Four words spluttered out of my mouth when I rounded the N2 flyover heading into Cape Town and first saw the Cunard Queen Mary 2 moored in Table Bay Harbour: Big. Very, very big. At 72 metres high, spanning 13 decks and stretching 342 metres from bow to stern, the QM2 (as she’s affectionately known) had already rendered me inarticulate, and we hadn’t even met yet.
Nonetheless, two days later I set off on a four-day cruise from Cape Town to Walvis Bay on the sea-going equivalent of the Orient Express, a bum-in-the-butter introduction to the world of cruising for a newbie. It’s difficult to describe everything on board. It’s just that big and there is just so much going on. In fact, with just four days on board it was difficult to even get to see everything, but I tried (check out the July issue of Getaway magazine for the full story).
Sleek but imposing, two funnels stand tall on the aft section of the liner.
Like I said, the Queen Mary 2 is big. Very very big.
The Grand Lobby on the QM2 is just a taste of the wild opulence to come.
The semi-spiralled staircase that winds it's way down into the Grand Lobby looks like something out of a period film.
The two-tiered, aristocratic Britannia Dining Room is a sight in itself. Add to that the pomp of dining at sea and you have a scene straight off the Titanic.
Outside Illuminations, the only planetarium at sea, sculptured greek gods strike poses on the stairs.
... and in the walls.
With five pools of varying sizes (and temperatures), the aft decks on the Queen Mary 2 are definitely the place to be when the sun is out.
On sunny days guests flock to the decks to soak up the sun, getting there early ensures you a good spot.
The tranquil Winter Room, forward of the King's Grill, is the best place to chill when the buffet halls get too packed.
Fashioned in a likeness of her predecessor's bow (The Queen Mary), the QM2's constanzi stern structure gives it a rather bulbous aft.
Activities include everything from tennis, golf (in nets) and shuffleboard to walks and measured running routes.
Best thing to do sunny days? Grab a book, hit the deck and catch some rays.
Due to the height of the vessel, the main funnel was designed differently to (and shorter than) her predeccesors to allow her to navigate under bridges
Smart design: a bridge screen and a wrap-around deck allows passengers to completely circumnavigate the deck while protected from the strong winds.
Why go an cruise?
I considered this question for a while. A cruise can be pricey and not really in range for most younger travellers. I’ve always been of the attitude to rather pay less on transport and get to where I’m going with some spending money. But that’s when the pragmatic beauty of cruising struck me. We were travelling, yet we weren’t travelling at all. A cruise ship is a destination in itself. Unlike travelling on land, once you arrive on a cruise ship you’re already where you’re supposed to be, until you get to where you’re going. If that makes sense. Factoring all that in, I found that a cruise is not as pricey as I first thought.
At about R2 000 a person a night (varies by location and season), including flights, full board, transfers and hotel accommodation in port, a cruise actually costs less than half of what a holiday at a luxury lodge in the Kruger would. Sure, it’s still a large chunk of cash, but for five-star treatment like that it’s good value for money and, depending on where in the world you go, could be more affordable than paying for hotels, flights and transport individually.
If you’re interested in a Queen Mary 2 cruise, or cruising in general, give Imagine Cruising a call on 0861 555 274 or visit cruises.getaway.co.za and compare it to what you think you’d spend on a luxury holiday. I’m not saying it’s something you should definitely do, I’m just saying you might be surprised.
Main image: Cunard stock
