I'd always loved the romance of the old ocean liners and it was a bucket list item for me to do a transatlantic crossing on the last of the real ocean liners, QM2. I treated myself to this trip after a very difficult few years in my life as both a real retreat and rest, and the checking off of that bucket list.

I found booking and preparing very straightforward and Cunard supplies plenty of information for the first time cruiser. There were no surprises along the way, thanks to that. Check in was slow but smooth, and getting on board was the magical moment I had hoped for.

I traveled cheaply (if such a thing is possible) in an inside stateroom with no windows. Honestly, this was not an issue since I spent very little time in my room. Had I booked a balcony stateroom, perhaps this would have been different, but QM2 affords so many different places and ways to watch the ocean go by that I really don't feel it's necessary. When (not if!) I do it again, I'll probably still save my money and take the inside room again. Especially since traveling alone costs significantly more than traveling as a couple. Read more