…th 2) ocean liner. The review is based on the Trans-Atlantic crossing from Southampton (UK) to New York that I went on in the wilds of winter in December 2004. And it was certainly wild. Crossing the Atlantic in mid-winter is not for the faint hearted (or those with poor sea-legs). But it is – and was – one of the most exciting and wonderful trips I have ever done. Part of this is because you are really being a part of history, as the ship no long…
…would want to know more about! First the journey: I am joining the QM2 in Southampton on 15 December for a 7 night crossing to New York, and then am staying on the ship for a 12 night cruise from New York to the Caribbean and back. I get back to New York on 3 January, and will fly back from there to London. I am hoping that it will be somewhat calmer than the transatlantic crossing that we did on the Queen Elizabeth 2 around the same time in 2004…
…he Queen Mary 2 came into service it offered 6 night crossings to and from Southampton and New York. This was also the length that the Queen Elizabeth used to offer. In 2011 these were increased to 7 nights, and in 2013 these will increase to be 8 nights for many crossings. The reason is the spiralling costs of fuel. Fuel is a major factor affecting what it costs a cruise ship or liner to complete a journey. By slowing the Queen Mary 2 down it tak…
…that departure from places like Barcelona or Venice rather than ports like Southampton in the UK, as you will spend more time in the Med itself. Caribbean Islands Cruising round the Caribbean accounts over half of all cruise trips worldwide. It used to be right up to about 70%! They tend to be 7 nights, and cover either the East or West Caribbean. Most cruise lines departing from Miami will alternate the routes, and so if you have 2 weeks you can…
…nd capable of handling, the rigours of the North Atlantic Crossing between Southampton and New York. This drove the approach to the fleet. Ships suitable for regular Transatlantic Crossings were the prime requirement for Cunard ships, as ships suitable just for regular cruising has historically been the second priority. The Queen Elizabeth 2 when it came into service, for example, had no balcony cabins. This was true for the Queen Mary and Queen E…
…rossing! Here I am on the first morning of our transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York on the stunning Cunard Queen Mary 2. I am sitting in the Grills Concierge Lounge on Deck 9 while Mark, who is travelling with me, sleeps off the effects of the seasickness injection that he had to have this morning. The TV screen in the lounge is showing that we are in the midst of a Force 8 Gale, and the sea is classified as “very rough”. The ship o…
…were many empty tables at dinner on the second night after departure from Southampton (the first full day at sea). On the QE2 trip only one third made it to dinner, on the bigger and even more robust QM2 that number was more like half to two-thirds. Things calmed down but then we entered a large storm on the 3rd evening from around 9pm, despite sailing further south to avoid some of the low pressure systems that cause the storms. You realise just…
…und 20% are American. If you are doing a Western Crossing from New York to Southampton then the American mix will rise. But it still seems that a Cunard Crossing is very much a US – UK activity. Canadians, Australians and Germans are usually well represented with between 50 and 100 passengers each. Experienced Cruisers Most people tend to be those who have done cruising before. This is because they know they love the experience – and will enjoy th…
…end to hit the news, the growth on land is as fierce. On the Crossing from Southampton to New York I was on, there was no outbreak of the Norovirus gastrointestinal virus across the ship. It seems that passengers were vigilant and had followed the steady stream of advice from the Captain and also placed in the staterooms. The main advice being to keep washing your hands, avoid touching much used surfaces like handrails and, if you have any symptom…
…rip on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which included a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York and then a trip from there to the Caribbean and back. While on board I posted a number of articles, made 2 podcasts of observations and recorded interviews with a number of the senior crew that I will soon turn into podcasts and write up articles. Meantime to find out more about the articles and interviews with cruise tips, please visit and read the…
…n the Queen Mary 2, can be a very boisterous at times. I have crossed from Southampton on both the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2. The QM2 handled it much better than the QE2, but still there was quite a lot of movement. A good smattering of people at the start of the winter crossing felt seasick as a result, though less than I had experienced on the Queen Elizabeth 2 in slightly less stormy seas. I love crossing the atlantic by ocean line…
