QM2 is huge compared to her older fleetmate and her larger size allows for some really amazing facilities that make her older fleetmate seem a bit dated. The spa, showrooms/theatre, gym, deck space etc. are far superior on the new ship. Her public rooms are lofty and incredibly spacious compared to the older ship but then again she twice as large. The Grills were never more than 1/2 full on both are trips yet the ship was full. The service and food were wonderful and no need to try the Todd English restaurant (average food) when booked in a Grill Class cabin.

The Princess and Queens Grill cabins on QE2 are totally up to date, beautifully maintained and very comfortable and some offer the 'Old World' luxury of genuine wood veneers which the new ships does not have. QM2 does offer some very (and not so) convincing simulated wood veneers onboard. QM2 Princess and Queens Grill cabins are excellent and offer wide verandas w/deck to ceiling windows. I don't know how QE2s Grill Class surpasses the newer ship-that could just be clever advertizing. Also, on the Atlantic be sure to book a cabin on the sunny side of the ship (south facing) to enjoy the veranda-weather permitting.

Comparing other parts of the ships, QE2 somehow has a greater connection w/the sea as she is a smaller ship. Compared to QE2's fantail, standing on QM2s is a high rise building-far above the ships wake but the newer ships wrap-around promenade is far superior.

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
For very detailed pics of QM2s interiors, go to www.shipparade.com

---

...Pam also has a very nice collection of photos - QM2 - QE2

...and not to forget or lost CT member Patsy, who has some photos and a review of QE2 on her webpage.

[ 03-07-2007: Message edited by: Ernst ]

On the other hand, on QE2 you might be limited to the 2 crossings at the start and end of her 2008 Pacific and Far East Odyssey. The dates are:

January 6, 2008: Southampton to New York (6 days)
April 12, 2008: New York to Southampton (6 days).

Other than those dates there is no guarantee that there will be any transatlantic crossings offered on QE2. Apart from her annual long cruise, she spends the rest of her time cruising out of Southampton.

quote:

---

Originally posted by arosakulm:
Thank you so much lasuvidaboy. Wonderful information. I totally connect with the fantail experience on the QE2. My wife and I stood there while she tried to outrun a hurricane enroute to Barbados in 1985 - doing 28 knots - and the ocean experience was incredible - looking forward the ship heaved up almost 45 degrees and looking aft the stern came down so you almost felt like the ocean was going to come in.

[...]

---

In contrast the QE2 is probably not a s good as she was 22 years ago.

I cannot comment on the Grills as they are out of my league, but the 'Brittania' dining room is probably the most attractive dining room afloat, so I would not want to miss out on and be in the the grill rooms, anyway. The food and service in the 'Brittania' has improved vastly from the early months and was so much better than my QE2 'M' grade experience.

The QM2's lower grade cabins are argueably as good, if not better than some of the QE2's mid grades.

Why not cruise both ships in Britannia and Caronia grades to save money!

[ 03-09-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[..]
In contrast the QE2 is probably not a s good as she was 22 years ago.[..]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by arosakulm:

To all you PAX. This is my dilemna. Do you recommend the "old" QE2 versus the new QM2 for a transatlantic crossing. At the rate of about $9,000 US for two, both options are not available.

---