Library, bad wifi, traditional "dated" decor. Sounds good to me.

I did a transatlantic with my mother as a teenager, primarily to relocate and bringing our dog. My mother refused to send him cargo so my father flew with my brothers and I got "volunteered" to go with her. It was a magical time of reading, strolling, and music everywhere. She gifted me with my first pair of long gloves and we went to a class on how to curtsey to various levels of people. The memories of that magical time still bring me smiles and evoke wonder

Having been on QM2 just a month ago, I would agree with all of your observations. The ship is nice and well maintained but not glitzy or glamorous. It is old fashioned and traditional which is what I signed up for. A sailing experience of the past instead of today. You can take a modern cruise on any cruise ship but you can only take a traditional “historic” crossing on Cunard’s QM2

As an ex merchant seaman I would sail on the QM2 anytime compared with the other cruise ship monstrosity,s which are around today she has got style the rust stains just add to the effect of a hard working ship

Q: What is the difference between an Ocean Liner and a Cruise Ship? A: An Ocean Liner is a seagoing ship. A Cruise Ship is a Resort Hotel balanced precariously on a Barge.

QM2 is a transatlantic liner, other cruise ships are floating tower blocks used as party boats. It's that simple.

Ship not tech savvy but with a library of over 10,000 books - it's the ship for me! I don't intend to spend my holiday experience looking at a screen and would much rather chat to the purser.

The decor does NOT look dated to me at all. It looks stunning. But, people aren't taking a Cunard ship for a trendy experience but for a traditional voyage/cruise. That makes it different and unique.

QM2 is my absolute favorite ship for cruising! If I want a theme park, I go to a theme park. When I want a cruise, I go on QM2 😊

My husband and I went on a round trip new york / british isles/ new york. we loved this trip. my husband has always wanted to see England but does not fly. this was perfect. loved the experience of a british ocean liner and the sea days. Bonus was the 75th anniversary to see three cunard ships in Liverpool.

Actually for me, the lack of good wifi is a big positive as it is an opportunity to disconnect with our devices and spend time visiting with people (in person), reading some good books and enjoying excellent cuisine and wine...that makes for a memorable trip for me...good video...thank you!

Just came back from a westbound transatlantic crossing and everything was perfect. Actually, seeing some rust and worn parts made the ship look more "real", aging like good wine, which is fitting to an ocean liner in continuous service at sea. Only item to fix is the seats in Illuminations. Didn't care too much about slow wifi and missing USB plugs either, especially on a "Royal Mail Ship" I just want to get away from it all and being able to send a couple of messages a week was more than enough for my needs. Hope they keep the experience as traditional and unique as it is today.

I remember watching a documentary about the building of the QM2. Unlike a regular cruise ship, which is basically a hotel that is designed to float and sail at 15 to 20 knots, the QM2 was designed as a ship, with the hotel shoehorned into it. QM2's top speed is just under 30 knots, so that it can maintain its trans-Atalntic schedule, no matter what the weather is on the North Atlantic.

I did a bucket list trans-Atlantic crossing back in April, Southampton to New York. I think people who complain about her condition don't stop to realize the conditions in which she sails. I didn't find anything untoward that I haven't seen on newer cruise ships, and in some cases the newer ones were in worse shape. The interior of QM2 I found to be immaculate. As for the different layout. I found I actually prefer it. I was on deck 8 between elevators c and d, and everything I wanted to get to was quite simple. After sailing, in Britannia, I seriously don't understand why anyone would spend the extra money to sail in Princess or Queens Grill, other than bragging rights. The Britannia restaurant's food was far beyond what any other cruise lines MDR offered, the service impeccable. Their "special" sections were anything but. The King's Court venue I found unimpressive, but the Verandah was outstanding. I didn't get the internet package, as I "unplug" while away, but anyone who did have it, had not very nice things to say about it. I surprised my sister for her birthday and booked us on a roundtrip NYC/Southampton/NYC sailing next year... as I told her, this is NOT a cruise... it's a destination. I think that pretty much sums up the QM2 experience. And definitely do the tea!

Honestly the fact that qm2 hasn't suffered any major deterioration over her long service is a testament to the shipbuilders

People forget the Cunard ships are aimed at a certain group who like this sort of design. If your house is decorated by IKEA( that Scandinavian style) of course the ship would look dated. If you’ve been on the Costa line or the MSC line they are very Italianate because that’s what the majority of its passengers like and find comforting. Cunard harks back to the old days of cruising - you dress formally every night , you relax on deckchairs it’s meant for relaxing ,not being on the go constantly and you pay for that experience. Anything that is near the saltwater will rust. Is it just that some of the rust isn’t reported especially by housekeeping because of the push to get everything done in such a short period of time? If you don’t like that type of cruising don’t cruise with Cunard it’s quite simple. It’s not like Cunard grabbed you off the street or are they they only way to cruise across the Atlantic. If you book Cunard expecting the same bells and whistles as the other lines - YOU didn’t do your research so it’s YOUR fault that it’s not the cruise line for you.

I will take the subtle elegance of the Queen Mary 2 over the garish glitter, loud colors, excessive lights and stainless steel of the modern 15 story carnival-like modern cruise ships any day of the week!

I really do believe that the QM2 and Cunard as a whole would be a much better line if they were owned and operated my someone other than Carnival! The ship and the legacy of that name deserves much better IMO. Thanks for this video as always.

This is the cruising experience I would love to do! For me the opportunity to disconnect, relax and experience great food and drink a major attraction. As a former US Navy destroyer sailor I can remember spending my off hours just enjoying watching the ocean go by. I only wish I could do more than 7 day! My record for consecutive days underway is 104 in 1984 on a ship 512 feet long and only 52 feet wide!

I use QM2 to travel to Europe and back as flying over the ocean is not for the faint of heart (jet lag, dealing with delays, missed connections, losing luggage). I didn't find anything about it was poorly maintained. Much better way of traveling across the Atlantic than cramped into a seat on a plane and fed pasta with a side of pasta.

this is an outstandingly helpful video thanks Gary. The Atlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 is on our list for all of the reasons that you mention in your wrap up. But this has helped to temper our expectations so that we are better prepared to focus on the many unique positives of this iconic experience.

Great video Gary. I liked you using your incredible cruise knowledge to critique a ship and point out its good points and areas of improvement. So many KZfaqrs on all sorts of topics can sound like advertorials, so it was great to see you branch off here. More of this kind of content would be great.

Gary, I agree with almost everything you said. Sadly there are people who are so shallow that they cannot see beyond the exterior. Yes she does need some time off to get freshened up, and I am surprised that they didn't do that during covid shutdown. However I think she is a wonderful ship despite the rust. As for your difficulty finding your way around the ship... Well, getting from A to B isn't fun. Getting lost and going from A to Z is fun. On my very first voyage last May, I didn't really have a problem, but maybe that was me. You included WiFi as a negative. Well... It isn't good enough to be bad, but that I think is a positive. What is the point of going on the QM2 if you are going to spend it glued to your phone and not experiencing the voyage. Gary, I know you, and other KZfaqrs need it for your channels, but as a typical passenger, I did not need it.

It has been in the back of my head for a while, the thought of when the time will come for the QM2 to retire and be either scrapped or saved...which is unlikely, but considering her reputation and heritage - and the state of her running mate and ancestors - I wonder. It's good to see that she at least has a while left on her. I hope they can update some of the options you listed. I'm an old soul but I'm also a millennial and, despite that, internet has become something of a necessity nowadays. Appreciate the details in this video I had no idea about.

This is a ship that has always interested me when it comes to going on a ship for a holiday

Another great QM2 review! The interior pool area is worn and smells of chemicals. That’s probably the ship’s weakest area. The ship itself is, to me, one of the most beautiful that exists. I found it far classier and with higher grade materials than any other ship I’ve been on. The exterior does have signs of wear but it’s been sitting for almost two years. Personally, I think the Queens grill suites are beautiful and roomy and the Queens grill restaurant amazing. Compared to a suite on, say, Carnival, where you get nothing beyond a larger room, the Queens Grill suites offer a lot: private butler and concierge, any meal you want ordered to your room, private restaurant, free bottle booze and mixers in your room, private hot tub deck. However, I agree that it doesn’t offer a genuine retreat experience like Norwegian or some other lines. And that private deck is weak; if anything it’s worse than the public pool deck. Personally, I have found the New York embarkation experience run by rude staff, and no promised Queens Grill express line. The people running the terminal make for a very low rent experience. They really need to train these people. It is a quirky ship, and you certainly won’t find rock climbing walls, or surfing pools, or robots making a drink, or merry go rounds, but it offers an experience unlike any other ship. If they ever make another true ocean liner, I hope they don’t add rock climbing walls, or divers jumping into water shows, but I hope they do improve on all the areas you mentioned. I look forward to my next QM2 sailing, even if it’s in a regular cabin.

Thanks for this and the other video, Gary. You answer a lot of my questions. Much appreciated.

Thank you once again Gary. I have learned so much from your varoius videos, and they are also very interesting regarding practical things to remember when visiting different destinations.

Great video. I love that there isn't a 'ship within a ship'

I have to admit one of the biggest shocks, after having only been on QM2 and Queen Elizabeth, when I sailed on Oceania's Marina last month, was the Wifi. I had twelve days for one device (the length of my trip.) No worries about turning off my phone, no serious signal problems, and other than having to turn off one device and log on with another (and a very slow file upload time) complete ease. Massive difference from having to ration twenty-minute intervals for which I paid a lot every time i wanted to clean my e-mail inbox. And one area you didn't touch on: loyalty rewards. I have been on three Cunard cruises, and am what they consider a "Silver" World Club member. On my last cruise with them, I was given a pin, and invited to a "reception" that was basically a large cocktail party with an option for a photo with the captain (that needless to say I had to pay for if I wanted a print or download.) Prior to that, there were no benefits other than a colored stripe on my cruise card on my second trip. On Oceania, this was my first trip. By the end of the voyage, I'd received a 'blue level' member pin AND a set of gift-boxed leather and enamel luggage tags with their club logo. And while pandemic numbers I'm sure were a huge component, I was upgraded from Ocean View to their lowest-level Veranda cabin. The one time Cunard upgraded me from an inside to an ocean view, it was to a cabin so far forward it was near crew quarters (even some crew weren't sure if I was a passenger or working!) and was a small porthole. While there's a difference, though not what I'd call substantial, in cabin pricing, the sense of being nickle and dimed on Cunard got very strong in retrospect after experiencing Oceania's service. I also had almost no bad experiences related to being a solo traveler (and the one I did, the dining manager found me twenty minutes after I turned in the survey, wanting details and asking for a chance to make it right, which they did.) One of Cunard's big sales pitches is their service, and I'm not sure but that they've coasted a little and count on brand loyalty to save them.

Love your videos and love the footage of the interiors of these liners. I have sailed on the Queen Victoria which I loved. Haven’t done the QM2 yet but it is on my bucket list.

I am pleased to see your video, we also travelled this year on the QM2 for our Ruby anniversary and we were disappointed expecting a bit more, so I am glad to see that you confirmed my thoughts because I wondered if it was me. Our enclosed balcony had the same rust problem and the app was clumsy.

Thank you for addressing the criticism about the maintenance and other issues! I'm glad you saw my comment about it when you asked what you wanted to address about sailing on QM2 though I'm sure you were already aware of the criticism.

I have never been on a cruise, I have no intention to go on a cruise, yet I watched the whole video and found it very interesting.

Thank you for making this video and sharing your observations with us. I did hear about the ship and public spaces being neglected. I had been fearing this being an aspect that might ruin the experience of my 9 day Transatlantic crossing I have booked. Now I can look forward to a great time. 👍

Wonderful information--much appreciated!!

Good old salt spray can make your pristine paint work look shabby in a fortnight.

Am delighted ! My parents and I crossed the Atlantic on the Ile de France early June 1952 and returned to NYC in late August of the same year on the SS United States . The next year we did the southern crossing on American Export Lines. Even though I was ...very young, but old enough to appreciate both of the ocean liners, and never to forget them ! Am hoping to cross next year. I like old fashioned. !!! Will be a treat! I just hope the keep up the maintenance on what you DON"T see..

It is actually in amazing shape for as many crossings as it does. I mean look at container ships and warships. They constantly are chipping rust and painting and they still look like rust buckets. Could you imagine the complaints the purser would get if they chipped rust and painted while on cruise??? Some folks will never be happy, but trust me that ship is better looking than any other transatlantic cruiser

Thanks for moving past the romance of the experience and “telling it like it is.” A crossing is still on my list, probably as a retirement cruise. Maybe by then many of these areas will be improved on.

I agree with all of your points as I have sailed QM2 about 10 times over the past 6 years including 3 trans-Atlantic voyages. I value their Medical Department which helped me a few times with health issues. It is a fast ship and always very stable. Experiencing it at higher speeds is amazing considering its size.

I think I’d like the confusing layout as most large cruise ships tend to look the same and have the same layout . Often they become quite forgettable with one cruise merging into another . This looks like something completely different . I think I’d like the nod to heritage and sailing in the past too . Great video . Thanks for explaining and of course the key thing is it ends in NY

Great video. I had the pleasure of seeing QM2 come in to NYC harbor during her maiden voyage and I wish I just booked a ticket back then. I worked container ships when I was younger and would love to do a crossing on an ocean liner. A single malt, a good book, and an ocean view would be ideal.

Gary, I have been watching you more or less since you started your channel and I would like to add my congratulations for your excellent content and well thought-out and delivered videos. The quality of your videos is top class and you have grown into the role and become more and more confident in your delivery and performances. While your tips feel like they are being delivered by a trusted friend, your increasing experience both as a cruiser and a travel advisor/critic shine through in all your videos, You are also adept at teasing the viewers into wanting to click on another video - well done and please keep up the great content. Although nothing like as experienced a cruiser as you, my wife and I do like cruising and we always guide our friends and family to your channel whenever they want to learn more about cruise lines, itineraries and to figure what work best for them. As a postscript we have done QM2 twice, but both were some years ago and we enjoyed both crossings tremendously - we also went through a Force 11 Gale and can attest to the benefits of being on an ocean liner rather than a regular cruise ship!

Another interesting video. Thank you! 🇨🇦🙋🏼‍♀️🇨🇦

My husband and I are sailing on the QM2 next April to the UK as a trial run for when we move over there with our dogs the following year. I appreciate your thoughts, and am glad to get some of those inside tips. For us, the most important and unique feature about this cruise is that one can travel with their dogs. There is NO way I am putting my dogs in the cargo hold of a plane and private aviation is simply out of my price range, so QM2 it is :). If you know if any other companies that offer transatlantic crossings with pets I would greatly appreciate it! thank you :)

Really interesting and fair video, one which certainly reflects our views of QM2 and Cunard. We never stayed in Grills accommodation, but having seen the facilities, it doesn't come close to what we were given as suite guest the last time we sailed on Celebrity.

A well worn ship is a good ship , a well worn guitar is a good guitar , a well worn book is a good book .

Years ago we sailed on Statendam 4, which was a 1950s ocean liner and I remember an indoor pool and a movie theater being on the lowest deck. It was like going to the basement

I definitely plan to go on a transatlantic on QM2 in a decade or so when I plan to live across the pond in Europe for a few years. Thanks for the vid. Reading some info on QM2 it was launched on March 21, 2003 and has a 40 year minimum life span barring what Cunard does with maintenance and/or decommissioning it early. But as it's the only ocean liner and has some unique cache, I figure it will be around for a good long time.

My wife and I are leaving on a Queen Mary 2 trans-Atlantic crossing at the beginning of August, and we booked our crossing on the strength of your videos. Thanks for the great information.

Excellent video - I may have to try a transatlantic crossing! There are now 2 cruise ships with planetariums: Viking Orion, launched in 2018, has a state-of-the-art, 7K planetarium.

excellent review! thank you.

Thank you for sharing your trip..

I am glad they are slightly relaxing the dress "code". I sailed on the QV in 2018 and the first formal night was quite exciting, but by the third couldn't be bothered with the fuss of dressing up.

Great Report and Video! 👍 Long Live The Queen 👑 I pray the Ocean Liner is to still be in the future. Nothing like them. 🚢

I appreciate the old school look and feel and am looking forward to sailing Sping 2023.

Many of the supposed "drawbacks" are exactly what appeals to me. I'm certainly not your typical cruiser; I'm not interested in a floating bedroom that moves from tourist trap to tourist trap overnight. I'm not one for resorts, and I definitely have no interest in a theme park at sea. To me, the purpose of taking a cruise is, indeed, to get away from the rush of life and be able to take it easy. (Improved wi-fi would be useful, though; I am, after all, a small business owner and going a full week out of touch usually isn't in the cards. When I had my TA sailing on QE2 I was still working for somebody else, so I could get away with it.) Lack of specialty (another UK/US spelling difference -- no wonder I always cringe when Gary and Emma pronounce it!) restaurants? So what? The food on Cunard is far superior to anything I can find on land at a fair price, and on QE2 I never felt I was missing out on anything by eating in the Brittania Dining Room every meal (I did go to the buffet once, to try it, but wasn't particularly impressed). I'm actually concerned more about the ship being adapted to modern "tastes". Much of its glamor is because it IS old-fahioned, harking back to the days when sailing between the US and Europe was a normal means of transport. On QE2 in 2008 I noticed subtle signs that the line was now owned by Carnival, and it sounds like that's more and more the case. Very disappointing. In the end, it all boils down to what individual travelers want, of course. For some the changes might be wonderful, for others they're the loss of another great experience. It's like flying -- while I don't necessarily want to go back to the days of wearing suits and dresses for going on an airplane, it would be nice to be in a plane full of grown-ups (of whatever age; some kids are much better-behaved these days than the so-called "adults"!). On Cunard, I like the formal nights and the "stuffiness", partly to relive an era that was a couple decades before my time. Others want the shorts-and-t-shirts-all-the-time floating resorts. To each his own but please, Cunard (and Carnival), don't shift everything toward the least common denominator!

Interesting to read this. We love QM2 for her traditional look old fashioned atmosphere and formality. We were last on her in 2016 just after the last transformation and are on her again in a couple of months so will see what we think then.

Great review Gary and Tolyatti spot on she is an amazing ship but very odd at time took us 3 goes to find G32

Uniqueness is not always a fair comparison with the "going standards," uniqueness should be appreciated for itself, and something to be many times desired.

.......... an example of First Class; always. The Venice Simplon Orient Express. It NEVER disappoints.

I have t been in since 2019, would love to go on again. Food is good. The staff make it. I won the last cruise by the way, lucky us x

As always, a spot on review. We are avid fans of Cunard, and completely agree with your QM2 observations. Much needs to change. The QM2 Grills experience is, at best lacking. - keep up the good work 👏

Lovely to see your post Gary. I liked the interior design of the MSC ship you included clips of. Understated elegance which is def my style. TBH seeing rust stains on pipes and pool walls and areas needing sorely needed paint jobs would be a put off for me. Cons the cost of the transatlantic cruise I would feel disappointed seeing those things esp bc those areas are within reach so maintenance and supervisors are not paying attn. Standards IMO would appear to be slipping.

We were on a 15-day Caribbean cruise in April. The extra time allowed me a lot of time to find my way around the ship than I had on a 7-day crossing in 2019. The big problem was the quarantine areas on our deck - deck 5. This meant that we could not access stairways A and B. Fortunately, Stairway C was close to our cabin. The long passageways that you mention in order to access the Queens Room and Illuminations are actually parts of 1/2 deck. Without them, it would not have been possible to have these venues. And, you can get to the Queens Room through the Deck 3 portion of the Britannia Restaurant when it is not in operation. I agree with many of your comments about tech. But I was able to successfully stream video in some of the common areas such as Kings Court and in the passageways beside the Royal Court Theater. But the stateroom wifi was useless most of the time.

Awesome show as always. Appreciate all the important and helpful information you put out. Can you recommend best reliable transportation from Rome Airport (FCO) to Civitavecchia Cruise Port? Thank you in advance and hope to see you on Lido deck one day. Bon Voyage 🛳🚢

It reminds me of my Jaguar, Beautiful to look at, Superb luxury, but falls apart, is old fashioned and breaks all the time, but yet so exciting hehe

This looks so much better than these giant ships that are around today

I took my daughter then aged 42 on the QM2 Trans/At, June 2019. We have both done many sailings with various companies, my first was Shaw Saville 1969. My first Cunard was the Adventurer from Barbados 1974. We have sailed on very modern to what looks like salvage ships. And honestly the QM2 to me is magnificent. My daughter was up early doors fencing loving it. The splendour of the [old fashioned but classic decor] The Planetarium. I sailed on her first 2004 before the big buffet change & prefered the original. Don't forget she was left 2 years with hundreds of ships to suffer the weather. I would recommend to anyone she is a beautiful ship. She's an ocean liner not a cruise ship & when doing the Atlantic you are doing a crossing not a cruise. Enjoy the Beautiful Queen Mary 2 the likes you may never see again.

This is only my opinion of course, but I would think it would be a positive thing to disconnect from social media, etc. for a week or two and take a vacation from the whole toxic mess. But that's just me.

I really love the look of Queen Mary 2, especially the Britannia Dining Room. I love the historicism of it. I wonder if the older transatlantic liners had a similar layout to QM2? Maybe that is why they set it out this way? Thank you for the video!

I am booked for a September westward crossing -- glad I saw this.

It’s a magnificent ship and better maintained than many luxury hotels, it’s beautiful, I did find it quite big to get around though so I’m glad I booked midships. The Commodore Club was my favourite bar.

Gary has provided a thoughtful and well balanced overview of QM2. And very timely. Nothing said that I would take issue with. I would just add that I deem it to be a ship and an experience where one needs to be more self directed and be prepared for and desire down time at sea. The food is good. It is not great. Agree with the assessment of the fitness area. My only call out not mentioned is that in the last refit, the drawer handles in the cabins have sharp edges. The layout issues are for me part of the charm. I like the predictability of QM2. I have a couple of hacks. The first is that I feel it best to order two appetizers for Britannia dining as the portions are petite. I like to work out and usually go to gym in the early morning and during the first dinner seating (usually empty). I also do nothing with Cunard on land. This includes travel, tours, etc. Self Disembarking is the way to go in my opinion. I never have lunch in the main dining room but enjoy the breakfast. But the brekkie hours are limited. I also avoid the tea in the Queens Room and the champagne reception for your loyalty tier. I do go for the champagne but wait an hour into the program. This avoids the lines. If you want the tea service, they provide the scones and the sandwiches in Kings Court.

Looking at her now, I feel lucky to have been on her in 2016, just after she had been refurbished. I think we were on one of her first trips after the refurb and she was in tip top condition. Not a drop of rust anywhere and everything seemed brand new.

I have been n this ship three times, yeh can hardly feel it moving, good stabilisers. To the lady with the dogs, they looked so happy when we saw the dogs, living their best life ! I love the staff n this ship, or ocean liner should I say

Great to hear the ship seems to be in good shape. Agreed re: the indoor pool - that doesn’t look good at all! I’m really excited to see Cunard’s Queen Anne ship - I’m very intrigued to see how they do a ‘new build’ ship in comparison to these older liners.

She's in perfect shape just had some scars from fighting with giants

I'm in luck! I've only ever been on the QM2, so the layout seems totally normal to me. Also, my girlfriend and I look forward to unplugging while on vacation, so the lack of internet is not a big deal for us. We leave in a few days on the Boston/Halifax cruise, and we're really looking forward it it. My 3rd time on the QM2, and my first since her refit.

we have been on the QM2 numerous times since she started sailing and have reached Diamond level. We have been on every level from Deck 4 to the Queens Grill. We are partial to the Princess Grill. we live in NYC which permits us to cab over to Brooklyn and have sailed the QM2 North, South and transatlantic many times. we have also been on many of the other lines including the Haven on NCL, Celebrity, and HAL and still prefer the Queen and her eccentricities. i do agree some updating would be nice but as long as she sails, we'll be on her. I agree with you wholeheartedly that sailing on the QM2 is a magical experience.

Came back from Europe on the QEII (with my car in the hold) long ago - would love to try out the QMII!

We sailed on the Queen Mary in September 2018 and would agree with all of your observations. Your comment re the concierge lounges being on the inside with no windows we would take exception to as Oceania and Holland America both have their lounges for premium cabins midships usually around deck 9 or 10 with no windows!

Is it really an ashtray ? It looks more like a piece to put your hand soap, don't you think ? This ship has always amazed me since the day I "stepped" on it in Hamburg harbor, back in 2007 I think. It's nice to see it still in such good shape.

@Gary • Your description of the long and round-a-bout walks to get to some locations reminds me of my experience at conferences in older hotels that have been renovated. Perhaps landlubbers would adjust more easily to the layout of the Queen Mary than seasoned cruisers on other lines would make the adjustment. Just a thought.

For our first time travelling by ship in Sep it looked fabulous, it’s very like a smart London hotel.

Your videos are very enjoyable. I was on the maiden voyage of the Raffaello (1965) and being a young kid did enjoy it. Do not care very much for casinos and all the modern experiences. Would rather like a nice sized swimming pool and not much noise on the decks. Had good experiences on Celebrity Cruises ( nice spa area! ) and Norvegian. Did also two very sporty and interesting cruises with the Polar Star crossing the Drake passage and another one in Greenland arriving in Iceland.

Before the pandemic we were on her world cruise, my husband scratched his arm on a closet door handle, blood dripped on his clothes and carpet. With in a few minutes of reporting the incident, the problem was addressed, offers of cleaning his shirt was done. ALL of the interior sharp handles were changed to ones with rounded edges. Each of the ships decks seem to have a person in charge who takes care of problems immediately. Not the same with other lines. Brilliant. However that said we enjoy each ship, each with their quirks, eccentricities, and positives. WiFi on all ships simply aren’t up to par.

Ok got back and can tell you the ship is in good shape (other than hallway rug being a bit worn and out of service dryers in the launderettes). All in all, it was great trip and I was impressed with the amount of maintenance I DID see going on. I do agree with the confusing layout, but that just meant I got more exercise.

on my trip they had zumba classes everyday in the queens room!

We’ve done two crossings. Wonderfull ship. Agree with your review.

Gary, Thank you for this most informative video! I agree with you on everything you say. The Wi Fi on QM2 is "pre-historic!". QM2 need to update some things without losing the nostalgic magic of Cunard! I like the formal nights...part of the magic, nostalgia, part of the fun, everybody likes to dress up and be glamourous! Qm2 provides that opportunity. Lets not loose it!

We did a 7 night Norwegian Fjords cruise on QM2 in Queens Grill (our cabin was on deck 9) at the end of May. The Wi-Fi was the most irritating thing for us and they gave us a full refund of the Wi-Fi package at the end of the cruise when I complained (as did many others). I agree with most of your comments, and would add that Illuminations (the Planetarium) was also looking quite “unloved”, with several of the reclining seats broken and out of use. However, the absence of segregated areas for Grills passengers wasn’t really an issue in my opinion as the ship is generally quite spacious so we never felt crowded and it was easy to find secluded spots. We didn’t see any point in using the Veranda restaurant when sailing Queens Grill as you could ask for anything off the Veranda restaurant menu anyway. Actually our on board spend ended up being less than we were expecting - Queens Grill passengers get complimentary 1L bottles of their chosen spirit, as well as beers and soft drinks in their minibars. QM2 is what it is - the staff and quality of service is excellent, the food is to a very high standard, but it is very much an Art Deco experience. If you like the idea of posh frocks and tuxedos then it’s a lovely experience.

Hidden places, lets not forget the bridge viewing area on deck 12 (when opened). While there are some nicks here and there and certainly a good face lift would help, the quirkiness of the layout makes it fun as you're always finding new ways to get lost. Perhaps it's the Venice of the Sea. LOL.

Since when have the English been known for fine dining, well they outdo themselves or found chef's from around the world to off great food. We've cruised on OM2 and found it stable in the North Atlantic storms, wonderful for its entertainments, lectures, formal tea's, and very authentic pubs. Where else could the darts champion of many days be a women of 95 who formerly owned an East End London Pub? Or play trivia with a British flavor, Canadian twang, and English Empire mixed with American culture? Wonderful crossing!!

10:11 I seriously thought that was a seahorse at first!😂

Very interesting points Gary (as always!), some very constructive criticism there that Cunard should look into. Many are easy enough fixes that would add a lot of value! The state of the sheltered balconies is concerning, I've always encouraged people away from them and said save the money and have a window, or spend the proper money required for a glass balcony - but would definitely insist people do that now!

A friend served as Chaplain from NY to England a couple of weeks ago. He might have been on this return trip.

The moment you mentioned how difficult it is to navigate in the ship I instantly thought a proper app could solve the problem very easily It does sound like a lot of the issues can be easily addressed but the bigger ups probably won't care very much until people start leaving.

I think that is a pretty fair summary. As someone with (slight) mobility difficulties I found, as you have pointed out, getting around - both horizontally and vertically - a bit of a nightmare. On another occasion I have pointed out the poor positioning of the grills restaurants. This offering deals mainly with structural matters but I found the crew members in public areas (i.e. not cabin staff) indifferent to the point of rudeness. Never in my cruising history have I ever had to say that about a cruise!