There are simply too many places to mention when it comes to the Big Apple but highlights have to be: the Statue of liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, the Natural History Museum and the Met art museum- not to mention all the cool sights of downtown Brooklyn, swanky Manhattan and the classic skyline from Rhode Island. New York is a bucket-list destination that just cannot be missed.
Things to do in New York:
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is an essential part of any trip to New York, providing fascinating insights into the history of this vibrant city. Given to the US from France in 1886, Lady Liberty is situated on Liberty Island, a short and scenic ferry ride from Battery Park, New York.
Central Park
Located in Manhattan, New York, Central Park is a classic part of the city’s history after first being approved in 1853. There’s no shortage of sightseeing and events to do all the family will love, from Central Park Zoo to the Alice in Wonderland sculpture.
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center has a plethora of attractions and events to discover that will suit all ages. Explore NBC Studios where entertainment and news come together and soak up the fantastic performances of The Music Hall featuring The Radio City Rockettes.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
As the third most visited art museum in the world, the Met is a must for lovers of art, history and culture. Featuring works from early Europe, ancient Egypt and modern art, this museum also contains vast collections of clothing and weaponry.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a quintessential landmark of New York City and provides an immersive insight into the history of this stunning building. Visitors can marvel at the views from the observation deck, before enjoying exhibits, shopping and dining.
Times Square
Renovated in 2016, what began as a small square in the 1880s has flourished into an iconic tourist destination filled with fantastic eateries, dazzling musical theatre and designer shopping, not to mention the famous advertising board.
Brooklyn Bridge
As the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge is a fantastic feat of the hard-work carried out in the late 1880s. A walk along this bridge takes approximately 25 minutes and is particularly stunning at sunset and sunrise.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
After first opening its doors in 1879, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral sees over five million visitors each year. The classic Gothic architecture is truly magnificent and features an organ with 9,000 pipes, over 4,000 stained-glass panels and beautiful sculptures.
Fifth Avenue
Located in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue boasts Museum Mile where visitors find the African Art Museum, Guggenheim Museum, the Met and more, while other landmarks include the Empire State building, the Rockefeller Observation Deck and Flatiron Building.
National September 11 Memorial and Museum
Located at the World Trade Centre site, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum commemorates the lives lost during the terrorist attacks in 1993 and 2001. The memorial consists of two reflecting pools, while the museum offers tours, exhibitions and multimedia displays.
New York Public Library
With nearly 6 million items (including books, e-books, audiobooks, music and films), the New York Public Library has no shortage of fascinating materials to discover. The main branch itself in Manhattan is a stunning New York landmark and a perfect photo opportunity.
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are an area of tranquil natural beauty famous for its vineyards and being the home of prestigious Cornell University. The eleven lakes which bear this region’s name present fantastic hiking locations in pleasant weather regularly throughout the year.
Southampton
DAY 812 May 2024
The UK’s largest cruise port and where many will begin their cruise holiday, Southampton has no shortage of maritime and historical attractions. Discover local landmarks on a walking tour including 30 ancient monuments, learn about the tragic story of the Titanic and escape to the great outdoors at the New Forest National Park. With numerous options for seafood dining and even a free art gallery, Southampton is an undoubtedly great destination for a pre or post-cruise stay.
Things to do in Southampton:
SeaCity Museum
Dedicated to the tragedy of the Titanic, SeaCity Museum excellently portrays the aftermath through interactive exhibits. Featuring a 1:25 scale model of the ship, visitors learn about life onboard as well as the disaster that deeply affected Southampton in 1912.
Solent Sky Museum
Home to over 20 aircraft that were integral to the war effort, Solent Sky Museum is dedicated to the history of the RAF. Southampton itself played a large role in producing Supermarine Spitfires, which you’ll learn all about here.
The New Forest
If you’re looking to escape the busy port city, the New Forest National Park is just a short distance away with native New Forest ponies and lush heathland. Visitors can also catch events, activities and workshops throughout the year.
Tudor House and Garden
As Southampton’s most important historic building, this restored home holds over 800 years of history after having numerous owners. Now a museum, it showcases many artefacts once belonging to past residents of Southampton, as well as a Tudor House Café.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Since opening in 1939, this free art gallery has showcased exhibitions of sculptures, photography and traditional paintings. Thanks to an ever-changing programme of activities, you’ll find something here that the whole family will enjoy.
Hamburg
DAY 1014 May 2024
A popular port of call on any European cruise, Hamburg is a thriving port city with plenty to offer. Once onshore, you'll see countless maritime attractions and seafood restaurants with fresh catches of the day. We recommend a city tour to admire the canals and lakes, as well as the World Heritage Site, Speicherstadt. To dive in on Hamburg's seafaring history, head to the International Maritime Museum, home to numerous artefacts and exhibitions.
Things to do in Hamburg:
Hamburg Townhall
Dating to 1897, the Hamburg Townhall houses the seat of government in the city, including Germany’s 16 parliaments within the state. A historic building with impressive architecture, it’s in the heart of the city and frequently listed as the top attraction to visit whilst stopping over in this beautiful destination.
Tierpark Hagenbeck
If you love animals, you should visit Tierpark Hagenbeck during your time in Hamburg. A spacious zoo, it dates back to 1907. However, the process to build the zoo began back in 1863 when Carl Hagenbeck Sr. began to grow his collection of animals. Now home to elephants, penguins and more, it’s a wonderful attraction within the city.
Elbphilharmonie
When you sail into Hamburg, you’ll be greeted by the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg; a concert hall which is one of the largest in the world. Home to an array of productions, this uniquely-designed building first opened its doors in the early 20th century.
Fly to the UK
DAY 10
Customer reviews for Queen Mary 2
4.5
Based on 267 reviews
Cabin
4.5
Service
4.6
Excursions
4.4
Dining
4.6
Activities
4.5
Value for money
4.5
Entertainment
4.5
New York and back on QM2. Great ship. Super service. A bit expensive by the time one adds gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks, but thoroughly enjoyable. Great crew. Super Captain. Elegant surroundings everywhere. Good food, entertainment and enrichment talks. Nice bars. Smooth crossing. What more could we ask for?!
couple
6-10 cruisesBalcony (Sheltered)
20 Sep 2023
The QM2 is a lovely ship with lots of lounges and bars with great entertainment. Staff were great and service in the Dining Room was excellent. Really enjoyed the performances by Ben Mills, Philip Melbourne but the icing on the cake was Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra who were amazing. Also enjoyed the Captain’s involvement with the performances, very funny.
Only problem was the App didn’t work most of the time so unable to book dining or Planetarium, but got Purser’s desk to book Planetarium and just turned up at the dining room and got a table immediately.
Had a problem one day with toilet not flushing in cabin and had to report it twice. It was subsequently fixed and on our return to the cabin, found a bottle of sparkling wine on the table, nice gesture.
Great cruise.
Couldn’t submit this without rating Excursions! Put 1 star as there were no excursions during the cruise itself, just at the ports of embarkation and disembarkation which we didn’t do.
couple
10+ cruisesBalcony (Sheltered)
20 Sep 2023
Amazing trip with exceptional food. Made better with fantastic weather. Lovely to be able to board early and think the new changes to disembarking is a real improvement and make leaving a lovely experience.
group
10+ cruisesBalcony (Obstructed View)
7 Sep 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable first cruise with Cunard. Very hard to fault.
All offers and prices are subject to change and availability at time of enquiry. Prices are based on two passengers sharing unless otherwise stated and are subject to the Tour Operator's terms and conditions. Cabin and Flight supplements may apply. Other supplements may apply in addition to the price shown above. Flight details, timings and routing may be subject to alteration. Other tour operator charges may also apply. Any Onboard Spending money or drinks package value shown will be per cabin, again based on two sharing.
Note: On 13 January 2018, new European legislation is being adopted in the UK which as result will mean that we may change our required method of payment at our discretion, irrespective of how any deposit or prior payment was made.