Luxurious Queen Mary 2 visits Hong Kong on Inaugural World Cruise

Queen Mary 2, one of the world’s most famous ocean liners, created history Wednesday morning as she docked at her first Chinese port of call on her inaugural world cruise.

Commissioner for Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Miss Au King-chi, welcomed the Queen Mary 2 at Modern Terminals in Kwai Chung where Miss Au participated in a customary “Plaque and Key” ceremony on board with Commodore Bernard Warner.

Miss Au said, “We are delighted to welcome Queen Mary 2 to Hong Kong as she embarks on her maiden round-the-world voyage. Queen Mary 2 is the largest cruise vessel that Hong Kong has received so far. Her call on Hong Kong as part of her maiden world cruise demonstrates our attractiveness as a ‘must-see’ tourist destination in the region.

“Hong Kong is well placed to become a leading regional cruise hub. The Government is pressing ahead with the development of a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak with state-of-the-art facilities, which can cater for mega cruise vessels including Queen Mary 2. We aim to capture the tremendous opportunities brought by the growth of the cruise industry in the region.”

Queen Mary 2 departed Fort Lauderdale, USA, on January 10, 2007, carrying guests on an 80-day voyage visiting 20 of the world’s most famous cities, including Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cairo, Athens, Rome and Paris.

From Hong Kong, the ship will set sail for Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, followed by Cochin, India and Dubai.

“As one of the only true ocean liners in operation today, Queen Mary 2 is ideally suited to deliver memorable world voyages,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.

“Queen Mary 2’s unique world cruises continue Cunard’s legacy of providing distinctive and adventurous travel experiences that recreate the bygone era of glamorous ocean travel. Our guests are sure to bring home lasting memories and friendships from these historic journeys.”

Having entered service in January 2004, Queen Mary 2 combines over 167 years of tradition with modern innovations hardly dreamed of only a few years ago. As one of the grandest and most luxurious liners ever built, the ship carries 2,592 guests in degrees of comfort and style ranging from pampered elegance to almost unimaginable luxury.

Queen Mary 2’s 14 passenger decks are packed with comforts and a dazzling variety of things to do, entertainment to be enjoyed, luxury boutiques to shop in and places to eat in exceptional style.

All suites feature high fidelity televisions and entertainment systems, walk-in closets, selected spirits, wines and soft drinks, plush terrycloth robes and slippers, personalized stationery, a Bon Voyage bottle of champagne and daily fresh fruit and pre-dinner canapes. All suites and staterooms are equipped with interactive TV with multi-language film and music channels, direct-dial phones, individual thermostat control, hair dryers, full baths with tubs and/or showers and feature nightly turn-down service. Nearly three-quarters of the ship’s accommodations include a spacious, eight-foot balcony.

Staterooms include five duplex apartments – each with its own exercise area, balcony, marble bathrooms, private library and other impressive features – which can be combined together to form a grand, 9,000-square foot suite unrivalled by any other ship afloat. There are also four Forward Suites, which also can be combined to create a 4,000-square foot living space – 75 junior suites and a choice of stateroom configurations and sizes.

Queen Mary 2 also embraces Cunard’s lengthy tradition of serving the finest of shipboard cuisine and carries it significantly further with celebrity chef Todd English, creating his own 156-seat shipboard restaurant.

In addition to the two Grills and the elegant Britannia Restaurant, which can effortlessly seat 1,351 passengers, guests may choose to dine at a choice of four venues in the innovative Kings Court or, for more casual fare, the Golden Lion Pub and Boardwalk Grill. Traditional afternoon tea is served daily in the Queens Room.

Complementing the ship’s restaurants is an inspiring selection of bars and lounges. The Queens Room, with its crystal chandeliers, is one of the largest ballrooms at sea. The Royal Court Theatre hosts musicals and revues worthy of London’s West End and Broadway.

The Empire Casino and G32 nightclub offer equally exciting entertainment options. Jazz sets the tone for the Commodore Club, with its wrap-around panorama of ocean and moonlit sky while fine wines are the featured attraction at Sir Samuels. For the ultimate in sophistication and refinement, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar is a must. Fine Waterford Crystal and Wedgwood china add a further element of elegance to the ship’s dining and entertainment experience. 

Queen Mary 2’s offering of activities is as impressive as its options for accommodations, restaurants, bars and lounges. These include:

• Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the ship’s 20,000-square foot health club, offering a full range of famous Canyon Ranch services, treatments and  products. Considered the Number One spa company in North America, this shipboard Canyon Ranch, a first for the company, features an aqua therapy centre, fitness centre, weight room, juice bar, saunas and whirlpools and services ranging from aromatherapy to therapeutic body cocoons.

• Illuminations, a full-sized, shipboard planetarium offering a variety of constellation shows and virtual reality rides through the heavens, which also serves as the ship’s movie theatre and lecture hall. 

• The ship’s onboard enrichment program introduces guests to stimulating experts and accomplished visionaries who reflect the line's heritage of adventure and prestige. Through a series of lectures, Q&A's, debates, social gatherings, and workshops, guests will connect with personalities who have achieved notable distinction in areas including history, world affairs, science, politics, arts and literature. In addition, guests can enjoy intellectual pursuits as well as a relaxing respite in the ship’s library, the largest at sea with more than 8,000 volumes.

• Workshops, lessons and presentations by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), enabling passengers to not only watch the stars of tomorrow in person, but actually study the skills of acting with them.

• Cunard ConneXions., a complex of seven classrooms used for enrichment programmes and the latest cyber-era equipment.

• The Mayfair Shops, an on-board collection of fine boutiques and famous brand names, including Hermes, Chopard, Dunhill and Harrod’s.

Since 1840, when Cunard Line introduced the first regularly scheduled transatlantic liner service, the company has launched nearly 180 ships. Queen Mary 2 joins the illustrious company of Cunard’s Laconia, the first ship to offer a world cruise; Servia, the first to be lit by electricity; Mauretania, which held the Blue Riband for speed for 22 years, and, of course, the legendary Queen Elizabeth and her hugely popular successor, QE2, and the original Queen Mary.

Queen Mary 2 voyages offer the opportunity for a new generation to experience that classic romance and refined British heritage in contemporary, sophisticated style.

Opportunities still exist to experience the majesty of Queen Mary 2 with the following sailings: 8 to 10 day Caribbean Apr, Oct, Nov & Dec from US$1,549,  10-12 day Mediterranean & Northern Europe May, June & Sep from US$2,299, 9 day Canada & New England Late Sep from US$2,049, 6-8 day Transatlantic Crossing April till Oct from US$1,299. Prices are based on per person sharing twin basis.

See other recent news regarding: Hong Kong, Cruises, Cunard, Queen Mary 2