deck chair

Yes, it would be illegal in the United States depending There are some restaurants in America that do pay a salary to servers in lieu of tips and the patrons are so informed. I have been told this new Cunard experiment not a pool situation. They are now getting a salary which falls short of what most made in tips. Deck chair.

Hello! I am a longstanding Diamond level member with countless sailings on record with Cunard. I have always been happy with the great service provided by the hardworking crew. It has come to my attention by many numerous reliable sources here on the QM2 that the gratuities that you are required to pay with drinks are no longer going to the waiters t hat provided the service. They are going into the pockets of Cunard Line and little doubt into the pockets of the insensitive Cunard management. Trust me: NO way they work nearly as hard as the crew members who take care of passengers. The waiters are upset because instead of receiving the tip[s they are being compensated with a salary that for many that falls short of wheat they earned with tips. In addition. the waiters who work the hardest and sell the most drinks make as much as the the waiters who produce less. I guess Cunard Line executives think that's just awesome. I have also been told that this new practice is just an experiment by Cunard Line. Yes, an experiment to see how much they can get away with mistreating their waiters. An experiment to see if they can keep this greed without the passengers finding out. Unfortunately , passengers cannot remove these drink gratuities as they can with the others. (Which I have newer done.) This is what we can do: Complain loudly to Cunard Line especially on their Facebook page and on end of voyage passenger surveys. Your thoughts please. Deck Chair

Hello: I am currently sailing on the QM2 for England. I will be sharing my thoughts when I return from this 28 days voyage round trip from NYC. In the meantime, in addition to other cutbacks, the captain's reception is no longer. There is no credible explanation for this except the inept Cunard senior management must think its a brilliant idea to take away a longstanding traditional very enjoyable event that has been going on for many many decades. Of course, some passengers don't care but 95% of passengers do and does not go unnoticed. (Unless you are a first time passenger) Why is this management taking away a meaningful affair that brought passengers together to meet, share, mingle and make new friends? Its a further steep degradation of the Cunard experience. No doubt these mindless managers think its all made up up with a warm glass of sparkling line left at your table in the dining room. Let me clue you in, Cunard mangers: I t does NOT and is an insult. Don't even want to get into the horrible scheduling of the CWC and senior Officer's parties. Its like, lets have these at most inconvenient time possible so fewer people show up. Except for crossings I will be looking elsewhere for cruises long and short such as Oceania, Saga, Celebrity or Princess among other lines. Curious what others think. On the bright side, the weather has been very nice except for some patchy fog early on yesterday. Lots of passengers out on deck! Be well. Deck Chair.

Hi! You are not going to find accurate seating charts and even if you did there is no guarantee the tables haven't changed. This is what I recommend: 1. When you get on the ship make it a priority to visit the dining room. Bring your table card with you. Find your assigned table and if it is acceptable there is nothing else to do. 2. If you don't like your table, scout out the room and make a note of the table numbers of the tables you do like. 3. Meet with the MD when he is scheduled to be there (get there early and beat the line) and request a change of tables. I have found that second sitting is not as in demand as first so you have a good chance of getting to the table you like. 4. If on day of sailing there are no window tables available ask the MD to let you know if it something opens up for the second night. People do have a tendency to move around so something you like could open up. I do not want to open up another tipping debate. I have found its worthwhile to let the MD know you will be happy to show your gratitude. Good luck Deck Chair

Hello! I have been to Dubai twice on QM2 and saw the QE2 on both occasions. During my second D bai port call I took a short ride over and bought a ticket to visit. I sailed 15 times on QE2 from 1998 through 2003. I have a lot of special memories of that ship and my time sailing on her. When I boarded the ship, it brought great sadness to me because while it is still the QE2 she has changed because the lifeboats are gone, the Caronia dining room has been stripped and is now apparently used as common office space. The outdoor pools are covered over and many of the public rooms are almost unrecognizable. So I left sad that she is in this state, but I still have my memories and countless photographs. I wish she could have stayed in Southampton but that was not to be. If you decide to book a room I'm sure it will be fine. Good luck. Deck Chair.

Thanks to all who commented. Wondering if the service can be booked onboard as I have experienced in the past. Thank you. Deck Chair

Hi! I haven't been on the QM2 since the covid aborted world cruise in 2020. Wondering if Cunard Line still offers luggage forwarding services for NY disembarkations. Thank you. Deck Chair.

Thank you all very much for your responses. Most helpful. If I see you on an R class ship I will buy you a drink! Deck Chair

Hello: Has anyone stayed in wither 4056 0r 4055 on R class ships both of which border the reception area? Should I be concerned about noise? Thank you. Deck Chair.

Thank you Hattie. If we ever meet I shall treat you and your husband to drinks! Deck Chair.

Hattie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences. I am wondering why no live piano music in the Commodore Club pre-dinner. Thats my favorite hangout spot unless attending an affair elsewhere. I will be sailing from New York again July 21 on the QM2 for 28 days and hate to think Commodore Club swill be dead music wise before dinner. Thank you. Deck Chair.

Hi What a great writer you are. Thank you for your review. Not pleased we have to wait for the second installment!!!! Deck Chair.

Hi Highly unlikely I will sail on the larger O ships. I do, however, appreciate you taking the time to let us know how Vista is. Perhaps I will see you on an R class one day!! Deck Chair.

Hello! Thank you for your comment. Certainly not on the larger ships which is why you will never see me on one. Now if I see you on a R class ship you must allow me to buy you a drink! Be well. Deck Chair.

Hi! Thank you. What you say is no doubt true however the larger ships have no useable promenade deck.

Hi! In this case with this line I mean the larger O ships. Deck Chair.

Hi again! Looks like you and I have sailed on many of the same ships! I have only sailed on the SIRENA this past January for 20 days. I was extremely impressed. Impressed enough to book a 40 day Trans-pacific on the INSIGNIA this coming January. Yes, I know the baths and showers are small and that seems to be the main criticism. And the lack of great entertainment is another. I will not sail on the larger ships because they are too big with too many passengers. I think you lose the intimacy on the large ships. And no useable promenade deck is the main thing. If I see you, I will buy you a drink! Deck Chair.

Hi! Those day are NOT over. There are really nice promenade decks on the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, all the SAGA ships, Disney ships and no doubt others. I for one do not want to burn/broil under the sun and will not sail on ships with no real promenade decks where I can take shade under lifeboats out of the sun to read, nap, chat with those strolling by and simply watch the beautiful ocean go by. Deck Chair.

Hello: You can plainly see that the larger O ships including VISTA do not have even limited promenade decks. NO deck chairs. This is why I will only sail on the R class ships. Yes, the R class ships only feature limited promenade decks but they do have comfortable deck chairs where you can sit under lifeboats out of the sun to nap, read, or watch the ocean go by. Deck Chair.

Hi! I went on my first Oceania cruise on the Sirena, a 20 day round trip from Miami. After countless cruises on other lines (Mostly Cunard) I did not know what to expect. I was very happy with the food and service. I was impressed enough that I booked a 40 day cruise on Insignia departing LA on January 14 to Sydney. Hope this helps. Deck Chair.

Hello: I am sorry to disagree. I have sailed on QM2 over 40 times since 2006 and there is plenty of room for strolling hand in hand. I observed numerous lovebirds over the years on this wonderful deck. Yes, on occasion faster walkers or joggers do have to go around these strollers but it is hardly an issue. The so-called promenade deck on QA is going to be a huge disappointment.

Hello: I have sailed on QV several times in both inside and outside cabins in Britannia grade. The shower stalls ae very tight, certainly smaller than those on QM2. Little room for toiletries you may want to have. The most negative thing is the FIXED shower head. If you are tall like me (6'2") you are forced to bend your head down. The QM2 has movable shower heads which is far superior. Unless something has changed the showers have curtains. Knowing the tight shower situation, I bring a shower caddy to hang over the shower head. All the best. Deck Chair.

If the "inevitable" still happened why bother taking precautions.?

No Offense, however, no one will know what you are talking about. Deck Chair.