I have recently completed two crossing on the QM2 from New York to Southampton (May 16th) and Southampton to New York (June 5) and I can truly call both crossings magnificent. There is little I can add that other people have not already said --but I will and I am truly surprised at some of the previous negative comments. To each their own I suppose but I thought I would offer some of my personal observations:
QM2: truly a wonder of a ship....grand looking on the outside and grand on the inside. You do feel special when you are aboard and truly do feel connected to the sea with wonderful views from the public rooms all the way to the uppers decks. I think this is the true value of a transatlantic crossing and particularly all the viewing options offered by the QM2: being connected to the ocean and enjoying the incredible colors; the power of the water and the weather; wonder skies and beautiful sunsets. To me this beats any Vegas show or rock climbing wall. That is the marvel of the QM2: it affords you the time and the opportunity to appreciate the many things we tend to overlook on a daily basis. I found the ship in great repair. Did not see rust or mold and it was fantastically clean! Spotless! There was always someone wiping, vacuuming and sprucing up any mess people might have left. We had some very rough seas and the QM2 rode them beautifully!
Public Rooms: all were great each with their own unique flavor and character. The decor was fantastic and all furnishings of high quality and comfort. Golden Lion was a fun place to drop in for a pint and the Commodore Club offered great views with a high end modern elegant feel. Enjoyed Sir Samuel's for a morning coffee and sitting outside on deck 8 (despite the weather) offered great views of the horizon.