Cunard QM2

There is a hint of what is to follow, when entering the cabin, or "Stateroom" as Cunard would call it. On the table is a half bottle of wine in an ice cooler with a card: "This Champange is served with the compliments of the Captain and the Management of Cunard Line." Very nice, except the Champange is Blanc de Blanc! The same wine was also given at the "Champagne Auction". My Mother was given a whole bottle of genuine Champagne on her first cruise with Saga!

Just picture the unrivaled splendour of your voyage on the luxurious Cunard Queen Mary 2. Six nights aboard this wonderful ship will sweep all those cobwebs away.

The Greatest Ocean Liner Ever is the Queen Mary 2.

Traverse the mighty Atlantic in 5 stars Luxury.

Set out from Southampton on your 6 night, 4000 mile journey across the Atlantic. New York is the destination, New York from the Air is special, but from the Sea it is just exhilarating.

If you are one of the lucky ones to sail on this Ocean Liner, Then let's see what you have let yourself in for!

Aboard the Queen Mary 2, 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall (1248 ft.) Britannia Restaurant: QM2's main dining room: Make a grand descent down the sweeping stairway of the splendid, 3-story Britannia Restaurant, Restaurants; include Princess & Queens Grill Restaurant; Todd English; Kings Court; Golden Lion English Pub; Boardwalk Caf ; Winter Garden. Asian; Italian Trattoria; American; English; Indian.

Ladies and gentlemen welcome aboard the QM2, shortly we will be asking everyone to join us in the winter garden, and I questioned what for, imagining that winter garden was actually on deck, I knew it was raining hard to! After several attempts of finding our way through the maze to winter garden,

we followed the many signs and eventually arrived in winter garden room. We were overwhelmed by the sea of orange life jackets. I soon realised it was the ships safety drill and we really did look a portrait wearing our orange jackets!

Will we find our way back to our room, so many staircases and so many symbols telling you which floor and which direction to go?

I don't know what royalty feels like but my guess is, this comes very close; if not better.

Remember the last time you were rocked to sleep? It's only on day 2 you soon realise why you are sleepy and tired.

With the boats movement, it speaks for itself.

When you wake at first light; that's if you can, you can workout in the gym whilst watching the sunrise across the never ending ocean and after your workout you can then pamper yourself in the Cannon Ranch Spa Club.

Breakfast time and I may be able too have some extra this morning. Well I have done my workout.

We approached the overloaded breakfast counter and tried to make the guy in front feel guilty, loading his plate with a bigger breakfast than Everest.

Making him feel guilty with our choice of fruit and yogurts, after our first course we soon fell into the trap of returning for more and not satisfied with our fruit, we started to fill our plates once more but this time we were braver, we too thought of Everest. Once you have started you cannot stop. Well it is all free!

We had heard about the art auction being held in the Art gallery and were due to start. So after our fill, we made our way through the many corridors towards the art gallery. Do I take 200 pounds, £300, £400? I soon realised that these prices were way out of my reach; I could not bring myself to pay £1000 for a piece of art work, I only had £2000 pounds for my 3 week holiday in the US.

I soon found out £1000 pounds was the least that someone had paid. The Rembrandts went for, well?

Our next stop was the lunch time show in the Royal Court Theatre and I did think to myself, well its most probably going to be a bit of a amateur show.

I have never eaten this many words all at once and choked on them.

I was mistaken and these shows are not to be missed! That's if you have the will power to avoid all the other activities en-route.

Still stuffed from breakfast and lunch, we were about to endure dinner but we needed to retreat to base and dole ourselves up for the formal gathering, this was the ships rule; first and last night informal; in-between formal.

Tuxedos at the ready and off we go for dinner, feeling like a million dollars in the sea-view restaurant.

We sat down for our food and before we knew it we had waiters coming from all directions, white suits and white cloths hanging from their wrists, jug in one hand and 5 plates in the other. It felt like we were at the Billy smart circus.

Sitting and Swaying from side to side, so the waiter could serve our nosh. I felt dizzy. After dinner we headed towards the ballroom for a Foxtrot and Rumba and to show off our tuxedo and gowns.

Good evening the captain spoke, what do I do now I questioned myself. After shaking the captain's hand, we were in the ballroom.

Welcome to the largest ballroom ever to sail the seas.

The band played on and on and on and the band needed to, I just managed to find enough coppers for our drinks, at £5 a drink.

Yes you do have to pay for your drinks!

That's not quite true though; you do have a £125 token given to you prior to your departure and that's each,

I was on a role at this point and trying to absorb all the activities I had done during the day with my trousers at bursting point, with just enough breathing space for my Sony digital camera.

Choked by my collar and tie, I danced the night away and towards the end I was thinking, let me get out of these clothes I am feeling really fat!

Unknown to my knowledge, my wife and daughter had ventured into the G4 night club that was sited at the rear of the ship.

Again I danced and danced so much, I felt that I was on a ship!

I tried to co-ordinate my dance steps with the swaying of the ship and my jerks with the ship hitting a wave.

It did not matter if you had overdone it with the booze, because no one would ever know any different.

Enough is enough! It's 02:00am and we have had much fun throughout the day and it's time for that old fashioned cup of tea, let's stop for a drink. We did, with a chicken roast and side salad, followed by death by chocolate gateaux.

My room was just a cough and a spit away and I could not even get there without our last avalanche of food and I am only on my second day. So far yet so close!

I was really worried by now and I knew I could not eat this much food the next day without ending up in casualty. I had only tried out 2 of the 9 restaurants, oh dear!

Where can you go and enjoy life in 5 star luxury; eat as much as you want, dress up like a king and see a different top musical show every day for 6 days; pamper your self in the spa; take any educational course possible; try your luck in the casino; dance the night away in the disco or ballroom? Where else can you ride the waves either on deck or in the planetarium; swim whilst listening to a Caribbean band; shop till you drop and eat some of the most consistently nice food in the world?

Dining is a celebration where superb culinary creations are served by waiters trained in the fine art of food. Make a sweeping entrance all dressed up in your finery. Take your seat!

There is a team of outstanding chefs and 10 restaurants:

Art Gallery | Atlantic Room | Bookstore | Canyon Ranch Spa Club | Chart Room

Commodore Club | Computer Centre | Empire Casino | Image Gallery | Swimming Pools | Golden Lion Pub | G32 | Grand Lobby | Illuminations' | Library | Maritime Quest | Mayfair Shops | Queens Room | Royal Court Theatre | Sir Samuel's | Sports Decks| The Zone/The Play Zone | Venue Clique | Champagne Bar

Return flight back included in the price. And my price was £700 pounds! 6 days of luxury 5 star living and top entertainments. I went in May 2006 and I recommend this trip of a lifetime!