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About
Cunard
Line...
Cunard Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, has a long
and illustrious history. The line was founded in 1840 by Samuel Cunard, a
businessman from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cunard applied for and received a
contract from the British government to carry the Royal Mail from Britain to
North America on a fleet of steamships that would maintain a weekly service. The
first route was from Liverpool to Boston via Halifax, but the western terminus
was soon moved to New York.
Cunard Line is now comprised of two ships, Queen Mary 2 and
Queen Elizabeth 2, but there is a third Queen on the way. Carnival has signed a
contract to build Queen Victoria, a smaller running mate to Queen Mary 2 and not
intended to cross the Atlantic year-round. She will be a cruise ship, but have
many of the amenities of her larger sister.
Queen Mary 2 was built to carry on Cunard's tradition of
offering liner voyages year-round between Southampton and New York. She has
thick steel plating, a strengthened and lengthened bow, and powerful engines.
She has 1,300 cabins, most of which are outside, and most of them have
balconies. There are eye-popping suites that top out at 2,250 square ft. QM2
maintains the custom of assigning restaurants based on cabin accommodations.
Passengers booked in the largest suites dine in the Queen's Grill. Passengers
booked in junior suites dine in the Princess Grill. Both grills offer
single-seating service with table-side preparation. All other passengers dine in
the three-story Britannia Restaurant, which offers two sittings for dinner and
open sitting for breakfast and lunch. In addition there are seven other venues
for meals, including the signature Todd English restaurant, open to all
passengers by reservation for lunch and dinner. The large Lido Restaurant that
serves buffet-style breakfasts and lunches becomes four intimate venues for
dinner serving Italian, Asian and English fare, as well as a restaurant with a
demonstration galley. QM2 has the first planetarium at sea, carries Oxford dons
for classroom learning and offers acting workshops with students from the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Arts. This ship offers something for everyone. Tea is served
by white-gloved stewards in several venues. There is a British pub, a champagne
bar, stylish (and expensive) shops and a heritage trail that relates Cunard's
history. The stunning two-story spa is run by Canyon Ranch. The ship is wired
for Wi-Fi, and there is a computer learning center.
QE2 sails as a
one-class ship these days, but there are reminders of her previous service as a
two-class Atlantic liner. Passengers are assigned to one of five restaurants
based on the category of cabin they book. Passengers in suites, penthouse cabins
and other large cabins dine high on the ship in the Queen's Grill. Passengers in
slightly less luxurious cabins dine in either the Princess Grill or Britannia
Grill. The three grill restaurants offer single-sitting dining with a la carte
menus. Passengers in the next lower grade of cabins dine in the Caronia
Restaurant, which offers single-sitting dining. Passengers in the lowest grades
dine in the two-sitting Mauretania Restaurant. Cabins vary widely between
restaurant grades, and QE2 is old enough that cabins vary widely within grades.
The smallest inside cabins are 87 square ft. The largest suites are almost 1,200
square ft. QE2 has a wrap-around promenade deck, an outdoor pool and a spa run
by Steiner Leisure (but inside and low down in the hull). In addition to the
restaurants there are four other venues for eating: the Funnel Bar, the Golden
Lion Pub, the Lido and the Pavilion. There is a two-story show lounge in which
entertainment is offered nightly. There are lectures, classes, games and
demonstrations throughout the day. Musicians entertain in the bars at night.
There is a computer learning center and a synagogue.
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CRUISECLEVER - CUNARD
LINE
