Craigrlewis

V323-August 2023 Deck 4 Platinum Assigned 2:45 and parents Deck 4 Gold Assigned 3:30 Ours is latest boarding time ever had Not sure whether to chance going earlier or turn up at the correct time and hope to sail right through. Leaner towards the latter as my mum has osteoporosis so cant stand for long periods so don't want the risk of her being made to stand outside (appreciate she could go inside no doubt and sit and wait with the assisted passengers btu sotn want them sat in there for 2 hours) just been used to rocking up at noonish and being able to get on form then or last couple of times from 1pm/130pm

I have seen/heard people in the Britannia using cell phones but have to admit it has always been (as far as I cam remember) on port days and the gist of the conversations seem to have been meeting people ashore/calling taxis etc. I guess if i was eating dinner and people were loudly chatting nearby it would probably be an irritant. I would likely complain to the maitre d’ That said though some people are very loud even without using a phone and seem to try to present a “listen to me” kind of mentality when in public areas. Nowt so queer as folk 2 cruises ago in the PG we were on a table for 2 and 3 tables away was a table for 6. All very gentile and peaceful every mealtime until a certain couple arrived. The entire mealtime all you could hear was her chattering at the top her voice. Whatever the topic was she had a personal connection and usually either she or her husband or good friend or a Relative etc had done it been the got the T-shirt etc. and she could out trump and take over the story. I try to shut these cell phone users out and think Im glad that my job doesn't necessitate me being contactable 24/7; My family are not unwell sp I don't need to check in daily etc etc Im glad when I step on board one of the Queens that after 20 cruises I still state to my partner “ I feel Im back in my rightful home and this is the most relaxed and switched off type of holiday we ever undertake”. Using a cell phone or the internet is the not even on my things to do today list - thats filled up with eating, drinking, sightseeing etc etc.

Hope you have both have a speedy recovery

Amazing photos. Sounds like you're having an amazing trip. Enjoy the rest of it

Thanks for taking the time to relive it. Very unpleasant indeed. I really would expect better from a fellow Cunarder - if one has nothing nice to say then say nothing at all. Enjoy the rest of your trip

Taking lots of precautions but still enjoying the trip, despite the fact that two people took it upon themselves a few days ago to harass us about our mask wearing! I’m shocked someone would harass you for wearing a mask- would you care to elaborate? Taking my 85 year old mother who is clinically vulnerable on the same cruise in August and it’s her first one since covid and she is so desperate to get back onboard but is aware of the risks and will be masking up in the terminal and lift and will probably try to avoid the tenders and theatre Now Im worried to encounter someone like you did hence wondering how the scenario played out

I think only you can decide The problem now with the internet is information overload For every review that is glowing for a ship/hotel/train/airline/play/book/movie etc. one does not have to look too far to find a critical review On these boards you will find die hard fans of the relevant provider and first timers who swear they will never do it again and then first time and repeat users who swear they will use no one else I would say go and enjoy it and if you don't enjoy it then really you are no worse off and can chose never to use Cunard again We have now undertaken 17 cruises on Cunard and it works for us.

Have you tried Parking For Cruises? I understand from chatter on the P&O board a lot of people use them. I think you leave the car in the short term parking and they move it and bring it back. SO wish I was on this cruise but Ive only got 2 days holiday left for 2023/2024 😩

I think that corporations such as cruise companies/airlines etc struggle to deal with these sort of events when they arise. Too many front line employee positions have been eliminated to save costs etc and people pushed online/to call centres who then are often so far removed from the geographical event they cant resolve things. When something like this happens it is impossible for them to rebook/re-accommodate everyone immediately and regrettably many have often before commenced their initial journey. Following covid many travel insurers and end providers (airlines/cruise companies) now vigorously “debate” which one of them should be picking up the costs when things go wrong. I faced this when I got quarantined on my Alaska QE cruise. Initially Cunard refused to refund my car parking charge at Heathrow (due to delay in getting back) citing My travel insurer should pay. They said Cunard should pay etc.etc. I think IMHO its the modern world we are now in - just numbers to these corporations and when things go wrong its a long slog to rectify things. You’d like to think that Cunard have regular business continuity disaster planning of how to react to such an event and the process and plans rehearsed but who knows…l.

Helen Doe and Daniel Verscharen will 2 of the guest speakers on board Queen Victoria V323, the 3rd guest speaker is still to be confirmed.

End of February been extended for voyages up to July 2024

Thats what we established too but we then found out people swear by Avon so Soft works instead so we took that.

We went 2019 and couldn't get any sense from Cunard about was it needed or not. Basically we were told what Bedruthen stated

Ha thats the funny thing - no I haven't! Been on my “things to do today” list for ages

I asked the waiter for the recipe a few cruises ago and here it is

My partner and I moved our North American membership over about 10 years ago. Mine was without issue but for some reason my partners now is tedious. When you make a booking the Cunard site will not accept it and one has to call up and Cunard have to add it. Always the same comment “oh I don’t know why it wont accept it” We got Dragana in the sales office one voyage to double triple check if there was anything wrong with his profile etc and she couldn’t see why it wouldn’t work. Good old Cunard IT I guess!

17 cruises on Cunard and 1 on P&O (Britannia) We felt there were things on P&O we preferred and things we preferred on Cunard. Couple of examples: P&O Britannia Rooms are much superior (layout and bathrooms) to Cunard (ex Grills) Service on Cunard was much better than P&O in general Eric Lanlard Afternoon Tea on P&O was amazing whereas Cunard don’t offer anything as special but normal afternoon tea on Cunard is great I would say give it a go and if you dont like it then dont try it again We were already mid loyalty teir with Cunard so after Britannia we just stuck with Cunard. Would we go P&O again - probably but only on Britannia as Iona/Arvia seem too big-we thought Britannia was slightly too big for us as it was.

I agree with this. I picked up covid on QE in Alaska in June.3 days cabin isolation then 7 days in a hotel in Vancouver. At times I wished I hadn't tested and then reported it etc but I ended up saying almost word for word what you have just said. My manager says to me “one can do the morally right thing and rest easily at night”. This you did. We took a QV trip this November and returned covid free. Don't be put off.

Once I book a flight or cruise I try hard not to the check the price again I work on the principle if it had increased I would be chuffed but if it dropped Id be miffed so why bother! If I was “happy” with the price then I book it and if Im not then I don't book it

Had said survey and completed it like in the past with the preference for formal nights and fixed dining. Sure that Cunard have their plans/views on what they want to do/change/eliminate/introduce etc If the responses in the survey support those plans then great and the feedback will then be cited as “you said we acted” and if it doesn't then Maybe the plans will go ahead if 100% of those questioned didn't disagree or maybe shelved I think the whole world changed in many ways post pandemic and Cunard isn't exempt and probably have a whole team working on “the adapt or die” principal. Im sure when QE2 was launched there were differences from Mary and Elizabeth and people were aghast or hated them but only thing guaranteed in life is change

That is very true She to me epitomizes Cunard and why we travel with them she is by far the best entertainment director and ambassador for that company

Yeah guess these cabins will either be dreadful or quirky and nice! shame they don't provide an artists impression of those balconies look larger but of course the deck plan may not be realistically to scale

We booked (H417) Queen Anne to British Isles and Iceland Primarily booked for Iceland part. Thought we would try one of those funny “alternative configuration” obstructed balcony cabins and did 4059 Having just returned from Iberia in PG I was wanting that but my partner was having none of it. Tis true once you try the Grills its hard not to go back there! Irritatingly my partners FCC showed on the booking page then disappeared and we were charged more. So need to call up and rectify that now. Their IT really is woeful Figured we would try the new ship with an open mind and see what its like.

pre covid - Previous experience was if was raining/rain forecast they would hand you one as you exited the ship and collected it on your way back It wasn't a full size gold umbrella but larger than a handbag size (assume to stop people retaining them - by accident Im sure)

Getting on QV the other week they called queens grills and so many people moved towards the doors it’s was a joke. it was very poorly handled. A family sat by us we’re in Club. They asked the port lady did they get priority and were told “yes” if it’s been stamped on your pass -it had been - so she said it will be QG the PG then Platinum then Diamond the Club. They had no status. Q- So when did they stand up and walk on ? A-Before the announcement had finished saying “queens grill only” We were platinum & in PG and it did tick me off Why it stamp the boarding pass QG, PG etc and actually enforce it I said to my partner when the huge crowd all people stood up “wow QG has a lotnof people”