peteukmcr

If you make reservations in advance online for say Moderno or Teppanyaki (where there is a fixed fee of $24.95 or $29.95), do you pay at the time of booking?

If you do have to pay in advance, how does this work if you have purchased a speciality dining package which you intend to use in those venues?

I understand Cagney's, La Cucina and Le Bistro are al la carte so how are these charged in advance if you make a reservation? Again we intend to use a package in these venues.

I assume we can make reservations for Taste or The Manhattan Room in advance without charge as these are complimentary.

TIA

Ooops I just deleted my wordy post before posting so to summarise. We have 2 x 2 week sailings from Southampton over the coming months. We drink red wine for my husband and white for myself, opting for the cheapest bottles available from the wine list. At home we buy the M&S wine when it’s on offer at 2 for £12 and buy 6 save 20% making each bottle £4.80. We’ve thought about doing this before but haven’t bothered as it’s “too much hassle”. Can someone tell me please, if you’ve taken your own onboard, when do you take the wine to the MDR and do you take it when you need a new one or hand them over earlier in the day, one at a time or all your stock. Thanks.

PS I can see why people take an expensive or special bottle onboard but wondered how much of a cheapskate I would look if we take our lower priced bottles on.

 

 

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It would be interesting to hear who you do cruise with and whether they will let you bring your own wine onboard.

 

I too can drink wine in my local pub for around £17.50 but never will the ambiance be the same as on Cunard while I just can't for the life of me imagine asking a Greene King Sommelier for advice on what to accompany my rump steak. :evilsmile::evilsmile:

MSC do not allow any. We are to sail with NCL later in the year and they allow wine/champagne to be brought on board at initial embarkation and are charge $15 per 750ml bottle or $30 per magnum regardless of where you consume the bottle.

A beverage package on RCI can be purchased for $49.50 pppd (including gratuity) if purchased by D+ members, or in a sale prior to travel, that enables drinks up to $13 per serving. This package also enables you to purchase wine by the bottle with a 40% discount off bottles costing less than $100. Celebrity classic beverage package is often included in the cruise fare and for $11.80 pppd you can upgrade to the premium package which again, like RCI covers all beverages up to $13 per serving.

Very few of our wines of choice on either RCI or Celebrity are priced above $13, on average $9 - $12, unlike Cunard where we found very little less than $13 for a 250ml measure, which obviously would then attract a 15% gratuity.

The prices on MSC are even more reasonable at $7.50 per serving plus 15% gratuity which is why they can ban the carrying of wine onboard at embarkation.

As for NCL, the Ultimate Beverage package covers servings up to $15 and prices of wine appear to be around $12 per large glass.

As for ambiance, our view is that in the Britannia dining room, Commodore club, Queens Room, Chart Room and definitely the Golden Lion on QM2 this felt no more exclusive than Vintages (RCI), or Cellar Masters (Celebrity) which are the signature wine bars on those lines, each with very experienced sommeliers. The wine bars on MSC, again although the staff may not be considered by some as sommeliers, are extremely knowledgeable on the wines offered, especially when you consider the prices charged and they serve beverages with complimentary tapas.

None of this to us, justifies what we consider high prices on Cunard.

I agree with you completely. And for the more expensive bottles I completely understand. But when someone comments they aren't paying $35 for a bottle on board when they can purchase and bring it on for $18, I feel inclined to point out what they're actually saying. :-)

 

 

 

I have spent a fair amount to cruise with my family of 7. I fully intend to enjoy a beverage or 2 on board, and realize the inflated price that goes along with it. ;)

As per my reply, please re read my post. I mentioned a wine I could buy for $18 in a licensed premises, not the store where I bought it from at 50% less than that.

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It wasn't my post but if wine is $18 in a bar, it's probably only £5 in a shop in the UK. Those sums make a bit more sense.

Thank you. Actually it was £6 per bottle

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Help me do the math on this one.

 

$35 bottle on board, plus 15% of $5.25. Final Price: $40.25

 

$18 bottle land, plus $20 corkage fee. Price of $38.00 Plus I assume some gratuity fee to the server.

 

So at the most, you're saving $2.25 for that bottle of wine you bring on board to dine with.

 

 

 

I fully intend to bring some bottles along to enjoy in our cabin. But thanks for showing my it's not a true savings to bring wine along to drink in the dining room.

So I think it is a saving. $11.25 per bottle when I do the maths.

No tip to the server either because I served myself, I brought the bottle to the table and wasn’t offered for it to be placed in an ice bucket for someone to serve it to me. Only given a bill to sign for the $20. Why would I tip someone for doing nothing and already been charged $20 for ‘corkage’ and there’s no cork in the bottle?

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Well we are on the side of those who think the drinks prices on Cunard are high, and the charging for mixers is ridiculous for things like tonic water that could, like coca cola, be dispensed from post mix.

We spent around $100 per day for the 2 of us on our recent 3 day ‘trial’ of Cunard. That did not include the $20 per bottle corkage fee we paid for our wine at dinner (having researched the list prior to sailing, there was no way I was prepared to pay $35 plus 15% for the same bottle of wine available on land in a bar for $18!).

Seeing that Cunard do not offer a beverage package, that's another reason we can’t see ourselves returning to this line in the near future.

Yes we made reservations when the portal opened about 30 days prior to cruising. I recommend making reservations whenever you can. I often noticed lines and pagers being given to those who did not.

Thanks for your review. We're on the Epic TA from Barcelona in November back to Port Canaveral and looking forward to all the dining options. Did you make reservations in advance for Taste/Manhattan Room? We are considering a 5 dinner package as we're on board for 13 days.

The other thing that's really noticeable is the change in the clientele - that perhaps accounts for more than the changes brought in by P&O to save money. Keep clear of the buffet - the food's fine, and the service equally fine, but the people in there might turn your stomach. On more than one occasion, just dropping in for a coffee, I've felt the need to apologise to the lovely staff for the appalling behaviour displayed by fellow passengers.

To the OP, there are a range of cruise lines out there that provide a Mediterranean cruise and I would suggest that you look at the choices available as in my humble opinion there are many that in 2018 are far superior to P&O in what they offer in terms of servce, dining options, quality of food and entertainment. Depends on what you want.

What a pompous response. I have lived all over the uk and tipping has never been expected. Lots of people work for minimum wage and don’t get a tip. Where has TAG watches come from.

 

 

 

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Just been out for dinner in the city centre, couple of cocktails, did I tip, of course, pizza in a well known chain, did I tip, definitely as the staff are wonderful and deserve it. Maybe it’s just a city thing :rolleyes:

Most of us tip and if people didn't brag about not paying AG things would quietly go on as normal amongst regular tippers and it is the wind ups of the Tightwads that cause a response from nice people.

 

Yes I am going for a week on QV in queens grill. It has taken the best part of 18 months saving our pensions to afford this treat. The butler wont gat a tip. Well I guess I can live with that.

I think they are looking for excuses to cover their guilt for not tipping.

Tipping to a certain degree is accepted culture in the UK.

Of course P&O could include tips in the price of the cruise but they wont as it will make them too much like Marcella.

Tipping is not solely an American concept

Certain job sectors in the UK have an expectation of tipping. Personally I tip my hairdresser, in restaurants and in taxis.

 

It’s my personal opinion and I know some will find it offensive but on board I think it is tight not to tip staff something whether it is by leaving ag on or tipping in person or a bit of both. If you don’t have much IMHO you should still be tipping something. I would ask the question - if your children or grandchildren were waiting tables would you not like them to get even a modest tip?

 

I do think that those of us who tip are subsidising those who don’t so the sooner tips are included in the fare the better

Another vote for the Champagne Bar, although saw some from the Trellis Bar (which is a favourite of ours)

Just wanted to give our experience of Cunard check in last week as they use a similar process to P&O when you arrive prior to your allocated time.

We were boarding Queen Mary 2 at the Ocean Terminal and allocated 14:30 check in.

Due to checking out of our hotel at midday and having lunch in town, we arrived at the terminal at 13:00.

Upon entering we were given green cards (all the same colour btw) with the letter K. At that time they were checking in those with letter F. Subsequent letters were called approximately every 4 minutes, so that we were in line by 13:20.

We were checked in, and then cleared security and on board by 13:45. Our bags were already outside our cabin which were available as soon as we boarded. Although our key cards didn't work so we had to return to the Pursers Desk to get them replaced.

I think the layout of the Ocean Terminal helps as it definitely helps passenger flow better than the Mayflower terminal.

However, you still can't beat RCI boarding Oasis of the Seas (in excess of 5,600 passengers), drop off bags 10:30, enter terminal, clear security, check in by 10:50, wait 10 mins before boarding starts at 11:00, on board by 11:15, drink in hand and watching others get lunch at 11:30 when the various venues open.

Cabins on RCI are not available until 13:00, but the number of venues open for lunch keeps people occupied until then.

Some people on the boards say the coffee in the Kings Court is terrible. Is it that bad. Is it worth bringing my own drip coffee?

Just wanted to say thanks for all your feedback and we've just returned from our short trip.

Never made it to afternoon tea due to so many things to do on such a short sailing.

We did get tickets for the Planetarium in Illuminations (they did 3 sessions on the sea day).

As for disembarkation, although Cunard head office said we'd be able to leave the ship around 9:30 for our booked 10:00 bus shuttle, we were allocated a 10:15 departure time as we were on deck 6. As a result we signed up for self disembarkation, so we could leave at our preferred time. Worked out OK as we could easily manage our bags ourselves.

As it happened, it was a breeze when we left around 8:30 (used the elevators on stairway A as our cabin was near there) and walked to deck 3. Staff were advising those who had been allocated an early departure time, that no bags had yet been delivered to the terminal and so disembarkation was delayed. Therefore, we breezed through, no immigration (which surprised me seeing the UK isn't in the Schengen Agreement.

So we were in the terminal a good hour before our booked bus, so we grabbed a cab before the hordes descended and was at our hotel by 9:15 easily and only cost €27.

We enjoyed the promenade deck, the Commodore Club and the Chart Room.

The snacks in the Carinthia Lounge we welcome mid afternoon when we couldn't make afternoon tea in the Queens Room.

The films were Japanese?! Not 100% certain what you mean. Japanese language, travelogue? Please explain. I would also like to say that such a short trip is often not indicative of the usual 7 day crossings. Perhaps at some point in the near future you might take a crossing and see how that goes. If you do such a trip please post a review.

 

Happy cruising :D

As for my reasons above, I doubt we can justify the high fares for a 7 night crossing, unless we book more than 2 years in advance (April 2020 for £1150 pp) when we have a 14 night crossing from Barbados already booked for £1500 pp including premium flights out to Barbados.

As a quick reply (I believe I covered the food quality) the entertainment (production show ‘Rythm of the Night’ had singers whose voices were weak, the dancing looked like something from the 70s). The ‘ABBA’ night in G32 was too short.

Films being shown in Illuminations were mostly Japanese.

There was nothing wrong with the cabin steward or facilities, nice toiletries (but they don’t deserve the high fares), tea/coffee can be found on other lines.

Bathrooms far too small.

Linen napkins are provided on the other lines we prefer, although may not be placed on the tables in the buffet.

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I don't understand why enforcing a dress code justifies a higher price.

 

The higher price should be justified by a higher level of service, food quality and onboard facilities, not by what others are wearing,

I agree a higher price should be justified by a higher level of service, food quality and onboard facilities.

As for service, we didn’t find this any higher than we have experienced on other lines, food quality, although acceptable, isn’t stellar, but as I said food is very subjective.

Just because we feel the higher fares and entertainment aren’t to our liking, doesn’t mean they aren’t seen as good value to others, that’s why there’s choices available.

We did enjoy it, it’s just not for us.

Thanks for reporting back, has your short cruise encouraged you to try a longer one ?

The price of wine is ridiculous in our opinion. I know to expect a mark up, but the evening before sailing we purchased a bottle of ‘Geyser Peak’ in a bar in Southampton for £12, Cunard sell this for $35 plus 15% gratuity. There wasn’t 1 glass of house wine less than $11.50 per glass. If we did sail, we’d have to take wine onboard and pay $20 per bottle corkage.

Unless Cunard implement a beverage package, then it’s a no go for us.

I consider a bill of $555 for 3 nights expensive when we drank very moderately, and that included paying $40 corkage for 2 bottles we took onboard.

The entertainment was diabolical in our opinion. It’s a pity that the most entertaining part of the evening was watching guests dance in the Queens club.

And as discussed on here, the dress code needs enforcing to justify the high prices for a premium experience.

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Just disembarked QM2 in Hamburg and although only on board for 3 nights dining in the Britannia restaurant for dinner I was pleasantly surprised at the standard of the food.

However, I will qualify that by saying that the starters were ok, the salads unimaginative, but the main courses great compared to those served on 4 other lines we’ve sailed on.

Desserts a mixed bag, but the cheese plate is a joke.

The Kings Court has a good selection for breakfast and lunch, although for me, the layout needs some getting used to, but I did like the beverage service at breakfast. The Chefs Galley area for freshly made burgers etc was a nice touch.

Breakfast in Britannia, again good service, (huge pot of tea) but nothing special for my choice of food, but my choice is very straightforward.

Wasn’t able to experience afternoon tea due to the short sailing, but the late night buffet was welcomed.