Aboard Queen Mary 2 with Cunard Line
Cruise Overview
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park's leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy.
History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance.
World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
If you fly to the 32-square-mile (83-square-km) island of St.
Thomas, you land at its western end; if you arrive by cruise ship, you come into one of the world's most beautiful harbors.
Either way, one of your first sights is the town of Charlotte Amalie.
From the harbor you see an idyllic-looking village that spreads into the lower hills.
If you were expecting a quiet hamlet with its inhabitants hanging out under palm trees, you've missed that era by about 300 years.
Although other islands in the USVI developed plantation economies, St.
Thomas cultivated its harbor, and it became a thriving seaport soon after it was settled by the Danish in the 1600s.
The success of the naturally perfect harbor was enhanced by the fact that the Danes—who ruled St.
Thomas with only a couple of short interruptions from 1666 to 1917—avoided involvement in some 100 years' worth of European wars.
Denmark was the only European country with colonies in the Caribbean to stay neutral during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 1700s.
Thus, products of the Dutch, English, and French islands—sugar, cotton, and indigo—were traded through Charlotte Amalie, along with the regular shipments of slaves.
When the Spanish wars ended, trade fell off, but by the end of the 1700s Europe was at war again, Denmark again remained neutral, and St.
Thomas continued to prosper.
Even into the 1800s, while the economies of St.
Croix and St.
John foundered with the market for sugarcane, St.
Thomas's economy remained vigorous.
This prosperity led to the development of shipyards, a well-organized banking system, and a large merchant class.
In 1845 Charlotte Amalie had 101 large importing houses owned by the English, French, Germans, Haitians, Spaniards, Americans, Sephardim, and Danes.
Charlotte Amalie is still one of the world's most active cruise-ship ports.
On almost any day at least one and sometimes as many as eight cruise ships are tied to the docks or anchored outside the harbor.
Gently rocking in the shadows of these giant floating hotels are just about every other kind of vessel imaginable: sleek sailing catamarans that will take you on a sunset cruise complete with rum punch and a Jimmy Buffett soundtrack, private megayachts for billionaires, and barnacle-bottom sloops—with laundry draped over the lifelines—that are home to world-cruising gypsies.
Huge container ships pull up in Sub Base, west of the harbor, bringing in everything from breakfast cereals to tires.
Anchored right along the waterfront are down-island barges that ply the waters between the Greater Antilles and the Leeward Islands, transporting goods such as refrigerators, VCRs, and disposable diapers.
The waterfront road through Charlotte Amalie was once part of the harbor.
Before it was filled in to build the highway, the beach came right up to the back door of the warehouses that now line the thoroughfare.
Two hundred years ago those warehouses were filled with indigo, tobacco, and cotton.
Today the stone buildings house silk, crystal, and diamonds.
Exotic fragrances are still traded, but by island beauty queens in air-conditioned perfume palaces instead of through open market stalls.
The pirates of old used St.
Thomas as a base from which to raid merchant ships of every nation, though they were particularly fond of the gold- and silver-laden treasure ships heading to Spain.
Pirates are still around, but today's versions use St.
Thomas as a drop-off for their contraband: illegal immigrants and drugs.
To explore outside Charlotte Amalie, rent a car or hire a taxi.
Your rental car should come with a good map; if not, pick up the pocket-size "St.
Thomas–St.
John Road Map" at a tourist information center.
Roads are marked with route numbers, but they're confusing and seem to switch numbers suddenly.
Roads are also identified by signs bearing the St.
Thomas–St.
John Hotel and Tourism Association's mascot, Tommy the Starfish.
More than 100 of these color-coded signs line the island's main routes.
Orange signs trace the route from the airport to Red Hook, green signs identify the road from town to Magens Bay, Tommy's face on a yellow background points from Mafolie to Crown Bay through the north side, red signs lead from Smith Bay to Four Corners via Skyline Drive, and blue signs mark the route from the cruise-ship dock at Havensight to Red Hook.
These color-coded routes are not marked on most visitor maps, however.
Allow yourself a day to explore, especially if you want to stop to take pictures or to enjoy a light bite or refreshing swim.
Most gas stations are on the island's more populated eastern end, so fill up before heading to the north side.
And remember to drive on the left!
History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance.
World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
If you fly to the 32-square-mile (83-square-km) island of St.
Thomas, you land at its western end; if you arrive by cruise ship, you come into one of the world's most beautiful harbors.
Either way, one of your first sights is the town of Charlotte Amalie.
From the harbor you see an idyllic-looking village that spreads into the lower hills.
If you were expecting a quiet hamlet with its inhabitants hanging out under palm trees, you've missed that era by about 300 years.
Although other islands in the USVI developed plantation economies, St.
Thomas cultivated its harbor, and it became a thriving seaport soon after it was settled by the Danish in the 1600s.
The success of the naturally perfect harbor was enhanced by the fact that the Danes—who ruled St.
Thomas with only a couple of short interruptions from 1666 to 1917—avoided involvement in some 100 years' worth of European wars.
Denmark was the only European country with colonies in the Caribbean to stay neutral during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 1700s.
Thus, products of the Dutch, English, and French islands—sugar, cotton, and indigo—were traded through Charlotte Amalie, along with the regular shipments of slaves.
When the Spanish wars ended, trade fell off, but by the end of the 1700s Europe was at war again, Denmark again remained neutral, and St.
Thomas continued to prosper.
Even into the 1800s, while the economies of St.
Croix and St.
John foundered with the market for sugarcane, St.
Thomas's economy remained vigorous.
This prosperity led to the development of shipyards, a well-organized banking system, and a large merchant class.
In 1845 Charlotte Amalie had 101 large importing houses owned by the English, French, Germans, Haitians, Spaniards, Americans, Sephardim, and Danes.
Charlotte Amalie is still one of the world's most active cruise-ship ports.
On almost any day at least one and sometimes as many as eight cruise ships are tied to the docks or anchored outside the harbor.
Gently rocking in the shadows of these giant floating hotels are just about every other kind of vessel imaginable: sleek sailing catamarans that will take you on a sunset cruise complete with rum punch and a Jimmy Buffett soundtrack, private megayachts for billionaires, and barnacle-bottom sloops—with laundry draped over the lifelines—that are home to world-cruising gypsies.
Huge container ships pull up in Sub Base, west of the harbor, bringing in everything from breakfast cereals to tires.
Anchored right along the waterfront are down-island barges that ply the waters between the Greater Antilles and the Leeward Islands, transporting goods such as refrigerators, VCRs, and disposable diapers.
The waterfront road through Charlotte Amalie was once part of the harbor.
Before it was filled in to build the highway, the beach came right up to the back door of the warehouses that now line the thoroughfare.
Two hundred years ago those warehouses were filled with indigo, tobacco, and cotton.
Today the stone buildings house silk, crystal, and diamonds.
Exotic fragrances are still traded, but by island beauty queens in air-conditioned perfume palaces instead of through open market stalls.
The pirates of old used St.
Thomas as a base from which to raid merchant ships of every nation, though they were particularly fond of the gold- and silver-laden treasure ships heading to Spain.
Pirates are still around, but today's versions use St.
Thomas as a drop-off for their contraband: illegal immigrants and drugs.
To explore outside Charlotte Amalie, rent a car or hire a taxi.
Your rental car should come with a good map; if not, pick up the pocket-size "St.
Thomas–St.
John Road Map" at a tourist information center.
Roads are marked with route numbers, but they're confusing and seem to switch numbers suddenly.
Roads are also identified by signs bearing the St.
Thomas–St.
John Hotel and Tourism Association's mascot, Tommy the Starfish.
More than 100 of these color-coded signs line the island's main routes.
Orange signs trace the route from the airport to Red Hook, green signs identify the road from town to Magens Bay, Tommy's face on a yellow background points from Mafolie to Crown Bay through the north side, red signs lead from Smith Bay to Four Corners via Skyline Drive, and blue signs mark the route from the cruise-ship dock at Havensight to Red Hook.
These color-coded routes are not marked on most visitor maps, however.
Allow yourself a day to explore, especially if you want to stop to take pictures or to enjoy a light bite or refreshing swim.
Most gas stations are on the island's more populated eastern end, so fill up before heading to the north side.
And remember to drive on the left!
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Queen Mary 2
Launch Year: 2004 Length: 345 Width: 41 Currency: USD Capacity: 2691 Crew Count: 1250 Deck Count: 12 Cabin Count: 1310
Queen Mary 2 is a remarkable flagship, her style and elegance are legendary. Above all, it‘s the space she offers and the luxury for you to do as little or as much as you wish which sets her apart.
Welcome to a true icon. Our flagship is a truly astonishing liner and you’ll find an incredible sense of freedom from the space she offers. Whether you’re in the mood for complete relaxation or something more active, you can find it. Immerse yourself in enthralling entertainment, be indulged in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club or simply relax with a book in her vast library. You’ll discover remarkable craftsmanship in the elegant staterooms and suites and savouring her many sumptuous restaurants and bars is always a pleasure.
Queen Mary 2 Facilities
Queen Mary 2 Includes
Cabin Details
Whether you want a sumptuous suite, or a room with a view, Queen Mary 2 features a variety of accommodation to make your voyage as comfortable as possible. There are a variety of cabins types available, including Duplex Apartments, Suites, Balcony Staterooms and Interior Staterooms.
Each stateroom will fall into one of these categories:
Queens Grill - Queens Grill guests enjoy the largest suites on board, commanding the most spectacular views. Meanwhile the exclusive Grills Lounge, private deck and restaurant offer the opportunity to relax in tranquil luxury.
Princess Grill - Exclusive suites and access to the private Grills Lounge and Terrace offer Princess Grill passengers space and privacy to relax in calming luxury.
Britannia Club - Beautiful ocean views, breakfast on your balcony and wonderful natural daylight - the ever-changing seascape will continuously enthrall you. Britannia Club is the perfect way to relax and unwind whilst travelling with us.
Britannia - Peaceful havens in which to relax, Britannia staterooms offer comfort and the opportunity to dine in the truly spectacular Britannia restaurant - an awe inspiring room that will remind you of the great ocean liners of the past.
