Step on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and you'll get art deco-inspired design, elegant gala evenings, and a chance to sail on the world's only ocean liner. But what about the desserts?
When I was looking into booking a holiday I struggled to find any real information on what kind of desserts were available, so this blog is here to give you a definitive guide based on my recent trip. Our itinerary was five nights, with two sea days, one day in Hamburg and one day in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.
Arrival
Waiting for us in our Princess suite we had a bottle of fizz and a box of chocolates. For a chocoholic eager to get the party started, four chocolate ganache-filled truffles were a much appreciated treat. Regardless of stateroom class everybody gets a glass of chilled fizz on their arrival, though only the Queens and Princess suite guests receive the chocolates too.
Main Dining
Your stateroom is linked to the restaurant you will eat in. We were staying in a Princess suite so we ate in the Princess Grill, but you might be in the Queens Grill, Britannia Club, or Britannia Restaurant depending on your room choice. All locations come with the same top quality service and fine dining. Open to breakfast, lunch and dinner, there's plenty of opportunity for something sweet.
The menus change every day and there is a variety of desserts to choose from, from warm bakewell tart to coffee parfait, and from chocolate mousse to poached pears. There's something for everyone, including vegan and gluten free options.
These were my nightly desserts:
Coffee Parfait, with espresso foam, deep fried chocolate ganache, cardomon mascarpone and a pulled coffee tuile - a bitter coffee hit, with a delightful ball of chocolate ganache, balanced with mascarpone. Super rich!
Strawberry Delice, with mascarpone and basil sorbet, strawberry meringues and vanilla cream - this dessert had a lovely berry flavour, lifted by the sugary meringue and refreshed by the sorbet.
Bitter Chocolate Souffle, with chocolate sauce - visually it reminds me of a sea anemone. The middle was scooped out and chocolate sauce poured inside. Light but rich.
Dark Chocolate Mousse, with mango, coconut and coriander - my words at the time were "this is the best chocolate mousse I've ever eaten". It was just so rich and amazing, and the mango paired well.
Chocolate Volcano Cake, with white chocolate ice cream - chocolatey, rich, and an all-round decent dessert.
Before leaving the restaurant you will be presented with a final treat, choosing between chocolate truffles, chocolate fondants or candied ginger from a silver platter. A nice touch.
Breakfast is also taken in your restaurant and is an opportunity to enjoy something sweet. Select a pastry from the basket to grace your side plate, or order the pancakes and waffles. In all honesty I preferred the savoury breakfast dishes, as the pancakes and waffles were thin and rubbery instead of light and fluffy. The pastries were very nice. The hot chocolate looks rich but was very watery. If you ask me, eggs florentine and a glass of fruit juice is your safest bet.
The Kings Court Buffet
If you don't fancy your restaurant today (perhaps you're taking a morning yoga class, going ashore, or just after a more relaxed atmosphere) try the buffet. The food options change throughout the day and the buffet is essentially open all day, save for certain times when they get ready for the next serving.
The best thing is that there is always dessert on offer, usually in the form of small patisserie cakes, but also scones in the afternoon and refreshing fruity dessert cups. I had a chocolate ganache square which was immensely rich and thick, and a sweet chocolate coffee roulade, though you can literally 'fill you boots' if you want to.
There is also a soft serve ice cream machine serving vanilla or chocolate, or a mix of the two. It is good quality soft serve and not at all like some of the synthetic variations out there. I got classic sea-side vibes from this ice cream, all that was missing was a flake.
Afternoon Tea
If it is 3:30pm you want to be in the Queens Room for afternoon tea. The tea is hosted in an elegant ballroom, and live classical music provides background calm.
The set-up is a little different to your usual afternoon tea. Everyone is seated at 3:30pm and the white-gloved waiters come out en mass, bringing round standard tea first, then platters of sandwiches, platters of patisserie cakes and lastly, the scones. They float from table to table like bees visiting a garden full of flowers. You can request a different flavour of tea or a purchase glass of champagne to complete the experience.
The sandwiches are standard fare, the only vegetarian options were cucumber and cream cheese, and cheese and pickle. There were four cakes to choose from a silver tray, the rich chocolate square and cappuccino eclair were delicious. The scone was perfectly baked.
This format for afternoon tea works and is necessary to feed so many people within a short space of time. You get to choose how much or how little you want to eat, select the flavour profiles you want, and not be daunted by a full stand with too much food. The Laurent-Pierrer Champagne Bar does a full tea stand (at additional cost) if that's more your vibe.
Top Tip: if it is a sea day, be ready and get there before 3:30pm. It gets very busy and latecomers will find there are no available seats left. If you are a duo, be prepared to share your table with other guests, or be quick to offer your spare seats to those looking for chairs to add to their table.
Godiva Cafe
The Queen Mary 2 is the only Cunard ship to have a Godiva Cafe on board and is well worth a visit. They do five different patisserie style cakes, as well as rich chocolate drinks (hot and cold), ice cream sundaes, and boxes of chocolates to take away.
I was straight in there on the first day, opting for the very rich and chocolatey cheesecake. A couple of days later I revisited to enjoy the dark Chocolixor milkshake. The cafe is at additional cost but worth it.
Other Restaurants
The ship has other restaurants on board too. There is The Golden Lion, a British-style pub that serves up sticky toffee pudding, and The Verandah, a steakhouse which does cookie skillet, cheesecake and chocolate brownie. Not to mention Alternative Dining at The Kings Court and light snacks in the Corinthia Lounge. I didn't eat at these establishments so can't comment on their offering. Dining is at additional cost.
Port Days
When the ship docks in a new city this is a great opportunity to explore local cuisine and desserts.
Hamburg, Germany
We joined a Medieval history tour around Lübeck primarily because it included a visit to Café Niederegger - it was the perfect tour for a dessert lover! The cafe was founded is 1806 and is conveniently located in the old town. The company specialises in marzipan but also sells chocolate and German cakes. The cafe visit included a drink (hot chocolate, tea or coffee) and a slice of their famous marzipan nut cake. The cake is filled with an airy hazelnut cream and coated in delicious sweet marzipan. The hot chocolate was rich and made with real milk chocolate.
There are also many other delicious cakes on offer on the counter if you want to take some for later. You get some free time before heading back to the coach, which is perfect for stocking up on marzipan from the shop.
Cherbourg-en-Contentin, France
In Cherbourg the ship docks a short 13 minute walk away from the center, so within a few minutes we were submerged in pretty streets, market squares and foodie heaven! The markets sell giant vegetables, huge brioche buns and fresh seafood, while patisserie and boulangerie shops line very street.
I ordered macarons in my best high-school French (selecting chocolate, lemon, salted caramel and coffee flavours), bought Royal cake from a patisserie (a French dark chocolate mousse cake), and my companion bought a chocolate cream-filled eclair. All were simply delicious, it is well worth disembarking to explore.
Dessert Verdict
It is safe to say that a foodie's sweet tooth will most definitely be satisfied. From midday treats to nightly desserts there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy a treat or two.
Bon voyage!
Lulu x