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M
OVIE icon Cary Grant
described Cunard's grand
Atlantic crossing ocean
liners as "the eighth wonder of the
world".
The luxurious Queen Mary 2,
which takes six days to sail
between Southampton and New
York, ensures all of us mere
mortals can enjoy a share of the
A-list Hollywood treatment.
This ship, which replaced the QE2
in 2004 at a cost of �500million, is
the longest, tallest and most
technologically-advanced vessel at
sea in the world. No need to
worry about icebergs then!
When you board the QM2 at
Southampton, it is very hard not to
drown in nostalgia.
Relaxing violin music and an army
of brightly polished stewards greet
your arrival in the stunning lobby,
with its thick red carpets, sweeping,
varnished staircases and more glass
elevators than Lakeside.
The ship boasts 14 decks and ten
restaurants, offering everything
from snacks and Italian grub to
sushi and other full-blown gourmet
delights, all included in the booking
price.The only thing you have to
pay for is the alcohol.
The QM2 is like a first-class hotel
on water, with 1,300 crew looking
after 2,600 guests.
There are numerous swimming
pools and spas, a huge cinema/
planetarium showing the latest
films, plus a two-tiered theatre,
which wouldn't look out of place in
the West End.
Daily activities include table
tennis, painting classes, classical
recitals and lectures from guest
speakers about topics as diverse as
Bette Davis and Barack Obama.
A gallery of black and white stars
adorns the walls of the ship, which
are a history trail of Cunard's
famous past, from its origins in
1839 as a British transatlantic
steamship service, to the world
cruises it provides today.
If you are thinking about making
your way to America this way, don't
be put off by the dress code.Yes,
you do have to wear a suit to the
top restaurants in the evening, but
during the day, and at other food
venues, shorts and a polo shirt are
the norm.
The most memorable parts of the
voyage are definitely conjured up
by the extravagant QM2 interiors.
There's nothing quite as
therapeutic as sitting in a lounger
on the encircling wooden beams
of deck seven, watching the slow
moving conveyor belt of white
foam-quiffed deep blue ocean
rolling past.
Arriving in NewYork at 5am
under a crimson sky really is
something else � you can't help but
take your place on deck to watch
Manhattan and the Statue of
Liberty slowly glide into view.
The voyage ends with a breakfast
and exit at Brooklyn, before the
return flight to England � or you
can jump back on board for
another dose of A-list treatment.
Prices for a six day cruise and
return flight range from �999 for a
standard inside room to �14,559
for a grand suite. www.cunard.com
Old Hollywood glamour � passengers in their finery
First-class hotel on water � a cabin with deck view

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