Poole Boy

And we’re off, starting by sailing round the IOW the ‘wrong’ way

59 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Can I ask do you have 'Priority' across the boarding card you have just printed off .  

No, for the Maiden it did, presumably as I was in PG, for tomorrows cruise I am in a Britannia cabin, with no mention of priority only diamond on the boarding card. I have had this on previous cruises,  priority is stamped on the boarding card after check in.

32 minutes ago, Ray66 said:

Our boarding time was assigned 3 weeks prior to the day.  We were given 2.45pm even though we have been Diamond for a while.  We have previously been used to having been given 12.30pm and having priority on our labels. But no priority given this time. We feel we have been downgraded and also we'll have to find somewhere to have lunch in Southampton, having previously been able to have it on board.

Priority, does not mean early. It means you go to the Priority queue at your appointed boarding time.

I'm Diamond and have a 3.45 checkin tomorrow for QA

1 hour ago, rog747 said:

If I may ask please re further to my post above about going on QA in a few weeks time on a Late Deal;
I've not been on board a Cunard ship since pre-covid in 2019, so as someone who likes late dinner on the 8:30pm fixed second seating what's the Britannia MDR dining room situation these days ?

I really want to stay on the same table (same Waiters etc) and dine late sitting at 8.30 - is that still possible?

TIA 

Second sitting in the MDR is the same as it has always been, same table , same staff, 

11 hours ago, aaaaa said:

 

              Original:     Revised:

 

Embark   Barcelona   Barcelona

               At Sea        Barcelona

               Alghero      Barcelona

               Ajaccio       Barcelona

               At Sea        Alghero

               Messina     Cagliari

 

Remainder of itinerary is unchanged.

The fact the Cunard are now selling this cruise with no ports of call , shows that 4 days in Barcelona may not be enough. 

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

 

It's a lovely area with loads of space. I haven’t seen any men in black with hip bulges under their jackets.

 

If passengers start complaining of 'incomers' the frosted glass doors which separate the areas, might be able to facilitate a card reader. Maybe. However, as there are loads of sun deck areas, it might not be an issue.

Difficult to see how they could fit a card reader, in case of emergency deck 11 would need to be fully accessable, anything that prevents full access would be problematic, in some ways the simple thing like a red rope on a hook may be enough of the deterrent, similar as the bottom on the stairs on QE and QV

1 hour ago, Pear Carr said:

Just read a very negative review on CC by someone who is currently on QA. I have mixed feelings about boarding in July but will try to go with an open mind and embrace the difference.  I hope some others from the maiden and current voyage will post reviews/impressions.

I was on the maiden, and yes there were some issues with slow service, these were acknowledged and quickly addressed. QA is the first new ship in almost 15 years so she is not going to be anything like the others is the same way QM2 was nothing like QE2.

My impression was on the whole positive, so much so I booked 3 segments of the WC next year.  Many of the negative reviews have been based on Service, and subjective comments on Food Quality and portion size, for me the food quality was good and the portion size adequate ( you can always get more if you want more). QA is not trying to copy the other 3 queens and should not be criticised for that. For me the essence of a Cunard cruise is still there, yes some aspects of QA are new and some are familiar. All I would say is give her a chance, if you have a cruise booked, take it, go with an open mind, you may be plesantley surprised.

I'm Confused, as a Diamond member, I get a voucher for Lunch at one of the Alternative Dining venues, as Sir Samuels is the only one open for Lunch that where you have to go.

I also understand that you can have Dinner at any or the alternative venues and pay a $30 supplement.

However except for Sir Samuels,  the dinner cover charge is $31.50, does that mean that the Voucher is only "worth" $1.50 in the evening but $31.50 for Lunch ( the cover charge for Lunch at Sir Samuels ).

Am I missing something ?

5 hours ago, Soozec said:

I've just downloaded various sample menus for Queen Anne - for a cruise in September. So far the vegan options are very few and far between if going out with a non-vegan to a speciality restaurant. Zero in the Golden Lion pub.  Does anyone have information about the Wellness Cafe and if it's open to all or just those in the spa area? Also are there additional charges for eating at the cafe? I'm intolerant to many foods. My last cruise on Queen Victoria was stressful in terms of finding vegan options including the afternoon tea. Hoping Queen Anne's wellbeing cafe will be it's saviour!

qm_golden_lion_food_menu_01a no vegan food.pdf 38.85 kB · 9 downloads Tramonto-Menu-Apr24 vegan edited .pdf 1.43 MB · 1 download Queen-Anne-Aji-Wa-Menu-Spring edited vegan.pdf 1.45 MB · 0 downloads Aranya-Menu-Apr24.pdf 1.42 MB · 0 downloads

Wellness cafe has Vegan options, no charge for food, selection looks good

1 hour ago, elmsliebev said:

any decaf breakfast tea? Not for me, but The Husband prefers decaf 🤔

Yes

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Missing items could be things still in the hold somewhere, so perhaps the cereal will appear at some time. How daring of you to brave the buffet!!! Any observations to share, or was it only a quick look for the All-bran?

 

Do they still have the Twinings Assam? And, dare I hope, has the Darjeeling returned?

They do have Assam, can't comment on the Darjeeling

8 hours ago, Judyrem said:

That is wrong on so many levels, not even bar mix?

Not that I saw.

12 hours ago, Bell Boy said:

Ah !  a reference to Canapés,  I'm intrigued with your observation as the Commodore bar and other evening venues on QA are 'no longer offering Canapés during pre dinner cocktails  ( apparently a directive from shoreside ?  according to a bar crew member)  Can you confirm if the Grills lounge (QA) are offering Canapés .

   

No Canapés in the grills lounge, you were lucky if you had a bowl of crisps 

If people pay these charges then they will continue and spread to other items , if people  don’t pay then they will disappear, simple business logic. Example being speciality restaurants, food is perfectly acceptable in MDR , people are happy to pay again for Dinner or lunch in a speciality restaurant, so QA has more chargeable restaurants, bean counters are happy

15 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Though £8k for P2 for 14 days is good value (PG seems to be roughly £5.5k a week when cruises are put on sale.. in my very limited experience…)

 

what are PG cabins like as in one in 7 weeks? 

In my opinion long and narrow , from what I have seen similar to a balcony just longer, I feel the bathroom is very cramped but the shower is a big plus, also lacking in wardrobe space I will post some pictures later

Price for the maiden is the same as the next 2 week cruise we paid £4k each for P2 for 7 days the next cruise to the Canaries was also £4k each in the same cabin , for  2 weeks, so we have paid a significant premium to be on the cruise , to add to some other comments regarding speed of service, you are not alone, Princess grills was just as bad, for both food and drink, to forever to get even the basics.

Grills Checkin has started 

14 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Two thoughts.

Firstly, aren’t airlines that lose luggage supposed to reimburse for essentials? A visit to M and S would supply those at a reasonable price. 
Secondly the ship might help and be able to supply something suitable perhaps.

 

Or John Lewis, who have a surprisingly good range of formal suits available at the moment.

15 minutes ago, LifeonMars said:

Megabear this link may help of an inside.

 

Looks a bit tight either side of the bed, first impression ( from the video) it is not as wide as the insides on QE or QV. but same bathrooms as the balcony cabins so a big plus there, will need to wait a couple of weeks to see one in real life

6 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

Up with the lark and  here's a little taster for those Grills folk who prefer stern suites.....

 

 

******

 

 

******

 

 

*****

 

 

Q5 Queen Suites I believe.

 

 

My home for 4 days in October

55 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Here is a QA Balcony Cabin review...

 

 

Any chance we can see an standard outside or inside cabin ?

7 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

Well from the outside, she looks like a Cunard ship

Getting real now, finally the countdown can begin

7 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Mind you, on some cruises, by the time they have let in Grills, Diamond, Plats, and possibly BC, there are only a few people left behind. The only reason I can see for keeping people outside is if the terminal itself was very crowded even though the check ins weren’t busy.

It could be that the security lanes were busy, security check and searches is usually the bottleneck, rather than checkin.