With now 9 Cunard voyages (4 transatlantic) on my travel resume, I hereby declare I am addicted to Cunard for life! I feverishly search the website every few days for my next adventure. It is possible that other lines have their plus points ~ but I will never find out because I cannot imagine sailing on any other line than Cunard. I wear a gown every night because QM2 is my happy place. What a gift! I am a flight attendant with 38 years' service and no intention to retire while there are Cunard adventures to go on! ha. I absolutely LOVE Cunard!
I’m a 6 time veteran of QE2 transatlantic crossings. Each one was more enjoyable than the next. It was on QE2 where I perfected the art of doing nothing. Mezmerising to sit by the window and watch the sea roll past, to daydream and ponder the history of ocean travel. The same view once seen by the Vikings, Henry Hudson, early immigrants. The dress code always seemed to make people behave better and enjoy the privilege of conversation.
:doing nothing' is a misnomer. You don't go on a cruise to work. IF you did have good conversations and met new interesting people, that's not nothing.
We brought our cat back from Southampton to NYC about 10 years ago, and it was wonderful. For cats, they make you take two kennel spaces because of the litter box - reasonable! We could go visit her and play with her as often as we wished, and the handler was a very sweet & caring young man. It’s the only way to cross the sea with a pet and not elevate, nor sail your own yacht.
I was reading the comments to see if anyone would mention the kennels, since Gary didn't, at least, not on this video. Thanks for your comment, and the heads up about cats requiring two kennels.
My wife and I did a transatlantic on QM2 from New York to Southampton and found the trip one of the most enjoyable and wonderful cruise (ocean liner) ships we ever sailed in. The fact that there were no ports of call unlike typical cruise ships, we figured the ship itself was the destination. Considering the time of the year we sailed, it was stormy all the way but we still had so much fun on the one day the weather cooperated. So much to do inside, it never occurred to us we were in a ship. Will we do it again? Definitely.
I’m a young person, and I have to say I love the idea of a crossing, even more so now that I’ve seen your video. Lectures, libraries, and an excuse to wear my ball gown(s) honestly sounds like a dream. I can’t afford any kind of cruise at this point in my life, but I will be adding Cunard’s crossing to my bucket list.
on top of being white haired retirees that look unhealthy and obese, most cruise passengers come in couples. If you plan to travel alone, it is much more expensive, since cabin prices are for Double occupancy and single passengers taking a whole cabin pay almost as much as two passengers sharing the same cabin.
@@anastassiosperakis2869 sure the passengers are mostly older but in my experience on the qm2, not obese. The room price is what it is. Have you been on a cruise?
I sailed on the QM2 some years ago, and I love this ship. It has: 1) The best library at sea, i.e., with books which are worth reading. 2) The best wine cellar at sea, from the affordable to tens of thousands dollars, including wines from less known but exotic regions, e.g., I had tasted a bottle of red from India. 3) Great speakers and lectures at sea, e.g., I had listened to talks presented by a retired director of NASA and a retired US Navy captain. 4) Fantastic afternoon tea, with scones, jam, and tea, plus dancing. Live band, too. 5) Formal nights, and many do dress up. While I know not all would fancy such formality, yet a dinner room full of well-dressed diners has a character of its own, reminiscent of the 1930s era. By the way, I shall soon be crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, and bringing my tuxedo. I expect there will be one difference from my last sailing on the QM2. Then, it was potraits of Queen Elizabeth II. Now, I think they would be of King Charles III.
Love your videos. Watch all of them. I was in the Navy 2 years on a destroyer. We went pretty much everywhere. Was in a storm in the Atlantic and in a typhoon in Asia. Pretty bad. Very glad you mentioned Dramamine. The captain of our ship mentioned that he took it the first day of voyage. It works wonderfully well. But... But you must follow instructions and take it BEFORE you need it. Best to take it while you're standing on dry land. If you wait till you get a little queasy, it's too late. It won't work. You have to take it ahead of time. Read the instructions. After a half a day or so, though, you can stop. In short, take it before you get on the ship and continue for the rest of the day. This should give you immunity from seasickness for many months. In the 3-day typhoon with almost 45° rolls, no one got seasick. Once you're over your first bad weather, especially with Dramamine, you've been vaccinated.
That's the nice thing about crossing in a submarine you don't feel any of the waves when you're underwater now on the surface if you're doing a surface transit through tough weather you get tossed around like a soda can.
I want to take a Cunard transatlantic cruise and just sit on my balcony alone all day and read a book, ordering room service when I get thirsty, and then dressing up at night for dinner.
Thank you for this Gary. Very realistic video. I am nearly Diamond+ on Royal Caribbean, but chose Cunard for the upcoming world cruise because I wanted the more dressed up experience. As a native Floridian, I get a bit tired of everything being so casual, so I go the opposite of what others may want. I’m very excited and really have appreciated your videos!
It depends on the crossing; some such as transatlantic repositioning cruises do have port stops in Bermuda and the Azores. But regardless people should always check itinerary before booking a cruise.
@@RomilCPatel True, but this is the Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to NYC or from NYC to Southampton. There are no ports, it's an experience that is close to yesterday's cruising. Daily high teas, dining, leisure reading, playing cards, wine tasting, perhaps a lecture or two, dressing formally for the evening, etc.😊
We’re a couple in our late 50’s and cruised Southampton - New York - Fort Lauderdale on the QM2 in February. We don’t dress up on Gala nights and don’t feel we missed out on anything. We were told by crew that we could do any evening activity/theatre visit in smart attire and didn’t have to be in formal but was mandatory in the MDR’s. It was a fabulous crossing and will most definitely do it again. We used the crossing instead of a flying to our holiday destination Walt Disney World.
I love the longer cruises. I took a 23 day cruise on one of Carnival’s journey cruises. It was amazing. Carnival provided a craft room with yarn and I learned to knit socks. The long days at sea are not for everyone. It is very doable with a kindle, audio books and knitting needles.
It is often said that a way to avoid seasickness is to look at the horizon. This may be difficult when inside on a ship the size of QM2, especially if you're in an inside cabin, but I found a possible solution. I turned the TV on to the bow camera channel, and it did make a difference.
We did an Iceland/Norway trip which included almost three days at sea from Southampton to Reyjavik and time whizzes by. The talks, the quizzes, lazing by the pool, sealife spotting etc. With busy lives the opportunity to do nothing if we wanted to for a few days was bliss! Agree about the talks. Celebrity had a number of crew talks from Captain, engineer and navigator and they were fascinating.
my wife and I love the transatlantic crossings so much that we’ve done five. It’s our go to vacation. As a matter of fact, we booked a round-trip Crossing this December. That’s 14 days of sure relaxation.
Thank you for this video! A big ocean crossing is something I've always wanted to do. I really don't care for entertainment, big noisy crowds, etc.... plus the idea of being glamoured up for an evening appeals to me. My husband is also pretty quiet so I feel such a cruise would suit us.
I've never been on a cruise and I don't plan on going for few more years, but it's just beautifull listening and learning from your vast knowledge and experiences. Really relaxing to watch. Thank you! Keep on and all the best! 😉
fun cruises are Carnival and Royal Caribbean; lots of noise , kids and families. They are PERFECT for first timers. Took my 14 year old son on a Carnival cruise of Caribbean and he LOVED it. At one port we went snorkeling to a sunken ship! another day I could not get him out of Teen area as he made friends and they were immersed in video games !!!! He refused to dress up so the one night you were supposed to he had pizza, burgers and fries !!!! I had already been on 5 cruises. Really recommend it.
I’m doing the repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Sydney in October. This is my second transPacific cruise. Love my sea days, the more sea days the merrier as far as I’m concerned
I have 2 friends (the ones I did Discovery Princess with) boarding in New York in a few weeks time, and they’re going to find this video SO useful - thanks for uploading this one, Gary!
That's a great summary of QM2 crossings. While I've never done the QM2 transatlantic, I've crossed on the QE2 three times, the Victoria once, and the Elizabeth once. I've also taken Cunard cruises to Mexico, New England, and Europe. I much prefer seven days of uninterrupted sea time to constant port calls. I always sailed in Queen's Grill and actually once got upgraded to the enormous Berengaria Suite on the QV. All by myself, as a complete introvert it was heaven. One thing to add about the time changes and getting more hours for your buck Westbound: I've found that as I got older it took longer for me to adjust to the time change by plane from LA or NYC to London. While I used to need only 24 hours to adapt, it now takes me twice that long. So if you're a person who needs a couple of days to recover from a large time change, an Eastbound voyage lets you make the adjustment gradually, one hour at a time, and arrive in London ready for dinner and a show the day of disembarkation. Once after flying LA to London for a return Cunard crossing a few days later I bought a ticket for Andrew Lloyd Webber's then-new musical "Stephen Ward" on my second night in London, and found myself too zonked to get to the theatre. At least the show closed shortly thereafter after poor reviews, so I guess I didn't miss much.
We sailed QM2 from NYC to Southampton in early July 2018. We had an inside cabin because I was afraid lookingbout to the sea for 7 days would drive me nuts. It was one of the best cruises. I wished we had taken it back. They had the best entertainment and lecture series. Very relaxing too. We then to a reposition on Princess from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale. Another great cruise. It was 2 weeks with stops. The Atlantic was flatter than a pancake for both cruises.
I went on a crossing in 2019; I LOVED it, you're right, there wasn't enough time to do everything I wanted to do. I'm an old doll and I love the enrichment programs, afternoon tea and adore the library. I also joined the choir, went to line dancing classes, movies (they have some great movies on this ship). Also, from NY to Southampton, they were making a movie with Meryl Streep! I thought I'd be bored, but I wasn't. We went the end of August, so not too rough. But I've traveled on the QM2 during snowstorms and felt very little movement. Also, the solo cabins are HUGE and on the second and third decks. This is a great video. Thank you for it.
thank you for talking about Cunard. No one else seems to. we love the transatlantic crossing. Living in NYC we have taken the eastbound crossing numerous times but we recently booked the westbound crossing for June 2023 when we'll be celebrating our 50th anniversary. we've been on levels from the Queens Grill to Deck 4. we prefer the Princess Grill and found the Britannia Club level disappointing. the food was the same as the main dining room and the area was small. As an architect, the layout is challenging to say the least but after all our times on the ship, we're very much at home on this Queen. Hope to see you on one of our many times on the QM2. Happy Sailling.
My partner and I crossed. We had a suite and dined in the Queens Grill. We gave a cocktail party in our cabin which was a great success. Our quests followed with drinks parties and gatherings in the bar. WE were so busy! Loved being formal and dressed in black tie. It's not for the T shirt crowd!!
Thanks for the great Video. Growing up in San Diego Ca. I've been on many Navy big ships including Aircraft Carriers. So in 1978 a Girlfriend and I usually went up Newport Beach for a Day of fun wanted to go to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I've been on Big Ships and did not want to go! So she said "If You don't like it , we will leave for Newport Beach. So I said OK we can do a quick look around and then leave. We got there around Noon and I could not believe my eyes - here was this Huge Majestic Ocean Liner. Well I was overwhelmed by the Size and Beauty - She was definitely The Queen of the Sea's.We had Drinks in the Observation Bar 2 times. Finally my Girlfriend is dragging Me off the Ship at around 8pm because we have a 2+ hour drive home. Now that we have the Queen Mary 2 I want and will do the Westbound Trans Atlantic Crossing.
We just did the crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona on the Queen Elizabeth. Your review was spot on with all your comments. We did however have 3 stops once we crossed. The time at sea was throughly enjoyable.
I will start to plan the transatlantic voyage with my parents in a couple of years. This is definitely the kind of sailing I want to do at least once in my life.
I will be sailing on the Queen Mary 2 soon, to start a new life as a nomad in Europe 🌎 and I am bringing along my poodle and my 8yo daughter (homeschooled). We don’t have strong ties where we are now, so we are taking full advantage of this season to have a Grand Adventure. ☺️ We could not be more thrilled!!
Love your videos & I am planning a return Transatlantic Cruise. Having recently have my whole life turn upside down due to becoming disabled I still want to travel. Having not travelled for over two years due to Covid & becoming disabled with Charcot Syndrome &having part of my foot removed due to the condition. I have decided to take a Transatlantic cruise for my mental wellbeing & gaining my independance once again. Being 60, single & gay I am looking forward to relaxing & socualizing as well as making new friends too. Thank you for giving me the courage to do something after life changing events.
I always start taking Dramamine 24 hours before I board a ship and constantly replenish it so that it's always in my system. This way I don't even give myself the opportunity to get seasick.
Garry, thank you once again for a very informative video. All your videos about Queen Mary 2 are worth watching for prospective voyagers. As a Queen Mary 2 fan and veteran passenger, I always learn something new from your vlogs. In this one the interesting but important differences between West bound and East bound voyages... that differences in the length of day. Well done, please keep us updated on Queen Mary 2.
Great video, gonna be most likely a solo crossing for me in my early 40's. Always wanted the feel of an old school type crossing. Still on the fence for my 4 yr old to come with. Have to see what they offer for kids and daycare types. But sailing into New York harbor to see the statue of liberty is a bucket list for sure.
When we sailed in to NY, the fog was so thick the end of the ship was lost! But the disappointment soon faded, to be honest. Although it sounds romantic to see it for the first time entering, there are plenty of opportunities to see the statue frm the Statten Island Ferry (free) and much closer.
Many years ago, in the early Nineties, I worked on the Canberra as a photographer. One evening , in Lisbon, we all went out and got thoroughly hammered, me and my cabin mate especially. When back on the ship. he climbed on me and I was on all fours and yehaa'd all the way back to our berth! Upshot was that we sailed into a storm and the next morning, I felt beyond sick..dreadful alcohol abuse and sea-sickness , was almost beyond hell....and we had to work too. It was truly terrible. That said, there were sickbags positioned everywhere...many were ill. Happy days...not !
We just completed our NY to Southampton crossing and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The adult aspect of the crossing was very appealing and comfortable. If you want a relaxing experience w/o all the carnival atmosphere then this is for you.
We did a crossing from NYC to Hamburg in fall of 2019 to move our dog to Europe with us. Because we spent most of the time in the kennels playing with the dogs we actually didn’t get to see as many lectures as I would have liked. The ones we saw were great. There was a former red arrows pilot, oceanographer and counter terrorism expert. We also saw a planetarium show and did the tour of the kitchens. If you like education and relaxation this is a great cruise, if you need crazy excitement and a theme park on board this is not for you. We felt like we were the youngest people on board (30s) and we only saw 2 kids the whole trip. I also liked not seeing people in shorts and flip flops at dinner like can happen on other ships, but at the time we had a gala night every other night and that was a bit much. I really loved the sail away party from NYC and not having jet lag on arrival in Hamburg was great. If we had more time off this would be my preferred method of travel to and from the US, especially given how bad our last two flights were in the past year.
Great to see another vid, Gary! This brought back happy memories of our crossing in May, which thanks to watching your previous vids and taking your advice, was perfect. This vid is right on the button, too. All the best, Mike & Judith.
Hi Gary, I think this line is more aligned w my personality and speed. I like the glamour and old world charm. I also have friends who took Queen (not sure which one it was) from Southampton all the way to Australia. They absolutely loved it. What a journey/experience that would be. Hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend Gary.
All I really need on a Crossing is Churchill's, that beautiful library and if it's nice weather spending lots of time on deck. I'm the kind of traveler that feels like I can't see everything I want to and I've never been bored. It's a most wonderful adventure that only Cunard can pull off. As far as these upset guests that should have been on a modern cruise ship or an airplane, what I want to know is how did they not know what they were getting into? Atlantic Crossings aren't anywhere near a budget option so why not do a lot of research before splashing out so much $$$ or £££?
Thank you Gary for another fine and informative video. I have done 5 crossings: 3 North Atlantic, 1 South Atlantic, and 1 Trans Pacific, and have loved them all. All of my crossings have been on Holland America (HAL). There are so many activities that it can bee mind boggling to chose. As a bridge player, I miss most teas, but I always make time for the special Indonesian tea where the servers dress in Batik and serve Indonesian specialties. I am scheduled for my 6th crossing in October on the HAL 150th anniversary crossing and am so excited. Thank you again Gary.
Thank you, Gary, for the great information and suggestions that are not found anywhere else. You're so knowledgeable, thorough and a fantastic source of all things cruising!
Hello Gary. Really enjoy watching your videos and ideal for picking up tips. We are yet to try other cruise lines but intend doing so in the near future having done Cunard and the QM2 6 times now. 4 Transatlantic, one 5 night Sydney return and a 7 night Norwegian Fjord. However, there is one thing I'd disagree in the above video and that's taking children. Our first crossing was done when our daughter was almost 5 and our son was 9. They both loved it and spent great times in the kids club. There weren't many other children which gave the club a somewhat exclusive and intimate feel with very personal attention from the team. This allowed us the mornings and afternoons to relax and meal times and evenings were spent with the children. They loved the shows too! We did it again the following year but in reverse, NY to SOU and the kids were so excited to be going on the ship again. The staff in the club remembered them which was fantastic. Last year, with the 'children' now 19 and 23, we upgraded to Queens Grill so they could experience a more refined dining experience now that they're young adults. It was a truly memorable experience, one born no doubt out of early memories from their initial crossing 15 years previously. They've told us that they remember all the crossings and feel an emotional attachment to the ship. So, whilst I agree that it's not the 'Disney' experience kids might expect, the ship is more than suitable and capable of creating special times for families. 😎
Really good video. I’ve Just done my second transatlantic and loved it. I’m 49 now, did an eastbound last week . I was 38 when I did a westbound . I loved the peace and tranquillity. No rowdy families. I’m thinking of doing an 8 day transatlantic via Le Harve in October 2024 My idea of paradise, but as the video points out, it may not be for everyone
Thanks for sharing this. Due to medical issues, I can't do long distance flights, I hadn't thought of this as an option to see Europe. I get seasick too but well that's more manageable.
I would love this kind of cruise. I love the the older ways of this kind of if I could cruise so love these videos to see what they do on the way of enjoying the beautiful clothing and having a more beautiful kind of cruise for what you will enjoy more. I am from Australia 🇦🇺 so thank you for sharing your videos I appreciate them. Yes being extremely prepared and understanding your cruise experience is a must so before going. Thank you Louise.
We tried QM2 on a short trip to Hamburg - we enjoyed it but wouldn’t want a longer trip on her to be honest. I enjoyed the dress code for a 4 night trip, but feel it wouldn’t be for us for a longer cruise. The use of $ rather than £ for prices, the prices of drinks etc, the added tips… it all added up and we were keeping track and kept it under review! Maybe in a few years we’ll try again - thanks for the informative video.
Pro tip: Book the Verandah restaurant online before the sailing. It will save you enough money for a couple glasses of wine! On a 6-day crossing there are 2 galas. We did the Red and Gold and skipped the masquerade. That night we ate at the Verandah.
Great review we’ve done quite a bit of cruising including Cunard and have booked a round trip on the QM2 with a day in New York this September. Many thanks for all your tips.
The Cunard's liners would suit me 100% because I like very posh, dressing up do's, I don't like all the entertainment and slides, pools etc. I like to read in a library or on the deck and chill out in peace and quiet. I want to go to New York but to travel back on it too. I don't fly!
My wife and I have just come over on the QM2 last week all the advice here is spot on. We went Britannia Club. smaller dining area with our own table.. , my wife and I are not prone to motion sickness so we got a high up Cabin (deck 13) it was fine all the way across.
So helpful. Thank you, I'm sailing on QM2 in Apr 2024. Quite excited already and am under no illusion it'll be like a cruise. In fact, I am pleased to see it won't be. Your tips on cabins have been invaluable.
My wife and I have been on QM2 for two different crossings to two different ports. One to Southhampton and the other to Hamburg. Unfortunately the Hamburg trip was marred with disruptions leaving NYC, so much of our journey was in darkness. Then when we neared the river into Hamburg we were met with what amounted to a hurricane, so couldn't proceed into the river and had to ride out the storm in the North Atlantic. It was a great and fun experience. Most interesting, while at dinner there were lots of big waves and I got a video of a nice green wave rolling by as we were eating. Hope to do it again in Spring 2023. Fingers crossed.
It is a little more formal than most ships. We didn't mind that. We decided to go with it and enjoy the experience When we came on board, there were several ship's officers standing there to welcome us aboard. You don't usually see that on other ships.
Thanks for your great videos about Cunard. We are a German couple who did 2 Cunard cruises and felt in love with the ships and the way to travel. We will do a TA cruise from New York to Hamburg in October with our 2 daughters (22 and 17) and we all are looking forward to it. In all of your great videos with Pros/Cons you did not mention one thing: Doing a Cunard cruise when you not speaking English very well. It would be great to hear from you about that point. Thanks and Greeting from Germany.
I will be taking the QM2 in May of 2023 leaving from Hamburg then to Southampton to Le Harve then across the Atlantic to NYC. I have never been anywhere in Germany before.
I have to disagree about the kids part - it really depends on the age of the children. Very young probably not, teenagers again myabe not, but between 7 and 12 I'd say it's fine. There is a children's club and they have activities till around 9/10 at night and my niece loved it, prefering to be there than with family. Its not like a creche where the children are watched and do nothing, they have their own daily programme, so to speak with guided activities, tours of the ship and interactive presentations (I think one my niece saw was on exploding science). If you want your child to do the adult activities then yes they will be bored to tears, but the children's club is enjoyable, or so a 9 year girl told me.
This was so helpful. I've never had any desire to go on those giant cruise ships but Cunard and it's history including the dress code is probably the main reasons why I WOULD go on Cunard as opposed to other cruises. I get so tired of people dressing like slobs and thinking they should show up for dinner in a beautiful dining room in their shorts and sandals. My parents came to North America in the 1950s on the original Queen Mary. My father, ex Royal Naval officer, always says to stay mid ship to feel the least movement.
Watching this helped me reconsider taking this cruise. Single. Almost 70. Love women. Don’t want to dance or wear a tux. Rather be casual and enjoy being at the pool drinking all day. Have cruised many times in the Caribbean. I can see, thanks to you, that this may not be for me.
I've done five or six crossings on the Queen Mary 2 and agree with almost everything that the estimable Mr. Bembridge has to say. I almost always take winter crossings and am apparently immune to seasickness and I always ask for a cabin on deck 8 (pretty high) and all the way forward to be close to the library and the spa. I disagree with Gary on the value of westbound vs. eastbound crossings. I live in the US and I prefer to travel from New York to Southampton in order to avoid jetlag upon arrival in the UK/Europe. Coming home I don't care about jetlag since I'm home.
I'm only 23 years old, so I'm really below the average age of QM2 passengers, but there is no ship I love more then the QM2. With 18 years I was first time on her, but only for two days. I did this short voyage (Hamburg - Southampton) two more times, but I finally want to make the crossing. In August of 2024 it's finally happening, when me an my parents make a double transatlantic crossing (SOU - NYC - SOU) and I really can't wait anymore. I'm already counting the days 😅. I have one question: Where did you get this nice pullover?😁
In two days I get on the 39 night Vancouver to Barcelona cruise on Queen Elizabeth. I’m currently doing 3 1/2 years nonstop on a cruise ship and spend about two months on each ship I watched a lot of your videos and after spending 3400 nights on a cruise ship , i think that they are excellent and based on similar experiences
The one time I got sea sick on a destroyer was in the North Pacific winter. I had been in my workshop that was midships but high up, and was experiencing a lot of side to side. I was bad enough that I was struggling to get any work done, so I decided to go down to a space where we had some comfortable chairs to relax and play PSP. It's right above the sonar done, so it's the lowest most forward part of the ship. So much up and down that, coupled with the side to side I had experienced before made me the sickest I had ever been at sea. After I got done vomiting I went and got some crisps and went to lay on the floor in radio central. Its low and smack in the middle.
Really informative video! I am not a cruising enthusiast, but I think I would enjoy a European river cruise or this. Note on alcohol expenses, my grandparents LOVED cruises, taking advantage of last minute cruise deals back in the 80’s. They brought a complete liquor cabinet with them to save money.
Just because the day is '25 hours' on the westbound trip doesn't mean you get 'more time' than an eastbound trip. It is a cruise ship not a time machine. The 'total time' is the total time. It probably does take longer because of the gulf steam, but you aren't getting 'extra time' like it is being created.
People need to realize that the Queen Mary 2 is not a cruise, but a crossing. That means no stops. We are enamored with the QM2 and will be taking our 5th crossing on August 18.
Sir Gary. How does someone book a cruise and not know or under the itinerary? Like to relax and look nice on vacation but not formal every night. Smart casual just fine. These are great tips. Thanks so much and see you next video.
Here's one "consideration" on Cunard's (or any??) transatlantic crossing East to West.....avoid doing it on the 2nd of January LOL My first transatlantic was on that date back in 2009 (moving countries and taking six suitcases was cheaper than flying -- "if it fits in your cabin, it's free" so no surcharges like airlines) and is NOT for the faint of heart, or the seasickness-prone! That north atlantic was seriously rough and a few times they had to put out extra sick bags! I didn't feel it and am not prone to it but I remember a slight queasiness one or two times LOL So that's my caveat to anyone taking a transatlantic east to west (not sure if the north atlantic is that rough west to east??). Never enough to put me off sailing as my dad took the Michelango or Raffaelo back in 1971 and I've taken many other cruises and lines -- am back on the Victoria around the end of July actually, Mediterranean route! Can't wait to experience the renovations. But no transatlantic the beginning of january LOL I did the first one solo and had a blast -- doing the second solo also as I always travel solo :-) Oh WAIT -- how interesting you said the QM handles the north atlantic better! Ship design versus the Victoria?
With now 9 Cunard voyages (4 transatlantic) on my travel resume, I hereby declare I am addicted to Cunard for life! I feverishly search the website every few days for my next adventure. It is possible that other lines have their plus points ~ but I will never find out because I cannot imagine sailing on any other line than Cunard. I wear a gown every night because QM2 is my happy place. What a gift! I am a flight attendant with 38 years' service and no intention to retire while there are Cunard adventures to go on! ha. I absolutely LOVE Cunard!
I’m a 6 time veteran of QE2 transatlantic crossings. Each one was more enjoyable than the next. It was on QE2 where I perfected the art of doing nothing. Mezmerising to sit by the window and watch the sea roll past, to daydream and ponder the history of ocean travel. The same view once seen by the Vikings, Henry Hudson, early immigrants. The dress code always seemed to make people behave better and enjoy the privilege of conversation.
:doing nothing' is a misnomer. You don't go on a cruise to work. IF you did have good conversations and met new interesting people, that's not nothing.
That is awesome. Transatlantic crossings are for relaxing.
Cruising is nice as well. If the ports are ones I frequented, sometimes I stay on the ship.
Do you have to wear a tie.
We brought our cat back from Southampton to NYC about 10 years ago, and it was wonderful. For cats, they make you take two kennel spaces because of the litter box - reasonable! We could go visit her and play with her as often as we wished, and the handler was a very sweet & caring young man. It’s the only way to cross the sea with a pet and not elevate, nor sail your own yacht.
I was reading the comments to see if anyone would mention the kennels, since Gary didn't, at least, not on this video.
Thanks for your comment, and the heads up about cats requiring two kennels.
Oh that is so great. I've been traveling by ferry, train and plane in Canada with my cat. I had no idea he could get on board a Cunard LOL 💜
Omg so good to know! I might be moving to England and id love to do it via cruise and bring my kitty onboard :)
My wife and I did a transatlantic on QM2 from New York to Southampton and found the trip one of the most enjoyable and wonderful cruise (ocean liner) ships we ever sailed in. The fact that there were no ports of call unlike typical cruise ships, we figured the ship itself was the destination. Considering the time of the year we sailed, it was stormy all the way but we still had so much fun on the one day the weather cooperated. So much to do inside, it never occurred to us we were in a ship. Will we do it again? Definitely.
I’m a young person, and I have to say I love the idea of a crossing, even more so now that I’ve seen your video. Lectures, libraries, and an excuse to wear my ball gown(s) honestly sounds like a dream. I can’t afford any kind of cruise at this point in my life, but I will be adding Cunard’s crossing to my bucket list.
You can do it for £600 as a minimum
on top of being white haired retirees that look unhealthy and obese, most cruise passengers come in couples. If you plan to travel alone, it is much more expensive, since cabin prices are for Double occupancy and single passengers taking a whole cabin pay almost as much as two passengers sharing the same cabin.
@@anastassiosperakis2869 sure the passengers are mostly older but in my experience on the qm2, not obese. The room price is what it is. Have you been on a cruise?
I agree 100 % ... it's my style of cruise .... as a child I was on 4 similar ocean liners . Cheers and Best Wishes .
@@anastassiosperakis2869 There are also solo cabins
I sailed on the QM2 some years ago, and I love this ship. It has:
1) The best library at sea, i.e., with books which are worth reading.
2) The best wine cellar at sea, from the affordable to tens of thousands dollars, including wines from less known but exotic regions, e.g., I had tasted a bottle of red from India.
3) Great speakers and lectures at sea, e.g., I had listened to talks presented by a retired director of NASA and a retired US Navy captain.
4) Fantastic afternoon tea, with scones, jam, and tea, plus dancing. Live band, too.
5) Formal nights, and many do dress up. While I know not all would fancy such formality, yet a dinner room full of well-dressed diners has a character of its own, reminiscent of the 1930s era.
By the way, I shall soon be crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, and bringing my tuxedo.
I expect there will be one difference from my last sailing on the QM2. Then, it was potraits of Queen Elizabeth II. Now, I think they would be of King Charles III.
Love your videos. Watch all of them. I was in the Navy 2 years on a destroyer. We went pretty much everywhere. Was in a storm in the Atlantic and in a typhoon in Asia. Pretty bad.
Very glad you mentioned Dramamine. The captain of our ship mentioned that he took it the first day of voyage. It works wonderfully well.
But...
But you must follow instructions and take it BEFORE you need it. Best to take it while you're standing on dry land. If you wait till you get a little queasy, it's too late. It won't work. You have to take it ahead of time. Read the instructions. After a half a day or so, though, you can stop.
In short, take it before you get on the ship and continue for the rest of the day. This should give you immunity from seasickness for many months.
In the 3-day typhoon with almost 45° rolls, no one got seasick. Once you're over your first bad weather, especially with Dramamine, you've been vaccinated.
That's the nice thing about crossing in a submarine you don't feel any of the waves when you're underwater now on the surface if you're doing a surface transit through tough weather you get tossed around like a soda can.
I want to take a Cunard transatlantic cruise and just sit on my balcony alone all day and read a book, ordering room service when I get thirsty, and then dressing up at night for dinner.
sounds like paradise...
This honestly seems like a blast! I love the idea of a bit more formality in the dress code
Thank you for this Gary. Very realistic video. I am nearly Diamond+ on Royal Caribbean, but chose Cunard for the upcoming world cruise because I wanted the more dressed up experience. As a native Floridian, I get a bit tired of everything being so casual, so I go the opposite of what others may want. I’m very excited and really have appreciated your videos!
How could you book a transatlantic crossing and not know there aren't any ports? I tell people it's the closest to the Titanic today.
IIRC, The Titanic did have a couple port stops. Including that one off the coast of Newfoundland.
I know!
It depends on the crossing; some such as transatlantic repositioning cruises do have port stops in Bermuda and the Azores.
But regardless people should always check itinerary before booking a cruise.
@@RomilCPatel
True, but this is the Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to NYC or from NYC to Southampton. There are no ports, it's an experience that is close to yesterday's cruising. Daily high teas, dining, leisure reading, playing cards, wine tasting, perhaps a lecture or two, dressing formally for the evening, etc.😊
@@billcook4768 😂
We’re a couple in our late 50’s and cruised Southampton - New York - Fort Lauderdale on the QM2 in February. We don’t dress up on Gala nights and don’t feel we missed out on anything. We were told by crew that we could do any evening activity/theatre visit in smart attire and didn’t have to be in formal but was mandatory in the MDR’s. It was a fabulous crossing and will most definitely do it again. We used the crossing instead of a flying to our holiday destination Walt Disney World.
@James Potter please don’t respond to these scammers. These people troll all these sites to dupe folk. Deal with local people that you know instead.
I love the longer cruises. I took a 23 day cruise on one of Carnival’s journey cruises. It was amazing. Carnival provided a craft room with yarn and I learned to knit socks. The long days at sea are not for everyone. It is very doable with a kindle, audio books and knitting needles.
It is often said that a way to avoid seasickness is to look at the horizon. This may be difficult when inside on a ship the size of QM2, especially if you're in an inside cabin, but I found a possible solution. I turned the TV on to the bow camera channel, and it did make a difference.
We did an Iceland/Norway trip which included almost three days at sea from Southampton to Reyjavik and time whizzes by. The talks, the quizzes, lazing by the pool, sealife spotting etc. With busy lives the opportunity to do nothing if we wanted to for a few days was bliss! Agree about the talks. Celebrity had a number of crew talks from Captain, engineer and navigator and they were fascinating.
my wife and I love the transatlantic crossings so much that we’ve done five. It’s our go to vacation. As a matter of fact, we booked a round-trip Crossing this December. That’s 14 days of sure relaxation.
Thank you for this video! A big ocean crossing is something I've always wanted to do. I really don't care for entertainment, big noisy crowds, etc.... plus the idea of being glamoured up for an evening appeals to me. My husband is also pretty quiet so I feel such a cruise would suit us.
Thanks that’s good news I feel the same way I am a wide and never been on a elegant cruise 🎉
We love the trans-Atlantic crossings on QM2 especially the relaxation, activities, library, and lectures. Plus, no jet-lag!!
I've never been on a cruise and I don't plan on going for few more years, but it's just beautifull listening and learning from your vast knowledge and experiences. Really relaxing to watch. Thank you! Keep on and all the best! 😉
fun cruises are Carnival and Royal Caribbean; lots of noise , kids and families. They are PERFECT for first timers. Took my 14 year old son on a Carnival cruise of Caribbean and he LOVED it. At one port we went snorkeling to a sunken ship! another day I could not get him out of Teen area as he made friends and they were immersed in video games !!!! He refused to dress up so the one night you were supposed to he had pizza, burgers and fries !!!! I had already been on 5 cruises. Really recommend it.
I’m doing the repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Sydney in October. This is my second transPacific cruise. Love my sea days, the more sea days the merrier as far as I’m concerned
I have 2 friends (the ones I did Discovery Princess with) boarding in New York in a few weeks time, and they’re going to find this video SO useful - thanks for uploading this one, Gary!
Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻
That's a great summary of QM2 crossings. While I've never done the QM2 transatlantic, I've crossed on the QE2 three times, the Victoria once, and the Elizabeth once. I've also taken Cunard cruises to Mexico, New England, and Europe. I much prefer seven days of uninterrupted sea time to constant port calls. I always sailed in Queen's Grill and actually once got upgraded to the enormous Berengaria Suite on the QV. All by myself, as a complete introvert it was heaven.
One thing to add about the time changes and getting more hours for your buck Westbound: I've found that as I got older it took longer for me to adjust to the time change by plane from LA or NYC to London. While I used to need only 24 hours to adapt, it now takes me twice that long. So if you're a person who needs a couple of days to recover from a large time change, an Eastbound voyage lets you make the adjustment gradually, one hour at a time, and arrive in London ready for dinner and a show the day of disembarkation. Once after flying LA to London for a return Cunard crossing a few days later I bought a ticket for Andrew Lloyd Webber's then-new musical "Stephen Ward" on my second night in London, and found myself too zonked to get to the theatre. At least the show closed shortly thereafter after poor reviews, so I guess I didn't miss much.
We sailed QM2 from NYC to Southampton in early July 2018. We had an inside cabin because I was afraid lookingbout to the sea for 7 days would drive me nuts. It was one of the best cruises. I wished we had taken it back. They had the best entertainment and lecture series. Very relaxing too. We then to a reposition on Princess from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale. Another great cruise. It was 2 weeks with stops. The Atlantic was flatter than a pancake for both cruises.
I went on a crossing in 2019; I LOVED it, you're right, there wasn't enough time to do everything I wanted to do. I'm an old doll and I love the enrichment programs, afternoon tea and adore the library. I also joined the choir, went to line dancing classes, movies (they have some great movies on this ship). Also, from NY to Southampton, they were making a movie with Meryl Streep!
I thought I'd be bored, but I wasn't. We went the end of August, so not too rough. But I've traveled on the QM2 during snowstorms and felt very little movement. Also, the solo cabins are HUGE and on the second and third decks. This is a great video. Thank you for it.
Love your words Doll...! 👌♥️🙏
thank you for talking about Cunard. No one else seems to. we love the transatlantic crossing. Living in NYC we have taken the eastbound crossing numerous times but we recently booked the westbound crossing for June 2023 when we'll be celebrating our 50th anniversary. we've been on levels from the Queens Grill to Deck 4. we prefer the Princess Grill and found the Britannia Club level disappointing. the food was the same as the main dining room and the area was small. As an architect, the layout is challenging to say the least but after all our times on the ship, we're very much at home on this Queen. Hope to see you on one of our many times on the QM2. Happy Sailling.
My partner and I crossed. We had a suite and dined in the Queens Grill. We gave a cocktail party in our cabin which was a great success. Our quests followed with drinks parties and gatherings in the bar. WE were so busy! Loved being formal and dressed in black tie. It's not for the T shirt crowd!!
Thanks for the great Video. Growing up in San Diego Ca. I've been on many Navy big ships including Aircraft Carriers. So in 1978 a Girlfriend and I usually went up Newport Beach for a Day of fun wanted to go to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I've been on Big Ships and did not want to go! So she said "If You don't like it , we will leave for Newport Beach. So I said OK we can do a quick look around and then leave. We got there around Noon and I could not believe my eyes - here was this Huge Majestic Ocean Liner. Well I was overwhelmed by the Size and Beauty - She was definitely The Queen of the Sea's.We had Drinks in the Observation Bar 2 times. Finally my Girlfriend is dragging Me off the Ship at around 8pm because we have a 2+ hour drive home. Now that we have the Queen Mary 2 I want and will do the Westbound Trans Atlantic Crossing.
We just did the crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona on the Queen Elizabeth. Your review was spot on with all your comments. We did however have 3 stops once we crossed. The time at sea was throughly enjoyable.
My first (and 2nd?) TA crossing was the round trip from NY to NY. Loved it so much doing the round trip PLUS fjords next year. Woo hoo!
I will start to plan the transatlantic voyage with my parents in a couple of years. This is definitely the kind of sailing I want to do at least once in my life.
I will be sailing on the Queen Mary 2 soon, to start a new life as a nomad in Europe 🌎 and I am bringing along my poodle and my 8yo daughter (homeschooled). We don’t have strong ties where we are now, so we are taking full advantage of this season to have a Grand Adventure. ☺️ We could not be more thrilled!!
Love your videos & I am planning a return Transatlantic Cruise. Having recently have my whole life turn upside down due to becoming disabled I still want to travel. Having not travelled for over two years due to Covid & becoming disabled with Charcot Syndrome &having part of my foot removed due to the condition. I have decided to take a Transatlantic cruise for my mental wellbeing & gaining my independance once again. Being 60, single & gay I am looking forward to relaxing & socualizing as well as making new friends too. Thank you for giving me the courage to do something after life changing events.
Fantastic to hear you’re ready to travel and do this after what sounds a very tough time. I’m sure this will be a great tonic for you 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I always start taking Dramamine 24 hours before I board a ship and constantly replenish it so that it's always in my system. This way I don't even give myself the opportunity to get seasick.
Garry, thank you once again for a very informative video. All your videos about Queen Mary 2 are worth watching for prospective voyagers. As a Queen Mary 2 fan and veteran passenger, I always learn something new from your vlogs. In this one the interesting but important differences between West bound and East bound voyages... that differences in the length of day. Well done, please keep us updated on Queen Mary 2.
Great video, gonna be most likely a solo crossing for me in my early 40's. Always wanted the feel of an old school type crossing. Still on the fence for my 4 yr old to come with. Have to see what they offer for kids and daycare types. But sailing into New York harbor to see the statue of liberty is a bucket list for sure.
When we sailed in to NY, the fog was so thick the end of the ship was lost! But the disappointment soon faded, to be honest. Although it sounds romantic to see it for the first time entering, there are plenty of opportunities to see the statue frm the Statten Island Ferry (free) and much closer.
Many years ago, in the early Nineties, I worked on the Canberra as a photographer. One evening , in Lisbon, we all went out and got thoroughly hammered, me and my cabin mate especially. When back on the ship. he climbed on me and I was on all fours and yehaa'd all the way back to our berth! Upshot was that we sailed into a storm and the next morning, I felt beyond sick..dreadful alcohol abuse and sea-sickness , was almost beyond hell....and we had to work too. It was truly terrible. That said, there were sickbags positioned everywhere...many were ill. Happy days...not !
I am flying from the US to the UK for my bucket list December 2023 crossing, and have a Brittania balcony. Can't wait!🤗😍
We just completed our NY to Southampton crossing and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The adult aspect of the crossing was very appealing and comfortable. If you want a relaxing experience w/o all the carnival atmosphere then this is for you.
We did a crossing from NYC to Hamburg in fall of 2019 to move our dog to Europe with us. Because we spent most of the time in the kennels playing with the dogs we actually didn’t get to see as many lectures as I would have liked. The ones we saw were great. There was a former red arrows pilot, oceanographer and counter terrorism expert. We also saw a planetarium show and did the tour of the kitchens. If you like education and relaxation this is a great cruise, if you need crazy excitement and a theme park on board this is not for you. We felt like we were the youngest people on board (30s) and we only saw 2 kids the whole trip. I also liked not seeing people in shorts and flip flops at dinner like can happen on other ships, but at the time we had a gala night every other night and that was a bit much. I really loved the sail away party from NYC and not having jet lag on arrival in Hamburg was great. If we had more time off this would be my preferred method of travel to and from the US, especially given how bad our last two flights were in the past year.
Great to see another vid, Gary! This brought back happy memories of our crossing in May, which thanks to watching your previous vids and taking your advice, was perfect. This vid is right on the button, too. All the best, Mike & Judith.
You have the best advice and knowledge in this genre. You should be one of the guest speakers on Cunard, truly. Always the best!
Hi Gary, I think this line is more aligned w my personality and speed. I like the glamour and old world charm. I also have friends who took Queen (not sure which one it was) from Southampton all the way to Australia. They absolutely loved it. What a journey/experience that would be. Hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend Gary.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the super thanks :-)
We did a Regent 14 day crossing from Miami to Barcelona. Loved it! The only thing we would do differently is go west because of the time zone changes.
Going west is always better. When you go east you literally lose time.
All I really need on a Crossing is Churchill's, that beautiful library and if it's nice weather spending lots of time on deck.
I'm the kind of traveler that feels like I can't see everything I want to and I've never been bored.
It's a most wonderful adventure that only Cunard can pull off.
As far as these upset guests that should have been on a modern cruise ship or an airplane, what I want to know is how did they not know what they were getting into?
Atlantic Crossings aren't anywhere near a budget option so why not do a lot of research before splashing out so much $$$ or £££?
I have now watched about a dozen of your videos and this one may have been the most useful.
Thank you Gary for another fine and informative video. I have done 5 crossings: 3 North Atlantic, 1 South Atlantic, and 1 Trans Pacific, and have loved them all. All of my crossings have been on Holland America (HAL). There are so many activities that it can bee mind boggling to chose. As a bridge player, I miss most teas, but I always make time for the special Indonesian tea where the servers dress in Batik and serve Indonesian specialties. I am scheduled for my 6th crossing in October on the HAL 150th anniversary crossing and am so excited. Thank you again Gary.
Thank you, Gary, for the great information and suggestions that are not found anywhere else. You're so knowledgeable, thorough and a fantastic source of all things cruising!
Hello Gary. Really enjoy watching your videos and ideal for picking up tips. We are yet to try other cruise lines but intend doing so in the near future having done Cunard and the QM2 6 times now. 4 Transatlantic, one 5 night Sydney return and a 7 night Norwegian Fjord. However, there is one thing I'd disagree in the above video and that's taking children. Our first crossing was done when our daughter was almost 5 and our son was 9. They both loved it and spent great times in the kids club. There weren't many other children which gave the club a somewhat exclusive and intimate feel with very personal attention from the team. This allowed us the mornings and afternoons to relax and meal times and evenings were spent with the children. They loved the shows too! We did it again the following year but in reverse, NY to SOU and the kids were so excited to be going on the ship again. The staff in the club remembered them which was fantastic. Last year, with the 'children' now 19 and 23, we upgraded to Queens Grill so they could experience a more refined dining experience now that they're young adults. It was a truly memorable experience, one born no doubt out of early memories from their initial crossing 15 years previously. They've told us that they remember all the crossings and feel an emotional attachment to the ship. So, whilst I agree that it's not the 'Disney' experience kids might expect, the ship is more than suitable and capable of creating special times for families. 😎
Really good video. I’ve Just done my second transatlantic and loved it. I’m 49 now, did an eastbound last week . I was 38 when I did a westbound .
I loved the peace and tranquillity. No rowdy families.
I’m thinking of doing an 8 day transatlantic via Le Harve in October 2024
My idea of paradise, but as the video points out, it may not be for everyone
We’ve just booked our second transatlantic crossing on QM2, we love her.
Thanks for sharing this. Due to medical issues, I can't do long distance flights, I hadn't thought of this as an option to see Europe. I get seasick too but well that's more manageable.
I definitely want to try this I've only done Transatlantic crossings in a nuclear-powered submarine
good to see they will allow cats - did you hear that .... ( at the aquarium bar )
I would love this kind of cruise. I love the the older ways of this kind of if I could cruise so love these videos to see what they do on the way of enjoying the beautiful clothing and having a more beautiful kind of cruise for what you will enjoy more. I am from Australia 🇦🇺 so thank you for sharing your videos I appreciate them. Yes being extremely prepared and understanding your cruise experience is a must so before going. Thank you Louise.
Truly helpful, thorough and appealing. Thank you.
I enjoy transatlantic cruises and I take one at least every year it is a great way to relax and enjoy myself
We tried QM2 on a short trip to Hamburg - we enjoyed it but wouldn’t want a longer trip on her to be honest. I enjoyed the dress code for a 4 night trip, but feel it wouldn’t be for us for a longer cruise. The use of $ rather than £ for prices, the prices of drinks etc, the added tips… it all added up and we were keeping track and kept it under review! Maybe in a few years we’ll try again - thanks for the informative video.
Did 31 days on the Marco Polo to Montreal and back most of our time was spent whale watching wife loved it
A QE2 crossing is my dream cruise. One day I'll make the trip so thank you for all of this information.
Pro tip: Book the Verandah restaurant online before the sailing. It will save you enough money for a couple glasses of wine!
On a 6-day crossing there are 2 galas. We did the Red and Gold and skipped the masquerade. That night we ate at the Verandah.
I really like the dress up code.
I was on this crossing too.. loved very minute. I love being “@ sea” so much so have booked the same crossing next May xxx
I’m doing my first transatlantic and my first solo cruise this November. Can’t wait!
Just booked my transatlantic crossing for November 2024 and I know exactly what I signed up for.
Great review we’ve done quite a bit of cruising including Cunard and have booked a round trip on the QM2 with a day in New York this September.
Many thanks for all your tips.
The Cunard's liners would suit me 100% because I like very posh, dressing up do's, I don't like all the entertainment and slides, pools etc. I like to read in a library or on the deck and chill out in peace and quiet. I want to go to New York but to travel back on it too. I don't fly!
I enjoyed my 3 Trans Atlantic cruises, Holiday cruises, Canada cruises. I agree that you should review the Cunard program. I was never bored.
We are doing our first Cunard cruise this coming November-Getting my Gala clothes ready !! Can’t wait
My wife and I have just come over on the QM2 last week all the advice here is spot on. We went Britannia Club. smaller dining area with our own table.. , my wife and I are not prone to motion sickness so we got a high up Cabin (deck 13) it was fine all the way across.
Another excellent video. You brought up great points to consider before booking Cunard. This line will be in my future.
So helpful. Thank you, I'm sailing on QM2 in Apr 2024. Quite excited already and am under no illusion it'll be like a cruise. In fact, I am pleased to see it won't be. Your tips on cabins have been invaluable.
Glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!
My wife and I have been on QM2 for two different crossings to two different ports. One to Southhampton and the other to Hamburg. Unfortunately the Hamburg trip was marred with disruptions leaving NYC, so much of our journey was in darkness. Then when we neared the river into Hamburg we were met with what amounted to a hurricane, so couldn't proceed into the river and had to ride out the storm in the North Atlantic. It was a great and fun experience. Most interesting, while at dinner there were lots of big waves and I got a video of a nice green wave rolling by as we were eating. Hope to do it again in Spring 2023. Fingers crossed.
It is a little more formal than most ships. We didn't mind that. We decided to go with it and enjoy the experience When we came on board, there were several ship's officers standing there to welcome us aboard. You don't usually see that on other ships.
Thanks for your great videos about Cunard. We are a German couple who did 2 Cunard cruises and felt in love with the ships and the way to travel. We will do a TA cruise from New York to Hamburg in October with our 2 daughters (22 and 17) and we all are looking forward to it. In all of your great videos with Pros/Cons you did not mention one thing: Doing a Cunard cruise when you not speaking English very well. It would be great to hear from you about that point. Thanks and Greeting from Germany.
Your English and grammatical construct is generally good. With a bit of polish, I wouldn't know it wasn't your first language. : )
I will be taking the QM2 in May of 2023 leaving from Hamburg then to Southampton to Le Harve then across the Atlantic to NYC. I have never been anywhere in Germany before.
I have to disagree about the kids part - it really depends on the age of the children. Very young probably not, teenagers again myabe not, but between 7 and 12 I'd say it's fine. There is a children's club and they have activities till around 9/10 at night and my niece loved it, prefering to be there than with family. Its not like a creche where the children are watched and do nothing, they have their own daily programme, so to speak with guided activities, tours of the ship and interactive presentations (I think one my niece saw was on exploding science). If you want your child to do the adult activities then yes they will be bored to tears, but the children's club is enjoyable, or so a 9 year girl told me.
I'll be on the double TA in two weeks! Thanks Gary. Looking forward to the voyage of a lifetime. 🐟
Great vid; thank you !! Mentioned below that for younger, first time cruisers or families I rec. Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
Gary, Love your videos, so informative every time! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
This was so helpful. I've never had any desire to go on those giant cruise ships but Cunard and it's history including the dress code is probably the main reasons why I WOULD go on Cunard as opposed to other cruises. I get so tired of people dressing like slobs and thinking they should show up for dinner in a beautiful dining room in their shorts and sandals. My parents came to North America in the 1950s on the original Queen Mary. My father, ex Royal Naval officer, always says to stay mid ship to feel the least movement.
My family immigrated to the US aboard the original Queen Mary in 1963~ We are booked to go on the QM2 in March 2025 to complete the loop!
Watching this helped me reconsider taking this cruise. Single. Almost 70. Love women. Don’t want to dance or wear a tux. Rather be casual and enjoy being at the pool drinking all day. Have cruised many times in the Caribbean. I can see, thanks to you, that this may not be for me.
I have done transatlantic and transpacific cruises! I love the sea days!
I've done five or six crossings on the Queen Mary 2 and agree with almost everything that the estimable Mr. Bembridge has to say. I almost always take winter crossings and am apparently immune to seasickness and I always ask for a cabin on deck 8 (pretty high) and all the way forward to be close to the library and the spa. I disagree with Gary on the value of westbound vs. eastbound crossings. I live in the US and I prefer to travel from New York to Southampton in order to avoid jetlag upon arrival in the UK/Europe. Coming home I don't care about jetlag since I'm home.
I'm only 23 years old, so I'm really below the average age of QM2 passengers, but there is no ship I love more then the QM2. With 18 years I was first time on her, but only for two days. I did this short voyage (Hamburg - Southampton) two more times, but I finally want to make the crossing.
In August of 2024 it's finally happening, when me an my parents make a double transatlantic crossing (SOU - NYC - SOU) and I really can't wait anymore. I'm already counting the days 😅.
I have one question: Where did you get this nice pullover?😁
In two days I get on the 39 night Vancouver to Barcelona cruise on Queen Elizabeth. I’m currently doing 3 1/2 years nonstop on a cruise ship and spend about two months on each ship I watched a lot of your videos and after spending 3400 nights on a cruise ship , i think that they are excellent and based on similar experiences
Very interesting. Thanks for your insights. I'd still love to do a transatlantic crossing one of these days.
The one time I got sea sick on a destroyer was in the North Pacific winter. I had been in my workshop that was midships but high up, and was experiencing a lot of side to side. I was bad enough that I was struggling to get any work done, so I decided to go down to a space where we had some comfortable chairs to relax and play PSP. It's right above the sonar done, so it's the lowest most forward part of the ship. So much up and down that, coupled with the side to side I had experienced before made me the sickest I had ever been at sea. After I got done vomiting I went and got some crisps and went to lay on the floor in radio central. Its low and smack in the middle.
Green apples are good for sea sickness as are ginger capsules.
@@chriswilliams6568 lol, fresh produce on a Navy warship? 😜
Really informative video! I am not a cruising enthusiast, but I think I would enjoy a European river cruise or this. Note on alcohol expenses, my grandparents LOVED cruises, taking advantage of last minute cruise deals back in the 80’s. They brought a complete liquor cabinet with them to save money.
Great video. Super helpful.
Yet again another excellent post.
Your videos are so well done and educational. I'm learning about a whole new world here. :)
Mid rear may save a bit of money and according to the ship designer the lowest motion point is 2/3rds of the way back
This is just up my alley. Without any excursions. Thank you for this. Even the Cunard sounds,like my type of ship. 🛳
Just because the day is '25 hours' on the westbound trip doesn't mean you get 'more time' than an eastbound trip. It is a cruise ship not a time machine.
The 'total time' is the total time. It probably does take longer because of the gulf steam, but you aren't getting 'extra time' like it is being created.
People need to realize that the Queen Mary 2 is not a cruise, but a crossing. That means no stops. We are enamored with the QM2 and will be taking our 5th crossing on August 18.
Super helpful - thanks Gary!
Sir Gary. How does someone book a cruise and not know or under the itinerary? Like to relax and look nice on vacation but not formal every night. Smart casual just fine. These are great tips. Thanks so much and see you next video.
Here's one "consideration" on Cunard's (or any??) transatlantic crossing East to West.....avoid doing it on the 2nd of January LOL My first transatlantic was on that date back in 2009 (moving countries and taking six suitcases was cheaper than flying -- "if it fits in your cabin, it's free" so no surcharges like airlines) and is NOT for the faint of heart, or the seasickness-prone! That north atlantic was seriously rough and a few times they had to put out extra sick bags! I didn't feel it and am not prone to it but I remember a slight queasiness one or two times LOL So that's my caveat to anyone taking a transatlantic east to west (not sure if the north atlantic is that rough west to east??). Never enough to put me off sailing as my dad took the Michelango or Raffaelo back in 1971 and I've taken many other cruises and lines -- am back on the Victoria around the end of July actually, Mediterranean route! Can't wait to experience the renovations. But no transatlantic the beginning of january LOL I did the first one solo and had a blast -- doing the second solo also as I always travel solo :-) Oh WAIT -- how interesting you said the QM handles the north atlantic better! Ship design versus the Victoria?
I love sailing a TA crossing on the QM2. A fabulous experience for us. Definitely want to do again!
I love Transatlantic cruises on NCL. I like the sea only days.