Queen Mary 2 Cruise Ship Review

The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship is, quite simply, one of the most magnificent passenger ocean liners to ever take to the waves. The statistics of this extraordinary ships are mightily impressive; she is 1,132 feet long, 236.2 feet high and weighs approximately 151,400 gross tonnes. The cost to build was over $800 million, making the Queen Mary cruise ship one of the most expensive of all times.

There is a maximum of 3,056 berths on board, and the ship is staffed by 1,253 members of staff. This cruise ship was the successor to the Queen Mary cruise ship, which sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. The Queen Mary 2 was built in 2003, and is currently the flagship for established and prestigious liner company Cunard.

The name of Mary, used for both the original Queen Mary and her successor, comes from Mary of Teck, who was Queen Consort to George V. Like her predecessor, this Queen Mary sails the transatlantic route.

One of the more interesting design specifications is how she is powered. Unlike most ships of her size, this cruise ship is not a steam liner, but is instead powered by gas turbines and diesel engines which help make her one of the most environmentally friendly ships currently crossing the ocean. These engines also help make her one of the fastest cruise ships, with a top speed of 35 knots (some 35 miles per hour).

The Queen Mary 2 completed her sea trials between September and November 2003, between Saint Nazaire and the off-shore islands of Ile d’Yeu and Belle-Ill. However, an accident during the final stages of construction – where a gangway fell over – cost 16 lives. Nevertheless, this ship was completed on schedule and took to the seas for her maiden voyage on 12th January 2004.

The liner, despite it’s youth, has an interesting history. In 2004, the Queen Mary 2 sailed to Athens, docking at Piraeus. She was used for two weeks as a hotel ship during the Athens Olympics, and the likes of British prime minister Tony Blair, US President George W Bush and French President Jacques Chirac stayed aboard.

This cruise ship also has a unique place in popular culture. In 2005, the liner crossed the Atlantic carrying the first US copy of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price’, signed by author JK Rowling, in a locked steam trunk. Owners Cunard claim this to be the first time a book has travelled to an international release on an ocean liner.

For anyone travelling on the Queen Mary 2 – and not just well-known wizard stories – the experience is full of luxury and opulence beyond their wildest dreams. The ship boasts 15 restaurants and bars, five swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theatre, an art gallery, a computer store, several spas and a planetarium. All of this combines to make the Queen Mary 2 an experience no one will ever forget.

Caterina Christakos is a published author and reviewer. Read her latest reviews of ojon hair products and phyto hair products.

Author: Caterina Christakos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Gadget reviews