We have now cruised 18 times and this was the best so far.
We stayed in a Princess Grill Suite which helped make this extra special, it’s a little more than we usually pay but it was well worth it.
It was much more like cruising used to be back when we started and what it was still mostly like pre Covid.
All the bits that have been cut back or cut out by the cruise line we used to use are still available with a Grill Suite on Cunard.
And even when health protocols were introduced, as they have been on every cruise we have done post Covid after only a few days into the cruises, you are still treated like an adult on Cunard as long as you stick to the bars, lounges and restaurants that are only for Suite passengers.
It was very much a ship within a ship.
We had our own table for every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The service was impeccable and the food amazing.
We used the Grills Terrace when the weather permitted and the service there was just as good.
As well as drinks, every hour some form of complimentary food was brought round.
Fruit in the morning, sarnies at 12.30, ice cream at 1.30 and afternoon tea at 3.30.
We tried to say no as much as possible as we were in danger of getting very large.
In the evening we used the Grills Lounge and once again the service was faultless.
After the first night our drinks were made for us even before we had got to our table.
We had the same one every night in this venue also but that was just luck, it’s not guaranteed.
Our Suite was very spacious and clean.
We have never had a bad cabin on a ship or a bad steward and this was no exception.
It was a very plush cabin with a well stocked bar that was replaced as we used it and a large bathroom with a bath that, though not full size, was big enough.
(I’m 6ft tall for reference and it was fine for me).
The soaps and shampoos were all topped up daily.
Our steward was extremely good and had our room done every day by the time we returned from breakfast.
The ship as a hole was actually looking very good for her age.
We have been on younger ships that don’t look as good as QM2 does.
Other than the Grills Suite exclusive areas we only used the theatre and planetarium.
We went to two experiences in Illuminations, (the planetarium), and both were good but maybe a little below expectations.
The Theatre shows also were very good but maybe just a little below what we were expecting.
Still worth a look though and the Theatre company themselves were very good.
We went maybe 4 times in the two week cruise, preferring to spend our evenings in the Grills Lounge.
As mentioned we didn’t use any other venues but they all looked very pleasant when we walked through although getting a seat would have been a problem had we wanted one as all the venues seemed a little small for such a big ship.
The shops were rather expensive so we didn’t buy much and the duty free drinks were more expensive than they are at home in many cases.
We went to the Canary Islands and Madeira, all places we have been before so we really only went for the weather and the ship.
Once we got to Madeira and until we went back through the Bay of Biscay the weather was very good.
Plenty of sunshine and early 20’s temperatures.
Overall it was a great cruise for us, definitely 5 out of 5 and we will be doing it again but I do think that being at the Princess Grill Suite level made all the difference in so many ways.