - hope you have a wonderful time. I’ve just booked my first trip on her for March 25. I’m so excited 😊

[@SheSailsAway]

That is definitely exciting! I hope you enjoy

[@mesflyer]

Try Azamara. Luxury, relaxed. First try last June, loved it!

[@SheSailsAway]

Thanks for the tip!

[@BeverleyBedford-h8v]

Hi. Loved your informative talk. Can you tell me what coffee they have in your state room please

[@SheSailsAway]

@@BeverleyBedford-h8v thank you. 😊 I don't remember the brand in the room, but I think it was Illy, maybe? (I didn't have any.)

[@co7580]

Just a bit of info: as you've mentioned the Titanic you may be interested to know ( if you don't know it already) that Cunard took over White Star Line after the line had financial difficulties, White Star Line beeing the shipping company that had owned and operated the Titanic. That's presumably where their term "White Star Service" ( tea time) comes from. Obviously both ships were constructed as ocean liners, even though QM2 would dwarf Titanic in size, if she were still afloat.

[@SheSailsAway]

Thank you for sharing, very interesting!

[@lucalagatta4147]

Hallooo 👋🏻 did you feel any sea sick?? I am travelling next year and i am very sensitive to movement. Thank you

[@SheSailsAway]

@@lucalagatta4147 we did not feel any movement! It was an exceptionally smooth cruise!

[@robertnewbern6922]

Question: how dressed do you have to be for the gala nights?

[@SheSailsAway]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5rGpaGse7BgfJIsi=8jFDG6pDQvjvGL6p If you care to watch this video and fast-forward straight to 17:05in, I address the dress code in detail. Thank you so much for watching! I hope this is helpful.

[@goetzlisa]

I was really pleasantly surprised with the quality of the enrichment lectures. I'd only been on Viking before, where I found the talks superficial. On the QM2 I watched all of them from my stateroom each morning, sitting in bed with my cup of coffee,. I took several books, and never opened most of them. I actually took up playing chess again after years. You might have seen me in the library sitting in a window well, reading the chess books😅. As for food, the selection and variety were great, and I was really pleasantly surprised by the options for vegetarians. I'm not vegetarian, but had seen a previous review where the lack, of options was a criticism. For food, I give an edge to Viking. After 7days the food on QM2 was getting old. It was generally nice, but bland. If you are a meat eater, the Veranduh restaurant was worth the splurge. The quality of the food in the Golden Lion was inconsistent from day to day although we were there most days. Having to pay for coffee kept us from enjoying Sir Samuel's. I also conisder it really cheap of Cunard to not to have fountain drinks in the Kings buffet, and to charge as much for a tiny soda as for a pint of beer or cider. They did have juices, tea and coffee, so I made my own iced tea. We often wandered to Connextions for our coffee, since the machine there was better (but oddly, no cream or half and half). It was my first crossing, so I was mostly satisfied. I didn't go for the food. The point for me was to have the experience, which I loved. However, the Cunard frequent travelers we spoke with repeatedly complained the food in the Britannia had gone downhill. I was told by a member of the staff they had a new chef, and there were so many complaints they were rotating back the previous one. Other complaints were that service wasn't as personal. Many of the crew had spent years on the QM2 and they recognized and knew the frequent Cunarders. Alot had been sent to support the Queen Anne launch. The crew member told me that they weren't happy about the change, and many had requested a transfer back.. A lot of silly things were missed by the inexperienced crew. One example was that although they provided water for the zumba classes in the Queens room, they didn't always provide glasses or remove the used ones. So, I took my coffee cup with me. As an alternative to traveling business class to Europe, and if i had the time, I would definitely do it again. I also really enjoyed the decision to disconnect from the internet for the week. For news, the limited TV options were just right.

[@SheSailsAway]

Wow, what an interesting perspective and thank you for sharing. I would love to try Viking cruises sometime. We did sense that the ship was understaffed in some areas, and we suspected Queen Anne. I also love disconnecting from the news and media while traveling! I did not have issues with the food but based on some of the input people are sharing, many experienced cruisers were disappointed in the quality and taste. That's so interesting. In general, I have found food on cruise ships has taken a big nose dive in the last few years. That used to be one of the best parts of cruising, now it's a pleasant surprise if the food is delicious. I agree about taking the Queen Mary 2 instead of flying over! It's almost the same price point and a much nicer way to travel. Great tip about taking your own coffee cup with you around. Thank you so much for sharing

[@frankpicillo9527]

Hi!!! Great..great video!!thanks!! Did you have a drink pkg? We are not big drinkers...maybe a cocktail before dinner and a glass of wine for supper. We maybe want to take the no alcohol pkg (we drink a lot of sparkling water)....they say specialty coffee with the sodas etc... But then they have a hot beverage pkg....i am confused...i looked on yt nobody seems to know. I think i will have to call them ! We are going on a 13day caribbean in nov...! Sending love from Montreal ❤

[@SheSailsAway]

I agree that their beverage packages are a little oddly described. I thought about getting one but in the end, I didn't. I bought several huge bottles of sparkling water and still water once I was on board and I occasionally got a specialty coffee or Mocktail but that was it. Thank you so much for the compliment and I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@frankpicillo9527]

Hi !! Thanks for replying ❤

[@johnwisdom3774]

QM2 transatlantic is an amazing experience. A crossing not a cruise and an elegant way to travel.

[@francesgill8621]

We're you in the Britannia club restaurant or the big Brittany restaurant?

[@SheSailsAway]

@@francesgill8621 we were in the big main Brittania room on Deck 2

[@francesgill8621]

@@SheSailsAway Great. I read a bad review about their food recently. But you know some people complain about everything

[@GlobalAdventurer]

At the 9:02 marker, is the invitation for everyone aboard and is it provided on the first night?

[@SheSailsAway]

It is for everyone, but was waiting for everyone at their place setting in the dining room. It was not given out ahead of time. You arrived at the special evening dinner and there it was. The invitation in the video was for our gala "Red and Gold" night.

[@GlobalAdventurer]

@@SheSailsAway Thank you for responding👍

[@GlobalAdventurer]

@@SheSailsAway Believe it or not, I have four QM2 cruises at the end of this year. Can't wait. It was on my bucket list and I have nothing special planned for these cruises, just want to go! Thanks for your video.

[@SheSailsAway]

@GlobalAdventurer wow! Sounds amazing!

[@billkallas1762]

The only thing that keeps me away, is that the Formal Nights, are too Formal. I prefer less formal lines, like NCL and Holland America. I prefer longer cruises. I did an 18 day Hawaii cruise, and I'm doing a 21 day, Panama Canal cruise, this October.

[@SheSailsAway]

@@billkallas1762 both of those cruises sound amazing!

[@billkallas1762]

@@SheSailsAway There were many sea days, in a row, on the Hawaii cruise. On the Canal cruise, it's like every other day. This last June, I did a quick, 7 day, Alaska cruise. There was a sea day going out, and one coming back. I wouldn't mind doing a Trans-Atlantic, that sailed out of NYC, or another East coast city, but would not look forward to a long flight home.

[@StrategicChicken]

I believe I was on same crossing but I got off in Southampton!

[@SheSailsAway]

Fun! We had a smooth crossing, didn't we?

[@StrategicChicken]

@@SheSailsAway absolutely. Do you remember how the captain said how this crossing was the smoothest he and his crew had ever seen?

[@SheSailsAway]

@StrategicChicken I do!

[@Michael-mr3rv]

👍

[@COLINJELY]

Did you find Homer Simpson?

[@SheSailsAway]

@@COLINJELY I did, I showed him in my transatlantic recap, but I didn't give away the location!