Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Ever been on the Queen Mary 2 to New York?

23 replies

Welikebeingcosy · 28/03/2021 16:51

Is it good? I'm thinking to save up do this in the next few years with DD who is currently nearly two. Would she enjoy it? Any recommendations? Possibly wouldn't stay in New York as she was born in Florida and would like to take her back there but would just love to do the boat trip with her.
Would love to hear first hand accounts of what it's like to get me excited.

OP posts:

Temp023 · 28/03/2021 16:59

We plan to do this two weeks after my youngest settles into university. My neighbours had a lovely time, but if I’ve some details too.

Salanda · 28/03/2021 23:04

Have you looked at the environmental impact? Taking the QM2 to NYC not only has a much higher carbon impact but there are other issues with these sort of trips - including that they pump waste from their thousands of passengers directly into the ocean. They’re not great for the environment.

YouSingIt · 28/03/2021 23:21

We were considering it as part of a trip to Canada. Looking into the vibe onboard changed our minds as it's more formal than other cruise lines and the rules about what you can and can't wear in the evenings really wouldn't have suited us. If you want something formal and traditional I suspect it would be wonderful.

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 17:21

I read in a blog that you are free to wear what you like and the formality is a choice.

@salanda leave me alone I don't even drive.

OP posts:

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 17:22

@Temp023 I hope you get to have a lovely time too.

OP posts:

Salanda · 30/03/2021 18:22

You posted on a public forum. You know other people are able to reply and share their own thoughts, right?

nocoolnamesleft · 30/03/2021 18:27

Done this (crossed both ways). I loved it, but would say that most people doing the crossing do go with the dress code (and you do need to follow the basics to use the main restaurants, though alternative venues exist). Loved some of the theatre stuff, but Shakespeare and Chaucer so probably better for an older child, and the sail into NY was amazing. Relatively few children on Cunard ships. Children who enjoy dressing up and can cope with some grownup time tend to be spoiled rotten. But certainly seen some parents circling the promenade deck for what seemed like ages, as they tried to get their little one to sleep...

Ellmau · 30/03/2021 18:48

@Welikebeingcosy

I read in a blog that you are free to wear what you like and the formality is a choice.

@salanda leave me alone I don't even drive.

It's required in most dining and entertainment venues in the evening.

YouBroughtMeDaffodils · 30/03/2021 19:18

@Welikebeingcosy

I read in a blog that you are free to wear what you like and the formality is a choice.

@salanda leave me alone I don't even drive.

I don't think that's correct: www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack?otprrf=https_www.google.com%2F

allfurcoatnoknickers · 30/03/2021 19:23

My parents have done it twice and loved it. They definitely have a dress code for the evenings though and from what I know of the crossings they were on, it skews a lot older.

thetigerthatcamefortea · 30/03/2021 19:41

I probably don't quite qualify to answer. However I worked on the QE2 and know many people that transferred to theQueen mary.
I would say that very few children travel on Cunard ships (although on the rare occasions I did have a child as one of my passengers I made sure to spoil them very much)
I can't imagine the dress code has changed much. It is intense on transatlantic crossings. More formal nights. You can opt out but that normally means eating in a buffet style restaurant and not the "proper allocated restaurants"
I will say that it is the most incredible way to travel to New York.
The gradual change of the clock by just one hour a night means no jet lag.
And it doesn't matter how many hundreds of times we sailed down the Hudson and in to New York it still always took my breath away.

WeeM · 30/03/2021 19:49

I love cruises but the transatlantic has never really appealed to me too much because the weather won’t be great for a lot of it and I worry about it being too choppy. The dress code also puts me off a bit-I love having a few formal nights but not every night. I’ve also heard that the dining rooms are divided up according to class of cabin...not sure if that’s correct though but it sounds a bit divisive for me!
There are other companies that do transatlantic if that’s what you fancy though-Celebrity are our favourite and although they don’t have as much kids stuff as the Royal Carribbean ships, they still have a kids club and pool which is enough to keep our DD entertained.

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 20:06

The formal vibe sounds amazing to me- I'm glad I know because then I can look out for vintage ballgowns from now on. DD LOVES dressing up already so it sounds perfect. I will check out celebrity as well though thank you.

Yes it's a public forum but the question was "has anyone ever been on the QM2?', not ' does anyone mind if I crap in the ocean for a week?'

OP posts:

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 20:07

And yes I think the blogger who mentioned the dress code being optional was dining in the buffet halls.

OP posts:

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 20:10

Tbh the smart examples on their website don't look very different to what most people wear on holidays of an evening. I was thinking people were talking about bow ties and tiaras.

OP posts:

PaquitaVariation · 30/03/2021 20:15

We’ve done the east bound crossing and other Cunard cruises too, with children. There have always been at least 30, sometimes double that, depending on when you go. The children have an amazing time and are spoiled rotten. The kids club staff are fab. Cunard are very formal though, and they will enforce the dress code in the public spaces in the the evening. It’s a wonderful experience though and the Atlantic crossing is very relaxing, which is why we did it after a manic week in NYC.

nocoolnamesleft · 30/03/2021 20:16

No to tiaras, but definitely yes to bow ties. I mean they don't have to wear a bow tie and dj, but most men do make the effort. Makes for a delightful parade of the penguins as people head for dinner. I have a selection of long frocks for formal nights, and cocktail dresses for informal. Never really get to wear them apart from cruising. Sniff. I have Cunard withdrawal syndrome.

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 30/03/2021 20:32

It sounds amazing . What's the temperature like on board- day and night?

OP posts:

PaquitaVariation · 31/03/2021 20:43

@Welikebeingcosy

It sounds amazing . What's the temperature like on board- day and night?

I can’t say I’ve noticed the temperature being either particularly warm or cool, so I’m going to say ‘comfortable’!

Flippyferloppy · 13/04/2021 13:11

@Salanda

Have you tried looking at up to date information, rather than spouting hysteria? Do you know the carbon footprint of a child?

Flippyferloppy · 13/04/2021 13:13

If you're just interested in the crossing, then with a small child you might want to look at a repositioning cruise on one of the other lines. There will be more for your child to do and lots of them go straight to Florida. You'll have less choice about the time of year though.

Original poster

Welikebeingcosy · 13/04/2021 20:18

I'm more interested about the arriving in New York feeling and connecting with history. Plus she was born in Florida so it wouldn't feel as novel. But thank you though.

OP posts:

chickychicchic · 27/08/2021 13:54

sorry I know this is an old thread but hubby would like to go on the QE2 but is it more older people who are travelling? We're late 30s will we feel very young?

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread