I have sailed on Cunard before - QE2, Queen Mary (this was the second crossing and the new Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mary is superior to the Queen Elizabeth in my opinion (the lack of the Chart Room on the Queen Elizabeth bothered me). Although Cunard is to an extent coasting on an old name, it remains the most traditional line. There is a dress code for dinner along with several formal nights. These are customs that I very much approve of and that attract me to Cunard.

On the whole I found service good however I do wish that Cunard would return to the former five day crossing schedule. Seven days is too long. By day six you're studying the ship's programme looking for things to do. For me the Queen Mary is transportation and not just an excuse for eating a lot. A crossing is not the same as a cruise and there should be distinctions in style.

Aside from breakfast (room service) I took all meals in the Britannia Restaurant. Food ranged from average to good. Never memorable however. Service was generally satisfactory however the wine steward was under a lot of pressure to serve too many people and as a result it took far too long to get a drink. Many people have complained about the price of drinks. They are not inexpensive however I found bottles of wine to be comparable to many restaurants on the ground. Read more