Returning to Queen Mary 2 After Nearly a Decade!

I am so excited to be finally stepping back aboard my favourite ship, after almost a decade! Queen Mary 2 was my first and will probably always be my favourite ship of all time. There’s truly nothing else like her afloat today. She is simply one-of-a-kind.
 
In July my father celebrated his seventh birthday, so I surprised him with a four-night voyage on Queen Mary 2. I booked it sometime before however, so I had to keep it secret for a while. I have not been aboard the Cunard flagship since 2016, but for my father its even longer. He has not been aboard since we celebrated my eighteenth birthday on board, and I am now 31! (Where has the time gone!!??) We will also be joined by my partner, Nick, who has never been aboard before.

The four-night voyage we are booked on departs Southampton on 10 September 2025. We will call into Zeebrugge in Belgium, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. My Dad and I have visited both ports before, but Nick has not. Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to spend ten hours docked in Zeebrugge and some seventeen hours in Rotterdam, since we aren’t expected to set sail until midnight, giving us plenty of time to explore the city.
 
We’re not entirely sure what we will get up to in the ports of call yet, it somewhat depends on the weather on the day. In Zeebrugge we will likely visit the nearby town of Blankenberge. We might also take the train or bus into Bruges if time allows. Rotterdam offers so much to do and see, but we certainly hope to visit the former 1950s ocean liner SS Rotterdam. Since we’ve plenty of time here, hopefully we will get to explore some of the other many attractions in the city, such as the Markthal and the famous Cube Houses too. Nick and I might even have time to hire out some bikes and venture a little further afield. After dinner, hopefully we will have time to explore the city after dark too. Since it’s September, the nights are getting longer.
 
Along with the two ports of call, we also have a day at sea to enjoy on our return to Southampton, giving us a little more time to enjoy the ship and its facilities. We hope to sample as much as possible whilst on board. We want to make it to the Queens Rooms afternoon tea, see something in the Planetarium, catch some shows, take a dip in the pool, and Nick and I might even try out the spa on board. I know my dad will probably visit the shops on board to get some presents for my mum (don’t spend too much!).
 
For those of you that don’t know, Nick and I have a triathlon booked just a week after our return. We need to get extra some training in, so, we hope to find sometime whilst on board to hit the gym and do quite a few laps on the promenade deck. We have started running at Parkrun each Saturday, so we will have to try our own 5k Queen Mary 2 run!
 
I am sure whatever we end up doing, aboard Queen Mary 2, in Zeebrugge and Rotterdam we will have an amazing time. Make sure to follow our socials closely for updates whilst we’re away.