Just twelve months prior to joining the QM2 was my wife's big birthday (60 actually...hope she does,not read this!). At her birthday dinner I presented her with a card which I had previously created on my computer with the immortal line....The Commodore of the Queen Mary 2 requests you to join his ship for an Eastbound crossing from New York to Southampton on the 9 June 2006...the usual Cunard logos and a picture of the ship had been placed...her mouth dropped and just could not believe this was going to happen for her...well for us actually!
We flew to New York and stayed at The Warwick Hotel, an older style hotel with lots of history and just enough luxury! It rained for three days!! The fourth day dawned in brilliant sunshine and we packed and awaited our limousine. We were originally going to grab a yellow cab but had been warned off this as most of the drivers do not know how to get to or even where The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is! (be warned). Anyway is it not worthy of such a fine vessel to arrive yourself in some style?
A thirty minute drive later and we saw her huge size standing against the Brooklyn skyline. Our car pulled in and immediately a helpful baggage porter insisted on taking all our bags..."don't you worry ma'am..these will be in your cabin soonest" We were from them on in Cunard hands as they directed us, guided us, took our photographs (for the 'on board cashless' pay cards (remember to smile next time!)) - then to be photographed for the pics standing in front of the formal 'Queen Mary 2' lifebelt. OK so everyone does it, but hell for once why not enjoy the event - this may have been our first time so why not have some mementos! Then onwards and upwards at every corner a red suited 1950 (or would it be 1930's) dressed bell hop welcoming us aboard. By now my wife was in a wonderland of service, smiles and excitement. The final turn to be greeted with...'Welcome on board', a line up of smartly dressed stewards and stewardess smiling as we entered the grand lobby of the ship. We were directed to our suite on deck 10, first to the lift where a crew member pressed the right button and then as we got out another crew member directed us to where the suite was. Mentioned by previous writers complaints of not being personally taken to their accommodation - hey - there were 2,600 passengers boarding - an impossible task to personally take everyone, and hardly one to complain about!