Top 10 Getaway for Tiny Travelers - Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth II
Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth II won a Top 10 Getaways award in 2001 for its support of parents with infants and toddlers.
Family Travel Forum honored Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth II 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 QE 2 today.
Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth 2
800/7-CUNARD, 305/463-3000
|
Editor's Note: In November, 2008 The Queen Elizabeth II was delivered to Dubai World where she will no longer be an ocean-sailing passenger watercraft. As of 2009, The QE II will be berthed at a custom-made pier at the Palm Jumeriah where she will be refurbished as a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination, scheduled for completion in 2011. However, the Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2 which was launched in January, 2004 picks up where the QE2 left off, and offers elegance, adventure, romance and great childcare. Nine trained nannies and a youth staff care for children ages 2 through 12 in the Nursery and Play Zone. Babies under 2 are welcome with parents. There are even 12 spacious kennels so Fido and Fluffy can come along, and be cared for onboard. Parents needing pampering can avail themselves of the Canyon Ranch Spa Club. Check out their website for more details, and to learn about their extensive itineraries. |
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!
.
