Cruise Talk: Updated QE2 Review

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Topic: Updated QE2 Review

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 11-22-2002 10:05 PM

I have finally finished updating my review of QE2 based on our September 2002 cruise to Bermuda.

Click here to read the review.

As always, comments and feedback are always appreciated.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

usha
First Class Passenger
Member # 818

posted 11-23-2002 12:17 PM

Thank you for the very thorough review on QE2. It's true about people coming off that ship with a very strong opinion. I could see that some would see the ship as the Grande Dame of ocean travel, while others might complain about sailing on a rust bucket. To each his/her own. Glad you shared your impressions of the ship's finery, as well as its warts.

[ 11-23-2002: Message edited by: usha ]

Posts: 94 | From: Hobart, IN USA | Registered: Jan 99 | IP: Logged

WhiteStar
First Class Passenger
Member # 2740

posted 11-26-2002 09:13 AM

Great review! Very objective.

I loved the line :As a special bonus, for $20 you can now buy one of the canvas bags that Cunard used to provide for free when you first arrived at you cabin.

[ 11-26-2002: Message edited by: WhiteStar ]

Posts: 668 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 12-02-2002 01:44 AM

Joe, any new measures on QE2 to prevent/thwart terrorist attacks, like no more visitors on board, armed security guards, fire hoses to fight off pirate attacks, etc.? Seems to me QE2 would be the prime target if terrorists decided to take over or blow up a cruise ship. Maybe they should change the name from QE 2 to something less conspicuous, like The Rustbucket, Last Legs, Menopause, Corner Delly, etc. Any other suggestions?

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-02-2002 03:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PC:
...any new measures on QE2 to prevent/thwart terrorist attacks...

I can tell you that ship visits and boarding passes for the QE2 are almost impossible to obtain unless you are in the travel trade. Security at Southampton is a tighter, too.

The only flaw in this security curtain is that terrorists might well be ships crew, dock workers, Travel agents or paying passengers?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 12-02-2002 04:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PC:
.. any new measures on QE2 to prevent/thwart terrorist attacks, like no more visitors on board, armed security guards...

About the only significant change I noticed was that they scanned our passports at check-in and it looked like they were checking the info against an external database. I realize that wouldn't do much unless you were traveling on a passport that was being watched but it was new to me.

Also, don't want to share details of how we did it, but we were able to get our bags on board without having any cruise documents (...we were last minute replacements for another family and never actually got a packet of cruise documents). Hopefully they were examined/x-rayed prior to them being put on the ship.

We did notice there were Coast Guard vessels - small ones - around when we departed and returned to NYC.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 12-03-2002 01:43 AM

Joe, Malcolm - thx for your comforting words. Also want to say to Joe that your review was good and very complete. All I can say is, better take the lifeboat drill seriously, and when walking the deck, will check now and then to see if anyone hiding under the tarp in the lifeboats. But then if you do find a terrorist, what to do? Offer him a croissant from the Lido, or invite him/her to afternoon tea at the Queen's Room? Anyone else have any suggestions as to what to do if you suspect other pax or crew to be terrorists?

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 12-08-2002 05:10 AM

A change post 9/11 on QE2 - Guests may no longer bring friends aboard for the day in port.

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

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