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Aboard the Queen Mary 2 Friday January 30, 2004 Raye & Marty Trencher

There she was, the breathtaking Queen Mary 2 docked at the pier in Fort Lauderdale. Travel agent, media tours and a charity event are planned onboard today before the ship sails on its first Caribbean voyage Saturday.  We were there to take in all the splendor, grace and elegance of this brand-new $800 million ocean liner.

The ship sets a number of records – notably for the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive. It's 1,132 feet long -- more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall – the QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and 236 feet high, about the height of a 23-story building. It weighs about 151,400 long tons -- the largest of any cruise ship. The ship is called Queen Mary 2, abbreviated to QM2, in honor of her famous transatlantic predecessor Queen Mary which came into service in 1936. She carries the Arabic 2 (two) rather than the Roman numeral II (second) because it refers to a second ship rather than the monarch.

Once onboard, we first noticed the displays that recall the grandeur of past Cunard ocean liners, with the on the wall artwork that lines the public room corridors, the elevator foyers, and other passageways. There are several historical wall panels using text, drawings, paintings and illustration. Original paintings, and photos of original paintings, line the stairs and passageways.  Renowned international artists were commissioned to produce over 300 original works of art valued at over $5 million. For history buffs, the museum-quality Maritime Quest exhibit is a fascinating tour that takes you back to the golden era of transatlantic cruising.

With a passenger capacity of 2,620, QM2's sheer size allows for a variety of activities. You can enjoy the rejuvenating treatments of the world-renowned Canyon Ranch Spa. If you're into health and fitness, there's a state-of-the-art gym including a separate weight room. Or how about a visit to the planetarium? A wine tasting seminar? Or a walk down history lane at the Maritime Quest Exhibit? QM2's is a veritable city at sea, with everything from virtual reality golf, a basketball court to a book shop… even a kennel so you can bring your best friend along.

The promenade deck, is one of the most spacious afloat, with three loops adding up to 1.1 miles. The promenade deck has more than 300 wooden deck chairs. Other decks have sectioned areas and wind screens. There are five pools, hot tubs, ping pong, a golf driving range, basketball and shuffleboard courts.

There are ten restaurants, 14 bars and clubs, a library, theater, pools, a disco and casino. Elevators -- 22 of them -- will ferry you from floor to floor. The 1,310 cabins include duplexes with private gymnasiums and penthouses with butler service.

When the stars come out, you can picture the elegant gowns. Black tie and tails. Champagne and caviar. Dancers can sweep across the largest ballroom at sea. Hors d'oeuvres are served in Sir Samuel's wine bar, jazz in the Commodore Club, West End-caliber shows in the Royal Court Theatre or spin over to the casino with its tuxedoed croupiers. Head down to the G32 disco, or retire to the Chart Room and enjoy cabaret tunes.

Dining has always been the premier event of any cruise, a daily celebration where superb culinary creations are proudly served by waiters trained in the fine art of Cunard White Star Service . Clearly, based on the lunch we were served, the QM2 lavish dining is the centerpiece of the QM2 experience, as well - with unique menus and venues.

There are 10 restaurants in all, a team of chefs that includes culinary advisor Daniel Boulud, one of the world's most famous chefs, and the celebrated Mediterranean and TV culinary luminary Todd English.

As with the custom of ocean liners in the past, each QM2 stateroom is matched with a reserved table at a sea-view restaurant, complemented by the largest wine selection afloat. Of course, you can always make reservations at one of the many optional dining alternatives. Or don't dine out - dine in! Room service is available 24 hours a day.

The Britannia Restaurant is QM2's main dining room. It is a stunning 3-story restaurant, reminiscent of the opulent dining salons of the past. The grand sweeping staircase creates a dramatic showcase for those wishing to make the ultimate entrance.  

The Princess & Queens Grill Restaurants, for those Queens Grill passengers staying in one of the Q categories, or the Princess Grill for P category guests.

You also have a choice of dining alternatives. You can make reservations at the Todd English restaurant and enjoy delectable Mediterranean cuisine -- al fresco if you choose. Owner of the internationally famous Olives of Boston among others, Todd English, is one of America's leading chefs. He has been named both "Rising Star Chef" and "Best Chef: Northeast" by the James Beard Foundation, received the Robert Mondavi Award for Culinary Excellence and was named one of the "Top 50 Tastemakers" by Nation's Restaurant News. Chef English has appeared in numerous television shows including his own TV series Cooking in with Todd English. And he's more than a great chef. In 2001, English was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."

You can enjoy a casual breakfast or lunch in Kings Court. At night it is transformed into four intimate dining venues: an Asian restaurant, an Italian trattoria, the Carvery, and the Chef's Galley, where in a festive atmosphere, you can enjoy an interactive experience as the chef reveals his culinary secrets before your very eyes.

Fine lagers, ales and pub snacks are served in a British pub where you can enjoy a pint and watch televised sporting events. Enjoy lunch at the Boardwalk Café , a casual eatery near the pool - in your bathing suit if you choose.

A proper British afternoon tea can be taken in the Winter Garden or Queens Grill Lounge. Naturally it's served freshly brewed (no tea bags here), complete with scones, clotted cream, fresh pastries, finger sandwiches and white glove service.

You can expect to find rich furnishings, exquisite traditional décor and premium amenities such as a fluffy bathrobe and slippers in your accommodations aboard QM2. You can receive and send e-mails, choose from dozens of movies, review a seminar you might have missed or sign up for shore excursions - right from the comfort of your stateroom through the interactive television. QM2's blend of grand elegance and innovative technology is re-interpreted on a quieter, more personal scale in these beautiful sanctuaries by the sea. Nearly 80% of staterooms have ocean views and over 94% of these feature spacious balconies. Standard amenities include interactive TV with multi-language film and music channels, data port outlet, refrigerator, hair dryer, bathrobe and slippers, a safe and 110/220-volt outlets.

Standard staterooms are anything but ordinary. They're spacious and gracious. The smallest measuring almost 200 square feet is more like a "deluxe" guestroom on ordinary ships. And they're beautifully decorated with fine prints on the walls, soft colors on the sofas and coverlets and turndown service when it's time to retire. Inside and ocean view staterooms are 194sq.ft Deluxe and premium staterooms are 248sq. ft with balcony. Guests in these accommodations have a reserved table in the Britannia Restaurant or they can choose one of the many alternative dining venues.

QM2's most lavish Grill accommodations are unrivaled at sea. Here a concierge and a personal butler anticipate your needs and comply with the utmost speed and efficiency. Lavish amenities include marble baths with whirlpool tubs, walk-in closets, en-suite bars stocked with selected spirits or wine and soft drinks, fresh flowers and pre-dinner canapés.

The enormous Grand Duplexes include sweeping living quarters and an expansive balcony downstairs, a luxurious master bedroom upstairs, two marble baths with separate whirlpool tub and shower, a guest bathroom with shower, and private exercise equipment. The three Duplex Apartments feature the same amenities with smaller balconies. Choose the Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth Suites located all the way forward and enjoy commanding ocean views, two full baths and even your own private elevator access. And if you're in need of even more room, you can combine these two suites with the adjacent Royal Suites to create magnificent living quarters totaling nearly 3,800 square feet.

Princess Grill accommodations, 381 sq. ft , are all located on Deck 10. These spacious Junior Suites feature a large balcony, bath with tub and shower, sitting area with a full-size sofa, interactive TV, walk-in closet and a concierge in addition to your cabin steward for flawless service.

Then there is the QM2’s afternoon tea service, with white-glove service, as sandwiches, pastries and scones are served to the accompaniment of a string quartet.

On the QM2 there is a sea-going planetarium show! Here you can take a virtual ride into outer space, view the stars and other visual spectacles or take a course on celestial navigation in Illuminations, QM2's full-scale planetarium. The seats in the Illuminations Theater recline to allow you to look upward into the sky dome. Illuminations functions as a grand cinema, a 500-seat lecture hall and even a broadcasting studio.

QM2's cultural enrichment program includes seven classrooms and a 500-seat auditorium where you can attend workshops, seminars and lectures presenting a fusion of perspectives from the world's premier cultural hotspots: New York and London. Classes range from fashion to foreign languages, watercolor techniques to period furniture.

The QM2 was designed to accommodate all the ages. You can feel comfortable taking your children or grandchildren along, The Play Zone is a camp for children 2 - 7 years old. A separate facility, The Zone, provides hours of supervised entertainment and activities for children 8- 12 years old. The area includes the Minnows splash pool and real English nannies for the toddlers. And it's equipped with an array of toys and activities from board games to computer terminals with all kinds of learning adventures, so that while kids are doing their thing, adults have some quality time alone.

The library and book shop are unique on the high seas. as they contain nearly 8,000 books to choose from. The shop sells ocean liner books and videos, postcards, posters, and souvenir items. Internet service is also available. Rates are 50 cents a minute, dropping to 25 cents when buying a package. Internet Guests can surf the web, check e-mail or even transmit a video postcard to friends and family back home. They can take classes in the Computer Centre, or bring their own laptop; every stateroom has direct Internet access.

Canyon Ranch Spa, is the largest at sea. This highly acclaimed health resort company has elevated the spa experience to an entirely new plane with life-changing programs from stress-relief classes to workshops on diet, healthy aging and disease prevention. 51 Canyon Ranch health and wellness experts work in QM2's 20,000 square foot facility which includes 24 treatment rooms, a thalassotherapy pool with deluge waterfall, a whirlpool, thermal suite with both herbal and Finnish saunas, reflexology basins and an aromatic steam room.

QM2 will spend her inaugural year in Europe, the Americas and crossing the Atlantic. Following her maiden voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, she'll winter in the Caribbean and visit Rio during Carnival. In April, QM2 will make her maiden 6-day eastbound Transatlantic crossing in tandem with her royal sister QE2. It will be an historic occasion, the first time two Queens have greeted each other in the North Atlantic since Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary in 1967.

Throughout the year, QM2 will cross the Atlantic 14 more times including a magnificent Three Continents Cruise. You'll also see her sailing through the fjords of Norway, the Mediterranean, and along the rugged shores of New England and Canada.