The first time my wife and I went on Queen Mary 2 it was for our 30th wedding anniversary and therefore we choose a balcony. The other two times we booked a balcony with an obstructed view and once were lucky to be upgraded. In Canada actually is was great to have a balcony with obstsructed view as you were protected from the cold wind. For the first segment of the world cruise we decided to go on this cruise relativly late and therefore only the interior cabins were available. It is always recommended to book early to get the cabin you want.
Why do I like the Queen Mary 2 better than other ships I sailed on? It is the understated British elegance on the ships, the wide open spaces, the miles of teak planks, the high tea that is served by butlers with white gloves, and the great service.
I am looking for a good deal for a Queens Grill Suite. I really want to experience the difference - but what keeps me from booking is the price, I have to wait for a deal on a Quuens Grill Suite. There are sometimes great deals on the Grills, but not really often - and when they came, I could not make it. As soon as I cruised in a Queens Grill Suite, I will let you know and immediately add a new page for that. Promised.
So it might be 2011 or 2012 before I can check the suites out. As soon as I have experienced the suites, I will write about it. Please wait for my article about the suites on Cunard, the Grills.
First of all, I love the understated elegance and class of the ship; stylish like a nice old ocean liner, just more comfort probably (I never was on the Titanic). The movie Titanic might be the reason I like Ocean Liners.
The food, even in third class (a balcony is still third class) the food is great. I mentioned before, I love great food and a lot of it (I sometimes take two or three entries), I love meat (but no cheese) and I love heavy red wines. For lunch we usually went to the buffet restaurant on the Queen Mary 2, they have four different stations: a meat carving station, an Asian food (most of it is not Sushi, but cooked in the Wok, I love a steak medium-rare, but not raw - that means I do not love Sushi), an Italian food section and the last one changes in their style on a daily basis. For dinner I always used the Brittany restaurant, only once we went to the pay-restaurant "Todd English", which was $ 35 per person for dinner for our anniversary. The food was great, but so is the food in the Britannia Restaurant.
I was only disappointed by two minor items (had not to do with food, but with the surroundings) that changed from the first trip to the second/third trips. On the first trip on the formal nights the ladies received black napkins if they wore a black dress, this was discontinued. The Queen Mary 2 used to have only Wedgewood China, even for the buffet and even the coffee mugs were made by Wedgewood. On the third trip, some of them were replaced by cheap cups made in China. Probably because they were cheaper. I believe that it did not make a big difference financially for Cunard, but I did not like it. I believe Cunard is limiting this to the Grill accomodations now (their suites).
You can reach Cruise Planner Christian Bellingrath at 813-992-0502 or by e-mail at 