10 Smart Things To Do If Crossing The Atlantic on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2
10 Smart Things To Do If Crossing The Atlantic on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2
On my first Cunard Transatlantic crossing, an English couple on the restaurant table next to me were desperate to get off the ship. They hadn’t understood what they had signed up for and had to endure another five sea days before New York.
I also met an Australian couple that hadn’t appreciated what was required of them on a crossing and were unhappy as it was not for them.
I’ve done five Cunard Atlantic Crossings to date, and discovered 10 smart things to do based on mistakes people like the English and Australian couples made. And that I also made.
Right Choice
The first smart thing to do is ask if a Cunard Atlantic crossing and not a standard repositioning cruise is right for you. Something the English couple had not done.
A repositioning cruise is when cruise lines move their ships between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean at the beginning and end of each season.
They tend to be up to 10 days or so long, have a few ports of call along the way, and you can choose your favourite line to do it on. For example, if you need a modern ship with ice rinks, rock climbing, lots of speciality dining and big production shows to have a good time, like the English couple did, you would have more fun on a Royal Caribbean ship.
A Cunard Queen Mary 2 Crossing is different. It is the only ship running a scheduled Transatlantic service, running 20 to 25 times a year between Southampton to New York, lasts 7 days and has no stops.
It is the only cruise liner in service today, designed to cope with constant crossings, and is unlike any other cruise ship.She has an art deco inspired décor referencing the old liners that used to ply this same route before air travel.
A Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing is better than a repositioning cruise. If you want to say you sailed on a one-of-a-kind ship and that you are one of the select crowd to have experienced the route and romance of the old Transatlantic liners, then this is the voyage for you.
Before you do book, the next smart thing to do is understand exactly what you’re signing up for.
Classic
Are you sure you that you will not get bored with seven days at sea?
Most people I meet on a Cunard Transatlantic crossing tell me they are frustrated. But only because they ran out of time to do everything.
The programme is -with between 4 and 7 activities per hour – busy. But, it may not necessarily be for you.
It is a classic cruising programme and focused on enrichment.
Lectures
The showcase event is the Cunard Insight Lectures. Each Crossing has four speakers with three to four talks lasting 45-minutes each a day.
On my Crossings, it has included ex Concorde pilots, Maritime Historians, New York skyscrapers experts, Crime Detectives, TV and film actresses, Authors, Astronomers, Retired Army Generals, Broadway Producers, and Politicians.
Queens Room
The Queens Room is a major focus. With Zumba, line and ballroom dance classes in the morning, the huge Afternoon Tea attended by many hundreds in the afternoon, and packed Balls and Dance Nights with a live orchestra in the evening.
Daily activities
Other daily activities include shows in the Illuminations Planetarium, the only one at sea. Plus, live music around the ship, multiple trivia games, Bridge classes and tournaments, hobby classes like Watercolour painting, deck games, bingo, cooking demonstrations and fruit carving, meet-ups for groups like solo, LGBT, Christian Fellowship, Friends of Bill W and many more.
But even if that doesn’t sound like you, another smart choice could be to use the seven days to completely switch off from the world. Helped by less than perfect Wi-Fi and the library of 10,000 books. Something my partner does while I hurry about enjoying the talks, afternoon tea and quizzes.
If this sounds good, then there is another big consideration. This is where the Australians did not make a smart choice.
Formal
What is your view on dressing up on a ship?
Cunard is associated with ball gowns, glamorous dresses, and dinner suits and tuxedos. However, the dress code is not as strict as it used to be.
Five nights out of seven are now “smart attire”. Us men are expected to wear a collared shirt. It can be a short sleeve shirt, although probably 60% or more wore a jacket and a long-sleeved shirt.
Gala nights
On the two “Gala Nights”, no longer called “formal nights”, probably about 90% dressed up. Most men in black tie tuxedo and women in glamorous dresses.
To eat in the main restaurants, you must follow the dress code. It meant people were not supposed to go to the shows or any of the balls and parties unless following the dress code. The Australians hated that.
While they could choose not get dressed up and instead dine in the buffet restaurant, it meant missing out on much that the evenings had to offer.
Go with it or reconsider?
If you really do not want to dress up, then it’s smart to reconsider doing the Atlantic crossing. However, please give it some great thought before you do. Do you really want to miss such a historical experience for the sake of certain clothes?
By the way, one thing to do is wear whatever you would on any other cruise during the day. Don’t make my mistake and think we had to bring smart clothes for the day, too. Bring layers, as it can be windy and chilly on deck.
Always ensure that you don’t pack more than the airline allowance for the flight to or from the crossing home.
There are some smart choices to be made about who you go with and why.
Passengers
Most passengers on the Crossing are mature couples, from their 50s and upwards.
There is a smattering of multi-generational families, 40-somethings friends, and just a few families.
Many people ask me if the smart thing to do is to take kids on a crossing? In my view, not.
Even in the peak summer season, there’s not many families with kids. The programme, experience and dress code are not designed for kids. It’s not an adult only cruise, but it ends up being largely an adult only experience.
There are kids and teen clubs up to the age of 17, but they’re nowhere near the scale of those found on family orientated lines.
Crossings are popular with solo travellers, with twice daily meet-ups and some solo cabins. They are also popular with LGBTQ couples.
As you start to plan, here’s a few things to do.
Which way
I think the smart way to go is the westbound route from Southampton to New York.
First of all, you have longer days. On five of the days you have 25-hours, due to time changes. Secondly, you end the trip sailing into New York with a sight of the Statue of Liberty.
On the eastbound route, you have 5 short 23-hour days, but you do get to sail past the Statue of Liberty without having to get up in the middle of the night to see it.
I feel that there’s more bang for the buck Westbound, as the fares are the same.
But when’s the smartest time to go?
Best Time
For most people, the concern on when to go is linked to weather and the risk of seasickness.
To be honest, on every crossing I’ve been on, I’ve met people who have been seasick. But that’s usually because they did not make smart choices up front.
For example, going on a Winter crossing as the prices are very attractive. They are great if you want guaranteed big waves and lots of motion, but not if you are prone to motion sickness.
The calmest times are during mid-summer periods. But the North Atlantic is unpredictable, storms can brew up and you will get movement. Though Queen Mary 2 handles it better than regular cruise ships.
On every crossing, even in summer, I have had some days with noticeable movement. Some flat seas and sun, and some foggy days.
Be smart
So, be smart and prepared. Come with motion sickness remedies that work for you and know that if you do suffer, there is a paid-for jab from the Medical Centre available. That will knock you out for a couple of hours, but will do the trick.
My partner gets very seasick when the seas are rough. On two winter Crossings he’s had the jab and felt fantastic.
There is one other important and smart thing to do if you’re worried about this. Something people slip up on.
Cabin
If you’re worried about seasickness, get a cabin in the middle of the ship, as you get the least amount of movement there. I always go midship. Always.
If you are really concerned, then also go as low down as possible.
On Queen Mary 2 there are many cabins on decks four, five, and six, which are right down in the hull. You can even have a balcony, as they have sheltered balconies cut into the hull.
But, to get a midship cabin, you need to be smart and book the Cunard fare that allows you to choose your own cabin. Not their guaranteed grade where they allocate the cabin.
Many are tempted by the slightly lower price but regret it when they find their cabin is at the front or rear and brings with it a lot of movement.
However, don’t let this concern about movement stop you from choosing the right type and grade of cabin. As you can get midship in most grades, that’s what I do.
Grades
Cunard, like many cruise lines today, does have a sort of class-based system on board, based on your cabin grade.
Suites
If you sail in the biggest suites, you’re in what’s called Queens Grill, and dine in in the Queen’s Grill restaurant.
In a slightly smaller suite, you’ll find yourself in Princess Grill and will dine in the Princess Grill restaurant.
If you’re in a balcony, oceanview, or inside cabin, you eat in the Britannia Restaurant.
So, if you are travelling with friends and family, make sure you are all booking in the same grade (Queens, Princess, or Britannia) so you can dine together.
Queens and Princess Grill have open seated dining. That means no fixed time to eat and you can have a table of any size you want
Britannia Club dining
In Britannia, there is a variety of tables ranging from 2, 4, 6, and 8, and you will have to choose a table size when you book. It’s harder to guarantee you will get a table for 2 if that’s what you want.
Britannia has two sittings. An early sitting and then, at the time of recording, a later anytime dining where you line up or join a virtual queue on the App.
If you don’t want to go to the cost of a suite, but you want open seated dining and guaranteed table size, then a smart alternative could be Britannia Club. These offer more premium balcony cabins, with their own area in the Britannia restaurant, and with open seated dining.
We like to splash out on a Transatlantic crossing, as we like having a bigger cabin. Usually, we spend more time in it than on regular cruises, and we go to the Queens Grill. But we still book the fare that allows us to choose our cabin and we always make it is midship.
The ship is still yours to enjoy
By the way, don’t worry that you will be locked out of large parts of the ship by not sailing in a Grills cabin. They do have a small bar, a Concierge lounge with someone to handle queries and complaints, and a small deck on Deck 11 at the rear of the ship. But, that’s it. The rest of the ship is open and used by all.
No matter the grade there is something you do need to do.
Budgeting
You do need to be smart about budgeting. Cunard have many add-ons once on board.
Gratuities are auto added to your bill. At time of recording, that will add between $80.50 per person for Britannia guests and $94.50 per person for Grills guests for the Crossing.
You can have them removed or increased. We also tip cash to our waiters and cabin steward on top of these, if they have been especially good.
Drinks packages
Drinks is one area that adds a lot to budgets. I always see passengers checking their bills. Sometimes, I’m gob smacked at how much they’ve racked up with all the sea days and evenings on board.
Cunard have various soft drink and alcohol packages. The beer, wine by the glass, and spirits (including most cocktails) on one will add $483 per person to your bill for the week.
If one guest in the cabin buys the drinks package all adults in the same cabin must also buy it. So, that would add $966 to a couple’s bill.
Other possible additions to your cabin bill
Shopping, bingo, the casino, speciality coffees in Sir Samuels, and any speciality dining in The Verandah Steakhouse or Kings Court Speciality Evenings will be extra costs
With the ship budget sorted, there is one smart thing to do when you board.
Get Lost
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is an unusual and often confusing ship to find your way around.
I’ve spent at least 11 weeks on her over the years and the ship always feels comfortable. But, when I get back on board, it still takes me some time to find my way around.
Once on board, go on one of the ship tours, if they are offering them. Or do it yourself and grab the little deck plan you will find in your cabin.
Because of the way the ship has been designed, some places are hard to find. Like the Queen’s Room, it’s tucked behind the Britannia Restaurant, reached by a hard-to-find corridor through the Clarendon Art Shop.
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