“Some people have been on the Queen Mary 2 making the same crossing many times before. But I’ve got one over on even those who are grizzled veterans of the North Atlantic crossing. I have boldly gone where no one has gone before on the Starship Enterprise,” quipped the affable George Takei — helmsman Lt. Sulu of Star Trek fame and LGBT icon.
The 78-year-old performer and internet phenomenon hosted an eight-night voyage from New York to Southampton, UK. The cult actor continued to a full house in the Royal Court Theatre: “I worked very hard and conscientiously to get promoted and I wound up with a ship of my own — the Starship Excelsior. And I want to say to the captain of the Queen Mary 2, Captain Christopher Wells, as one captain to another, that I applaud the way you masterfully handle this magnificent and legendary ship. You’re doing a wonderful job”!
Despite being acquired by the Carnival Corporation in the late ’90s, Cunard’s 175-year British tradition has seen few revisions. The Insights program is one convention that has weathered father time. Passengers have the opportunity to interact with trailblazers in a wide variety of fields including history, literature, science and the arts.
Australian film director Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby), author E.L. Doctorow (Ragtime), astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient) are among the illustrious speakers who have been featured in the Insights program. Sting, James Taylor, Carol King and Tilda Swinton are a few of the celebrities who have participated with musical performances and screenings.
Germination began decades ago on the now-retired RMS Queen Mary (1936-1967). Notable guests, such as Winston Churchill and Cole Porter, led informal talks for their fellow passengers. The program was officially launched in 1974 and has gained interest ever since.
After a Q&A, we followed Mr. Takei to the stylish library — the largest at sea boasting more than 9,000 volumes — for a book signing. Throngs waited anxiously in line with books and cameras in hand to meet the author who received a warm reception from the passengers.
Mr. Takei’s two presentations, “Embracing Change” and “Hollywood,” were inspiring. The former dealt with his childhood in a Japanese-American internment camp, days on the set of Star Trek and LGBT activism. The latter included reminiscences about his acting career, with references to silver-screen greats John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Jerry Lewis.
We were fortunate to attend To Be Takei – the first documentary to premiere on a North Atlantic crossing – as guests of Cunard. The audience roared with laughter over a clip from the 2006 William Shatner roast. Enmity between the Star Trek idols had been building steam for years largely due to Mr. Shatner’s insensitivity towards gay rights.
After some playful banter with comedian Artie Lange, Mr. Takei opened by facing the roastee who was wearing a hairpiece and appeared inebriated. “Speaking of fat alcoholics, good evening Bill. My name is George Takei [tə’kā — pronounced with a long A], not Takei [tə’keī — pronounced with a long I] as you’ve been insisting on pronouncing it for the last 40 years. Remember, Takei [tə’kā], like toupee.”
Later, we met up with Mr. Takei and his husband Brad Altman Takei in their duplex suite, Holyrood. Mr. Takei told us: “I’m developing a musical called Allegiance, about the internment of Japanese-Americans. It’s a dramatization of a fictional family and it has already broken box office records at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. It won best musical from the “San Diego Critics Association.” (The show opened on Broadway on November 8 at the Longacre Theatre with Mr. Takei making his Broadway debut.)
Afternoon tea on the QM2 was a special occasion. Narrow strips of crustless white bread cradling slivers of salmon, ham, egg and cucumber commenced the ritual. Scones served with clotted cream and strawberry preserves followed; sweet pastries and cakes in sundry flavors finished in proper order.
With dressed-down business attire trending since the late ’90s, the world’s most expensive and fastest ocean liner has not conceded. Evenings alternated between business formal and black-tie themes — Ascot, black & white, and masquerade.
The Insights program boasted another visionary — 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founder of the Byrds — Roger McGuinn. Mr. McGuinn lectured twice about his six decades in the music business and performed a number of songs. He told us that he only takes transatlantic voyages to Europe because airlines have broken guitars and this was his thirteenth crossing since 2007. A European tour was to follow.
Tradition extends beyond the Insights program. Cultivated travelers embrace Cunard’s sophistication, elegance and classic presentations. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) ran daytime acting workshops and performed at night. This allowed its “understudies” to compare notes.
Benjamin Makisi, New Zealand’s leading tenor, is frequently heard on Cunard. “As an opera singer I’m usually asked to perform on a formal black-tie evening, and on nights like those, it is no different than performing at The Royal Opera House,” assessed “The Polynesian Pavarotti.”
With respect to staying the course of time, Mr. Makisi asserted, “the Cunard ship in my opinion is a traditional British ship with a more formal atmosphere where you’re taken back to the grand historic-style voyage experience. This is the main difference between Cunard and every other line. All three Cunard ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth — offer the same high standard and voyage experience.”