We joined Queen Mary at the port of Brooklyn, after a few days in a city hotel. The fist glimpse of this magnificent vessel is quite overwhelming, for she is truly colossal, with beautiful, traditional liner lines. Embarkation was a breeze with minimal fuss, and we were soon in a delightful,elegant,comfortable sheltered balcony cabin where a chilled bottle of bubbly welcomed us, and while we looked in the ample storage spaces and compact bathroom with its good toiletries and soft robes, our luggage was swiftly delivered. We set off to explore the many many areas, finding charming quiet bars, a busy lunchtime buffet, the Kings court, acres of open deck space with comfortable lounge chairs provided with dark green towels, and several pools in which to cool off, including a delightful children's pool with water guns and cascade. Beside it was a toddler area with big toys and well trained children's staff in attendance. Older children were soon ensconced in the special teen Zone. After sailing, we explored the open decks ,the terrific gym, the gorgeous Canyon Ranch Spa, with highly trained, friendly staff, and enjoyed the friendliness of a quiz which helped us meet fellow guests. Expert lectures were offered for those who thirsted after knowledge, and wi-fi areas were well used by those passengers who needed to keep in touch By evening, we felt we could comfortably find our way round, and enjoyed a quiet celebratory glass in the gorgeous Veuve Cliquot bar, with an expert waiter in attendance, then wandered down to the Britannia restaurant for second dining on a designated table. Service was faultless, with a varied, beautifully presented menu. Alternative venues abounded, from the upmarket Todd English restaurant to more casual buffet, a Chef's Galley with cooking demonstrations or the Piazza for authentic Italian food. After dinner , entertainment options were amazing, with a full production show in the lovely theatre, which would earn standing ovations on Broadway, delightful live musical interludes all over the ship, an amazing planetarium with comfortable fully reclining seats, and a beautiful ballroom, the Queen's room, with full band to play for dancing. For those with enough energy, there was a jumping nightclub , sited well away from passenger cabins, that had a very slick DJ keeping it all going until the wee small hours. Leaving the ship on disembarkation day was made so easy, and was slickly timed to avoid congestion, whilst waiting passengers had comfortable lounges or deck areas to relax in. There were queues of taxis waiting, and disembarking passengers were speedily whisked away to their onward destinations. This is a cruise ship all cruise lovers should experience, as it defines ship travel at its best.