• Thursday 18 September 2025

This week our cruise team went onboard the iconic Queen Mary 2. Read cruise manager Ken's blog about the experience:

Cunard Cruise Line offers an elevated cruising experience. Click here to take a look at some of our favourite Cunard itineraries- after you read Ken's blog of course!

Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 is unlike any other cruise experience, largely because she isn’t just a cruise ship- she’s a true ocean liner, purpose-built to cross the Atlantic in style and stability. From the moment you step aboard, the ship feels both grand and reassuringly solid, with an elegance that reflects Cunard’s heritage.

The design blends Art Deco touches with modern comfort. Public areas such as the Grand Lobby, the Britannia Restaurant, and the Chart Room bar are as much about atmosphere as they are about service, and the attention to detail shows in the polished wood, sweeping staircases, and tasteful décor.

Unlike some mega-ships that feel like floating resorts, the Queen Mary 2 has a sense of tradition that makes the voyage feel more like a journey than a holiday. One of the highlights for me was the scale of the ship itself... at over 1,100 feet long, she never feels crowded.

Dining is varied and refined. The Britannia Restaurant delivers a classic multi-course experience, while specialty venues like the Verandah offer a more intimate, fine-dining atmosphere. Afternoon tea in the Queen’s Room, complete with white-gloved service and a live string quartet, is a ritual worth experiencing.

For enrichment, the ship excels. The planetarium, unique at sea, offers an unexpected window into the cosmos. Guest lecturers, classical concerts, and a well-stocked library provide a cultured edge to the voyage, appealing to those who prefer substance over non-stop poolside entertainment.

Cabins are comfortable rather than flashy, designed more for practicality and quiet luxury than spectacle. The sheltered balconies are particularly suited to transatlantic crossings, allowing you to enjoy fresh air even when the weather isn’t ideal.

What truly sets the Queen Mary 2 apart, though, is the sense of occasion, echoing the golden era of ocean travel. She is not about gimmicks or excess, but about refinement, service, and the romance of the sea.

The Queen Mary 2 is ideal for travellers who value elegance, history, and the experience of the voyage itself as much as the destination. She is less a floating theme park and more a modern classic- a rare ship where time slows down and the journey becomes the highlight.

Click here to visit our Cunard Cruise Line page.

Want to speak with us? Ken and the cruise team are here to answer any questions you have.

021 493 5806 or 0818 300 205
cruise@shandontravel.ie