QUEEN MARY 2 entered service in January 2004. Combining more than 160 years of tradition with modern innovations. She is the largest, longest, tallest, widest and the grandest of liners ever built. QM2, as she is known carries 2,620 guests in comfort and style. She offers pampered elegance and unimaginable luxury. QM2 was built in the Alstom Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard in Sainte-Nazaire, France. This was the same yard where the France, Normandie, Ile de France and some of the other great liners of the past were built. Her total estimated cost of $800 million USD, makes her the most expensive ship ever built. QM2 weighs in at 150,000 tons, and is certainly the largest liner ever to cross the oceans. Her maximum cruising speed is 30 knots. She is more than a hundred feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and more than four city blocks in length!

Public Areas:
The Queens Room, with its crystal chandeliers, is the largest ballroom at sea. The Royal Court Theatre hosts musicals and revues. The Empire Casino and G32 nightclub offer exciting entertainment options. Jazz can be found at the Commodore Club, while fine wines can be found at Sir Samuels. Guests will find nothing but sophistication and refinement at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar. Waterford Crystal and Wedgwood china add another level of elegance to the ship’s dining and entertainment experience. The largest dance floor afloat and a full dance orchestra highlight the new Queens Room. Guests will also find stunning sweeping staircases, the first planetarium at sea, five indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a full 360-degree Promenade Deck and the only Canyon Ranch SpaClub at sea!

Restaurants/Cuisine:
Experience the tradition of the finest in shipboard cuisine. World-famous chef Daniel Boulud, of the restaurant, "Daniel", known as one of the ten best in the world, is the ship’s culinary advisor. He joins celebrity chef Todd English, who has created his own 156-seat shipboard restaurant on board QM2. In addition to the two Grills and the elegant Britannia Restaurant, seating 1,351 passengers, there is also the Caronia and the Mauretania. Passengers in the higher category staterooms and suites have access to the 180-seat Princess Grill and 206-seat Queen’s Grill. Reservations are suggested for those wishing to dine at Todd English and should be booked upon boarding. Guests on QM2 may choose to dine at a choice of four venues in the Kings Court or, for more casual fare, the Golden Lion Pub and Boardwalk Grill. The traditional white-glove high tea will be served every afternoon promptly at 4 p.m.

Service:
The majority of the crew came from other Cunard and Seabourn ships, while another 40% are new employess. Service is par to that of any other Cunard or Seabourn ship.

Entertainment:
Illuminations Theater resembles a small Radio City Music Hall, and becomes a planetarium for three hours a day offering three different shows. The theater also serves as a movie theater and a lecture hall. The 2 level 1,105-seat Royal Court Theater hosts students from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, cabaret acts and dance teams. Here guests can also find musicals and revues from London’s West End and Broadway. The Empire Casino and G32 nightclub also offer exciting entertainment options. The Commodore Club offers Jazz within a wrap-around panorama view of the ocean and moonlit sky. The Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar is a must for those in search of sophistication.

Accomodations:
Queens Grill accommodations on the QM2(Q Categories)are the most lavish Grill accommodations and are unrivaled at sea. Here a concierge and a personal butler is at your service. Amenities include marble baths with whirlpool tubs, walk-in closets, in-suite bars stocked with selected spirits or wine and soft drinks, fresh flowers and pre-dinner canapés. The large Grand Duplexes include beautiful living quarters with an expansive balcony downstairs, a luxurious master bedroom upstairs, two marble baths with seprate whirlpool tub and shower, a guest bathroom with shower, and private exercise equipment. The three Duplex Apartments feature the same amenities with smaller balconies. Queen Mary & Queen Elizabeth Suites located at the forward offer commanding ocean views, two full baths and even your own private elevator access. Combine these two suites with the adjacent Royal Suites to create unimaginable living quarters at sea totaling nearly 3,800 square feet. Guests in Queens Grill accommodations dine in the renowned Queens Grill. The elegant Queens Grill Lounge and a private sun terrace are reserved exclusively for their use. The Balmoral and Sandringham Grand Duplex (Q1) apartments offer 2,249 square feet with your own mini gym, two bathrooms, a large sitting room and a separate dining room. A private butler will serve restaurant meals course by course if you so desire. Holyrood Duplex (Q2) is 1,566 square feet. Windsor and Buckingham Suites (Q2) are 1,471 square feet. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites (Q2) are 1,194 square feet. Royal Suites (Q3)are 796 square feet. Penthouse Suites (Q4)are 758 square feet. Suites (Q5 - Q6) are 506 square feet. The QM2 has 1,310 staterooms to accommodate 2,620 passengers. Guest options range from Grand Duplexes, Duplexes, Royal Suites, Penthouses, Suites and Junior Suites to Deluxe and Premium balconied cabins, Standard Outsides, Atrium staterooms(overlooking the interior of the ship) and Standard Interior staterooms. The QM2 Princess Grill accommodations are all located on Deck 10. Junior Suites feature a large balcony, bath with tub and shower, sitting area with a full-size sofa, interactive TV, walk-in closet and a concierge in addition to your stateroom steward. Guests in the QM2 Junior Suites enjoy single-seating dining in the elegant Princess Grill. The Junior Suites (P1-P2) are 381 square feet. Accommodations in the Standard Staterooms on the QM2 (B, C, and D Categories)are spacious with the smallest measuring almost 200 square feet. Guests in these accommodations will have a reserved table in the Britannia Restaurant or they can choose one of the many alternative dining venues. The standard staterooms include: Deluxe and Premium Balcony Staterooms (B1-B7 categories) are 248 square feet with a balcony. Oceanview Staterooms (C1-C4 categories) are 194 square feet. Interior staterooms with Atrium view (D1 category) are 194 square feet. Interior Staterooms (D2- D6 categories)are 194 square feet. Standard amenities include QM2 Interactive TV with multi-language film and music channels, Besides receiving and sending e-mails, guests can choose from dozens of movies, review a seminar, and sign up for shore excursions, all right from the comfort of your stateroom. Data port outlet, refrigerator, hair dryer, bathrobe and slippers, and personal safe are in every stateroom as well as direct Internet access.

Fitness/Spa:
The Canyon Ranch SpaClub is the most luxurious spa on an ocean vessel ever built. The highly acclaimed health resort company has elevated the spa experience to a new level with life-changing programs. Guests can experience everything from stress-relief classes to workshops on diet, healthy aging and disease prevention. There are 51 Canyon Ranch health and wellness experts working in the QM2's 20,000 square foot facility which includes 24 treatment rooms, a thalassotherapy pool with deluge waterfall, a whirlpool, thermal suite with both herbal and Finnish saunas, reflexology basins and an aromatic steam room. The health club, offers a variety of famous Canyon Ranch services, treatments and products. Within the on board Canyon Ranch, guests will also find a thalassotherapy pool, gym, weight room, juice bar, saunas and whirlpools and services ranging from aromatherapy to therapeutic body cocoons. There are five pools, including a family/children's pool and play area, and a terrace pool limited to adults only and an all-weather pool with retractable roof.

Gratuities:
Gratuities of $11 per day for the Britannia Restaurant and $13 per day in the Queen’s and Princess Grills are automatically added to the guests shipboard accounts for both dining and cabin staff.

Children's Program:
The QM2 welcomes children, though the childrens program offered is not as big as other lines. During seasonal and holiday periods, the Children's facilities are excellent, and the baby-sitting services onboard receives high marks for professionalism. When organized activities are available the minimum age for kids is 1 year. Fun & Games Program: The nursery accommodates kids 1-7 years of age (potty trained is not required) and features a video area, games, toys and activities. Cunard's Junior's Program is based in the Junior Activities Center and accomodates kids ages 7-12. There is also a teen component for the 13-17-year-old set group. Activities include scavenger hunts, outdoor sports, movies, and a video arcade. For guests who wish to take their children or grandchildren along they will find the Play Zone is like a well-run camp for children 2 - 7 years old. This separate facility, The Zone, will provide hours of supervised entertainment and activities for children 8- 12 years old. The area includes the Minnows splash pool and real English nannies for toddlers. Here kids will find a variety of toys and activities.

QM2 has the same offering of dining rooms (a selection of three like the QE2 where passengers are assigned based on their stateroom category). QM2 has room for onboard kennels and Cunard is monitoring the demand for these over the first six months of service. At that time they will decide whether or not to install them. The ship's funnel contains the whistle from the original Queen Mary, which can be heard for ten miles. In taking over the role formerly operated by the QE2, she will be Cunard’s transatlantic liner. Her maiden westbound transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York will depart on April 16. Her maiden eastbound transatlantic crossing will be a historic one as both QM2 and QE2 will depart New York on April 25 together! This will be the first time two Cunard Queens have actually been berthed in the port together since March of 1940. QM2 will offer a series of Caribbean cruises from New York and Fort Lauderdale; a voyage to Rio and back, during Carnival; five European itineraries and two fall foliage cruises that will call within Canada and New England. QM2 offers possibly the smoothest ride of any ship. The noise and vibration are minimal even at her extraordinary high speed. She docks with ease and without the use of tugboats.

Day wear is a casual mix of resort wear throughout the day. During the six-night Trans-Atlantic crossing or the 7 night cruises there are two formal nights. Most men wear tuxedos, a dinner jacket or a dark suit. Most women wear dressy evening gowns. On semi-formal evenings, most men choose suits while women wear cocktail dresses. On casual nights most men choose slacks with a dress shirt and tie (jackets are not required), while ladies choose dresses or pantsuits.

Those who are looking for the decor of a classic traditional ship and British-style cruising. Clientele consists of well-traveled guests with mix of European and American passengers who enjoy fine dining, port intensive itineraries, excellent service and traditional style cruise ship dining seatings. This ship is not suggested for those who prefer a casual and informal atmosphere.