New York to Southampton on the Queen Mary 2

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Day One of my 50th birthday trip also happens to be Mike’s 51st birthday, so I will start out by wishing him the happiest of birthdays! Happy birthday to my partner in crime and best friend, I love you more than ever Mike!

Alright, I’m just going to say it: sailing out of New York on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 feels like the start of a movie where you definitely packed too many things but somehow still feel like you missed something.

Mike and I boarded in New York (where we caught a game at Yankee Stadium the night before), and the second we stepped onto the ship, Cunard made it very clear this isn’t your average cruise. Think less “poolside chaos” and more “I suddenly want to dress up for dinner and sip something fancy I can’t pronounce.” That’s the vibe you get on this ship from the get go. It’s less kids and more of the 50+ crowd but hey, let’s focus on the positives, I’m going to Europe for my 50th. Can’t beat that for a present.

We spent the afternoon doing what I do best—wandering and eating. We explored the decks, peeked into the lounges so we could decide which ones we’d come back to later, and immediately started mentally ranking the best places to chill with a drink and a book (or puzzle, who knows?).

And then… we sailed away.

Standing on deck as New York fades into the distance is one of those moments you don’t forget. The skyline, the Statue of Liberty, that mix of excitement and “wow, we’re really doing this” hits all at once. It’s the kind of start that makes you realize this isn’t just a trip, it’s the trip.

We wrapped up the night with dinner (yes, I absolutely checked the menu ahead of time) and started settling into ship life—which, spoiler, mostly involves planning your next meal and pretending you’re going to use the gym.

Next stop: a full day at sea… and maybe a nap, yes that’s going to happen.

— Karlynn