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Interesting thread. We have sailed on Cunard a few times and have always been in the grills, so a table for two and anytime dining suits us well. However in December 2019 we are doing a month on QM2 and frankly cannot afford the grills for that length of time and so we will be in Britannia restaurant for the first time. We have requested a table for six and thought this would also be a good idea for Christmas and the New Year dinners. However having seen some of the comment's on this thread I am thinking perhaps a table of 8-10 to guarantee there will be lots of people around us enjoying the celebration.

Peter and Jenny

Okay lets get this in perspective. I drink a lot and my good lady doesn't drink as much. We like a couple of beers at lunch time a couple of drinks before dinner and then a nice bottle of wine with dinner followed by, for me a nice malt whisky or cognac to end the evening. However the bottle of wine and the high priced brandy and whisky will not be included in the drinks package. Much as I like my booze at P&O's current prices I would be hard pushed to drink £40 worth a day and my missus will not drink anything like that.

In January we are off on Ventura for a month TA and Caribbean. At £80 per day that's over £2000 for the drinks bill....I don't think so.

By all accounts if P&O decide to raise their prices to Cunard's level then that might make the package palatable, however they might also loose quite a few customers!!

Peter and Jenny

I would suggest that you send P&O a letter by recorded delivery stating that they have 14 days to repay your money or you will take them to the small claims court. If they still do not refund you then take then to court, it's quite simple and will not cost a lot and trust me P&O will settle up very quickly!!

Peter

Just returned from two weeks in Majorca. We cruise a lot but just break it up now and again with a land based holiday. This one was a four star all inclusive with fabulous reviews. From the first day it was fairly obvious that we had stepped into the Majorca Mother and Toddler play group! The food was pretty good but the constant wailing of tiny children throughout every meal wore you down. The entertainment was also pretty good if you could ignore the kids club dance that appeared to be going on from six at night until about half eleven directly in front of the acts. As expected the drinks seemed to be about half strength and so we tended to drink elsewhere.

Oh well that's life, September we are back on Queen Victoria and next January a month on Ventura going TA and Caribbean. Peace perfect peace!!

Peter and Jenny

Interesting posts. I have had the e mail and carried out the survey. Here in the UK there is no offer of payment and not offer of calls at home the. The survey was quite interesting as it was mostly about what type of food you like, for instance classic French, USA steakhouse, Italian family dining, Asian Indian and Middle eastern tending more towards Lebanese. There was a definite trend to encourage freedom dining but strangely not one question regarding grills where freedom dining is the only option. Do we therefore think that Cunard my be considering excluding gills on future ships?

What are your thoughts?

Peter

2 pieces of ice, 2 oz. of Trevethen Navy Strength Cornish Gin, slice of lemon and Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic.

Enjoy!!

Peter

We are on QV for a week in October. There are two formals, the first is the Royal Cunard Ball and I shall be wearing a very dark grey Tux/dinner suit but with a Red and Gold bow tie to follow the "Red and Gold" dress code. The second is a Victoriana Ball and I had a Tux made for me and it is made from blue chinese silk with a black pattern woven in. I think it looks phenomenal and my good lady seems to agree. On formal nights we mostly see Tuxes on the men and a variety of very nice dresses on the ladies.

Not been to a masquerade ball yet but as we are on QM" for a month at the end of next year I rather think they will fit one in then! Looking forward to it.

Peter and Jenny

My first cruise was on Arcadia in 2007. We sailed away to a band playing on the dockside, the prom deck was packed and fizz was being sold and drunk in large amounts. Next cruise was on Ventura the following year and the sail away was just about the same. Eventually I did a couple of Caribbean's on Ventura and there was nothing happening as we sailed away from Bridgetown. The next cruise out of Southampton it had all changed and there was no sail away celebration. So it seems to continue today and I expect it coincides with a change in senior management who seem to think everything should be "dumbed" down.

I miss those sail ways, they made you feel that it was a special holiday.

Peter

Whatever is a "Greypounder"?

Nobody will notice the shoes but will worry if you are not wearing a tie. I'm 6ft 2 and wear Cuban heeled boots and trust me I never get questioned. If they cant see your toes than they wont worry. (Though carpet slippers might be pushing your luck!!)

Peter

There are plenty of cruise lines that cover the Med. Decide what you want to experience and then decide on your budget. If your budget is medium and you would like the American razamataz with robot drinks waiters, ice dance shows, climbing walls etc then go with RCI. If you would like to be up market and pampered but a lot less formal then go with silver sea, seabourne or regent. A little less cash to spend and not too worried about the formal dress up then go with P&O. Like the formal nights and perhaps can afford a little more to experience the cruising you were used to then go with Cunard on the grills. Whatever you choose find a specialist online travel agent and let them advise you. Most all enjoy what can only be described as a top class hotel that goes to many destinations over your holiday. You just cant beat it.

Peter and Jenny.

In your opinion as I will continue to say as there is no proof of this at all.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Dai, is this the same "No proof of this" that you threw at me when I claimed that P&O were about to sell Adonia?

Peter

I bring a steamer and curling iron and do not have any problems. If you bring an iron it probably will be taken away from you. Just so you know also you can bring alcohol on board. You will find Cunard treats their passengers as adults. And I always tell people if you want to make coffee in your room bring your own such as coffee bags the instant coffee they provide taste horrible.

 

Or buy the Rombouts single cup filters that make a smashing cup of coffee with no problems. We get them at Tesco.

 

Peter and Jenny

Really

What part of the UK are you talking about? It’s very much accepted everywhere I have lived - and do you know what it makes us nicer people

The fact is that some in the service industry have jobs with zero hours and minimum wage and tipping them - provided you have had good service - is the norm

 

Getting fed up the way some cheapskates try to justify their behaviour. Can afford TAG watches but won’t give a waiter a few pounds. You must be really proud

So when the DPD driver delivers tom your home and you know, or should know, that he is on a zero hours contract and minimum wage do you tip him (or her) ? When you go into your supermarket and the check out operator in on zero hours contract as most of them are these days do you tip them? What about the guy who empties your dustbins or the one who sweeps the street. Do they get tipped by you. I don't think so.

Yes I am going for a week on QV in queens grill. It has taken the best part of 18 months saving our pensions to afford this treat. The butler wont gat a tip. Well I guess I can live with that.

Do you not tip your hairdresser or wait staff in a restaurant in Cornwall?.

My hairdresser runs her own business and so charges what she needs to charge to maintain a her profit margins. Never use taxis so I don't need to tip them and rarely eat out in expensive restaurants so tips are not expected. It is interesting the great number of Michelin starred restaurants add a 15% service charge which sometime ago it was revealed in the media that the owners keep the tips themselves. Sort of proves my point I think. Of course P&O could include tips in the price of the cruise but they wont as it will make them too much like Marcella.

We are off on Ventura next January. P&O will attempt to increase our total fare by £392 with their stealth tax called a "Service charge". I do not believe for one minute that any of this goes to the crew and therefore we will be cancelling it as we simply cannot afford this. We do not believe in tipping. We do not tip anybody back home and as we avoid going to the USA we do not tip anybody on holiday either. I do understand that tipping is a way of life in the USA but the last time I looked P&O was still a British cruise line. If they want to paint the Stars and stripes on the bows of their ships instead of the Union Flag then that's what they should do. We would no longer sail with them!!

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WE usually deal with a TA because we have taken to doing pre and/or post land trip[s and our TA (again we cannot name but they are a specialist cruise TA based in Scotland) arranges all the flights, transfers, hotel and the cruise. In each case when we have used them they have also got us a much better cruise deal then we could have arranged ourselves. So at the end of September this year we are off for three days in Rome followed by a weeks cruise on Queen Victoria, in Queens grill, for less than it would have cost us to book just the cruise but in the Britannia restaurant.

Joining Ventura in January next year for a one month cruise to the Caribbean and back and booked through the TA because they could get us the cabin we wanted where P&O on line wouldn't make it available. Yes I know we could have booked it with P&O on the phone but I don't have the patience to wait 15 minutes to talk to someone!!

Peter and Jenny

Only weigh ours if we are flying. Joining the ship in port I figure if I can pick it up (I will be 71 in August) then I think the strong lads at Southampton can as well!!

Peter

PicSA,, agree, but as an ex-stewardess, I can tell you that when they panic, they block the exits.

I agree, at the first hint of a fire then it will be screaming mad rush to get to the exits. People falling over in the aisles will be trampled, the exits will jam with the crush of the crowd and the old and infirm will be left behind in the rush.

Before you all rush to rubbish what I have said just read the reports in the media about the loss of life in panic evacuations, Hillsborough being the classic example. How do I know... I was in fire research for years and you get to read a lot of reports not written for general public release.

Peter

Logically the last night is never a black tie night as many passengers have already put their luggage out for collection Hence it is always casual.

Peter and Jenny

Open up your cruise personaliser, look at the top of the page and click on Little Luxuries. Now click on the Little Luxuries display and it will open up all the things you can purchase before the cruise. Photo Packages are the ninth item on the list. I would assume you then click on the green details button. Mine isn't working which may be down to the fact our cruise on Ventura isn't until next January or just to P&O's inability to maintain a working IT system for any length of time!!

Just tried it again and it is working now. The range of packages is not too expensive and looks quite comprehensive.

Best of luck!

Peter and Jenny

Have never done a Fjords cruise (too cold for us!!) but you can guarantee two nights. Your second night on board will almost certainly be the Captains party so that will be Black Tie. Your last night before you dock back in Southampton will never be a formal night as you will have packed your cases ready for disembarkation. As for the other one could be any night but is unlikely to be the third night as you already did a black tie on the second night.

Peter and Jenny

We travel on BA a bit and they have just introduced three level of Euro Traveller economy tickets. Here is what is quoted on their website.

Our short haul fares

Our fare structure gives you a choice of three economy fares when you fly in Euro Traveller: Basic, Plus and Plus Flex.

• Basic - Ideal when you want the lowest possible fare but still includes hand baggage.
  
• Plus - Includes checked baggage and allows for extra flexibility.
  
• Plus Flex - Perfect if your schedule is likely to change as this fare gives you the greatest flexibility.
  

So if Cunard have booked you a basic fare then you will only have cabin baggage, if its the Plus fare then you will get 23 kgs checked in and 23 kgs hand baggage.

We always choose to have our flight booked through our TA so it always a Plus fare and we usually have a few days in Rome before we join the ship, which is what we are doing at the end of September this year.

I would suggest that if you have the BA booking details then go to "Manage my booking" on the BA website and you can check the type of fare you have. If not then give BA a call and see if they can help.

Peter and Jenny

I'm afraid that you are so right in what you say. Regretfully we have become a nation of haves and have nots with both sides trying desperately to exert their influence over the others. We recently had to tolerate a business owner from the north of england lecturing at length how his workers were idle money grabbers who only had one interest in life and that was taking his money! Though it wasn't on Cunard but on Silver Sea but it could just a easily have been.

I love you new descriptive noun, "All the wayers".... that should go in the OED along with other modern English words such as "Doable"

Peter and Jenny