As a regular and longtime QE2 passenger, I was very interested in my recent experience on board QM2.

It is both inevitable and insidious to compare a 37 year ageing beauty with her two year old sister, but for keen devotees of the top end of both Queens, the contrast between the two is not necessarily as obvious as you might always imagine.

So having always been an aficionado of the QE2 Queens Grill, rather than risk disappointment I allowed the QM2 two years to shake down before testing the water with a 4 day sampler round trip from Hamburg this July.

In terms of accommodation, the obvious main benefit is having a verandah, a sizeable one too, for unlike the QE2 which only offers these in some 30 cabins of the Q2 class – some of which have the life boats blocking much of the view – here not only is every QG suite equipped with one, but almost every category throughout the entire ship, an excellent and most democratic arrangement.

My particular stateroom was mid ships on Deck 9 which represents the top of the standard (Q5) cabin before you stray into the more exotic options. Quite why they decided this deck was a better position than say Deck 10 – 12 I haven’t yet worked out because, again the life boats do seem to intrude somewhat even though they are cantilevered from the deck below.

The cabin itself is delightful in design and décor, finished in lovely light mellow satin wood with large windows and generally very spacious, though the settee is a tad small for two as is the only table.

Other plusses: The air con is as you might expect, very responsive and quiet. The tub is Jacuzzi equipped and the water gloriously soft. The drawers need extra pressure to release so won’t open and shut incessantly should the QM ever roll (Roll? Never!), the bed and its linen is top quality and of course everything is so fresh and new – as it should be. The new flat TV and its range of channels is very impressive too – you can even get a wide range of classical music for once.

Room service is excellent – fast, courteous and accurate. Breakfast in room was splendid and they are far more generous with that pre-dinner caviar, which is also in fresher condition.

We had one or two niggles with the bathroom, and in the suite itself there are very bright lights which you cannot dim and which is unhelpful for reading in bed or any romantic settings!

However in the Queens Grill itself, differences were striking. The decor is cold, formal, somewhat minimalist and dull. The dining room is long and thin and as the deck itself wraps round the windows, any view of the sea is constantly broken by those taking a promenade stroll. The seats are uncomfortable and the tables small. The menu choice (both a la Carte and Table d’hote) is very uninspiring, although pleasantly cooked and efficiently served.

I cannot resist comparing this restaurant to the Queens Grill on the QE2 where I was last just under 2 years ago, so I hope their high standards have not dropped to the level now provided by the QM2. On my return I looked up their old menus which confirms there is absolutely no competition, The QE2 is far more inventive and offers a far wider and tempting range in her table d’hote choice of menu.

Also the atmosphere in the QE2 grill is far more like a club, it always has that wonderful buzz, the square layout round an inner well is far more intimate – you feel special here whereas the QM grill is just a pleasant though rather ordinary restaurant, where you are not made to feel particularly welcome nor encouraged to select something yourself that may not be on the menu. It is you who has to make the first move.

So all in all whilst I enjoyed what I think may be the first of many trips on Queen Mary, I certainly would not write off QE2 yet, and think she can give her step sister a real run for her money.