QUEEN MESSY Jan 11 2004

Guests claim cruiser is tacky

By Heather Greenaway

THE first passengers aboard the new £550 million Queen Mary 2 have branded the giant ship tacky.

Guests on the world's largest ocean liner slammed its ''tiny'' cabins, 1980s-style furniture, overcooked food and broken toilets. Prices for a cruise start at £999 per person, rising to £19,369 for a top suite.

But guests believe it has failed to live up to the hype of Thursday's glitzy naming ceremony in Southampton.

One of the first people to be given a guided tour said last night: ''It's more like a 1970s casino than a luxury liner.

''They have tried to give it an Art Deco feel but failed. The decor ranges between gaudy in the extreme in corridors and a bland sea of creams and browns in the cabins.''

She added: ''Some of the furniture in the bars looks like it dates from the 1980s.

''It looks more like a doctor's waiting room than the playground of millionaires.''

Another guest said: ''I was expecting it to be grander, more opulent and with a more cutting-edge style. Youalso don't expect to see so many slot machines or a Golden Lion pub on the Queen Mary 2.''

Other critics told of toilets that would not flush, noisy air-conditioning, cramped cabins and burned food.

They also complained of clumsy waiters who could not speak English and tacky souvenirs in the gift shop.

New fire regulations meant builders had to use less wood and more synthetic materials which guests believe have stripped the ship of the sophistication of its veteran sister, the QE2.

A spokesman for owners Cunard said: ''Obviously people have likes and dislikes. Everyone was massively impressed by the big spaces. I didn't hear any serious criticisms at all.''

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One of the first people to be given a guided tour said last night: ''It's more like a 1970s casino than a luxury liner.

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Hmm I thought 70’s liner design retro was banned in QM2’s interior, then it would look like QE2’s original interiors where also incorporated!

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They also complained of clumsy waiters who could not speak English and tacky souvenirs in the gift shop.

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Well I wouldn’t mind shopping in that tacky gift shop!

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Other critics told of toilets that would not flush, noisy air-conditioning, cramped cabins and burned food.

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What would one expect the crew hasn’t been on the ship that long, the ship it self hasn’t even left for her first official trip. What is it these days people expect you have expertise without trying and learning first.

Saying something is ugly is not criticism but a mere statement!

Well every one knows I’m not a big fan of the retro style of QM2 (though It turned out okay in my opinion) but I would like the people who criticise something for once give their critics a foundation and clarification. I expect they couldn’t and expect these people simply complain because they can.

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From the Sunday Mail

QUEEN MESSY Jan 11 2004
Guests claim cruiser is tacky
By Heather Greenaway

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I wonder if Heather has ever sailed or perhaps ever been on a ship before......and the guests she writes of - what if any, is their experience of ocean liners?

The decor ranges between gaudy in the extreme in corridors and a bland sea of creams and browns in the cabins.''

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Originally posted by Cunardcoll:
... just a few customers say it's bad and the press makes a big deal out of it...

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The QM2 has generally recieved much positive press from the U.K. newspapers.

However, the Dail Mail last week had a two page spread of interior images and the headline something like 'Is this the tackiest ship ever built'.

Few of us have boarded the QM2, as yet. We cannot judge a ships decor purely from photographs, it is simply not the same as actually being there.

There is always the possibility that many of us may agree that the decor is tacky!

I will judge for myself, when I get the opportunity.

[ 01-11-2004: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

1) Cabins are 190 minimum but they do not look that size. I was able to reside in both a standard inside (1 night) and a P1 Junior Suite (5 nights). The standard inside is not laid out well. Unlike Royal Caribbean or Carnival, the cabin appears small, although there are numerous cubby holes. There is no artwork in either non-suite cabins nor non-suite hallways. Furthermore, you never saw any room stewards on non-suite floors but numerous helpful stewards on suite levels. The jr. suite was quite nice and should not be criticized.

2) 1908s decor??!!! Absolutely not! If anything, I would call her a mix between 1940 and the mid-1990s. She doesn't have the 30s Art Deco Feel, but is completely non-80s. I would say she is more Queen Elizabeth I than QE2. There is lots of (hand painted) wood on board and she is very chic in areas and very very 90s. However, she does not feel like a 21st c. ship.

3) Food burned...this is preposterous. On the contrary, I found everything to be luke warm, from soups to food to drinks. There were no extremes. Therefore, I find it hard to believe that food was burned. Quality was very high, but taste could and should be debated. The food was very bland, I thought.

4) Waiters that couldn't speak English...again, this I can't understand. I found a preponderance of Irish, Scottish and Welsh waiters. I never came across anyone who couldn't speak English and all were hospitable, if understanding that service was not up to par.

5) Gaudy hallways - they must be talking about the vast hallways in between the Grand Lobby and the other public rooms on Decks 2 and 3. They are huge with giant bronze and glass murals. They happen to be anything but tacky and are perhaps some of the most successful spaces on the ship. My gripe with them is that they are so wide that they should be lined with tables to watch QM2s world go by, but I've been told by "high-ups" that Coast Guard regulations do not allow this. On the other hand, the cabin corridors are murderously long, and, as I said, have no art work in non-suite hallways. They run the length of the ship and can be hypnotizing but again are not tacky...just bland.

6)The public does not expect so many slot machines or a Golden Lion Pub...Again, I don't understand this writer. Her casino is pitifully small with maybe 50 slot machines...that could be generous. The Golden Lion is a great space that was more popular every night than any other space on board. This could be one of her best features.

Tackiets ship ever built? Obviously they have never seen a Carnival or Farcus Costa ship....

[ 01-11-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

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Originally posted by Onno:
Well every one knows I’m not a big fan of the retro style of QM2

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When the Costa Classica was brand new, a travel agent walked up to the purser's desk upon boarding and demanded an upgrade. When denied, she bellowed.. "Do you know who I am?"

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Originally posted by vikingcrown:
As you all may know, I am a critic of QM2 - not the fact of her building, but her bland design and interiors. A Cuanrd Queen should represent the finest in technology and design. While QM2 might in the way of technology, I think her interior and exterior design are nothing to be excited about. The QE2 has warmth and character, whereas QM2 is cold and certainly a the luxury ocean liner I would want to sail on.

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I don't think there is anything about the QM2 that would not appeal to Britons.

[ 01-12-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

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Originally posted by gohaze:
If it had been built for the Brits the toilets would still be down the end of the alleyways and you'd have to call the steward to run the bath!!!!!

.....peter

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Originally posted by gohaze:
If it had been built for the Brits the toilets would still be down the end of the alleyways and you'd have to call the steward to run the bath!!!!!

.....peter

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Oh Oh! Now you've done it! I wonder if I have time to make some popcorn before the fight starts?

Brian

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Originally posted by gohaze:
If it had been built for the Brits the toilets would still be down the end of the alleyways and you'd have to call the steward to run the bath!!!!!

.....peter

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Fore the rest off Carnival and i look to the Holland America Liners those ships have the warmt and grace off liners frome the past. The best off that fleet is fore me the Rotterdam she is warm and friendly you feel welcome.

Well Cunard ships are always conservative and wold be conservative. There is still some class diverance. Every catagory cabin has it's own restaurant. That is still a type off class diverance found one the liners off yesterday. Cunard is not so special ass the would us believe. The last years the are coming back and only by investmend off Carnival. Without there mony i doubt off Cunard would have surfived it.

And now the QM2 oke i find the ship great and what i have seen one photo's and tv. she looks great. Oke maybe not that grand and there is maybe (i don't no) room fore improvemend. She is a brand new ship and there are maybe a view mishaps. Time would say iff she would be a populair vessel.
And no she is not yet a legend, that is the Qe2, Canbarra, Rotterdam 5 etc. not the QM2.

She is built in France that she is not built in Brittain is because no Brittish yard could handel such a order. Just as we in the Netherland are not able to built such a complex vessel. There are a view country's who are able to built those vessels, France, Italy, Germany, Finnland. Don't be angry because she's built in France how childish.

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Originally posted by CGT:
Well I don't consider Britons European, and I think British taste is different from European taste, and even though Candadians might like to *think* they are that different from Americans, they aren't. Some, but not *that* much. When ships are designed for the "American" market, they have Canadians in mind too. Also, Las Vegas isn't designed with just one market in mind. Las Vegas is just....Las Vegas.

I don't think there is anything about the QM2 that would not appeal to Britons.

[ 01-12-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

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I agree, that unless it was built by the Brits it wouldn't be up to their standard, not getting at you Malcolm (technically Im a Brit living in N.Ireland) but just look at the QM2 she is elegant, chic, classy and in my eyes traditional. Beautiful furniture, fixtures and fittings. And as for "burnt food" whoever said that - BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER YOURSELF!

I work in a hotel that opened just under 2 years ago. I started working in it 3 days before it even opened and when it did of course staff found it hard to know where things were, how they worked and of course people in the city found it irresistable to cast a critical eye. Our restaurant had problems at the start "teething problems" as they are know!!!!

People couldn't wait to tell their friends about the problems they encountered, even though the food is amazing, word got out that it was bad and the hotel was badly run, but since then people have had to eat their words...... and the fabulous food too he he ....... and now?? It is was of the most popular places to eat and drink in the city! And Im proud to work in it!

So I say don't knock it till you've tried it!!!! Wait for the interior pictures to show the QM2s glory! A jewel that can be shared in the crown of France and Britian. A ship to be proud of. Our QM2

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Originally posted by empressport:

Sigh, there is just so much here...where to begin. While Americans might have a mythical vision of Ye Olde Englande, the fact is that Britain has moved on. As for Canadians being the same as Americans, don't even get me started.

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Originally posted by CGT:
Well I don't consider Britons European, and I think British taste is different from European taste, and even though Candadians might like to *think* they are that different from Americans, they aren't. Some, but not *that* much. When ships are designed for the "American" market, they have Canadians in mind too. Also, Las Vegas isn't designed with just one market in mind. Las Vegas is just....Las Vegas.

I don't think there is anything about the QM2 that would not appeal to Britons.

[ 01-12-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

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