deck chair

Hello! I have not been on Cunard since covid. On all my many Cunard sailings (65+) drinks were available in the theatre and never seemed to be a problem. I certainly took advantage. Sailing next on QM2 July 21 for 28 days from NY. Will be happy to report back the latest. Deck Chair.

Hi! I just returned from three weeks round trip on the SIRENA of Oceania cruises and there was no shortage of lobster tail. I think Cunard just wants to cut costs and blames the pandemic. IMHO. Deck Chair.

Hello: I just returned from a 20 day sailing on the SIRENA. We experienced very lovely seas except for a couple of days when we ran into heavy swells which knocked the ship around. One show had to be cancelled. Passengers had to be very careful walking about the ship and in the shower. My cabin was midship so I didn't have any problems with seasickness but several passengers in forward cabins did. Good luck! Deck Chair.

Hello! People can do what they want but I gave up on ship's excursions decades ago. 1. Very costly compared to doing it on your on. There are so many options. In addition, you can see and experience more than those on the ship tours. 2. You don't have to listen to the tour guide (Often with a thick accent) rattle on and on with TMI. 3. You are herded around with very little independence. Forget about stopping where you would like to stop! 4. You are on a crowded tour bus many of which have poor leg room. 5. Almost without fail someone goes missing. 6. It takes forever for everyone to get off the tour bus at the various stops. 7. There is always someone coughing and sneezing in the bus. 8. There are almost always passengers with mobility issues who never should have been on the tour in the first place. Don't get upset! I am a slow walker myself these days. No doubt others can add to my list. I do recognize many passengers are terrified of being on their own especially when the cruise lines emphasize with subtle hysteria that you will not be left stranded if you are late back to the ship when you are on an organized excursion. The cruise lines want to scare you into taking one of their tours. (Like you could be kidnapped and held for ransom if you are on your own.) In the EXTREMELY unlikely event a passenger touring independently misses the ship no doubt they will have the attitude that it just the adventure of travel!! Be well. Deck Chair.

Thank you. Good to know. I am mostly interested in the hours the pianists perform in Martinis. IS it dead from 7-10:15 as it was on Sirena? Thanks again. Deck Chair.

Hello. Just returned from a 20 day cruise on SIrena. I was surprised and very disappointed that there was NO live piano music in Martinis from 7-10:15 night after night. Totally dead. I could never get a straight answer as to why that was the case. I wonder if that was due to special circumstances, a decision made by the cruise director or a company wide policy. I booked a 40 day cruise on the Insignia for next January from LA to Sydney. Not sure if I will go through with it if it is going to be the same way. I may just take the Queen Mary to Australia. No way Cunard Line would allow such a dead zone in one of their lounges especially the Chart Room. Does anyone know? Any help appreciated. Thank you. Deck Chair.

Hello. Just returned from a 20 day cruise on SIrena. I was surprised and very disappointed that there was NO live piano music in Martinis from 7-10:15 night after night. Totally dead. I could never get a straight answer as to why that was the case. I wonder if that was due to special circumstances, a decision made by the cruise director or a company wide policy. I booked a 40 day cruise on the Insignia for next January from LA to Sydney. Not sure if I will go through with it if it is going to be the same way. I may just take the Queen Mary to Australia. No way Cunard Line would allow such a dead zone in one of their lounges especially the Chart Room. Does anyone know? Any help appreciated. Thank you. Deck Chair.

I hear you and understand your meaning. I will not be convinced I am wrong until we actually hear reports from the passengers on the QA.

Hello! Everyone has different noise tolerances, but I would avoid any cabin on deck 8 because of what it is over you. I was in 8123 on QV on a Panama Canal cruise pre club balcony days. Not every night but on many I heard a rolling sound from deck 9 as if someone was pushing a beer barrel directly above me. Of course, when someone came to check on three occasions in the middle of the night the sound disappeared. Never again! Unfortunately if you want a club level cabin, they only exist on deck 8. I think. Good luck. Deck Chair.

Hello! If you look at the deck plans of the QA you can plainly see the so called promenade deck is narrow and does not come close to what the other Cunard ships have. In addition, you can plainly see the view from this deck is going to be mostly blocked by lifeboats. Please compare deck plans of QE and QV. Either that WC rep is uninformed or deliberately misleading you. Of course, I may be wrong about this but doubt it. Anyone concerned about this promenade deck issue should just wait and see once the ship is finally at sea. If you must have a true promenade deck with deck chairs just wait and see. Pictures are of the QV promenade deck.

Hello! Just judging by the deck plans IMHO Queen Anne is going to be crowded. After 60+ sailings on Cunard Line vessels, there is no way I am booking a ship that does not have a true promenade deck such that exists on QM2, QV and QE.

Hello! Thank you taking the time to post your observations and thoughts. It has been often said over many years that you can't really appreciate the true Cunard experience on these short sailings. I have never been on an abbreviated cruise so can't speak from experience, but it must be true. That being said, the fault lays with Cunard. You would think the company would go overboard to provide a great time for those passengers just trying out the line with the hope that with a grand time they would be encouraged to book longer and more expensive trips. So, the question is, why has Cunard failed to do that? Why are they letting passengers leave very disappointed and not likely to book another Cunard sailing? Cunard management has dropped the ball. Clearly. Curious what others think. Deck Chair.

Hello: Important not to rely alone on these boards for critical information especially regarding covid issues. You need to contact Cunard Line directly regarding exemptions. I think you will find that there are medical exemptions allowed. There is a form to be filled out and submitted. Please do let us know what you find. Good luck. Deck Chair.

Hello! My last cruise on HAL was the 2005 35 day Voyage of the Vikings on the Maasdam. I had done a good number of HAL cruises prior on the Rotterdam, Veendam, and Ryndam and Maasdam. HAL was my go to cruise line. I was very happy with HAL until the 35 day vikings cruise when I noticed cutbacks in waiters, cabin stewards and musicians. Aside from the wonderful itinerary it was a mediocre experience. Not good especially for a premier 35day cruise. So, I switched my allegiance to Cunard Line where I found great service, a lot of musicians playing throughout the ships, ballroom dancing and a lot of special programming. Unfortunately, Cunard has a limited number of ships so that affects itinerary choices. Clearly HAL with a much larger fleet excels in that department. Nothing really interested me for this coming Winter Cunard schedule, so I looked at the 74 days South America cruise on the Volendam. I thought to myself I should give them a chance. Then I began reading a good number of reliable accounts of HAL passengers reporting even more cutbacks. It is clearly no longer a premium line. So, I don't know what I will do for this Winter, but I do know it won't be on the Volendam where I get to experience more cutbacks. Not on a 74 day cruise! It's a shame because that South America cruise has a great route. It's too bad that management of HAL has orchestrated these cutbacks. Perhaps they should name their latest ship the CUTBACKDAM. That would be fitting. I realize that many HAL loyalists will stick to HAL no matter what. That's great and I hope they have a nice time. I'm out for good. BTW, these are my opinions and understand others may differ. Be well. DECK CHAIR

Hello. All one has to do is pull up the deck plans of the new QA and you can plainly see the promenade deck is not going to be anything like you find on the other Cunard ships. Also, the QA is modeled after the HAL new PINNACLE class ships such as Koningsdam and Rotterdam. Check out their deck plans or view countless YOUTUBE videos. Do you see traditional promenade decks? Sadly, you do not. You see a narrow passages with most views blocked by lifeboats and not a deck chair in sight. No thanks. I'll stick to QM2, QE and QV.

Hello: I have sailed countless times on Cunard ship since 1993 and have several sailings booked for the near future. Cunard can call it a promenade deck on QA all day long. It is not going to be a true promenade deck as you will find on the QM2, QV or QE. There will be no room for deck chairs and most views of the passing sea will be blocked by lifeboats. Yes, you will be able to walk around it, but the deck will be narrow in most places. Its most unfortunate. I will not sail on a ship without a proper promenade deck where I can sit, watch the ocean, and people watch. All the best. Deck Chair

I'm so sorry however there is no excuse for this chaos and confusion. It makes one question the competence of Cunard management. DECK CHAIR

Hi Richard! I remember those parties as well. So much fun. Back in those days each one of the senior officers including the captain had their own tables in the Caronia Dining Room where passengers sat for the duration of the voyage. For whatever shortsighted reason all that disappeared on the QM2. Sad. Deck Chair.

HI Hattie!!! Thank you for the advisory. Very helpful. However, my friend who has many Cunard voyages under her belt, told me that Cunard assured her that traditional dining would be in place for the crossing she is on. In addition, my friend told me that other passengers were assured as well and were upset to find that they had been misled. So, who knows what happened. I think it's a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Meanwhile she reports that the ship is carrying about 2,200 passengers so 400 under strength. The weather has been very dreary with rather calm seas. She also reports that the crossing has been very pleasant. No parties which are sorely missed. Crew appears very happy. Thank you, Hattie. Be well. Deck Chair.

A very good friend of mine just boarded the QM2 in NY this afternoon. Even though CUNARD has made a big deal out of maintaining traditional dining times with an added open sitting for those seeking more flexibility, it is NOT the case at least on this crossing. Even though she was confirmed for traditional second sitting with same table etc. when she boarded, she found to her huge surprise that she will need to make reservations each evening. Therre is no set table. What is Cunard doing? Why are they going against a practice they just announced to great fanfare just weeks ago? I think a lot of passengers who relied on Cunard's guidance will be understandably angered. Deck Chair

Hi! Thanki you for taking the time to report on your cruise. Deck Chair

Hello! I was in a deck 8 cabin before the refit. It was a Panama Canal cruise. Cannot recall the cabin number. I can tell you I would never book a cabin on that deck due to very late night noise from the lido above. It was if someone was roiling a barrel on the deck above. It would come and go. Could never get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, if you want a Britannia club cabin deck 8 is the only deck where they are available. FYI, I am on a waitlist for the QV world cruise from New York to Sydney. I will be sure not to be on deck 8. Good luck. Deck hair.

Thank you for the information, Camgirl. Deck Chair

Hi from America. What are the dining sittings in Britannia dining room? IS the second sitting fixed with same table, waiters and table companions? Thank you and be well. Deck Chair.

Thank you for taking the time to post your observations and experiences. You are a wonderful writer. Deck Chair.