Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Review

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Review for Transatlantic Cruise on Queen Mary 2 (QM2)
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JonnyDrubel
10+ Cruises • Age 30s

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Sail Date: May 2012

Every June, the six members of my immediate family come together for our annual summer vacation. While reuniting us is a near impossible task, every summer my mother and father manage to accomplish the feat. From a South African safari to a Lake Placid escape, the six of us have shared many great times together on these summer family vacations. While planning these trips, my mother (55) and father (60) always ask for input from "the kids"-- my sisters Anna (28), Julia (26), and Miriam (19), and me, Jonny (24). While our past trips often required one or more flights, the one thing we all agreed upon this year was a desire to limit the amount of time we spent at airports. After some hesitation, I suggested that my mom look into booking a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2. I hesitated because my family knows of my passion for cruise ships, and my desire for a family cruise has often been rebuffed. Nevertheless, I saw our shared desire to avoid airports as the perfect reason to suggest it again. There was also an additional advantage to my proposed QM2 vacation: Since the ship departs from New York, it would be easy for all of us to meet there, since everyone already lives in the Northeast (I am the lone exception; I am based in Los Angeles and the flight from LA to New York has never bothered me). While my three sisters weren't exactly keen on the idea of an ocean crossing--none of them were fond of cruises and Julia has always been susceptible to seasickness--we all agreed that it was something we, as a family, should finally try. Before we knew it, the six of us found ourselves reunited on a hot summer day in New York, headed to a pier in Brooklyn.

The first sight of QM2 was breathtaking: she first became visible during our cab ride from Manhattan, and even from that distance her size took my breath away. As we got closer, she grew larger and more magnificent, impressing everyone in the car. We arrived at the pier promptly at 2pm and were swiftly whisked to our cabins by 2:30pm, a boarding record for me. Greeted warmly by crewmembers as we stepped aboard, I was impressed at how the ship's professional staff efficiently showed us to our rooms while simultaneously maintaining an air of relaxation. Unlike the madness that occurs on a typical mass-market ship's embarkation day, the QM2's staff kept the process pleasant, their friendliness and efficiency belying the ship's grand size, maintaining a level of intimacy throughout the process.

Our cabins, located on deck nine mid-ship, were at the perfect location. I suggested to my mom that we book cabins at this location for two reasons: we would feel less rocking there, and we would also be close to the ship's public rooms (an important factor given the ship's size). My sister Julia and I stayed in cabin 9054 with my two other sisters next door and my mom and dad on the port side, guaranteeing us a view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline as we sailed away. The cabins were spacious and comparable in quality to the rooms of a luxury hotel. Moreover, virtually everything about the rooms felt new, a result of the ship's recent refurbishment. Shortly after embarkation, our cabin steward and butler came in to introduce themselves, an instant reassurance that we were going to be taken good care of during our trip. With little time before the muster drill, we explored the ship and tried to soak up the sun while we had it (the weather on crossings is often unpredictable).

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