Covepointcruiser

When did you last cruise? On our January Australia cruise neither the Captain nor any of his officers dined in Luminae. We also dined at his table on one of the elegant nights, all but one of the gentlemen wore Tuxes. Maybe this is an Australia thing but we were not the only Americans at the table. One gentleman wore just a sport coat without a tie and looked, out of place, but I am sure he felt comfortable.

We heard Alaska was more casual and DH decided only at the last minute to take his tux. Turned out to be really glad he did as we had a invite to the Captain's table.

We always do formal still on chic nights and are never out of place.

Dress up and enjoy!

 

I'm glad you enjoyed your evening at the Captain's table. But the Captain's table is gone now. They now do dinner in specialty restaurant or Luminae with officers. When we had dinner with officers I worn jeans and a short sleeve shirt.

Our last cruise friend wore tux with tails. I was in jeans an a long sleeve shirt on Evening Chic night.

 

As to shoes. Bring the high heels as backup. Wear the saddles they will be fine. As to tux, suit... it is your cruise and your celebrating. Rent them if you wish, but not needed.

If Cunard is what you know re cruising, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise on a Seabourn ship. You will probably never want to cruise on Cunard again and find, like we did, that an occasional crossing on QM2 is the only voyage where their unique offering gets any attention from us.

 

The only connection between Cunard and Seabourn IS the Carnival umbrella. Seabourn, as an honest luxury brand, is just better value for what you get, as you will soon appreciate.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

I am currently on the Quest with hubby. Our usual lines are Cunard and Celebrity, always in suites.

Other than the 450 passengers versus the larger ships, you will find Seabourn to be similar in many ways to QG on the Mary. You certainly have many more options for activities on the QM2 on a transatlantic, more higher quality speakers and entertainers.

The food is mostly excellent on the Quest, however you are not encouraged to make special orders for food as in the QG. Guess they are available, just haven't been offered. The wines are okay but you will pay to have a better wine. Now that Cunard includes all beverages, $13 and under, for both PG and QG, and all gratuities; there is less of a difference between the lines. Celebrity has also gone to all inclusive for all suites.

In summary, you will be happy with Seabourn but will alsocontinue to be pleased with the grill or suite experience on other lines.

If you expect a "class system" on Cunard you will be disappointed. We travel with Celebrity and with Cunard and enjoy both. Recently on the QM2, we were in a Suite. We had a different restaurant and a specific table with specific waiters for the cruise. We could come whenever we wanted (during operating hours) for all meals. There was a bar for suite passengers next to the restaurant but I never saw anyone refused service.

All drinks were included (up to $12) anywhere on the ship so we frequented our favorites. There is outside seating in an obscure area with a hot tub, also not policed. Cunard does still have a dress code and folks dress for dinner. You are not escorted into the theater nor are you brought to the front of lines. You will never notice suite guests unless you happen to eat dinner with them, there is too much going on in all areas of the ship.

Celebrity makes much more of a "show" and the waiters in Luminae can be overly attentive. The butler escort to bad seats in the theater made no sense and with no windows, Michaels Club can be dreary. There is very little upcharge dining on Cunard, everything is included.

I will be interested to hear what you think of Cunard, just don't expect to find class distinctions.

Welcome to Cunard. It will be different than RCI.

We may be on the same cruise on QM2 departing 9/27. I have printed out the schedule and it does not give exact timing for arrival or departures. I assume we will get that after we board.

They do give us the dress code for each evening. Unlike RCI, most passenger comply with the evening dress. You will find a quieter ship without the bellyflop contests. They also do not have bells and whistles such as Rock Climbing Walls, wave riders, water and ice skating shows, bumper cars or carousels.

You will have great lectures, a planetarium with several different shows, and entertainment that is more highbrow. You won't have any trouble finding a quiet place to relax or read.

Cunard leaves from Brooklyn. We stay overnight at the Brooklyn Marriott and have a very short cab ride in the morning.

Karen

Glad to hear some are still wearing tuxes, and that most of the gentlemen dressed well. We will be on the Solstice on 1/5/16 so it will be partially

Tropical(hot). Believe New Zealand will be cooler. My husband would rather stand out with a tux than feel underdressed.

We do eat at the Late seating and occasionally had the fortune of eating

at the Capains/Senior Officers table. He feels more comfortable dressed and will have a jacket ,no tie, for other nights .

Guess this is just our generation and where we are from.

I just bought a new outfit earlier this year. Looks like weddings and a couple of functions will be its only outings although I did make good use of it over the last year.

My husband will continue to bring and wear his tux. Men never look better than they look in a good fitting tux. Really don't care for the ugly tee faded

jeans concept.

Celebrity has provided upgrades to all of the Suite classes except for

the Celebrity Suites. From what I see there are no changes from last

year.:confused:

I think it kind of takes away from booking a Celebrity Suite or higher for me. The room isn't much larger than a sky suite, but I liked that it included Michaels. I'd take saving a few thousand dollars over the added space if I get Michaels access now.

We booked a Celebrity Suite specifically for the Michaels Club benefit.

We were in one last November and even with CS and higher, the club was crowded at night. Zenith passengers and other folks from the Casino were

also in Michaels Club.

It sounds like a disaster and will be much like the bars during Elite events. Michaels Club is just too small for this.

We will probably stick to Cunard in the future, their dress standards and suite benefits have not changed.

We travel either Cunard or Celebrity for our cruises. It's great that Celebrity is now offering some benefits for being in the top suites (Celebrity, Royal, Penthouse and Radiance(on the Radiance only. Previously we sailed in a Celebrity mini suite Sky Suite. There were few benefits that we weren't already receiving as Elite Plus. You did receive afternoon team in your cabin and we received the same canapés received in Aquaclass and Concierge. Unlike Aqua, no water was provided in your cabin and you could eat dinner in Blu on a Space available basis.

Cunard has many more perks for Brittania Club, Princess and Queens Grill. Each have there only restaurant with open seating. Princess and Queens Grill have their own Cocktail Lounge, Concierge Lounge and Private outside deck area.

You have butlers in the Queens Grill Suites and if you are in a Q4-Q1 cabin, there are even more benefits. We were upgraded to a Q4 cabin and had two bathrooms, unlimited bar set ups and refreshes. Anything we wanted in our frig, a full dining room, two doors to the outside deck, walk in closets, and electric controls for outside drapes. And to think that there were many suites even better than this one. We were wowed!

I am so glad Celebrity is now in competition with Cunard. I especially like the additional credits towards Elite/Zenith class depending on your cabin level. Cunards still gives you credit just based on the days sailed.