5 things you didn’t know about the Queen Mary 2
She’s the grandest dame of the ocean, harking back to the great days of cruising. Here are some incredible facts you may not know about Queen Mary 2.
1. She’s not a cruise ship
The esteemed Queen Mary 2 is actually a traditional ocean liner, not a cruise ship. What’s the difference? An ocean liner is designed to transport passengers from Port A to Port B, like on a Transatlantic crossing. Because they sail through a lot of open ocean they are built with more steel in the hull for strength. A cruise ship is designed to take passengers on a round trip journey that departs from and returns to the one port. Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner in the world that is currently in service.
2. She was a big project
At just over 150,000 tonnes and almost 350 metres long, Queen Mary 2 is a huge vessel. And the construction process was just as huge. Built at the Saint-Nazair shipyard in France, it took 3,000 craftsmen more than eight million hours to build her. All up, around 20,000 people were involved in the design, construction and fit out of Queen Mary 2. The total building cost came to £550 million, which works out to be £210,000 per berth!
3. She’s carried plenty of famous passengers
It’s the ship of choice for royalty, politicians and celebrities. Famous passengers include actors John Cleese, Jane Seymour, Richard Dreyfus, Tilda Swinton and many more. Royals from the UK, Spain and the Middle East have travelled on the famous ship, as well as countless authors and journalists. You’ll be walking in the footsteps of the greats.
4. She has some unique features onboard
Queen Mary 2 is stocked with first-at-sea features you won’t find on any other ship. In partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society, the ship has the only planetarium at sea where guests can watch illuminated displays that make them feel like they are right amongst the stars. The huge library is the largest on the water and holds more than 10,000 books. Then there’s the traditional promenade deck that circles the ship, inspired by historic ocean liners like the Titanic.
5. She’s the world’s only pet-friendly ship
If you want to cruise with your dog or cat, this is the only way to do it. Queen Mary 2 has the only kennels at sea, which operate on its Transatlantic voyages. Pets will be cared for by a dedicated kennel master and there’s even a special place for them to be walked on deck. Plus they are given adorable lifejackets to keep them safe.
Have you ever cruised with the Queen Mary 2? Do you have any holidays on the cards? Let us know in the comments!
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