Queen Elizabeth 2 Cruise Review
Cruise Line: Cunard Line
Cruise Ship: Queen Elizabeth II
Cruise Destination: Transatlantic Cruise
Date of Cruise: July 5-11, 2000
Guest Contributor: Robert
We have never sailed before, so we have nothing to compare our experience to, however, we have read over 50 on-line cruise reviews from the numerous websites, some helpful, some worrying.
Here for what is worth is our experience....[it's a little jumbled]
We are an English couple, Carole is 34, I am 39. We have three children, from 2 to 13 - they stayed at home with grandparents for the 6 nights. Carole has terminal cancer, so this was truly, to be a ''trip of a lifetime''.
Concorde to NY - July 4th (not with Cunard)
Concorde is everything British Airways says it is, the pre-flight lounge at Heathrow is small, and poorly used until the last 5 minutes of the 30 minutes check-in deadline. The free champagne, juice, finger sandwiches, Danish etc apparently is no draw to 'normal' Concorde patrons, but it put us in good stead for things to come on QE2.
The take off is like something from a thrill ride, pushed hard into the backs of your seat you soar skywards up to 55,000 feet plus. In good weather you can actually see the curve of the Earth.
Reaching mach 2, they are already into the 1 ½ - 2 hour in-flight service, on linen, crockery and silverware of course. The multi-page menu already having been given out with your drink orders; champagne, wine - the very best of course, etc.
The aircraft is old, and VERY small, just 2 + 2 across, no TV, no plug-ins etc, just a headset for music, but loads of legroom on grey leather seats, which are very comfortable - with just 3 ½ hours to NY, arriving before you left UK, who could mind anyway.
The loo [bathroom]is very small, just 3 for the 100 guests. In the seat pocket you find a complimentary pack, 1st of 3. This contains a silver Concorde pen, logo stationary, and a certificate you can have signed by the Pilot, when you visit the flight deck.
The cabin crew..., well they 'aint no NorthWest crew. They have great humour, time for everyone, happy to chat, will meet your every request politely and quickly - they really ARE the best, apparently last time there was a vacancy on the Concorde fleet - 7 in service with BA, 5 with Air France - BA had over 1300 applications from INTERNAL applicants for just 30 positions, as stated by Concorde pilot on QE2.
Soon the mach display was dropping below 2.00 and down we came into JFK, of course on time.
Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Park Ave, NY.
Having taken the taxi into the underground car-park we checked our bags, just in time to see President Clinton's police escort departing, he having been in the hotel just before, ready for the Tall Ships/Fireworks display later - oooh us and The President - wow !!!
We entered the lift and rode to the huge lobby and were overwhelmed by the ceiling decor, the pillars, the grandeur - nicer than The Plaza [we had stayed 3 nights at Christmas in 99].
Checking in for our booked 315sq ft Mini Suite we were allocated the [750 +sqft]12H [Ambassador]Suite, my wife twigging we had an upgrade, but I kept asking, "yes but what is our room number on the 12th floor", moving slightly so Carole could no longer kick my ankle, the clerk gave us they keycard and explained again we had 12H, on the 12th floor.
We rode the lift [elevator] following the signs to Suite 12H, and wow, I mean Wow, yes I said Wow - five rooms; a 15' x 6' marble Foyer with two huge horses, a desk, a pantry with coffee maker and fridge - a mini kitchen if you like,; a huge bedroom with 6' bed, TV, desk, sideboard, walk-in closet with robes and slippers; from that we walked into the 12' x 6 ' Boudoir with chaise lounge, easy chair, phone and wall to wall mirrored closets; from here we entered the grand bathroom, with multi jet shower cubicle, huge tub with shower, two separate vanities, all marble and gold-work of course, and a separate loo, with it's own phone. There was a red heat lamp in the ceiling outside the shower cubicle as well.
Back through to the lobby, from here another door leading off to the sitting room, twice as big as the bedroom, a corner room over looking Park Avenue and adjacent St. with a 3 seat sofa and a two seat sofa, coffee table with fruits and cookies, a desk with phone and fax and the 2nd TV, and two armchairs. The room had a central fireplace and many reading books in alcoves.
There was a connecting door in the lobby, so this suite could be sold as a two bedroom suite.
We had no chance, for the one night we had at the Waldorf-Astoria of using all the facilities, but what an upgrade - thank YOU Eric Long.
Page 2 > > Touring New York Before Transatlantic Cruise on the QE2 > >
Cruise Ship: Queen Elizabeth II
Cruise Destination: Transatlantic Cruise
Date of Cruise: July 5-11, 2000
Guest Contributor: Robert
We have never sailed before, so we have nothing to compare our experience to, however, we have read over 50 on-line cruise reviews from the numerous websites, some helpful, some worrying.
Here for what is worth is our experience....[it's a little jumbled]
We are an English couple, Carole is 34, I am 39. We have three children, from 2 to 13 - they stayed at home with grandparents for the 6 nights. Carole has terminal cancer, so this was truly, to be a ''trip of a lifetime''.
Concorde to NY - July 4th (not with Cunard)
Concorde is everything British Airways says it is, the pre-flight lounge at Heathrow is small, and poorly used until the last 5 minutes of the 30 minutes check-in deadline. The free champagne, juice, finger sandwiches, Danish etc apparently is no draw to 'normal' Concorde patrons, but it put us in good stead for things to come on QE2.
The take off is like something from a thrill ride, pushed hard into the backs of your seat you soar skywards up to 55,000 feet plus. In good weather you can actually see the curve of the Earth.
Reaching mach 2, they are already into the 1 ½ - 2 hour in-flight service, on linen, crockery and silverware of course. The multi-page menu already having been given out with your drink orders; champagne, wine - the very best of course, etc.
The aircraft is old, and VERY small, just 2 + 2 across, no TV, no plug-ins etc, just a headset for music, but loads of legroom on grey leather seats, which are very comfortable - with just 3 ½ hours to NY, arriving before you left UK, who could mind anyway.
The loo [bathroom]is very small, just 3 for the 100 guests. In the seat pocket you find a complimentary pack, 1st of 3. This contains a silver Concorde pen, logo stationary, and a certificate you can have signed by the Pilot, when you visit the flight deck.
The cabin crew..., well they 'aint no NorthWest crew. They have great humour, time for everyone, happy to chat, will meet your every request politely and quickly - they really ARE the best, apparently last time there was a vacancy on the Concorde fleet - 7 in service with BA, 5 with Air France - BA had over 1300 applications from INTERNAL applicants for just 30 positions, as stated by Concorde pilot on QE2.
Soon the mach display was dropping below 2.00 and down we came into JFK, of course on time.
Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Park Ave, NY.
Having taken the taxi into the underground car-park we checked our bags, just in time to see President Clinton's police escort departing, he having been in the hotel just before, ready for the Tall Ships/Fireworks display later - oooh us and The President - wow !!!
We entered the lift and rode to the huge lobby and were overwhelmed by the ceiling decor, the pillars, the grandeur - nicer than The Plaza [we had stayed 3 nights at Christmas in 99].
Checking in for our booked 315sq ft Mini Suite we were allocated the [750 +sqft]12H [Ambassador]Suite, my wife twigging we had an upgrade, but I kept asking, "yes but what is our room number on the 12th floor", moving slightly so Carole could no longer kick my ankle, the clerk gave us they keycard and explained again we had 12H, on the 12th floor.
We rode the lift [elevator] following the signs to Suite 12H, and wow, I mean Wow, yes I said Wow - five rooms; a 15' x 6' marble Foyer with two huge horses, a desk, a pantry with coffee maker and fridge - a mini kitchen if you like,; a huge bedroom with 6' bed, TV, desk, sideboard, walk-in closet with robes and slippers; from that we walked into the 12' x 6 ' Boudoir with chaise lounge, easy chair, phone and wall to wall mirrored closets; from here we entered the grand bathroom, with multi jet shower cubicle, huge tub with shower, two separate vanities, all marble and gold-work of course, and a separate loo, with it's own phone. There was a red heat lamp in the ceiling outside the shower cubicle as well.
Back through to the lobby, from here another door leading off to the sitting room, twice as big as the bedroom, a corner room over looking Park Avenue and adjacent St. with a 3 seat sofa and a two seat sofa, coffee table with fruits and cookies, a desk with phone and fax and the 2nd TV, and two armchairs. The room had a central fireplace and many reading books in alcoves.
There was a connecting door in the lobby, so this suite could be sold as a two bedroom suite.
We had no chance, for the one night we had at the Waldorf-Astoria of using all the facilities, but what an upgrade - thank YOU Eric Long.
Page 2 > > Touring New York Before Transatlantic Cruise on the QE2 > >
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