There’s something timeless about sailing a ship like Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. It’s not just a voyage, it’s an experience steeped in elegance and tradition. Queen Mary 2 herself is the last ocean liner and was built for this very journey.
This particular crossing had something different. Queen Mary 2 was hosting the BFI Film Festival at Sea. A celebration of cinema on the high seas, curated screenings, Q&As with filmmakers, and late-night film conversations were all part of the itinerary.
The crossing itself took 7 days, departing from Southampton Saturday evening and arriving in New York in the early hours of the following Saturday.
Leaving Southampton
As we left Southampton, it was an unusually calm and pleasant day for the UK in March. We had the same type of cabin as our previous QM2 trip, a sheltered balcony cabin, but this time on deck 4. It’s always nice to have a balcony, but it’s not really needed when crossing the cold and stormy North Atlantic this time of year.
Crossing The North Atlantic
Each day had its own rhythm. Mornings began with breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant or Carinthia Lounge. Afternoons offered film Q&A sessions with actors and directors. Also, there were several workshops and discussions. There were plenty of film quizzes too. We even beat the BFI staff and film directors in the first classic film quiz.
As well as the BFI festival part of the voyage, there were still the Cunard Queen Mary classics. Afternoon Tea in the Queen’s Room, Cunard Insight talks, and of course, the gala dinners.
You don’t have to worry about being bored on a QM2 transatlantic crossing.
Arrival In New York
Sailing into New York Harbour is the iconic way to arrive in New York. As you sail under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Manhattan skyscrapers loom up in front of you. Well, that’s the image most of us have. However, when it’s 4 am on a cold, wet March morning, the reality can be a little different.
There was a low, thick mist as we approached New York, giving everything a ghostly appearance. Parts of the bridge emerged, and you could just make out the Statue of Liberty in the distance. As for the Manhattan skyline, the mist shrouded everything above the third floor, it could have been the lights of Port Talbot back home in Wales!
This misty arrival may have been the end of our transatlantic crossing, but it was not the end of American adventure. Next, we were picking up a rental car and driving south on a USA road trip. The next stop: Dollywood!
