Queen Mary 2

Launched in 2004, the Queen Mary 2 was the first transatlantic ocean liner constructed since the Queen Elizabeth in 1969. It primarily plies a route between New York City and Southampton, United Kingdom, though occasionally travels to other ports. It is successor to the Queen Mary, now a hotel and museum berthed in Long Beach, California.

Facts

The QM2 is registered in Great Britain and displaces 151,400 gross tons. It measures 1,132 feet long, 131 feet wide and has a draft of 32 feet. It accommodates up to 2,620 passengers and a crew of 1,253, and has a speed of 28 knots. According to Cunard, the ship is 113 feet longer than the original Queen Mary, 147 longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building. Its whistle can be heard for about 10 miles.

Accommodations

The smallest suites on board are the Britannia cabins, with 159 square feet, with the inside versions being the least-expensive choice on the ship. Among the amenities available in all the ship's cabins are an interactive TV with film and music channels in different languages, direct-dial telephone and data port, refrigerator and safe, and sockets for both British and American appliances. The largest room is the Grand Duplex, sprawling over 2,249 square feet. It boasts complimentary in-room bar setup, butler service, personalized stationary, in-room Xbox, priority embarkation and disembarkation, evening canapes and a full flower arrangement.

Spaces

The ship's public areas are spaciously and elegantly designed but without the themes common in today's cruise ships. Depending on the accommodations, passengers dine in the Queens, Princess or Britannia grills (which are listed from most to least luxurious). Alternative spaces such as Todd English and the Commodore Club provide more intimate dining choices. Unusual on modern ships is the library, with 8,000 books that can be checked out. The five-story-high atrium has two curved stairs, as well as two glass-and-steel elevators. Some cabins with windows face this space.

Sailings

The bulk of its sailings are transatlantic, with cultural offerings that include acting workshops, jazz bands from Julliard, musical selections from the National Symphony Orchestra, lessons on stargazing from the Royal Astronomical Society, and lectures from explorers, former politicians, historians, scientists and novelists. However, its itineraries also include Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and the Caribbean. Journeys can last from two nights from Southampton to Hamburg, to 108 nights around the world.