Merry Maid

Just a thought on baggage. If you have zipped baggage it can be opened quite easily even if the zips are locked. It can then be closed up again with the locks intact. It only takes moments.

MM

Good for "Mike!"

 

How rude to ask him such a personal question! There are lots of reasons for not drinking. I'd bet there are at least as many people abstaining because their meds won't let them drink as their are alcoholics staying "on the wagon." In either case, it's nobody else's business.

On a cruise a couple of years ago (not Cunard) we were at a table for 8. On the second leg a new couple joined our table. When the wine waiter came the lady ordered a bottle and the gentleman said to the waiter 2 bottles of sparkling water every night please. Then to the table he said, ' I'm a recovering alcoholic', and that was that. The conversation carried on as if he had said 'Nice evening.'

MM

"enough solo lady travellers to go around" I'm afraid that's not always the case Merry Maid. Most Solo ladies feel far more comfortable dancing and interacting with the ships Gentlemen Hosts, rather than a single male guest, I guess they feel they are in a very safe environment with the official dance hosts.

 

On many occasion I've been made to look a fool, having crossed over to the other side of the Ball Room floor only to be met with a refusal. :(

Well that's a great shame Bell Boy. In my younger days, it was axiomatic that an invitation to dance was accepted even if for only one circuit. Obviously ballroom customs change like everything else, pity.

MM

Not quite sure why female dance hostesses would be required. Surely if you are a single male interested in dancing there will be enough solo lady travellers to go round. The very fact that the company employs male hosts points out the imbalance..

I have noticed that even when the Gentlemen Hosts are fully engaged there are still single ladies sitting out. I'm sure they would be delighted to have a partner even if he weren't a GH. (And even if, heaven forfend, he had his braces on display.)

Standards, Ah Me, Standards.

MM

There must have been hundreds if not thousands of posts concerning Cunard’s dress code. Each faction having their own view often expressed rather forcefully Usually the OP has his/her question answered properly, politely and usually within the first 8-10 posts. Thereafter things do tend to drift a little with the supporters forming up on each side. Very often these exchanges can be amusing and an insight into people’s little foibles. We all have them after all. Sometimes, unfortunately it descends into bad tempered wrangling, but let’s not go into that, after all, we are Cunarders.

To the OP, if you thought my reply was directed at you I apologise, it was not. It was a response to the hyperbole generated by the thread.

Personally I think that anyone reading or starting a Dress Code Thread should have their ‘Sense of Humour’ setting tuned to ‘maximum’.

There IS an alternate reality folks and it’s name is Cunard.

Picks up sweat-soaked jacket and exits in search of Humphrey Bogart.

MM

Another thought has occurred to me. Can anybody not see the irony here? Even the slightest hint that Cunard are tampering with the dress code brings forth howls of outrage and indignation. People protest with cries of, ‘Cunard’s formality is why I cruise with them’. And, ‘It is what makes Cunard special.’ People are even advised to seek out another less formal vessel if they don't agree.

And yet, and yet, it would appear that all this goes by the board during the dancing in the Queens Room, probably the most formal space on the vessel after the restaurants. Sweat soaked jackets are cast off like clouts when May is out.

Sweat Soaked Jackets Indeed. Persiflsge! Balderdash! it is an air conditioned room on a modern ocean liner, not the African Queen. Ok,so it can get a little warm sometimes but for goodness sake it’s not the (insert jungle of choice) Jungle. Water is to hand as are other cooling beverages.

I notice that the Gentlemen hosts keep their jackets on and they dance virtually every dance all night and I have yet to see any of them collapsing with heat stroke crying 'Water! Water!' as the strains of the last waltz die away.

Although, in the interest of fairness, there is a point to the contrary which has just popped into my head. If one of those ladies who are absolutely bound to catch heel or toe in their long dress, (according to someone), then the presence of exposed braces could provide a means of succour by their graspability. And being elasticated would gently lower the lady to the ground safely. But she must remember to leave go at this point to avoid the bungy jump effect. Gives a whole new colour to the expression 'Man the Braces' does it not.

MM

Hello Merry Maid,

I like the cut of your cloth.

Rodger.

Thank you Roger, but as this is nautical forum perhaps 'The Cut of Your Jib.' would have been apposite. Unless of course you are of the Tailoring persuasion.

MM

If the information in signatures bothers you, they can be hidden.

In User CP, towards the top left of the screen, select Edit optionand then un-tick Show signatures.

 

Hope that helps

Thank you I shall do that immediately. Another of life's small annoyances successfully removed and it's only 09.30. Could turn out to be a good day.

MM

I would think that any man who sweats sufficiently to 'soak' his jacket needs to consult his medical practitioner without delay.

Perhaps some sort of compromise could be reached to save anybody from getting into a lather, ahem. When approached by a jacketless man for a dance a lady's reply might be, 'I would be delighted sir. Just give me a moment to remove my make-up, muss my hair a little and expose my underwear straps, it's getting terribly warm in here.'

Just a thought.

MM

Just as irritating as the constant 'Grills Mentioners' are the postscripts containing reams of cruises taken and ships sailed. Very often these lists are longer than the posts. I mean, who actually bothers to count? We've been cruising for some years now and I've no idea how many it is. I suppose if I got the photo albums out but....

MM

'Elegantly dressed ladies' and a social dance floor do not usually go hand in hand. Weddings and cocktail parties - yes. But on dance floors the ladies need to be practical.

Surely not true Slow Foxtrot. I have seen very many ladies on the Queens dressed very elegantly indeed and dancing, at least to my untutored eye, beautifully and almost constantly throughout the evening.

No, I'm sorry, if a man cannot put up with a little discomfort out of respect for the efforts his partner has made then it's a very poor show. Not to say a bit wimpish.

MM

Leaving aside all thoughts of dress codes, fashion police etc, can there be an uglier and more ludicrous sight than an elegantly dressed lady being partnered by a 'gentleman' with his braces/suspenders on show? The belt-wearers are little better as they constantly tug at their waistbands from which their shirt invariably escapes.

But I suppose we must excuse the poor, fragile little mites as they are seem to be unable to cope with a little warmth without coming over all unnecessary.

MM

This thread reminds me of a graffito I once saw.

'I LIKE GRILS'

Someone had crossed out GRILS to read I LIKE GIRLS.

Which in turn had been amended to

WHAT ABOUT US GRILS?

MM

Don't you think that in the heat of the moment, for example on a dance floor, at sea, when one is feeling particularly carefree, it's ok to have your jacket off? Braces might be akimbo at that point but I would far rather have a dance with a gentleman who was enjoying himself and the night than one who still had his coat on but was dancing like a plank of wood.

Retaining one's jacket in the ballroom does not necessarily mean dancing like a plank of wood. The Gentlemen Hosts and many other men danced quite beautifully without displaying their braces and rumpled shirts. I'm sorry, maybe I am an old reactionary but irrespective of the dress code, ballroom dancing in shirtsleeves and braces is just not on.

MM

Just returned from May 3rd W/bound TA. It's a little over three years since I last cruised with Cunard and I was interested to see what, if any, changes there were. Well I'm happy to report that there were no startling differences apparent. The slightly relaxed dress code was taken full advantage of though. Not many gentlemen with ties in the MDR on non formal nights. A pity but within the rules. A 'gentleman' in a wife beater shirt with the attendant luxurious hirsute growth sprouting from every opening was taking his morning coffee and croissant in Sir Samuels. But that was about the worst.

It was odd to see in the Queens Room on formal nights some men remove their jackets and dance with braces akimbo. Had I been one of the beautifully attired ladies asked to dance with one of them I'm afraid I would have had to refuse. If ladies did refuse then perhaps these gentlemen would show a little more respect for the trouble the ladies take with their dress. Rant over. All in all not much has changed, it is still a wonderful experience which we shall repeat as often as funds allow.

Just one tiny complaint. As a diamond tier passengers we used to go to the priority check in desk which, if not busy was used for other passengers, a sensible system. Arriving this time at about 2.15 the lady directed us to a gap in the Tensa barrier which placed us at the front of an extremely long queue from where we went to the next available check in desk. All very well for us but if I had been at the front of that queue and had waited a long time then two random people had just rocked up in front of me I would have been furious. As I say, ok for us but it did make me feel a little uncomfortable, though obviously not uncomfortable enough to join the back of the long line.

MM

Done it the other way a couple of times, 6 days out week or so in NYC 6 days back (QE2)

Twice on QM2 but a longer sea passage of course. Makes for a nice 3 week (approx) break. Works for me but I love NYC.

Off again in May.

MM

I'm sure that the RADA actors, who are quite capable of memorising the Elizabethan language of the "Bard of Stratford-on-Avon" in the abridged plays, can recite a few poems from memory. The "readings" are a style of delivery. It reminds me of some dramatic readings I have seen by professional actors. They may very well have it committed to memory, but the books are part of the presentation.

Of course I know they can do it, my post was badly worded, sorry.

My wonder is, I suppose, why they do it. The 'Readings' seem to me to be a fairly clumsy way of presentation considering there are what, 5 or 6 people stepping back and fore with their books or sheets of paper. Anyway I shall be seeing them again in a few weeks, maybe I'll revise my opinion.

One thing has puzzled me about the RADA poetry evenings. These are supposed to be trained actors, trained at a very prestigious academy. Why then do they have to read the poems? Surely it cannot be beyond their talents to learn a couple of poems each.

MM

Today of course, there is no radio room. The Carnivalization of Cunard makes it unlikely for them to provide any service that does not produce revenue.

 

K0AY

It used to take 2 years at nautical college to be come a MN radio officer. Mainly because you had to be able to fix the equipment as well as operate it. Latterly anyone capable of picking up a telephone handset can communicate with anywhere in the world. That's why ships don't have radio rooms any more. The money made from passenger communication was infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things.

MM

Good Morning and a happy new year. As it is some time since I cruised with Cunard, I find the VP has changed somewhat. I cannot access the part that allows you to choose your table size and indeed the sitting you require. Are these choices no longer available please?

MM

I shall continue to use the labels I have always used.

 

 

MM

Have another go.

MM

I shall continue to use the labels I have always used.

MM

Thank you all so much, I'm sure my brother will be glad of the information.

MM

Good Morning, this is my first time on the HAL forum, I'm a Cunard fan really.

My brother who is not a Cruise Critic member is considering a trip on the Noordam followed by a motorhome holiday in Canada. The trip is on the inside passage and is for 6 or 8 days I can't remember which. He would like to know what the dress code is for such a trip as he does not want to take a lot of unnecessary stuff e.g. dress suit for him fancy dresses for his wife, particularly as they will be flying back from Vancouver to the UK. Any advice would be welcome, they are not experienced cruisers having only done one years ago. My experience is all with Cunard who are a little more formal than most other lines.

What should he expect on HAL for this trip please?

Thank you.

MM

A few years ago, inspired by the traditional events around the time of Remembrance Sunday, I wrote a short piece of free verse in an attempt to sum up how I felt about such things in general and about medals in particular. I've never really gone public with this as, in truth, I don't like it much. But, given the theme of this thread and the fact that we aren't all that short of 11 November, here it is. Take it or leave it, just as you please.

 

J

 

We Who are Left

 

"They shall grow not old...."

Perhaps that's true of the dead.

But, be in no doubt, the living grow old

Wearily, remorselessly, inevitably. And I feel it,

More and more now with each day that passes.

So, what have we left - we who are left?

Our pensions? The begrudged pittance of our "grateful" masters!

Some medals? Discs of shiny metal decorating a drawer!

Yes both of those, but mostly memories. Memories born of our own brief stay,

Our few short hours, in the long continuum of the Regiment's life

And what are they worth, these memories?

More than pensions? More than medals?

Yes and Yes! For without them what are we?

Not old... but dead. And so, the memories sustain us,

Ne obliviscaris… ne obliviscaris.

Pretty much up to standard J.

MM