QE 2 - Entertainment & Cruise Ship Info

QE2 has a top speed of 32 knots and a regular cruising speed of 28 knots, which makes her the fastest passenger vessel afloat. As a liner, she provides port to port transportation, albeit in style that closely resembles what we have come to know as "cruising." She also looks different. She has a sleek, classic profile, a deep draft that makes for a smooth ride but requires tendering in many ports. Because of her speed, she's the only vessel that can maintain regular transatlantic service. As a cruise vessel, she doesn't have all of the amenities to rival newer luxury class vessels. She does, however, have some features unique to liners. Her size and configuration allow for the largest and most extensive library at sea, a hospital staffed by two doctors and four nurses, a dental clinic supervised by a licensed dentist, a Podiatrist in the Spa, the largest dance floor and ballroom at sea, one of the highest space ratios at sea, entertainment choices that require an additional 12 hours a day to get around to almost all of the venues.

Dining
When it comes to housing and dining, people who live in the most expensive neighborhood, eat in the 235-seat super elegant Queen's Grill. Not quite so posh, but still quite deluxe are accommodations for passengers who are assigned to the Princess and Britannia Grills. Then comes the mid-category Caronia, which is a really beautiful restaurant. Lowest category cabin passengers are assigned to the Mauritania, which has two seatings and accommodates more than half the passengers on board.

Interesting to note that menus are practically the same in all dining rooms, but the number of choices decreases restaurant-to-restaurant, as does the opportunity for off-the-menu special orders, presentation, service ratio, ambiance and attention to detail.


Public Rooms
Veteran QE2 passenger are quick to note the changes effected by the recent $18 million refit. Favorite rooms remained refreshed favorites, but most noticeable changes are in lightening, brighter colors and plush fabrics used in carpeting and furniture. Public rooms have taken on a more contemporary flair in some cases, and a return to the grand era in others. On the contemporary side, the Computer Learning Center has been expanded and houses about three dozen machines. Personal safes have been installed in all cabins and the old vault room has been decreased in size to house a very limited number of safety deposit boxes. Purser's Square has been modernized and all of the ship's business is conducted in one area.

Probably the most famous room on board is The Queen's Room, which received major treatment during the renovation. New carpeting, plush blue and gold velvet upholstery, royal blue carpeting interwoven with gold Tudor roses are reminiscent of the Victorian era. Walls were redone in rich fabrics and woods and the famed bronze bust of Her Majesty, the Queen was relocated to the most prominent position in the major social venue hat bears her name.

In the return to yesteryear's glamorous touches, mahogany paneling replaced brass, which at one time replaced wood, or Formica used in the original construction and in previous renovations. Most striking change is in the Caronia Restaurant, which was transformed from 1970s retro to elegant English country house style with new table lighting, crystal chandeliers, etched glass doors and cascading draperies. On the contemporary side, the Lido self-service restaurant has become more cruise ship-like with carpeting, new rattan furniture and automatic entry doors from the pool area.

Mauritania Restaurant also boasts new carpeting, chandeliers and furniture. The Grand Lounge, which is the main entertainment venue, has been enhanced with a theatre-style balustrade and a new audio system, but there was no way to change the shopping arcade look into a showroom atmosphere. The corridors on lower decks (four and five) and stairwells were re-carpeted and decorated in keeping with the rest of the ship.

Cabins
Big differences are in cabin location and size which range from 87 to 115 square feet in the minimum-priced Mauritania category to 355 square feet in Grill cabins and to over 1000 square feet in suites.

All of the cabins have been refitted with new carpeting and other software. Plumbing and air-conditioning have been upgraded, but more work remains to be done. Two new Grand Suites (QS) were added. The Caledonia Suite is port side on Boat deck and measures 575 square feet including two bathrooms. The midship Aquitania Suite is an expansive 777-square feet and also boasts two full marble bathrooms. In addition, two deluxe Princess Grill category cabins were added on 2 Deck.

Colors in all cabins are light, subtle and well coordinated. Built for long cruises, storage and closet space runs from adequate in small cabins to double walk in closets in Grill cabins and suites. Bathrooms are either marble or tile with both tub and shower, or shower only. There are cabins designated for single occupancy in all dining room categories, inside and outside, which probably accounts for the unusual number of single travelers.

Entertainment
Unlike cruise ships, there's no organized method of introducing passengers to each other. The only way you meet is in dining rooms, dance classes or over bridge tables. If you are the reticent type who doesn't work a room at major cocktail parties, there's a good chance you'll never meet anyone other than your tablemates, Even that doesn't always work, because all of the dining rooms offer tables for two. It is surprising to notice the number of single passengers who prefer dining alone.

Entertainments abounds starting with a Dance Class, pre-lunch jazz concert or mellow music with Bloody Marys, an art auction, post lunch bridge party, matinee movie showing old time and sometimes very new releases, afternoon table games (including Whist), a variety of quiz shows and games, an art class featuring water colors, Tea Dancing in the Queen' Room, and of course, bingo. Late afternoons have more work out classes, more cocktail music and of course, on sea days - the casino with its usual games of chance.

Evenings are just as activity laced with choices. A classical concert by a cellist and pianist in the Theatre, two shows featuring Britain's top society jazz band and themed balls in the Queen's Room. There's also dancing in the Yacht Club, socializing in the sophisticated piano bar, Crystal Bar, or a more subdued setting in the Chart Room with a harpist or pianist for background music, depending on the hour. There's always the less formal Golden Lion Pub where a jazz jam session is spontaneous. The Yacht Club provides a mood change with a Caribbean band.

Fitness & Recreation
Some things couldn't be changed. The spa facilities are a good example. The gym and workout rooms are windowless on the lowest deck and are divided by an underutilized small indoor swimming pool. The massage area and thalasopy pool are one deck higher and a lot brighter. This is a very popular complete facility. The hair and facial treatment salons on Deck One are professionally staffed and prices are in line with top salons shoreside. A refit scheduled for November 2001 includes remodeling of the gymnasium. While one of the great luxuries of living on a ship is avoiding decisions, there are a few we are forced to make. The list is topped by activities and there is a lengthy menu offered daily. Choices start early with a Body Sculpting Class in the gym at 8 a.m. and continues through the morning with a lecture by an Egyptologist, more exercise classes, bridge lessons and competitions, computer lectures and classes, Origami, a table tennis tournament and the Captain's announcement of where we are.

Fellow Passengers
On any voyage, you'll find a broad segment of passengers - younger on transatlantic, older on World Cruises. Of the 1,465 passengers on the 2001 World Cruise, only 317 were from the USA, but 426 were from the U.K., 492 from Australia with the remainder carrying passports from 24 other countries. World cruisers, for the most part are in the over 60s age group. Transatlantic and shorter cruise or World segment passengers tend to be between 35 and 65.

Dress Code
Passengers on the full world cruise and those who come aboard for longer segments don't object to dressing up every evening. The casual Lido Restaurant remains ultra casual even on "formal" nights.
Dress code us somewhat relaxed on cruises, but jackets and ties are still required in dining rooms and the majority of men are in tuxedos; women in evening dress on most nights.

Gratuity
Depending on cabin accommodations, gratuities are automatically added to passengers' accounts. Grill Room passengers are charged $ 13 per day, per person. All others are charged $10 per day per person. Gratuities are included in cruise rates for passengers sailing for 92 days or longer on World Cruises. An automatic gratuity of 15 percent is added to all bar and service tabs, including the spa.

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