QM2 Voyage of Magellan Critique March 8-April 15, 2006, LA-NYC around SA.

The most important thing to be aware of is that the QM2 is an OCEAN LINER, not a CRUISE SHIP. The QM2 is a beautiful large ship. You barely notice a rough sea, and therein is the main advantage. The disadvantages are many as will be noted below; the fact that it is such a large ship: length 1132 ft, width 148 ft. (much too large for the Panama Canal) GRT 148528 tonnes, total height above water line 204 ft (10 to spare under the Verrazano Bridge), maximum draft 33 10. Three times around deck 7 is 1.1 miles. It is powered by four pods in the rear of the ship, the two rearmost pods can turn 360 degrees, obviating the need for a rudder. Maximum speed, 29.5 knots. Unfortunately, two months before our cruise, she hit something leaving Ft. Lauderdale FL, damaging the port forward pod, causing a displacement of a little over 1 in it, but enough to put that motor out of service. (It will not be repaired until November 2006).

One of the greatest disadvantages to an OCEAN LINER is that its depth is too large for a great many ports so that it is necessary to tender in to these ports. This is an inconvenience (2500 passengers are aboard and most would like at least to see what is ashore). This also is a severe disadvantage for the handicapped, since it is a requirement that they must walk onto the tender. This is not a frivolous requirement since many times the tender is rocking severely and unless one is fairly agile, there is a possibility of being injured. (In one of our ports of call, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, the swells were so severe that the Captain would not permit tendering in, so we missed that port.) Read more