NE John

I’m starting to think that I may like dull and boring…!! For the past 30 years, I’ve commuted to NYC for over an hour each way and work in a crazed industry so maybe hanging out in a quiet space where the staff remember who we are and really seem to care about our satisfaction is near the the top of my list of travel requirements. I feel blessed that I can travel on the Grills level on any Cunard ship. But I do like the QR Tea too. You are correct, there is no comparison between the two venues. However, my main point was to mention to the OP to try Tea in the Grills lounge since they’re on a short trip via Grills.

Cunard turned that word upside-down as we know it for QA - still up for interpretation.

And also remember that in the US, the ships have to “zero-out” rule and all pax must debark. All adding to delays. That zero-out policy should be taken up with our elected representatives.

Yes, the QR Tea production is impressive but I like the loose tea served with nicer nibbles in the Grills lounge along with the more personal service. I actually do like the calmness of Tea at the Grills lounge over the more energetic QR. At least our OP @Deafcruise heard two sides of the Afternoon Tea service.

Have Afternoon Tea in the Grills Lounge vs the Queens Room. On your next longer voyage, you can check out Tea in the Queens Room. Also, tell the Concierge on Deck 9 that this is your first Cunard voyage and ask for all the benefits you get onboard on QG. The concierge is very helpful.

This YT video gives a decent idea of the size and look of the QR, from both top and bottom level views:

The QM2 drink and wine menus are very extensive and vary from each venue. The 13.50 covers many excellent cocktails and wines. Start researching from Cunard’s site of bars and lounges. Each venue lists its unique menu: https://www.cunard.com/en-us/activity-types/bars-and-lounges

I was that class clown…

We donate PA to the crew. The cabin steward said the crew appreciates it.

I believe Cunard’s menu is more elevated than most MDR’s and the language of the offerings may even overwhelm newer pax to Cunard i.e. Billi Bi Soup and the use of French culinary terms. Since QA has been compared to Celebrity, below is a Celebrity MDR dinner menu I yanked off the internet. Celebrity certainly has a nice menu, but I can order much of the below from a nice restaurant locally. I want meals at sea that I can’t get at home.

Wait…there’s another Cunard ship out there other than Queen Anne??! 😉 QM2 went in for a several week rehaul in Nov ‘23 so much of the rust and tattiness you read about was removed during that refit. Many rave reviews since then. TA’s are a great experience and awesome review.

BTW - Has a Godmother been named for QA’s Liverpool christening yet?

Nice send-off. Hopefully a good nights sleep will help the kind rough start for you.

As you make your way around, pls report back on the comfort of the various chairs and seating arrangements. Keep it up!👍

I promised myself not to get involved in dress code topics for a while so I’ll be disciplined!

I’m certainly not looking backwards for ship design ideas and I do find much of the design on QA pleasing. My maritime comments stem from Cunard’s unique connection to their maritime heritage that is apparent on their present ships. In the very limited videos I have seen, the ship looks more like a boutique hotel vs a Cunard ship. Again, not a bad thing but pictures and vids of QA could easily show a ship from several other premium lines. Luckily, as @exlondonerstates, there seems to be a connection to the sea and that is important to many of us. The QA is no mall at sea. On a separate note, there seems also to be little attention given to the Royal family; other Cunard ships have artwork and busts of present and former Royalty. Maybe those on board can check that out and report back.

As a fellow armchair critic, there are some really nice things I’ve seen so far along with a couple clunkers. However, the main thing I see missing is a sense of being at sea and being at see on a Cunard ship. QA has a nice boutique hotel look (maybe Azamara-like) and that’s great but I’m looking for a maritime experience. I eagerly await the reports on the nearby “Live” thread regarding tomorrow’s maiden voyage. Based on what I see, I’m sure one can have a good experience on QA - but will it be a Cunard experience?

We’ve been in PG and the more you dine with your wait staff, the more they get to know you and build outstanding rapport. For our last night, they prepared an off-menu Indian vegetarian feast for us that was so authentic and excellent. Don’t worry, I still ordered a wonderful aged steak to go with that feast and our waiter wanted us to eat more! I’d say stick with PG, especially for dinner, and use the pub as a break for a lunch or two.

Um…yea. This ship is looking better as more data comes in. The Italians really know how to use marble and the marble is magnificent in the bathrooms. I would like the see the wardrobe space in PG next.

The producers of this video are well-know YouTube cruise vloggers who call things as they are and have been critical of Cunard (and other lines) in their past vlogs. Getting rave first impression reviews from these guys is a positive sign.

The ship seems tailored for a younger demographic and I certainly agree with what others have said - that’s good for Cunard. As I have said too, many younger people do seem very interested in my TA stories and the idea of dressing up to go on a Cunard so this ship may be a gateway for new Cunard paying guests. Tweaks and changes will be made, like removing the banquets in QG and having two parallel sets of tables creating a wider walkway for trolleys and wait staff. QR needs a glamour infusion too.

They don’t make telephone books anymore unfortunately…

Used to police in NYC, even in the harbor.

Another question about QG dining with regard to that narrow walkway - where are the tableside servers going to work their theater? Flambé and carving? The diner facing towards the banquet would strain to see the show and may even get some hair burnt off at the same time. Plus M Roux is adding his touch to QG menus. Will those touches be an extra charge like in the Golden Lion?

Paul and Carole were literally aghast with their first reaction to the QR: “That’s not the QR” and “Queens Room Lite”. Good ones. Cunard correctly emphasizes creating an onboard “sense of occasion” and the QR usually brings that wonderful atmosphere to life but not with this very bland space. I hate to be negative but… yikes. Yes, they need to make some changes. Hyacinth and Onslow won’t be caught dancing there!