| QUEEN MARY 2 |
| CUNARD |
QUEEN MARY 2
TOUR AND
COMMENTARY
(continued)
TOUR AND
COMMENTARY
(continued)
| CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR LARGER VIEWS |
QM2 has three main dining rooms. Each
passenger is assigned to a dining room based upon
his or her cabin category. The passengers in the
most expensive suites are assigned to the Queens
Grill, the next level are assigned to the Princess Grill
and the bulk of the passengers are assigned to the
Britannia Restaurant. The latter venue is two seating.
When the ship first went into service, there were
problems with the service in Britannia. These appear
to have been resolved and the restaurant now
operates efficiently. The quality of the food is very
good.
Just because a passenger is assigned to a restaurant,
does not mean he or she has to eat there. The ship
has a number of alternative dining venues. Chief
among these is the King’s Court. This is a food court
divided into a number of separate venues specializing
in different types of food, e.g., Italian, Asian,
sandwiches. Passengers serve themselves cafeteria
style.
While it can be argued that a cafeteria has no place on
a luxury liner, these establishments have gained such
wide-spread acceptance that they are now a fixture on
all passenger ships. Unfortunately, King’s Court is
not as well-designed as some of the cafeterias on
other modern ships. There is a great deal of
separation between the areas, making it difficult, for
example, to have a little pasta with ones Asian
entrée. Also, despite adjustments to the seating
plan, it is often difficult to find seats. Finally, the area
simply lacks character - - the décor is not memorable
and the view is not particularly good.
The food in the King’s Court is good. During the
day, one can swoop down on a piece of pizza, a cookie,
or a frozen yogurt, in order to have something to
nibble on during those long minutes between meals.
In the evening, the area is transformed into a series
of informal restaurants.
The King’s Court is not the only alternative eating
venue. In the Golden Lion Pub, passengers can have
fish and chips, shepard’s pie and other English pub
favorites at lunchtime. Word gets around about this
area during a voyage and it tends to become more
difficult to get a seat as the cruise progresses. On
warm, sunny days, there are hamburgers and the like
at the Boardwalk located outdoors on the top deck of
the ship. This is self-serve but a nice informal change
on a Caribbean cruise. One can also obtain
something to eat in a number of other locations
around the ship.
As QM2 is a British ship, afternoon tea is a feature.
In the Queens Room ballroom, white gloved waiters
serve out finger sandwiches, scones and pastries
while a string quartet or a harp plays. Tea is also
served in the King’s Court on a more informal, self-
serve basis. On sunny days, waiters wheel carts
around the open decks serving those snuggled in the
deck chairs.
The food at all of the aforementioned venues is
included in the price of a passenger ticket. For an
additional fee, one can have lunch or dinner at the
Todd English restaurant. The idea behind the
restaurant is not to offer food that is better than the
ship’s regular restaurants but to offer meals that are
prepared differently than those restaurants, using
different recipes, spices and means of cooking. Not
surprisingly, people either love this venue or hate it.
It has proven sufficiently popular, however, that a
Todd English was included on Cunard’s new ship,
QUEEN VICTORIA.
passenger is assigned to a dining room based upon
his or her cabin category. The passengers in the
most expensive suites are assigned to the Queens
Grill, the next level are assigned to the Princess Grill
and the bulk of the passengers are assigned to the
Britannia Restaurant. The latter venue is two seating.
When the ship first went into service, there were
problems with the service in Britannia. These appear
to have been resolved and the restaurant now
operates efficiently. The quality of the food is very
good.
Just because a passenger is assigned to a restaurant,
does not mean he or she has to eat there. The ship
has a number of alternative dining venues. Chief
among these is the King’s Court. This is a food court
divided into a number of separate venues specializing
in different types of food, e.g., Italian, Asian,
sandwiches. Passengers serve themselves cafeteria
style.
While it can be argued that a cafeteria has no place on
a luxury liner, these establishments have gained such
wide-spread acceptance that they are now a fixture on
all passenger ships. Unfortunately, King’s Court is
not as well-designed as some of the cafeterias on
other modern ships. There is a great deal of
separation between the areas, making it difficult, for
example, to have a little pasta with ones Asian
entrée. Also, despite adjustments to the seating
plan, it is often difficult to find seats. Finally, the area
simply lacks character - - the décor is not memorable
and the view is not particularly good.
The food in the King’s Court is good. During the
day, one can swoop down on a piece of pizza, a cookie,
or a frozen yogurt, in order to have something to
nibble on during those long minutes between meals.
In the evening, the area is transformed into a series
of informal restaurants.
The King’s Court is not the only alternative eating
venue. In the Golden Lion Pub, passengers can have
fish and chips, shepard’s pie and other English pub
favorites at lunchtime. Word gets around about this
area during a voyage and it tends to become more
difficult to get a seat as the cruise progresses. On
warm, sunny days, there are hamburgers and the like
at the Boardwalk located outdoors on the top deck of
the ship. This is self-serve but a nice informal change
on a Caribbean cruise. One can also obtain
something to eat in a number of other locations
around the ship.
As QM2 is a British ship, afternoon tea is a feature.
In the Queens Room ballroom, white gloved waiters
serve out finger sandwiches, scones and pastries
while a string quartet or a harp plays. Tea is also
served in the King’s Court on a more informal, self-
serve basis. On sunny days, waiters wheel carts
around the open decks serving those snuggled in the
deck chairs.
The food at all of the aforementioned venues is
included in the price of a passenger ticket. For an
additional fee, one can have lunch or dinner at the
Todd English restaurant. The idea behind the
restaurant is not to offer food that is better than the
ship’s regular restaurants but to offer meals that are
prepared differently than those restaurants, using
different recipes, spices and means of cooking. Not
surprisingly, people either love this venue or hate it.
It has proven sufficiently popular, however, that a
Todd English was included on Cunard’s new ship,
QUEEN VICTORIA.
DINING:
The Britannia Restaurant. Rising some three decks
with wood paneling and a stained glass ceiling , it is a
spectacular room reminiscent of the early ocean
liners. In the photo above, the large round table near
the tapestry is the Commodore's table. In the photo
below, one sees the view from the Commodore's chair.
with wood paneling and a stained glass ceiling , it is a
spectacular room reminiscent of the early ocean
liners. In the photo above, the large round table near
the tapestry is the Commodore's table. In the photo
below, one sees the view from the Commodore's chair.
Above and below, The Queens Grill. Located on Deck 7
on the starboard side, the room is intimate but narrow.
on the starboard side, the room is intimate but narrow.
Located on the port side of Deck Seven, the
Princess Grill is the mirror image of the
Queens Grill.
Princess Grill is the mirror image of the
Queens Grill.
The Todd English Restaurant on Eight Deck is an extra-tariff venue with its own bar and intimate dining area. It offers a
different approach to cooking based upon the style of the famed Boston chef.
different approach to cooking based upon the style of the famed Boston chef.
Left: The King's Court is the ship's self-service buffet. It has several stations, each of which focuses on a different cuisine.
Right and below left: In the evenings, some of these stations are transformed into informal restaurants. Below right: At the
top of the ship near the funnel is the Boardwalk Cafe. Only open on port days and days when the weather is good at sea, it
is a delightful venue for an al fresco meal. The menu is limited to hamburgers and other light foods.
Right and below left: In the evenings, some of these stations are transformed into informal restaurants. Below right: At the
top of the ship near the funnel is the Boardwalk Cafe. Only open on port days and days when the weather is good at sea, it
is a delightful venue for an al fresco meal. The menu is limited to hamburgers and other light foods.
Several of the bars also offer
something to eat. The Golden Lion
Pub is popular at lunchtime for its fish
and chips, Shepard 's pie and other
English pub staples.
something to eat. The Golden Lion
Pub is popular at lunchtime for its fish
and chips, Shepard 's pie and other
English pub staples.
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More photos, more tour --
Bars and Lounges is next
CLICK HERE
Bars and Lounges is next
CLICK HERE
LEFT: A chef's parade
during a transatlantic
crossing. RIGHT: An
outdoor buffet by the
Terrace Pool during a
Caribbean cruise.
during a transatlantic
crossing. RIGHT: An
outdoor buffet by the
Terrace Pool during a
Caribbean cruise.
Below: A Thanksgiving display
welcoming guests to the Britannia.
welcoming guests to the Britannia.
Above: A demonstration in how to prepare an
ice sculpture.
ice sculpture.
