Special trip to celebrate my retirement. I travelled with a friend. We flew down from the North on a Flyby flight to Southampton the day before. We increased our baggage allowance to 23Kg (it cost £6) and saved having to worry too much about meeting the 20Kg free allowance. We stayed in the Holiday Inn on a Fly, Stay Cruise package so were met by the taxi driver at S'ton airport and taken to the hotel. We had a room on the 9th floor overlooking the Solent and where we knew the QM2 would dock (46-48). To get into the mood we had booked an afternoon tea at the Grand Cafe. This was once the Station Hotel and then the Cunard offices - one of the waiters kindly showed us the main entrance and the first electric lift in the UK - amazing and worth asking to see. We really enjoyed the afternoon tea as well. Popped over to the West Quay shopping centre to buy last minute bits and bobs - only a short walk from the hotel.

Woke up to a gloomy early morning and watched the Anthem of the Sea, the Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and the Balmoral (I think) dock. Taxi picked us up and took as to embarkation at 12 noon. Very chaotic at check in. Lots of people waiting. Lack of clarity re priority check in (we were travelling in Grills). that said we were on the ship by 12.15. I know from talking to others that it was not so smooth for everyone and there were long delays. I heard later there has been a change to the company who do the check in. The welcome signs were still for the Britannia from the day before when we got on! The problems with check in caused the muster stations to be delayed and we were late sailing. This was a special sailaway as all three Cunard ships sailed together - great spectacle - shame about the delay though as many in the Britannia restaurant had to leave to go and eat.

I have sailed on the QV and QE before so used to the Cunard style of cruising. The layout of the QM2 is quite quirky and it took a while to find our way around - especially on deck 3 with its lower deck. that said we had 7 long days (most were 25 hours) to get used to it. The weather was quite stormy at times with high seas. This ship comes into her own then as she is very stable. It is possible to walk all around the ship on deck 7 and many did when the weather allowed. The public areas are well kept and the theatre and cinema (Illuminations) were well used. The Disco allows smoking so did not appeal to us. As every day is a sea day there is quite a lot to keep you amused and my friend and I kept ourselves busy with Bridge and Watercolour classes (tutors could do with a bit of help re adult learning styles!). We quizzed and met a great range of fellow passengers from all over the world - though mostly Americans & Brit baby boomers - like ourselves. Read more