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| Looking Forward (Westward) From The Queen Mary 2’s Commodore Club |
We’re going to wrap up our series of blogs on our Queen Mary 2 crossing with a nod to all the other activities that are worth mentioning that don’t get the attention they deserve. There are our “10 Underrated Things To Do On The Queen Mary 2”, those activities you just don’t see on blogs or listed on Cunard’s website that amount to great time spent and wonderful memories should you take a cruise or crossing on this great ship.
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| Bronze Reliefs on the Queen Mary 2 |
10. Check Out the Art – The Queen Mary 2 is wonderfully appointed throughout with some great art. It’s worth taking time to specifically look for it and not just pass it in awe of everything else the ship offers. In particular, check the stair wells and the main passageways on the lower decks between the Britannia Restaurant and the atrium area. The bronze reliefs are particularly cool.
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| Walt Disney Family on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth |
9. Read The Info Posters – In addition to all the art, you’ll find informational posters and placards all around the ship. They offer fascinating insight into transatlantic shipping, the history and development of nautical technology, and (our favorite) show great old pictures of celebrities and famous people who’ve cruised with Cunard through the company’s century-and-a-half history, especially during the grand era of transatlantic crossings.
8. Watch the Dancers – You read our blog a few days ago about us taking advantage of the QM2’s ballroom to do some foxtrot and tango, but far more people are dance spectators than participants. Even for us, as dancers, it was fun just to sit a song out and watch others dance from time to time. Being a dance spectator apparently is pretty common: several times we were recognized in the restaurant or on the elevator and greeted with, “Oh, I saw you two dancing!”
7. Take a Dancing Lesson – At some point you might get tired of being a spectator and become brave enough to try your hand (or feet, rather) at some dancing. Every day on our cruise a group lesson was offered (no additional charge). While there were way too many people in those group lessons to make it a practical way to truly learn to dance, it might be a good way for you to see if it’s something you might like to try. If so, check with your group instructor to see if private lessons are available (though expect a charge for that).
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| Queen Mary 2 Deck Plan Placard |
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| A Long Queen Mary 2 Hallway |
6. Wander…And Try To Get Lost – It’s worth some time to just set off in one direction and randomly take turns and stairs and elevators. Check the ship’s deck plans and look for areas of the ship you’ve not seen yet. When it’s not too wet and windy, step outside on deck 7 every now and then. Study those ship plan signs and figure out how they’re oriented toward the bow and aft of the ship. Just try and get lost so you can stump a friendly crew member with a “How do I get to…” question. Don’t be one of those people who get home and realize you never saw the so-and-so on the Queen Mary 2.
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| Queen Mary 2 Deck 7 Near Bow |
5. Read – It almost goes without saying, but load up your Kindle or your iPad with books: you’ll almost certainly find a quiet and inviting corner somewhere enticing you to sit and read.
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| Drinks on the Queen Mary 2 |
4. Indulge – Go ahead, enjoy a drink or two. As we blogged before, they aren’t really that much more expensive (keep telling yourself that). A tip: try their unique for-the-QM2 cocktails; they’re often a little more potent and a little less money. For serious indulging, there’s even a cigar room, though Chuck didn’t find time to utilize it (yes, there’s always next time).
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| The QM2’s Cigar Room |
3. Follow the Musicians – While there are headline performers onboard, there are also the performers you’ll find in the restaurants, lounges, and common areas. On our cruise there were three piano players, a harpist, a string quartet, a jazz trio, various big band ensembles and singers, and more. Each day’s schedule lets you know where the performers will be found, as they move around. If you particularly enjoyed the string quartet’s performance while you dined one night, look for them to be performing in a lounge the next afternoon.
2. Chat with Fellow Passengers and Crew – We fear the art of conversation is dying. Do your part to keep it alive. As you soak in the hot tub, try to find out where your fellow hot-tubber is from. Congratulate your neighboring table on the anniversary they’re celebrating. Discover from your server how long he or she has been on the Queen Mary 2 and learn what life aboard the ship is about. We found the crew does an amazing job of learning about you, and they’ll likely recognize you and call you by name after only one conversation. We met some really great people on our cruise, from the ship’s rabbi and his wife to awesome fellow ballroom dancers.
1. Sit and Look Out the Window – Probably the most underrated thing to do on the Queen Mary 2 is to simply sit and look out the window. An endless expanse of ocean has a way of making you think. It’s a great opportunity to make plans, contemplate life, and all that stuff. Our favorite spots to do this were the window seats in the lounges, in particular the forward-looking windows of the Commodore Club (picture at the top of this blog), and in the library.
