Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 features nightly turndown service across all cabin classes, delivering a refined British hospitality experience.
When Turndown Occurs
Turndown usually happens in the early evening — typically between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. The service operates while passengers are at dinner, ensuring a non-intrusive experience. You leave for the dining room with a lived-in cabin and return to one that feels entirely reset.
What’s Included in Turndown Service
In standard Britannia cabins, the service comprises:
- Beds turned down with pillows and coverlets neatly stored away
- Two chocolates placed at the foot of the bed
- Next day’s activity programme left on the bed
- Breakfast menu for room service ordering
- Folded dressing robe provided
- Curtains drawn in balcony cabins
- Softened lighting with one bedside lamp activated
- Refreshed towels and tidied spaces
The overall effect creates a calm, restful atmosphere without feeling intrusive.
How to Request the Service
Each stateroom door features a reversible magnetic sign. The black side reads “Please Make Up My Stateroom,” while the red side indicates “Privacy Please / Do Not Disturb.” Leaving the black side visible signals readiness for turndown service.
If you’re heading out for dinner and want the room done while you’re away, flip to the black side on your way out. It’s a simple system that works well.
Suite-Level Differences
Princess and Queens Grill suites receive enhanced service including:
- More frequent linen refreshes
- Premium chocolate selections
- Replenished amenities like fresh fruit bowls and bottled water
The step up from Britannia to Grill-class turndown is noticeable. The attention to detail increases, and the overall feeling shifts from efficient comfort to genuine indulgence.
What’s Not Included
The service omits room fragrances, sleep sprays, and custom pillow menus in standard cabins. Cunard emphasises understated elegance over theatrical touches like towel animals. You won’t find your flannel folded into the shape of a swan — and honestly, that’s part of the appeal.
My Reflection
Turndown on the QM2 is one of those quiet luxuries that sets Cunard apart. It’s not flashy. There are no surprises or gimmicks. But coming back to a perfectly prepared cabin after a formal dinner, with soft lighting and chocolates waiting, captures something about the transatlantic experience that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
It’s the kind of service that doesn’t demand your attention — it simply makes the end of each day feel considered and complete. For anyone sailing Cunard for the first time, the turndown service is a small but telling example of how the line approaches hospitality.