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Throughout
2005, QM2 crossed the Atlantic 14 more times including a magnificent Three
Continents Cruise. You'll also see her sailing through the fjords of Norway,
the Mediterranean, and along the rugged shores of New England and Canada.
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 entered service in January 2004. She combines
over 160 years of tradition with modern innovations hardly dreamed of only
a few years ago. As the largest, longest, tallest, widest and grandest liner
ever built, QM2, as she is affectionately called, carries 2,620 guests in
degrees of comfort and style ranging from pampered elegance to almost unimaginable
luxury.
Since 1840, when Cunard Line introduced the first regularly scheduled transatlantic
liner service, the company has launched nearly 180 ships. Queen Mary 2 joins
the illustrious company of Cunard’s Laconia, the first ship to offer
a world cruise; Servia, the first to be lit by electricity; Mauretania,
which held the Blue Riband for speed for 22 years, and, of course, the legendary
Queen Elizabeth and her hugely popular successor, QE2, and the original
Queen Mary.
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With
this impressive pedigree, it is no wonder that QM2 is graced with
grand spaces, including the largest ballroom at sea, domed salons,
sweeping staircases and majestic promenades, or that there is
one attentive staff member to serve every two passengers. Yet
the ship is as daringly modern as it is appreciative of tradition,
particularly in its functionality.
Taking advantage of the very latest in technology and engineering,
QM2 offers possibly the smoothest ride of any ship, with noise
and vibration levels minimal even at her extraordinary speed.
She is so versatile that she can dock with ease without the use
of tugboats.
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In
her inaugural year, QM2 sails 15 transatlantic crossings between Southampton,
England, and New York as she takes over the role formerly operated by her
sister ship, QE2, as Cunard’s transatlantic liner. Her maiden westbound
crossing from Southampton to New York departs on April 16. Her maiden eastbound
crossing was historic for Cunard as both QM2 and QE2 departed New York on
April 25 together. While Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth passed each other
port side to port side in New York Harbour on November 1963, April 25 was
the first time two Cunard Queens have actually been berthed in the port
together since March 1940. QM2 will also introduce a series of Caribbean
cruises from New York and Fort Lauderdale; a voyage to Rio and back, timed
for Carnival; five European itineraries and two fall foliage cruises to
ports in Canada and New England.
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The
above Deluxe and Premium balcony staterooms include a sitting
area with sofa, ample closet space and bathroom with shower.
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QM2’s
14 passenger decks are packed with comforts, luxuries and a dazzling
variety of things to do, entertainment to be enjoyed, luxury boutiques
to shop in and places to eat in exceptional style. Staterooms
include five duplex apartments – each with its own exercise
area, balcony, marble bathrooms, private library and other impressive
features – which can be combined together to form a grand,
9,000-square foot suite unrivalled by any other ship afloat.
There are also four Forward Suites, which also can be combined
to create a 4,000-square foot living space – 75 junior suites
and a choice of stateroom configurations and sizes.
All suites feature high fidelity televisions and entertainment
systems, walk-in closets, selected spirits, wines and soft drinks,
plush terrycloth robes and slippers, personalized stationery,
a Bon Voyage bottle of champagne and daily fresh fruit and pre-dinner
canapés. All suites and staterooms are equipped with interactive
TV with multi-language film and music channels, direct-dial phones,
individual thermostat control, hair dryers, full baths with tubs
and/or showers and feature nightly turn-down service. Nearly three-quarters
of the ship’s accommodations include a spacious, eight-foot
balcony.
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QM2
also embraces Cunard’s lengthy tradition of serving the finest of shipboard
cuisine and carries it significantly further. World-famous chef Daniel Boulud,
whose restaurant, Daniel, has been called one of the ten best in the world,
is the ship’s culinary advisor and whose influence will be seen in
the dining rooms. He joins the “hot” celebrity chef Todd English,
who has created his own 156-seat shipboard restaurant on the newest Queen.
In addition to the two Grills and the elegant Britannia Restaurant, which
can effortlessly seat 1,351 passengers, guests on QM2 may choose to dine
at a choice of four venues in the innovative Kings Court or, for more casual
fare, the Golden Lion Pub and Boardwalk Grill, and, for afternoon tea, the
Winter Garden.
Complementing
QM2’s restaurants is an inspiring selection of bars and lounges.
The Queens Room, with its crystal chandeliers, is the largest ballroom
at sea. The Royal Court Theatre hosts musicals and revues worthy of London’s
West End and Broadway. The Empire Casino and G32 nightclub offer equally
exciting entertainment options. Jazz sets the tone for the Commodore Club,
with its wrap-around panorama of ocean and moonlit sky while fine wines
are the featured attraction at Sir Samuels. For the ultimate in sophistication
and refinement, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar is a must. Fine Waterford
Crystal and Wedgwood china add a further element of elegance to the ship’s
dining and entertainment experience.
QM2’s
offering of activities is as impressive as its options for accommodations,
restaurants, bars and lounges. These include:
- Canyon
Ranch SpaClub,
QM2’s 20,000-square foot health club, offering a full range of
famous Canyon Ranch services, treatments and products. Considered the
Number One spa company in North America, this shipboard Canyon Ranch,
a first for the company, features a thalassotherapy pool, gym, weight
room, juice bar, saunas and whirlpools and services ranging from aromatherapy
to therapeutic body cocoons.
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Illuminations, a full-sized, shipboard
planetarium offering a variety of constellation shows and virtual reality
rides through the heavens, which also serves as the ship’s movie
theatre and lecture hall.
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Oxford Discovery, an ambitious program
of educational lectures, discussions, seminars and presentations by
some of the world’s best-known scholars, organized by the fêted
University of Oxford in England.
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Workshops, lessons and presentations by
the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), enabling passengers to not
only watch the stars of tomorrow in person, but actually study the skills
of acting with them.
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Cunard ConneXions™, a complex of seven
classrooms used for enrichment programmes and the latest cyber-era equipment.
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The Mayfair Shops, an on-board collection
of fine boutiques and famous brand names, including Chanel, Dunhill
and Harrod’s.
Call
us for more information... 954-525-5000
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