Ellen Frazer-Jameson
- Feb 6, 2023
- 3 min read

VOYAGE UPDATE

DAY 26 - 06 February 2023

AT SEA enroute to Penang, Malaysia

Queen Mary 2 World Centenary Voyage

102 days, 31 ports, 18 countries.

Ellen Frazer-Jameson reporting live from Queen Mary 2

ONBOARD

Catch up following QM2's departure from DUBAI...with five days more at sea prior to arriving at Penang, the following few posts will bring us up to speed including Part II, DUBAI, a full report from Muscat, Oman, and more details and updates onboard QM2...

Captain Andrew Hall joined QM2 in Dubai. He will command the ship to Australia in April and return to Southampton before handing over to Captain Aseem Hashmi who left in Dubai and will take QM2 onward from Southampton to New York to complete her Centenary World Voyage.

Over 200 passengers embarked in Dubai. On their first day, alongside the wrong turns heading for restaurants, theatres and the shops, there is a great enthusiasm to explore activities, join classes, meet up with like-minded passengers exploring the ship.

03 FEBRUARY 2023

The day was a perfect day to do an orientation of the bars and lounges especially for the recently embarked guests - our new arrivals - many past guests, many first-timers.

In the Atlantic Room, Deck 9, passengers who are full world guests have a designated lounge. The concierge, Myra is on duty to help with questions and enquiries and she can book speciality shows that require pre- registration such as Illuminations and the Planetarium.

Atlantic Room

Coffee, tea, juices and light snacks are available at no charge. Copies of the news bulletins USA and UK Today as well maps for upcoming ports and information leaflets are displayed. The room is open 24 hours a day, has good internet access and the concierge service operates 9-12 and 2-5 on sea days and 8-10 and 3-6 on port days.

The Carinthia Lounge on Deck 7 alongside the King’s Court Restaurant is open to all from 8am to 11pm with musical entertainment, lectures and Trivia quizzes. Various groups meet including the Solo travellers’ Get Together at 9.30am - this group meets again in The Champagne Bar Deck 3 at 5pm. Light meals are served in the Carinthia Lounge at breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea times. The Golden Lion on Deck 2 serves pub lunches, there Is entertainment – darts tournaments and quizzes. Sign Ups for classes take place whenever new passengers join the ship.

Carinthia Lounge

Kings Court | Golden Lion

Watercolour Art classes with resident artist Georgina Maynard and the Craft Classes with Julia Curtis welcome new participants. Classes take place in the Britannia Restaurant Deck 3.

Zumba, Zumba Gold and line dancing classes are held in the Queens’ Room Deck 3 and also ballroom dancing instruction, recorded music practice, sequence dancing and evening ballroom dancing.

Queens Room

Beginners’ Bridge Lessons in Connexions Rooms Deck 2. Gaming lessons in the Casino are held daily. Exact times and dates are in the Daily Programme.

Sir Samuels on Deck 3 is open from 9am-11pm. Light snacks and curated beverages are served (at a fee). Question and Answer sessions with guest lecturers often take place here.

Sir Samuels

The Chart Room (10am – late, Deck 3) is a perfect place by day for a good read and when the sun goes down to meet for a cocktail and light entertainment. This is the premium spot for pre-dinner drinks. Fellow guest John Donaldson joined QM2 in Dubai and is sailing to Singapore sampled the Daquiri Rumba – Bacardi rum with lemongrass, fresh raspberries, and freshly squeezed lime juice. His verdict ; exotic and exciting. Like a QM2 sunset.