Following Queen Mary 2’s recently completed refurbishment, there is now increased connectivity throughout the ship. In these days of instant communication, guests can now access their emails or websites while aboard the ship as easily as in the comfort of their own home. This makes a voyage on Queen Mary 2, and especially a Transatlantic Crossing, a real opportunity for those who want to get away from it all and still be able to get in touch whenever they want to for personal or business reasons.
Guests have the convenience of using their laptop computers in the privacy and comfort of their staterooms with the addition of in-room wireless connectivity. In addition, mobile phone and handheld service while the ship is at sea is now available. The upgrades enhance the ship’s already existing high technology services, which include WiFi accessibility found in public rooms throughout the ship. Sister ship Queen Victoria already offers these services.
To use mobile phones at sea, guests must have a device capable of roaming internationally and their service provider must have a roaming agreement with Maritime Communications Partner AS, as does AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint. Cunard encourages guests to contact their mobile phone/handheld service provider in advance of the voyage’s departure date to verify their plan for pricing and international roaming capabilities. All mobile phone/handheld data charges will be conveniently billed by the service provider. Charges generated by guests using their laptop computers who register onboard for wireless access packages will be billed to their stateroom folios - standard shipboard Internet charges apply.
This is available in most areas around the ship; however, similar to fine restaurants and theatres on land, mobile phone service will not be accessible in the Royal Court Theatre, Illuminations, the Queens Room or in the ship’s dining rooms.
Queen Mary 2’s dry dock has allowed Cunard to ensure the ship is looking pristine for her fifth anniversary year with a new refurbishment of the nautically themed Chart Room, featuring a new colour scheme and layout, carpet, drapes and furniture; the installation of a canopy providing a wonderful al fresco dining option for our Todd English Restaurant guests; and the replacement of some stateroom corridor carpets as well as French polishing and upholstery work in the Britannia restaurant, Royal Court Theatre and Canyon Ranch SpaClub.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Cunard Cruise Lines Posted by Michael on 11/10/08
Cunard Line has unveiled plans to mark QE2’s final departure from her home port of Southampton, England on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. During QE2’s many years in Cunard’s service, the iconic ocean liner has sailed 5.9 million nautical miles, completed 806 transatlantic crossings, carried over 2.5 million guests, undertaken 25 World Cruises and answered her country’s call during the Falklands Campaign. Her new home will be in Dubai where she will become a first class hotel and entertainment centre.
The highlight of the day will be a farewell visit by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, his seventh visit to the most famous ship in the world. While onboard, His Royal Highness will observe two minutes of silence at 11:00am prior to meeting crew members who served on the ship to the Falklands. His Royal Highness will then tour the vessel, including the Wardroom, Bridge, Engine Control Room and Hospital, before attending a reception in the Queens Room.
At the reception, His Royal Highness will present the painting of QE2 that was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen during her farewell visit to the ship on June 2, 2008, to the Mayor of Southampton, who will accept it on behalf of the city. Also at the reception he will meet long-serving staff as well as the former Captains of HMS Ardent, Antelope and Coventry whose ships were lost in the Falklands Campaign and who returned to the UK on QE2. After lunch His Royal Highness will watch a flypast by a Harrier jet from the aft decks.
People from all over the country are expected to travel to Southampton to say goodbye to QE2. She will arrive alongside her berth at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at just after 6:30am, where she will remain until her departure at 7:15pm.
At 11:00am, one million poppies will be dropped over the ship from a Tiger Moth aircraft to commemorate Remembrance Day, mark QE2’s role in the Falklands, and note her final farewell on this day. This will be followed at 1:40pm by a flypast of a Harrier jet which will hover and bow to QE2 approximately 500-feet off her stern.
QE2 is planned to leave her berth at 7:15pm and proceed astern to be off Mayflower Park where she will remain while a pre-recorded message from her Master, Captain Ian McNaught, will be broadcast on a specially-erected screen in the park. A spectacular firework display will immediately follow. QE2 will then proceed downriver with her whistle blasting, accompanied by a large flotilla. Just before 8:00pm, she will pass the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal for the final time and make her way down Southampton Water en route to Dubai.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Cunard Cruise Lines Posted by Michael on 11/03/08
Just a quick news show this week. After the long show we did last week we decided to put a quick show out this week.
This past few weeks we’ve had the final Oasis of The Seas reveal, and some itinerary shifts from Carnival. NCL has joined the crowd dropping fuel supplements, and Ambassador’s International says that they haven’t had a serious buyer for Majestic America Line.
MSC is looking for a long term agreement with Port Everglades and Celebrity Solstice arrived in Port Evergaldes this morning.
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Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Majestic America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Podcast, Royal Caribbean International Posted by Michael on 10/23/08
No we haven’t abandoned the show! It’s taken us a bit to collect our thoughts after this whirlwind trip.
There was so much to talk about we divided the trip into two different shows. This one is the shorter of the two. On this show we talk about the ship and the impression we had of it.
There was a change in the sailing from what had been planned, we talk about that and our first port call. Watch for the second show where we talk about the rest of the trip - it’s also a much longer show….
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Cunard Cruise Lines, Podcast Posted by Michael on 10/13/08
Video number 2 is of one of the biggest receptions that we got the entire trip. An estimated 60,000 people turned out to see the ship!
Besides the large turnout to welcome us, Cunard held a special concert at the local cathedrial (sorry no video of that) and there were fireworks to send us off. Of the three ports that put on fireworks for us, Liverpools was the best and we were in a perfect spot to see them.
This video is a taste of the welcome we received in Liverpool and the entire fireworks display.
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