The world’s last ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, which towered above the Cape Town docks last week, will be back in April. South Africans wanting to cruise to Lisbon or Southampton can get an exceptional deal on this route, which was added after the original itinerary was changed to avoid the troubled Red Sea region.
Passengers can now travel in luxury for 13 nights on the gleaming Queen Mary 2 for a fare similar to a business class flight to Europe. On its trans-Atlantic voyages, even pets can hop aboard.
But only two-legged travellers will delight in the fine wining and dining, which journalists enjoyed last Wednesday on board at the Steakhouse at The Verandah.
On a clear evening, we walked across the gangway onto the Queen Mary 2 after passing SA immigration and handing over IDs to ship officials, in exchange for passes for the night. Security is tight to prevent stowaways on the ship, which has 13 decks (23 storeys high) and can take almost 2,700 passengers.
Exiting a lift, we followed a long passage to an outside bar, overlooking a deck with a plunge pool and looking out onto Table Mountain. Lights glittered in the docks as the sun disappeared and we went inside to dine.
The Verandah is the most specialised of the five restaurants on the ship, whose array of options caters for vegetarians and vegans too. The ship will host Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux and his Le Gavroche restaurant later this year, after his inaugural appearance on-board on its sister ship Queen Anne. He is also drawing up a new menu for its fleetwide pub, the Golden Lion.
Defying its simple name, The Steakhouse and its elaborate menu exceeded that of many award-winning establishments in Cape Town, in its descriptions not only of the dishes on offer but also the sourcing of the prime cuts.
Our host for the evening was Bob Dixon, sales director of the EMEA-Cunard Line, who regaled us with stories of its classic ships, going back decades.
The Queen Elizabeth 2, for example, was drafted during the Falklands War between the UK and Argentina in 1982 and primarily used for the troops to rest and recover. Apparently the Brits didn’t want to send a liner named after their queen into the heat of battle where it could be sunk.
At Dixon’s right hand was former ballet dancer Allison Foat, now known as “Cape Town Diva”, who entertained us, without dancing on the elegantly set table.
Dancing is one of the forms of entertainment offered on Queen Mary 2 with all packages, along with sports like table tennis and croquet, and activities like painting and bridge lessons.
Evening entertainment includes theatre, musical performances across genres and expert talks. The ship has the first planetarium at sea and its library has some 8,000 books, while artworks adorn its decks.
This is a classic liner for adults, which also offers activities for children and families. As mentioned, furry kids are allowed on the trans-Atlantic cruise in designated kennels and cat cabins and there is a play area for the owners to spend time with them. Actor Elizabeth Taylor once brought her pup on-board and three champion Afghan hounds strutted their stuff in a photo shoot on deck, which is on offer.
You don’t have to be a celebrity, or millionaire, to cruise on this ship — where the ratio of crew to guests is more than one to three people. If a luxury cruise is your dream, the Queen Mary 2 will be gliding into Cape Town again on April 13.
Due to ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, and after extensive consultation with global security experts and government authorities, Cunard says it made the decision to reroute its cruise itineraries to bypass the area.
Instead of calling at Dubai on April 7 before sailing the Red Sea and transiting the Suez Canal on April 17, Queen Mary 2 will now sail around the west coast of Africa via Cape Town. Because of the change of plans, cruises are being offered at hugely reduced rates.
SPECIAL OFFER: Sail out of Cape Town on the Queen Mary 2 on April 13 for R14,990 per person sharing for an inside cabin, R19,990 per person sharing for a balcony cabin. Guests can disembark in Lisbon on April 25 or Southampton on April 28. Stops include Walvis Bay and Gran Canaria. For more information, see here.
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