Travel in style and comfort on the Queen Mary 2. Picture: Supplied Source: National Features
The Queen Mary 2 draws many onlookers wherever it berths. Picture: Supplied Source: National Features
"BE BACK before this song ends!" The command from my wife as I took a comfort stop from dancing in the grand ballroom of Cunard's majestic ocean liner Queen Mary 2 carried hidden meaning.
By the time I had spent a penny, adjusted my bow tie and returned to our table, the orchestra had launched into a new song and my ball-gowned wife was gone, swept up in the arms of another man. At this point I roared with laughter and gave her a wink, which she returned with a glance suggesting "you'll keep".
One of the many splendid touches on the regal QM2 is the "dancing men" as we christened them - a handful of immaculately dressed, mature gentlemen on hand in the ballroom to ensure any woman wanting a dancing partner has one.
These debonair dancers are quick to ensure any woman sitting alone is courteously asked if she would care to dance - hence my normally dance-shy wife whirling around the dance floor.
However, there is nothing suggestive about these Fred Astaires. My wife played journalist to ask the hard questions while dancing to discover there are strict rules that go with the job, ranging from placement of hands on partners through to absolutely no funny business when the music stops.
For single women on the cruise these skilled dancers are a godsend when they want a whirl around the dance floor, although my wife's dancing man did confide that he had to be wary of "husband hunters".
Life in the ballroom, orchestra and all, is just part of the experience that is the QM2. Cunard's flagship, a large lady at 151,400 tonnes and 14 decks.
In an era where "15 minutes of fame" is a drawcard the ship is genuinely famous. When it returns to Australia on March 2 - calling at Cairns then Brisbane and Sydney before its first circumnavigation of New Zealand - there no doubt will be crowds at the waterfront curious for a look, despite it visiting Australia previously. It has that effect.
QM2 returns to Sydney on March 19 followed by calls at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. For those who "but see her passing by" it will be a symbol of the grandeur of cruising, rather than just a ship or a way from port A to B.
For those onboard it will be an aristocratic way to travel, especially passengers on the sold-out, 12-night circumnavigation of New Zealand.
Cunard really does cash in on the heritage that the line's name embodies, with the QM2 rich in the nostalgia and tradition of the golden age of ocean liners.
A room key is a chance to step into an atmosphere reminiscent of when movie stars and millionaires used ships as their preferred form of travel, when glamour ruled travel - before the era of trakky dacks on planes.
The Art Deco design, the artwork and the traditions, such as daily high tea, set the tone aboard a 345m-long ship that takes several days to explore.
There are 16 restaurants and bars, including the fine-dining Todd English and a 24-hour buffet; five pools and an 1100-seat theatre to enjoy top-shelf performers.
For exercise there is a basketball court, golf simulator and gym; for the more sedentary there is the largest library at sea, boutiques selling top designer brands and even a planetarium.
While the ship is noble it is not pompous. Guests are made to feel welcome regardless of background, for while this ship does carry the rich and titled it also carries many guests eager to sample life on the regal side.
That includes abiding by the dress code. While by day it is casual, by night the code varies from formal (black tie) to semi-formal (jacket and tie for men) to elegant casual (jacket but no tie). No jeans, no shorts.
While that may not suit everyone, people tend to travel on the QM2 partly for the experience of dressing up at night and feeling a little special.
On formal nights some of the ball gowns and jewellery of the women passengers are nothing less than stunning, while the men, like me, can get away with seeing if they can squeeze into their tuxedoes.
The British heritage extends to a slight class system. Passengers who pay for the upper-class cabins have access to exclusive lounges and either the Queens Grill, Princess Grill or Britannia Club restaurants for meals.
For my money, the two-storey Britannia Restaurant, where most passengers dine in two sittings each evening, was excellent.
The Golden Lion pub proved a great place for a pint, a game of darts and karaoke; the Chart Room is ideal for jazz; the Winter Garden great for an afternoon snooze near the pianist; while a bubbly in the Champagne Bar is a perfect setting for a string quartet.
The New Zealand circumnavigation will have plenty to keep passengers busy, with calls at places such as Bay of Islands and Milford Sound.
However, for those who view the ship as the destination there is plenty of onboard entertainment during the day to keep them occupied.
Trivia quizzes, dancing lessons, guest lectures, computer courses, cards, poolside bands, spa treatments, internet cafe ...
It now includes a behind-the-scenes tour where the curious can have a peek at places such as the bridge, the galleys, the medical centre and waste recycling centre, to get an idea of the enormous logistics in play.
At night, entertainment on a ship this large includes gala performances in the theatre, plenty of music in various bars and lounges throughout the ship and, of course, events in the impressive Queens Room ballroom ranging from themed balls to big bands belting out toe-tapping tunes.
When you're dressed in black tie, it is the sort of place that turns a night out into one enchanted evening; and if you are a single woman there is a dancing man on hand to ensure you can dance the night away.
The writer was a guest of Cunard.
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QUEEN MARY 2
Queen Mary 2 returns to Australia in February-March next year for a circumnavigation that will call at eight ports.
Full circumnavigations are available from Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which will all enjoy two visits from the liner.
A 22-day circumnavigation from Fremantle, departing February 12, costs from $6499 a person, twin share; a 23-day circumnavigation from Melbourne, departing February 17 is priced from $6799 a person, twin share; a 23-day circumnavigation from Sydney departing February 19 is priced from $5689 a person, twin share; a 23-day circumnavigation from Brisbane departing February 21 is priced from $6799 a person, twin share.
Ph 13 24 41 or see cunard.com
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