Cunard's newest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, is 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
that command the superlative in comparison to all others. Standing beside
this majestic ship at quayside, visitors behold a structure as tall as
a 23-story building. She is over a hundred feet longer than the Eiffel
Tower is tall, and over four city blocks in length. If she were afloat in
the pool at the foot of Niagara Falls, her stack would rise over 20 feet
above the rim. |
For over 60 years, there has
been a Cunard "Queen" sailing the oceans. Queen Mary 2 is the first
such liner built in a generation and is the worthy heir to the company's
160-year heritage. She embodies 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 looks like what she is: a
purpose-built craft for sailing rapidly between points on the globe.
Within her hull, however, QM2 hides a multitude
of delights as spectacular and pleasurable as they are innovative and
ingenious. Stepping aboard, guests enter a realm of sweeping spaces and
grand designs, the likes of which have not been seen for decades. Passengers
will enjoy a generosity of spaciousness that rivals or surpasses that of
ultra-luxury small ships. Just 2,620 guests sail on this
150,000-gross-ton vessel. They stroll the broad, one-third-mile-long
teak promenade deck that encircles the entire ship, stopping to talk with
friends relaxing on traditional steamer chairs. Guests enter a lobby that
towers over three decks high, graced with a sweeping grand staircase and
monumental works of art. They will travel in accommodations that vary from
the merely commodious to the shamelessly extravagant. The standard cabins
measure 194 square feet, and most include an eight-foot balcony. In
all, three fourths 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 1,600 square feet, these include two
levels, a private exercise area, a generous private balcony, and butler service. As on
QE2, the accommodation selected by the guest will be matched with a sea-view
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 staircase and tiered seating to create both
open and intimate dining spaces.
To fill the pleasant days at sea, onboard
activities are staged in a number of innovative and inviting venues. Seven
multi-purpose classroom facilities that can be sized to accommodate
differently sized classes will comprise a College At Sea, with expert
instruction in a wide variety of subjects, such as computer skills,
languages, art and wine appreciation, cooking, and more. An auditorium
features a section that adapts to become a full-scale planetarium, where
star shows, courses on celestial navigation, and other visual spectacles are 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 oceanic crossings and other fascinating voyages.
QM2 was built in the Alstom Chantiers de
L'Atlantique shipyard in Sainte-Nazaire, France. This is the same yard that
built the
France
(now the Norway),
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 entered service
in January 2004.
Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Canyon Ranch Spa,
Specialty Restaurants, 5 Pools, Shops and Boutiques, Children's Programs.
In addition to the elegant Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, QM2 has the
first and only spa at sea operated by the world-famous Canyon Ranch health
resorts; the world’s first and only planetarium at sea; the largest ballroom
at sea; the largest library at sea; the largest wine cellar at sea, and 10
different dining venues, including the first and only shipboard restaurant
by popular American chef Todd English. There are several other lounges
and showrooms, a two-story theatre, a casino, 5 indoor and outdoor swimming
pools, hot tubs, boutiques, a pet kennel, and a children’s facility,
complete with British nannies. |