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Name: James Rubino
Email: SuperLnr@aol.com
Age: 39
Occupation: V.P. Software Development
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Cunard-QEII
SailingDate: 10/7/97
Itinerary: New England/Canada
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 17 Oct 1997
Time: 20:14:29
Remote Name: 152.163.204.5
Remote User:
Comments
This was my 1st cruise, and I greeted it with much anticipation. Being an ocean-liner fan,
I chose QE2. I admit, I had
many preconceived notions about what sailing on this ship would be like, and I was a
little worried that I was
expecting too much. As it turned out, I was NOT dissappointed.
This cruise was QE2's annual fall foliage excursion to New England and Canada; 6 days from
New York, round-trip.
Embarkation was a study in simplicity. These folks seem to have the process down pat. I
was checked-in and on my
way to my cabin within 15-20 minutes of arriving at Pier 90 in NY.
The Midships Rotunda, as it is referred to, is the first area of the ship entered by
passengers. It is a circular lobby,
paneled in honey-colored burled wood of some kind, carpeted in deep burgandy, and has a
sunken sitting area in the
center with plush built-in sofas. Murals of the history of the Cunard Line are all around
you. Classical music was softly
playing in the background as we boarded. Very gracious and proper stewards in white dinner
jackets and gloves
directed us to our cabins. I believe in first impressions -- this was a good one!
My cabin, a Mauretania-class outside cabin on 5-Deck, was quite roomy. (Mauretania is the
least-expensive cabin
class.) More space than most people led me to believe I would have. Four closets, two
dressers, and a bath that was
elegant and functional with marble trim, ceramic tile, and shower with folding glass door.
I noticed in my cabin, and
throughout the ship, the generous use of real wood and warm colors, imparting a very
comfortable feeling. For
instance, the dressers in the cabin were wood (looked to be teak, but not sure). My cabin
steward, Noe, gets a
special nod. He made sure that the room was spotlessly clean, I always had more than
enough towels, and the ice
bucket was full. He also knew my name by our second meeting. A small thing, but one that
made me feel very 'at
home'. Oh, and a word about the bed linens. I'm not sure if most ships are like this, but
the bed linens included a
down comforter and 2 down pillows per bed. I slept like a baby!
My dining room was dictated by my cabin, and was the Mauretania. The dining room has large
windows port and
starboard for a beautiful view. A huge aluminum scuplture of winged horses stands in the
middle as the focal point,
lighted from beneath in deep blue. I was at a table for 4, near a port side window. The
food selection was excellent
with many choices at each meal, including vegetarian and heart-healthy choices. Examples:
grilled filet of salmon for
lunch and roast rack of lamb for dinner. The food was quite well prepared and presented,
and portions were NOT
small. The wonderful food was only exceeded by the service. We were usually greeted at the
dining room entrance by
2 management staff and several waiters/waitresses. We had both a waiter and waitress for
our table, so we never
went without anything we needed. And they were oh-so-very proper about how they served us,
but also very friendly
and liked to chat about how your day was going. Mauretania was hosting two seatings for
dinner on this cruise, as we
had 1800 passengers (it is single seating when carrying 1500). We ate in second seating,
and we were NEVER rushed
through a meal. Many times we were there for over 2 hours for dinner. By the end of the
cruise, we had made some
new friends in our dining room staff.
This cruise included 4 ports of call in 6 days, which didn't leave much time for exploring
this grand liner, but I did
manage to make my way around most areas. I loved the outside areas, expecially because of
the beautiful teak
decks. My favorite part is the aft end, with its 5 cascading teak decks that descend from
the Sun Deck to the 1-Deck
pool area. It was especialy beautiful at night, with the walkway and pool lights on. The
many inside lounges and clubs
are all gorgeous, too. Each one has its own flavor, and each exudes elegance. Again, the
use of wood, brass, colors of
deep blue, gold, and burgandy all make you feel so comfortable. The Chart Room bar has a
piano from the Queen
Mary. The Yacht Club lounge spans the width of the stern, and is decorated in teak
EVERYTHING with ivory sails strung
from floor to ceiling. This is the place for nightly dance music. It opens onto one of
those great aft decks, too. The
Queens Room is very elegant, especially nice for afternoon tea to harp music or for the
Captain's Reception.
As for the ports of call, which included Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, and Halifax, my
favorite was Bar Harbor. Sailing
into it in the early morning, with a sea of glass, leaves of gold-red-orange, and fog
shrouding the mountain tops, was
pure theatre! The ship seemed so majestic as it lay at anchor between the little islands
that dot the coast. I must
point out here, that QE2's tender service was operated like clockwork. There was never
more than a few-minutes wait
for a launch. Halifax was also a beautiful city, but a humbling experience, as some of us
took a tour which included a
stop at cemeteries where victims of the Titanic are buried. For myself, being a follower
of ship history, it was a special
experience.
I think my favorite destination on this cruise was, in fact, the QE2 herself. So much
there for the senses. She's
sophisticated, elegant, spacious, comfortable, and friendly. Strolling the teak decks made
me feel like I went back in
time. She seemed very British and very proper, while still being a lot of fun.
I highly recommend this ship (and this particular cruise itineray) for anyone even
remotely interested in ocean liners.
I will definitely sail on this ship again.
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