Cunard pioneered the transatlantic crossing to the new world. Today, the flagship Queen Mary 2 continues this tradition with regular seven day crossings between New York and Southampton, England from April to November. In Cunard’s 170th year of operation, they continue to bring the hallmarks of tradition and heritage into the modern age. Cunard sets the standard for traditional British hospitality at sea with their legendary White Star Service which guests describe as gracious, personal, friendly, attentive, refined and unobtrusive.

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On a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing, the ship becomes the destination.

Linda Pastorkovich, Business Development Manager for Cunard says, “A Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing is such a worldly experience. You meet people from all walks of life and nationalities. I’ve enjoyed dining with a British nuclear physicist and an Australian World Cup sailor. Intermingling with such diverse backgrounds is stimulating and fascinating.”  Despite the luxurious setting, Linda describes the ambiance as elegant, but not stuffy or elitist. “The average guest age is in the late 50s and on my last crossing, the nightclub was rocking with an ABBA revival until two or three in the morning!”

A complete list of 101 activities aboard a Queen Mary2 Transatlantic Crossing is detailed in a previous two-part blog post but some favorites that bear repeating include:

• The largest library at sea with 8,000 volumes
• The only planetarium at sea
• Three formal balls with a live orchestra and gentlemen hosts to dance with single ladies
• Thought provoking lectures in the Cunard Insights enrichment programs
• The 20,000 square foot Canyon Ranch Spa and full service fitness gym

The Queen Mary 2 Grill Experience

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The Queens Grill and Princess Grill experience is undoubtedly one of the finest pleasures at sea. The Grills are exclusive enclaves of posh staterooms linked to intimate, sophisticated dining rooms. Queens Grill offers full suites and Princess Grill features mini-suite staterooms. Named Best Suites at Sea by concierge.com, they range from a generous 506 square feet to a huge 2,250 square feet in size.  Grill suites have luxurious marble bathrooms and butler service. Champagne and strawberries are in your suite on arrival, along with fresh flowers, personalized stationary and a pillow concierge menu.

Queen Mary 2 Dining Options

All Cunard guests enjoy culinary masterpieces designed by Cunard Executive Chef Jean-Marie Zimmerman, winner of a coveted Michelin star. Guests in the Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites have exclusive access to the most luxurious Queens Grill and superb Princess Grill restaurants, respectively. Single seatings at both allow guests to dine when and with whom they choose. The ambience is formal and private, yet friendly and unhurried, like an exclusive club. Cunard relaxed the Grill’s dinner dress code to a jacket and collared shirt for men, but ties are still ubiquitous. At the Queens Grill restaurant, guests can have absolutely anything they want from the famed a la carte menu and all Grill suite guests can order from the full Grill menu to be served in their suite.

The Britannia Restaurant is an elegant, traditional dining room with a dramatic two-story grand staircase, a stained glass ceiling and fine artwork throughout. Attire is more relaxed, but service is not. Early and late seatings serve sumptuous menus with perfectly attentive service. Guests staying in a Britannia Club Balcony stateroom dine in the intimate, single-seating Britannia Club restaurant.

Culinary celebrity Todd English has designed only two restaurants at sea, both for Cunard – on the QM2 and her sister ship, the Queen Victoria.  Chef English oversees the Mediterranean specialty dishes that are served in an intimate atmosphere. Reservations are required and a surcharge applies.

The Kings Court restaurant is a self-service buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the evenings, it rotates through four venues; Lotus: Asian cuisine, the Carvery: British-style carved roasts, La Piazza: Italian cuisine and the Chef’s Galley: chefs reveal culinary secrets.

Of course, the elegant tradition of Afternoon Tea is a Cunard signature. White-gloved waiters serve tea and finger foods in the beautiful Queens Room ballroom daily as live musicians play classical strains.

A Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing offers timeless ocean travel for those seeking tradition and style befitting the most famous ocean liners in the world. To travel in unhurried elegance, without jetlag, contact Covington Travel to book your Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing.

All photos courtesy of Cunard Cruise Line and may not be used without permission.