A View of Brooklyn via the Queen Mary 2

A few days ago I was lucky enough to get a tour of the iconic Queen Mary 2 ocean liner, courtesy of Cunard. From the standpoint of someone who has never been on a cruise, I was amazingly interested in what propels this multimillion-dollar industry. Also, and let’s not pretend here, no one in my household is plunking down their debit cards for a top tier cruise suite any time soon, so because of Cunard, I was able to see these luxurious and amazing things, so thanks Cunard!

When you think of luxury ships, you no doubt think of the Queen Mary ships, and for good reason. The original QM was the first vessel to get that special reputation by being launched by a member of the Royal family. Additionally, the $800-million QM2 is the biggest ocean liner ever built, dwarfing the Eiffel Tower by 147 feet. That’s nearly four football fields in length.

If you’re ready to book a cruise but aren’t sure you can stay sane in the typical porthole closet-sized rooms of your standard cruise ship, you may want to book the QM2. This mega ship contains five duplex style apartments that, when combines together, form a 9,000 sq ft grand suite. Besides the prerequisite Bon Voyage champagne, daily fresh fruit, terry cloth slippers and bathrobe, nightly turn down and full bathrooms (with tubs!), the suites contain private libraries, exercise area, and balcony. Enough space for you?

Note for the cash deficient: There are also 76 affordable Princess Suites with balcony space, thermostat control, nightly turn down, and wifi.

If you feel the hunger after your jaunt from check-in to your stateroom, there are a ton of nom-nom tasty options. My favorite of them all has to be Todd English’s space, and not just because Todd is hysterical and can cook with the best of them. This space seems dwarfed in comparison to the ultra-super-mega luxury dining options on the ship, making it a bit more intimate, complete with fantastic deck access and an adult pool that, simply looking at it could calm the most neurotic New Yorker (that’s me). The food is your standard comfort food prepared in gourmet fashion; so picky eaters will find something, too.

You’ve got 9 other dining choices onboard from the delightful Jean-Marie Zimmerman, Cunard’s Global Culinary Ambassador. With a title like that you can probably guess that his food is outstanding, but this French born chef supervises every menu on the QM2, so you really can’t go wrong. Please do yourself a favor and enjoy a Hibiscus Martini in the Princess Grill.

There are literally a million activities you can engage in on this ship, but here are a few highlights that I was seriously impressed with:

• Illuminations: the only planetarium at sea.
• The library: a gorgeous collection of rows and rows of literature with sweeping views from tall deck windows.
• Canyon Ranch Spa with 24 treatment rooms, salon and fitness center, steam rooms, and a very, very sexy thalassotherapy pool. The QM2 is the first ship to feature Canyon Ranch onboard.
• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar for seriously stylish sips in a retro chic setting. This intimate space made several ladies on tour stop, snap pictures, and “oooh.”

Through the next 12 months, the Queen Mary 2 will continue her transatlantic tours of 6, 7, 8, or 9 days between NYC and Cherbourg, Southampton, or Hamburg with additional connections to the Mediterranean and beyond Northern Europe.

This year you can catch this queen to the Caribbean, featuring 3 itineraries from Cunard’s home at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for 10, 11, or 15 days. And if you think you can’t afford all this awesomeness, those sails start at $1695.

If “around the world” or #RTW is more your speed, pick up your ticket for January 2011 when both the QM2 and sister ship Queen Elizabeth will begin global jaunts encompassing Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, and Dubai.

One final note about this amazing luxury ship: unlike even some top tier land loving hotels, four leggeds are welcome. There’s a small kennel onboard that holds a handful of fuzzy friends, which also makes this an ideal mode of transatlantic transportation for anyone traveling (or moving) with their best friend.