Overview of the Queen Mary 2 (QM2)-We embark tomorrow

With a passenger capacity of 2,620, QM2's size allows a great variety of passenger amenities. Almost everything you could want on a cruise ship can be found on the QM2. For those who want to be pampered and rejuvenated, the ship features the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®. Athletes can play basketball or virtual reality golf, and a state-of-the-art gym includes a separate weight room. The Cunard ConneXionsSM is almost like a college at sea, taking into account, of course, that you're on vacation. The QM2 even has some features new to cruising such as a planetarium and a look at marine history in the Maritime Quest Exhibit. QM2 even lets you bring your dog along and board him in an onboard kennel.

Nighttime on the QM2 is elegant, and the ship plays host to formal gatherings in the evenings. After dinner entertainment includes dancing in the largest ballroom at sea, jazz in the Commodore Club, a casino, caberet singing in the Chart Room, and West End-caliber shows in the Royal Court Theatre.

Some of the traditional Cunard hallmarks are found throughout the Queen Mary 2 -- sweeping staircases, soaring public rooms, a grand ballroom, and a 360° promenade deck. A space ratio of 57.25 makes her one of the roomiest vessels anywhere, and the ship has 14 decks of sports facilities, shops, bars, lounges, 5 pools and no fewer than 10 restaurants. With one staff member per couple, a very high level of service can be expected. For those who love verandas as I do, three-quarters of the QM2 staterooms have balconies. Some of the lavish two-story duplexes even have their own private exercise equipment.

Since it is often difficult to picture the size of such a large vessel, here are some comparisons:
• QM2 is five times longer than Cunard's first ship, Britannia (230 ft.)
• QM2 is 113 feet longer than the original Queen Mary
• QM2 is more than twice as long as the Washington Monument is tall (550 ft.)
• QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 ft.)
• QM2 is more than 3 ½ times as long as Westminster Tower (Big Ben) is high (310 ft.)
• QM2 is only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall (1248 ft.)
• QM2 is more than three times as long as St. Paul's Cathedral is tall (366 ft.)
• QM2 is as long as 41 double-decker London buses (31 ½ ft. each)
• QM2's whistle is audible for 10 miles

Will Visit Guggenheim in Bilbao Next Month (July 2009)

I will visit my brother in Bilbao, July 17-20.

A highlight will be a trip to the Guggenheim. We will stay nearby at the Sheraton, Bilbao.

Here is a brief description from the museum's website:

Instantly hailed as the most important structure of its time, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao recently celebrated a decade of extraordinary success on October 19, 2007. With close to ninety exhibitions and over ten million visitors to its credit, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao forever changed the way the world thinks about museums, and it continues to challenge our assumptions about the connections between art, architecture, and collecting.

Queen Mary 2-July 6-20, 2009

Queen Mary 2 Description:
With sweeping staircases, domed public rooms, full-circle promenade deck and elegant appointments, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 melds the classic grace of yesteryear's ocean liners and the ultimate in modern features. Accommodations range from standard cabins to expansive, lavish suites with private elevator access. Three-quarters of all staterooms have balconies. Dining is first-rate onboard QM2, as seven galleys service 10 restaurants, including the renowned Todd English restaurant, which overlooks the pool terrace. Kings Court offers a variety of dining alternatives in the evening. A string quartet plays in the elegant Winter Garden as afternoon tea is served with white-glove service. The 20,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers stress-relief treatments and wellness classes.

There is a stunning array of recreation, with unique venues such as Illuminations, a planetarium that serves as a lecture hall and cinema. Queens Room houses an elegant ballroom. Fourteen bars include Golden Lion Pub and G32, a disco. Decks 12 and 13 offer sporty fun: a putting green, shuffleboard, deck games, a giant chess board, two golf simulators, basketball and table tennis. Enjoy a performance at Royal Court Theatre or gaming in the Empire Casino. Throughout the cruise, Cunard Connexions offers enriching and educational workshops and seminars.

Queen Mary 2 This Summer!

I will take two (back-to-back) cruises on the Queen Mary 2, the most elegant oceanliner of all, this summer.

1) 6-night transatlantic crossing that departs New York on July 6 and arrives Southampton, England on July 12. I will be in balcony stateroom 4038.

We will remain on the ship for:

2) 8-night, roundtrip from Southampton that departs July 12. I will be in balcony stateroom 6081.

It will make stops in Cherbourg, France, Lisbon, Portugal, Vigo, Spain, Bilbao, Spain, LaRochelle and Brest in France. We will disembark day #5 (July 17) in Bilbao to visit my brother, his wife, and 2 sons. They live in Bilbao. We will spend July 17-20 at the Sheraton Bilbao.

On July 20, I will return to Miami (from Bilbao) via Madrid on American Airlines.

I am so excited!

Cunard.com

Last Minute Bahamas Cruise

Two days ago, I booked a weekend cruise departing from the port of Miami. I will head to the Carnival ship in a few minutes. I have never booked a vacation on such short notice. This was definitely a test of my flexibility!

Another Great Seattle Trip!

October 2008

Egypt-My Dream Trip!

For more than twenty years, I have wanted to see the Giza Pyramids and cruise the Nile. I have decided to finally take my dream trip next February.