Cruise Ship - Queen Mary 2

QUEEN MARY 2: A SHIP OF SUPERLATIVE COMPARISONS

Cunard's next ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, will be the largest, longest, tallest and widest passenger ship ever conceived. It is fitting that this should be so, because Cunard Line has a long tradition of creating ships which command the superlative in comparison to all others. Standing beside this majestic ship at quayside, visitors will behold a structure as tall as a 21-story building. She will be over a hundred feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall, over four city blocks in length. If she were afloat in the pool at the foot of Niagara Falls, her stack would rise over twenty feet above the rim.

For over 60 years, there has been a Cunard 'Queen' sailing the oceans. Queen Mary 2 will be the first such liner built in a generation, and the worthy heir to the company's 160-year heritage. She will embody all the thoroughbred characteristics of her forebears: the generous thrust of her raked prow, the stepped superstructure both fore and aft, the lean dimensions that allow for greyhound speed whilst traversing the North Atlantic. Seen from the outside, she will look like what she is, a purpose built craft for sailing rapidly between points on the globe.

Within her hull, however, QM2 will hide a multitude of delights as spectacular and pleasurable as they are innovative and ingenious. Stepping aboard, guests will enter a realm of sweeping spaces and grand designs the likes of which have not been seen for decades. They will enjoy a generosity of spaciousness that rivals or surpasses that of ultra-luxury small ships. Just 2620 guests will sail on this 150,000 gross tonne vessel. They will stroll the broad, 1/3 mile-long teak promenade deck that encircles the entire ship, stopping to talk with friends relaxing on traditional steamer chairs. They will be entranced by a Lobby that towers over three decks high, graced with a sweeping grand staircase and monumental works of art. They will travel in accommodation that varies from the merely commodious to the shamelessly extravagant. The standard cabins will measure 194 square feet, and most include an eight-foot balcony. In all ¾ of the ship's cabins have balconies, and 77% are sea view cabins. All the way aft, there are five Duplex Apartments overlooking the sea from two-story glass walls. At over 1600 square feet, these include two levels, private gym and balcony and butler service. As on QE2, the accommodation selected by the guest will be matched with a seaview dining venue. Higher categories will dine in grill rooms and lower categories will share a truly opulent dining room, again towering over three decks high, with its own grand stair and tiered seating to create both open and intimate dining spaces.

To fill the pleasant days at sea, onboard activities will be staged in a number of innovative and inviting venues. Seven multi-purpose classroom facilities which can be sized to accommodate differently-sized classes will comprise a College At Sea, with expert instruction in a wide variety of subject such as computer skills, languages, art and wine appreciation, cooking and more. An auditorium will feature a section which will adapt to become a full-scale planetarium, where star shows, courses on celestial navigation and other visual spectacles can be presented. QM2 will have a large library, a bookshop and a coffee shop. Like her sister QE2, QM2 will boast a true ballroom, with an orchestra for dancing. A magnificent Spa will include one of the ship's five swimming pools, and together with the adjacent Winter Garden, will provide a health, fitness and relaxation area of over 25,000 square feet. Numerous smaller lounges, alternative dining venues and specialized rooms will also welcome travelers during the crossings.

QM2 will be built in the Alstom Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard in Sainte-Nazaire, France. This is the same yard that built the France, Normandie, Ile de France and some of the other great liners of the past. At a total estimated cost of $780 million USD, she will also be the most expensive ship ever built. She will enter service in January 2004.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

- At 1,132 feet, Queen Mary 2 will stretch nearly four football fields in length.

- She will feature 17 decks and tower 200 feet above the waterline, equal to the height of a 23-story building.

- Several dining venues, all featuring ocean views, include Cunard's traditional 'Grill Rooms' for the higher stateroom categories and a restaurant for the deluxe and standard categories. Recalling the classic dining salons of grand liners of the past, the magnificent three-deck-high main dining room will span the full width of the ship with a sweeping central staircase creating a dramatic showcase for those wishing to make the ultimate grand entrance.

- Another classic feature will be a 360-degree Promenade Deck, recreating an environment which historically served as an important social venue aboard transatlantic liners. The spacious deck, whose total circumference exceeds one-third of a mile, will be lined with traditional steamer chairs while leaving expansive room for guests to stroll.

- Interior promenades circling several decks will provide attractive walking venues, as well.

- A large indoor swimming pool in the spa as well as four outside pools, one of which will have a retractable glass roof.

- A planetarium on board will offer a variety of constellation shows, as well as other presentations.

- A unique educational centre will feature seven flexible classroom venues for housing Cunard's College At Sea enrichment programs. Classes in everything from computer training, seamanship and navigation to cooking, art and wine appreciation, languages and photography will be taught by expert instructors within the various rooms which are capable of being separated or joined to adjust for varying class sizes.

- The ship's whistle will be an exact replica of the one on the Queen Mary so that her famous predecessor's voice will once more be heard on the ocean.

- A luxurious space ratio of 57.25 allowing for a variety of public areas of grand scale and some truly magnificent living spaces.

- Four MerMaid ™ podded propulsion units, providing nimble maneuverability.

Ship Information
Ship Details Year built 2004 Registry Tonnage 150000 Length 345m / 1131ft Beam 40m / 131ft Passenger capacity 2800 Crew size 1300 Total inside cabins Total outside cabins Cabin/suites with verandas Wheelchair-access cabins Dinner seatings Dining hours Dining room dress code Formal Tipping Prepaid	Ship Amenities Pools Yes Jacuzzis Yes Fitness center Yes Spa Yes Beauty salon/barber shop Yes Showroom Yes Bars/lounges Yes Disco Yes Casino Yes Shops Yes Library Yes Children's program Yes Children's center Yes Babysitting service Yes Elevators Yes

SOME COMPARISONS...

QM2 is five times longer than Cunard's first ship, Britannia (230 ft).
QM2 is more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall (550 ft.)
QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 ft).
QM2 is more than 3 ½ times as long as Westminster Tower (Big Ben) is high (310 ft).
QM2 is only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall (1248 ft).
QM2 is more than three times as long as St Paul's Cathedral is tall (366 ft).
QM2 is as long as 36 double-decker London buses (31 ½ ft each).
QM2's whistle will be audible for ten miles.