Day 1
25th April 2024 was my year anniversary at Miles Morgan Travel and the that day I stepped aboard the stunning Queen Mary 2... WOW, spectacular, incredible, inspiring in fact mind-blowing!
I didn’t really have any idea of what I was expecting from a cruise….. I was a little worried as I am not a fan of “boats”. That was all about to change!
“Queen Mary 2 is a remarkable flagship, her style and elegance are legendary. Above all, it‘s the space she offers and the luxury for you to do as little or as much as you wish which sets her apart.”
I was so lucky to get to spend 3 nights on board this amazing ship! We started our trip by flying into Lisbon, then arrived at the port to see 2 ships docked of which one was the Queen Mary 2. Wow, how remarkable she looked on first impressions. After a very quick check-in in we were on board to find our cabin! Again, no idea what to expect…
The cabin was beautiful and authentic with a lovely bottle of sparkling wine waiting for us on arrival. Decorated in soothing taupe and cream tones, it proved to be roomy and plush, with comfortable twin beds, a couch and a marble bathroom. The bathroom was complete with Penhaligon’s toiletries and a walk in shower. also a generously sized balcony.
After unpacking we wanted to get out and explore as we had a few hours in Lisbon before we got to experience the sail away party. We were due to sail under the 25th April bridge, which is a Portuguese national symbol of democracy. We got off the ship to explore Lisbon. It was a lovely sunny day to take in the sights. We wandered around the small streets and shops before stopping for some lunch and a drink! I was lucky to be with Amy from MMT (Abergavenny) as she had lived in Portugal for 13 years and she ordered us some local foods to try. We sat in the square and watched the celebrations as it was a bank holiday there and they were celebrating the liberation day.
We then boarded again to get ready for the sail away! I was so excited to experience this. We all met on deck where there was music, drinks, people enjoying the hot tub and dancing. We then had dinner at the Britannia Restaurant, white-gloved waiters, linen-dressed tables, a sweeping staircase, and a balcony-style mezzanine, the grandeur of the Britannia Restaurant provided an authentic sense of occasion. The food was spectacular. After dinner, there was a whole host of things to do, from the royal court theatre to the queen’s room, casino and G32 night club.
Day 2
Today we had free time for breakfast and then had training about the Cunard brand. After this, we were then sent to explore the ship! Which we did in style... We booked in the at The Mareel spa for a skin analysis. Which was brilliant the staff in the spa knew their stuff!
We then kept on exploring the ship and I found that there was always something new to discover… from the library (which is the world’s biggest library on the ocean!) to the illuminations. The afternoon consisted of a spot of afternoon tea in the Queens Room, a venue akin to a stately ballroom thanks to ambient lighting and ornate furnishings. We watched the procession of white-gloved waiters before they presented an array of treats on our table. These treats were stunning it’s a shame the hour goes too fast.
After some more exploring we went back to our cabin to get ready for the masquerade ball, pre-dinner drinks and meeting up with everyone for dinner. That night we ate at The Captain’s Table – WOW! what a view of the stunning dining room and the food (and wine) was incredible. I was even inspired to try snails… escargot they were so nice I was very surprised!
Following on the evening, we went to the Royal Court Theatre. We sat and watched Lee Mead, renowned West End and TV Star! He was brilliant! Then a dance in the G32 before heading back to our cabin and ordering room service in the early hours of the morning. Yum!
Day 3
After a lazy start to the day, enjoying the ocean view from our beds, we got up and tried a different restaurant for breakfast! Then on to more exploring finding the shops, the Golden Lion pub (where you could play bingo!), it even had its own red letter box at the entrance a little bit of home!
We then went back to the Royal Court Theatre and watched an audience Meera Syal CBE an award-winning comedian, which was so interesting! From there we had lunch and tried fencing! This was so funny and I never knew how difficult it was! After this, it was time to get ready for our last night on board this stunning ship! We were invited to the “Steakhouse at The Verandah”.
The steaks and seafood were of the highest calibre. Our host Vanessa told us all about the steaks where they were from how they should be eaten and with which steak knife! After all of that, we enjoyed our dessert, more wine and then the night at the Royal Court Theatre with Broadway Rocks. They called this a turbo-charged cab ride through the streets of New York! With our last night on board over, we returned to our cabin for an early start ready to disembark in Southampton on Sunday morning. All I can say is that this has completely changed my mind about cruising!! Wow, just out of this world! I cannot wait to get back out on the ocean.
If you would like to know more about my time on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2, or you are interested in experiencing this cruise yourself, please get in contact with [email protected] or call into the shop in Chepstow.
