Squat

I booked in Istanbul a Silver Shore Private Car for the whole day. Definitely the best decision! I was picked up by two guides and a driver with a black Mercedes. Told them what I wanted to see and they arranged everything. The guides were always with me and the driver was called when needed. The guides gave me so many interesting information, answered all the questions I had, showed me the best shops and brought me to a lovely restaurant for lunch. It was a fantastic, gorgeous day! Did cost a lot, but was worth every penny!

The advantages of a Silver Shore Privato Car are: 1) if the ship cannot get to the port for whatever reasons you pay nothing. 2) Quality of guide, driver and car are very high. 3) It is safe (in my case a woman traveling alone). The tour company does not want to lose SS as a customer and will therefore take very good care of you. 

On my first cruise on QV the butler was absolutely useless, yes, even rude. E.g. Breakfast he would not bring to my suite (too much work), he would not open the Champagne for me (due to a disability I cannot do it myself) etc. He did not get an additional penny from me. But his assistant butler was a pearl. Fantastic! I additionally tipped her every other day and on my next cruise on QV brought her Swiss chocolate. The next time on QV I had the most fantastic butler you could imagine (Arnold)! Incredibly attentive but also discreet. He made me feel like living in heaven. I tipped him and his assistant rather generously, because they really deserved it.

Hi everybody

I love cruising with QV and I always met with the same group on the same cruise. But this year for the first time I am not joining them anymore. Cunard wants from Swiss people an absolutely ridculous price for a Q6 suite, while my British friends pay for their Q1 and Q2 about what we Swiss people would pay for a Balcony stateroom. Cunard should reconsider their price politic.

Hello Salad Muncher

I am very sorry for your bad experience. I have just come back from QV and was also traveling QG. My impression was that the menu and the quality of the food was even better than a year ago.

We had caviar, escargots, foie gras, etc regularly on the menu and it was always extremly delicious. In 16 nights I have only 3 times ordered a starter from the a la card menu and otherwise I was always more than happy with the main menu. My waiter Willy knew me after a few days better then I know myself and always proposed dishes to me. Not once was I dissappointed by his proposals. The Maitre d' encouraged me several times to order off menu and told me they could cook for me whatever I wanted.

It probably depends on the ship, but on QV there is for sure nothing to complain about.

Regards

Thanks Cmdr Cody for your answer. I am absolutely aware of the fact that my butler has to look after other suites as well. And for sure I am not the finger-snapping type of person. But last time I did not see any advantage in having a butler compared to just have a room steward who looks after your room. I know I can have lunch and dinner from QG in the room, but I thought someone had once mentioned that also breakfast is possible.

Dear all

Although I have traveled last year on QV in QG I realise now, that I have not used many of the possibilities and would like to this time (in less than two weeks I will be on QV :D). May I kindly ask the experienced QG travelers to answer some questions:

- What are the times I am allowed to call my butler (my last one said only between 5 pm and 7 pm)

- I read somewhere that you can order the breakfast from QG also to your room. Would you preorder that the day before and how? Through the butler?

- If I would like to have a little bit of caviar, preferably as pre dinner canapés, who should I address that to?

- If on the lunch menu is nothing which I like, what are the typical meals which you can always order?

- What would my butler's task typically be apart from cleaning my room, bringing preordered breakfast and bringing the canapés in the evening? Or better - what do you typically ask your butler to do apart from the mentioned?

- As I do not like and drink spirits, could I also have another Prosecco in the minibar instead of a bottle of spirits? Last time the butler was very strict and said either spirit or a bottle of red wine (which I choose and did not drink it because I did not like it).

- Would it be impertinent to ask the butler to iron an evening dress in case it needs it after being in the suitcase?

- If I would like to reserve a box at the theatre, would the Concierge do that for me?

Thank you so much.

Squat

The same here; cruising last November on QV. They told us that we would receive a survey when we are back home, but never did.

26 days until it is QV time for me :hearteyes:... For sure I will go for that interesting alternative of afternoon tea and I will let you know what it did cost. Mmmmhhhh - cannot wait anymore....

Tours organized by the ship are rather expensive. But my experience is that they are very well organised with high quality coaches and guides. I always felt very safe. Furthermore - in St.Petersburg I would have missed the ship if I were not on a tour organised by them... Due to unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances we arrived nearly two hours after the ships planned leaving time... Even though we knew the ship would be waiting, some people totally panicked. Being left behind in Russia is not a very comforting thought.

One more thing we do not get in Switzerland. No welcome back letter, no OBC when booking, no special offers. This is not fair.

What a difficult subject... I come from a country where tipping is not usual. In Restaurants or taxis you may round up the figure but you are not obliged to.

On the cruise ship I always keep the automatic "service charge" on and expect a good service. Wherever I come across staff who go the extra mile, I am happy to tipp them additionally. I know that many people say give them on the first day a good tipp and you will get a great service. But I see it the other way round. Give me a great service and I will tipp you additiionally.

On the last day on QV last year all my table mates (all British) came with envelopes and it was somehow a big thing giving them to the staff. I just had some Dollar bills which I unspectacularly gave to the people. And all the time I was wondering, how much would have been the right amount? I wish I could have seen into those envelopes...

I did not tipp my butler additionally to the "service charge", because he was unhelpful and at some point also very unprofessional, even rude. On the other hand the assistant butler was just fantastic! Helped me basically each day into my evening dresses in an absolut fantastic and friendly way. I gave her what I think a good extra tipp (20 dollars every second or third day). I gave her that tipp from my heart, as I had the feeling she did not help me because she had to, but because she liked to.

If only the subject tipping would be more clear....

My experience from last year on QV is, that everyone who needs help, gets help.

I was a QG guest, but one morning I overslept and therefore had to go to the Lido for breakfast. I am disabled and have problems with walking. As soon as I appeared at the Lido, the "boss" there sent someone to me who had to carry everything for me, search a nice place to sit, and guide me there. I really appreciated that fantastic, thoughtful service, especially that I did not even had to ask for it.It is so much nicer to get help offered than have to plead for it. I surely could have managed somehow alone, but it was so much easier like this!

Therefore, I am very positive that everbody who needs help with carrying their food without tray will also get it. Even with a smile.

Hello

The solo traveler charge for sure is no fun. Although I think in the Grills it is even 200%, I think it is fantastic with Cunard that you can reserve a suite as a solo cruiser at all. With the companies I traveled before, you could not reserve anything better than a Balcony as a solo traveler.

In my opinion Cunard ships are just perfect for solo cruisers. The service is attentive, but never intrusive. At Cocktail Parties the staff makes sure that nobody has to stand alone; in my case even Commander Rynd introduced me to some other cruisers. Furthermore in my opinion it is very easy to make friends on Cunard ships; it seems that the Cunard travelers are very open, relaxed and friendly. At least this is my impression.

Hi

I have been twice to Helsinki with a Cruise Ship. If I remember correctly, once I could walk to the city center and once I took a shuttle. Helsinki itself is very easy to get around with a mobility problem. The city center is not big; just at some places there is cobblestone. Have fun - it is a beautiful and friendly city!

Hi

On my cruise on QV last year I wore each and every evening a long evening dress; no matter if it was a formal or informal night. I never felt out of place; I even got lots of compliments for my dressing up. Several officers and the Commodore thanked me for dressing up.

Go for it!

Dear all

So far I have only been on one Cunard Cruise – last November on QV (but the next one is already booked…).

Everything had been outstanding!!! Even the ladies at the purser’s desk were very friendly and helpful. I really, really enjoyed my cruise – except that one little point…

My Butler. He was absolutely useless, if not to say rude. I had a Penthouse Suite (Q4). When I arrived my 2 suitcases were standing in front of the door. I straggeled to get them in, while my Butler was watching me from a safe distance. Then he came to introduce himself and tell me when not to call him. Basically I was only allowed to call him between 5 pm and 7 pm. When I asked him to kindly open the Champagne, his answer was: Call room-service. It went on like this. But I decided not to have my holidays spoilt and did not react on all his rudeness. Furthermore was the Assistant Butler just fantastic!!! On the second last day the situation excalated. By my mistake I was an hour too late at Breakfast and the Maitre d’ at Queens Grill proposed I could order breakfast through my Butler. The shock on my face was obviously not to be missed. To make it worse my friendly table companions told the Maitre d’ how my Butler was treating me… In the evening my Butler came, with red eyes, complaining that the Maitre d’ had called him. And because of that he was now feeling extremly bad and could not sleep the whole afternoon… Can you imagine how I felt?

Honestly, I think it was a cultural problem. I think for him it was already strange that a woman is traveling alone. Furthermore I am hemiplegic (but I manage everything alone), which was probably just too much for him. I am not angry with him, although I am not sure he is in the right job.

But again –my cruise on QV was fantastic! Best holidays ever!