Decks - To name or not to name (QE2 vs. QM2 and QV)

[Chris]

I liked on QE2 that decks had names. Signal, Sun, Boat, Upper, Quarter... then One to Seven. On QM2 and QV it's just numbered.

Which do you prefer?

I also wonder why QM2 and QV have decks in descending order (13 down to 1) while QE2's was One up to Seven...

Also, QE2's were "One Deck" while QM2 / QV are "Deck One"...

Just thinking aloud - any one else care to join in?

[Bob C.]

Great question Chris.  From my observation, a lot of QE2's naming characteristics such as deck numbering, cabin numbering, etc. Are derived from traditional maritime convention (see my explanation of the 4 and 5 Deck cabin numbering -  https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1608.msg17359.html#msg17359).

The convention is to name the "main deck", the upper most deck that runs from stem to stern, main or one deck or deck one. The decks below that are in ascending numerical order, just like QE2. The decks above can be named anything. In the US and Royal Navy the decks are numbered but begin with "0" to delineate that the deck is above the main deck. For example, the first deck above the main deck is "01", the second is "02", "03" and so on. As an aside my state room on the aircraft carrier was on the 09 level and there are no elevators. I was in great cardio shape back then!

But since the "01" deck numbering convention is a bit sterile for a liner of her caliber and lineage, I assume creative license was taken, bringing us the names of her upper decks.

Now my question is why did QM and QE call their main decks "Main Deck" and letter the decks below in ascending alphabetical order but used the same naming for the upper decks (except for the two "promenade" decks Quarter and Upper)? Perhaps it was in keeping with Cunard's desire to set QE2's design apart as the liner for the modern era?

[Chris]

Interesting Bob! I wonder why they moved to straight numbers on the current fleet?

[Michael Gallagher]

QE2 was to follow the traditional naming convention for decks but that changed during the building:

Q4   QE2
   
Observation   Signal
Sports   Sports
Boat   Boat
Verandah   Upper
Promenade   Quarter
Main   One
Foyer   Two
A   Three
B   Four
C   Five
D   Six
E   Seven
F   Eight

[Chris]

Michael, do you know why QM2 and QV just use numbers? Simplicity?

[Michael Gallagher]

Simplicity. I wish names had been used as I still get confused between the QE2 way of doing it and the QM2/QV way of doing it!

[Chris]

Me too! Boat Deck makes so much more sense than Deck 7...

[Bob C.]

Tradition!

[RmsAquitania]

On my most recent cruise the promanade deck for what it was worth was actually what normal people would have called the boat deck !