67,139 tons
Passengers: 1,750
Crew: 1,004
Length: 963 feet
105 feet at beam
13 decks
Registry: British
Entered service: 1968
Major refit: 1999

Best For People Who Want
lecturers, entertainment choices and extensive fitness facilities.  World cruise passengers who like a larger ship with more extensive entertainment/recreation choices.

Should Be Avoided By People Who Prefer
Newer ships with simple layouts, large inside/outside standard cabins at the lower or mid-price level; high levels of food and service when paying minimum or mid-price fares; balcony cabins in mid-price fares.

Onboard Experience
QE 2 has carried over a million people to all corners of the globe since entering service in 1968.  In November, 2008 she leaves the fleet to become a floating hotel in Dubai.

Queen Elizabeth 2 was originally built as a two class transatlantic vessel with entirely separate areas for each class, but she was converted to a one class vessel years ago. However, depending on your cabin selection you will still experience vastly different levels of accommodations, amenities, food and service. Since she was converted from a true two class vessel to a one class ship, you may find it a bit difficult to navigate her public areas, but there are some spectacular treasures to seek out. Cunard created a "Heritage Trail" aboard the ship and QE 2 is loaded with antiques and mementoes from the great days of transatlantic steamship travel.  Some of QE 2's facilities are quaint a dog kennel and nursery with nanny.

Just get into the atmosphere of the voyage and you'll be very happy you sailed, no matter how miniscule your minimum-grade cabin might be.

Decor
You'll now find rooms brightened by stronger colors and rich fabrics.  Even the ship's pub is classy instead of dour. Beautiful areas, such as the Crystal Bar, with friezes from the original Queen Elizabeth and mementos from the great days of liners are found throughout the ship.

Public Rooms
The Queen's Room, popular during high tea and for evening ballroom dancing; still has those l960's space-age columns throughout, but I loved the Chart Room, with its piano and a large glass chart of the globe -- THE place for hanging about in one's tuxedo. I thought the Yacht Club was stunning -- an oval shaped bar with canvas sails and a large expansive teak deck that by day is used for lectures and at night becomes a disco. One could also spend a great deal of time in the ship's library with its large display of historic maritime material. Harrods is one of the shops onboard, located in the large shopping promenade. The Golden Lion Pub is beautifully decorated with banquettes and furnishings. The Queen's Room has royal blue carpet and re-paneled mahogany walls, graced by the bust of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Grand Lounge, the venue for cabaret and floor shows, although the room has poor sight lines due to a large number of structural posts.

Cuisine
Those that argue that QE 2 is still a multi-class vessel can make a strong case based on dining. Based on what one pays, dining assignments are made in one of five restaurants, each with different levels of cuisine. The ultimate in dining is the Queen's Grill, which specializes in delivering whatever you want whether it is on the menu or not -- service and cuisine are outstanding for the fortunate few who can afford the cabins. The next level includes either the beautiful Princess Grill or Britannia Grill, both lovely with a good-- but not great -- level of service and cuisine. The Caronia Restaurant is the largest of the ship's restaurants. The lovely restaurant where the majority of passengers dine is the Mauritania; the decor sleek art deco with etched glass partitions throughout. We found cuisine and service at higher level than we'd experienced two years ago. For example, each day, several selections are also found on the ritzy Queen's Grill menu. The casual Lido Restaurant's luncheon and buffet was generally good.

Service
In the top-level cabins, the staff is all British and service levels are very high and formal. In other cabin categories, staff is multi-national delivering uneven service   at times professional while occasionally sloppy.

Restaurants
You are assigned to a restaurant based on your room category and each of the four dining rooms have a different menu and ambience. Drop dead gorgeous are QE 2's restaurants. Those paying the top fares dine in either the single, open seating Queen's Grill or Princess Grill. I found the deep red fabrics of the Princess Grill combined with faux bronze statues to be stunning. Tables are widely spaced and there is ample sound-proofing. The Caronia Restaurant is similar to an elegant country house with mahogany trim and beautiful chandeliers while the Mauritania Restaurant and Britannia Grill have an upscale atmosphere.

Entertainment
The ship's orchestra plays music for ballroom dancing in the Queens Room with gentlemen hosts onboard to dance with single ladies. The Chart Room has a resident pianist and classical concerts take place during the cruise. QE2's stage shows are "Broadway bound" productions, fledgling West End and Broadway stage productions. Try your luck in the casino or join in a sing along at the Golden Lion Pub.  The Illuminations enrichment program offers a variety of workshops and computer classes.

Cabins
With 22 categories of staterooms, there are so many variations in size and layout you'll need a good travel agent to find the best cabin you can afford. Two new stunning 777 sq. ft. room suites -- the Carinthia and Caledonia Suites -- were added in the December, 1999 refurbishment.  While they don't have private balconies, the two staterooms are among the most stunning I've seen, with elegant living room, bedroom and two enormous bathrooms. Other top accommodations are located on Signal and Sun Boat decks where you'll find luxurious suites with verandas and butlers. With these and other staterooms, when you pay more, you get more.

Cunard's "deluxe" category staterooms have mini refrigerators. All cabins have television with CNN and movies. If you're booking a minimum category stateroom, be sure to get the square footage to ensure it's large enough to occupy for a crossing. There are four cabins with ramp access for wheelchairs.

Fitness/Spa
Queen Elizabeth 2 has one indoor and one outdoor pool plus a small gym with limited equipment. The spa has huge whirlpool baths that have jets massaging separate areas of the body. Massage and beautifying treatments are available from Steiner's of London (be prepared to be pushed into purchasing their products during massages and other treatments). Jogging is on promenade deck (three times around is a mile); there is a $5 charge for use of the sauna, a practice I haven't encountered aboard any other ship.

Attire
Expect four formal nights on a two-week cruise with other nights designated informal or casual. While tuxes aren't required -- a dark suit is fine -- it's fun to don your finest attire. Daytime attire is casual.

Tipping
Gratuities are automatically charged to your shipboard account for dining room waiter, cabin steward and other personnel. The per person (including children) per day rates are $13 for QE2 and QM2 accommodation with Grill dining; $11 for QE2 and QM2 accommodation with Restaurant dining. Visit the front desk to adjust the amount.

Copyright Anne Campbell, 2008