Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Review

Incompetence and indifference

Review for on Queen Mary 2 (QM2)
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Dec Chair
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Jan 2015

We booked Southampton to Dubai - the first leg of a round the world cruise. We had no interest in the European ports but the chance to go through the Suez Canal and visit Egypt (for the Pyramids) was perfect. Just too late to cancel, we were notified that Egypt was shut but would be replaced with Aqaba (for Petra). Not what we booked or wanted, but Suez and one of the 'New' Seven Wonders of the World was worth 21 days at sea.

It started badly. Embarkation at Southamton took upwards of two hours queuing in the cold, the fireworks were perfunctory and the band to see us off was embarassing. Once on board, the stained carpets and towels and buckets placed along the corridors to catch the leaking water was more like a rundown City Centre hotel. The pretentiously named State Room was little better. How could you let it get like this Cunard?

After the European ports, we dawdled along for several days and finally parked up outside the Suez Canal. Then the Captain announced there would be a delay because of dredging. Did Cunard not know about this and plan for it? In the event, we waited 18 hours or so and finally set off around 9pm in the pitch dark. No matter said the Captain, you will have a few hours in the morning to see the Canal. We emerged around 5 am still in the pitch dark. Have you ever watched a juggler on the radio? You could not see a thing. And I mean, not a thing. There were tens of delayed cargo ships that could have swapped places with the QM2 had Cunard tried to recover something from this entirely forseeble setback.

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