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Miadessa

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About Me

  • Location
    NJ
  • Interests
    Hiking, biking, kayaking and enjoying nature
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    NCL & RCCL
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Caribbean

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  1. Update: OP here, just coming back to say that we sailed on the Queen Mary 2 again in September and it was wonderful! The staff were all exceptionally friendly and helpful. I noted, though, that all of the people were had encountered the first time had been replaced (Concierge, Maitre D', etc.). So, make of that what you will. Actually, the only weak link was our Room Steward, who unfortunately was the exact same person we had last time! Minor issues there, but everything else lived up to what we were hoping for. We had an amazing time. We will definitely sail Cunard again!
  2. We (US and Swiss colleagues) jokingly referred to our colleagues in the UK as "Brits" and we were "you Americans" (with, I believe, "dumb" implied to be inserted between the two) 🙂 You are correct. I should have referred to them appropriately here.
  3. Thank you everyone for the responses. I hope that I see what others have seen and that my experience was unique due to Covid stressors and/or re-start issues. Good to know that the Concierge's role on Cunard is no different from other lines. I will be more confident in my requests, should I have any need for assistance on my next voyage. Hopefully staff will be a bit friendlier as it is just proper manners, in general, to respond with a "hello" or "good afternoon" back and not grunt in response to someone greeting you- regardless of whether you are a customer or employee. I am not expecting overly effusive, as I have worked closely with Brits for many years, have travelled throughout the UK a few times, so I am familiar with the culture difference to the US. I am just expecting reasonable requests and issues/concerns to be addressed efficiently and without a dismissive or superior attitude. Hopefully that will be my experience next month. I am doing a b2b, with the first week in a regular room and the second in a PG, so it will be interesting to be able compare the two experiences so close together.
  4. I am confused and hoping some folks who have sailed traditional cruise lines in suites (eg- Star Class on Royal Caribbean, Haven on NCL) can help me understand the value proposition for sailing Cunard. I sailed in May and have another sailing booked that I made prior to the first sailing and am now possibly regretting my choice? Disclaimer- I loathe complainers. I am on vacation and want to enjoy every minute of it- complaining and focusing on the negative just ruins that. I am posting this in the spirit of gaining insight within relative comparison to help me level set on expectations. None of the below examples are major issues- just shared within the context of comparison of Cunard vs. other cruise lines. Please no hate- I am genuinely looking for insight. I am not intending to bash anyone or anything- if we are taking even 1 vacation we are more fortunate than most people in this world. First, the QM2 itself is fabulous! Loved the smaller, more intimate feel, but at the same time how spacious QM2 feels. Loved the activities and the slower, relaxed pace. Second, the guests onboard the QM2 were absolutely lovely- even more than on other lines. Everyone we encountered were super-friendly, pleasant and helpful (as one guest told me with a smile, "We all help each other out in the laundry room"). We enjoyed getting to know our fellow passengers and sharing stories. Unfortunately, and in a very obvious way, this did not extend to the people who work for Cunard. Customer service people over the phone were borderline rude with a derisive tone to every question I have asked. Celebrating a special occasion- well, "you can buy a cake if you want, but no, they don't do anything special". On other cruise lines I have been surprised with rooms being decorated, celebratory cake, etc. Heck, many restaurants on land will give you a special dessert on the house for a special occasion. Many staff around the ship answered our cheery hello's with grunts or no response at all. I am used to friendly greetings/responses from everyone I see on other cruise lines. Also, is the Concierge role on Cunard different from NCL, Celebrity, Royal, etc.? I asked the Concierge for help because my room card was not working. He told me to go to guest services. I am, by no means, above standing in line, and appreciate that it would be a minor inconvenience, but then, what is his function? We happened to still in the concierge lounge when, a few moments later, he advised that he was going down to help another customer anyway if I still wanted him to take care of the issue. Hmmm... okay.... so was this something he was supposed to help with, or not? If not, what kinds of services does the Cunard Concierge provide? The Princess Grills Maitre D' came over to our table at breakfast one morning while we were waiting on coffee refills to (ironically) brag about the level of service that Cunard provides over any other line in the industry. We just didn't see it. Everyone just seemed so disinterested in helping. I am just genuinely confused because other luxury services (even outside of the cruise industry- vacations, shopping, dining, etc.), which Cunard seems to brand themselves as, are just so much better. They speak about "unparalleled service" and clearly think they are offering it, but I just don't see it. They were average, and underwhelming. I have sailed on several cruise lines since Covid, so it isn't that. What am I missing? Were they really good at some point, but now not? Has Covid hit them harder than other lines and they haven't been able to get great people back? Has management changed? Is morale within the company really low? Is it considered "low brow" to go above and beyond the way the other cruise lines do? Am I too "low brow" to appreciate some other aspect of the service? Please help me if you have any insight. Thanks!!!!
  5. Agree about Alex Nikolic. He was the absolute best concierge we have encountered on any cruise line. Professional, responsive, and helpful- he went above and beyond on a few different occasions on our May trip on the Dawn. We had a disaster cruise with a huge covid outbreak, (it happens) but even with that, will still remember him and our Butler, Roberto Villacruel, as two superstars at NCL.
  6. Yeah... hard pass from me. We are in a star class suite departing Saturday, and on principle alone, not going to book the cabana. I understand they are trying to recover from covid losses, but agree with what others have said- if they sell at these prices, prices will stay high. It is essentially a covered deck on a stretch of beach that they own. Where is the value at that price, exactly? I had a cabana at South Beach on PDCC back in February which was newer, nicer, and cost way less.
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