Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth II
Top Romantic Getaway
by
Fran Falkin
Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth II was honored as a Top Romantic Getaway for parents with infants and toddlers in 2001.
Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth II was honored as a Top Romantic Getaway in 2001 by our parent company, Family Travel Forum, for reaching out to those caring for infants, toddlers and children under 5 years, as well as older siblings. Each winner offers such superb childcare, exceptional recreational facilities, real value for money, and overall excellence, that they give proof to FTF's motto: Have Kids, Still Travel! Here's a look at the resort today.
Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth 2
800/7-CUNARD, 305/463-3000
| Editor's Note: Since the launching of Cunard’s brand new Queen Mary 2 in the spring of 2004, the QE2 has been repositioned to Southampton, United Kingdom where she will cater primarily to the European region. The Queen Mary 2 is currently the flagship of the Cunard fleet, and the reigning grande dame of luxury liners, offering even more facilities and services for families. QM2's 2008 itineraries feature her regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York City and South Hampton, roundtrip sailings to the Caribbean, unique fall sailings to Canada/New England and Queen Mary 2's Maiden World Cruise. |
Picture yourselves strolling along the deck in the moonlight and dancing cheek-to-cheek. "Impossible," you say? Well, maybe not. The Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the world's most famous liners can make that dream come true. With unquestionable elegance and style, its British heritage, tradition of service, and such features as the Cunard Royal Spa, plan to indulge your every wish.
An impeccable crew of 921 tends to 950 cabins and suites (70% with ocean views) which sleep 1,791 guests. On-board facilities include seven dining venues, seven lounges, a casino, a library, a fitness deck, a beauty salon, two pools, a golf driving range and a computer center. Concerts, films and lectures are on-going. And, you can enjoy scones with clotted cream, watercress sandwiches and a pot of Earl Grey tea every afternoon.
The QE2 welcomes all families and makes sure that even new moms and dads have time to themselves. The complimentary Nursery has a quiet area with cribs and cots for napping. In the play area, toddlers and young children can dig in the Sand Pit, do puzzles, climb and slide, look at books, play with construction toys and dress-up for the evening's ball. Open from 9am-midnight daily, it is supervised by 3-5 nannies who have completed the NNEB, the British nanny certification program. There is no private baby-sitting, but evening group child-sitting (for that moonlight dance) is available, with cribs and cots for children to sleep in. There are also complimentary programs in the Junior Play Center with board games, mini-Olympics and origami, plus a busy Teen Center and Disco.
Her 2008 itineraries are varied and exciting, including cruises to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, and of course QE2's famous 105-day World Cruise. Don't let an infant keep you from these trips of a lifetime - you and your spouse deserve it!
2001 Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers
Top All-Inclusive Resorts:
Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico
Crown Paradise Club Cancun, Mexico
Top Beach Resorts:
Our Lucaya Beach Resort, Grand Bahama Island
Top Family Camp:
YMCA Camp du Nord, Minnesota
Top Golf and Tennis Resort:
Wild Dunes Resort, South Carolina
Top Internatioanl Getaway:
Club Valtur Pila, Italy
Center Parcs Village, France
Top Romantic Getaway:
Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth 2
Top Ski Resorts:
Bretton Woods Mountain Resort, New Hampshire
Snowbird Ski Resort, Utah