Ditchcrawler

Hello Everybody.

My Wife and I have finished our honeymoon and are now adjusting to marriage. We embarked on Victoria from Civitavecchia on May 13th and disembarked Istanbul on the 20th of May. We had some issues with Cunard pre boarding, but they were all rectified before boarding.

After making our way to our stateroom we were greeted with a bottle of champagne, fresh cut flowers and a box of truffles for the above issue. I was impressed with the space, Mrs Dichcrawler slightly less so. She quickly lighted up when informed that room service was included. For want of anything else better to do we made some drinks with the drinks we had brought aboard (the champagne wasn't chilled). As of 13/05/24 Cunard are not policing one's personal bar.

Next stop was the Commodore Club. Oh my. Oh My. This is a very special boozer. Not that I actually spent any time in it, but it looks wonderful! You see, I'm a pipe smoker so had a very special place to visit, Churchill's Cigar Lounge. And there to my shame I vegetated for about four hours a day while at sea, two if there was a port day. I regret nothing. The folks in Churchills were incredibly pleasant company. I understand it is against company policy for cigarettes to be smoked in the smoking room, however on one windy night the members present voted unanimously that my wife be allowed to smoke cigarettes, and she did. (sorry Cunard).

 We met many interesting people we would not have expected to on a Cunard Cruise. I had underestimated how interesting the people could be, but birds of a feather and all that...

The food. If we don't go with Cunard again, it will be the food. We Tried Rivera, Bamboo, and Coriander, and the Britannia MDR and it was poor to good in my personal opinion. The MDR promising much, but just not hitting the mark. The Lido buffet is frankly poor.  The service in every venue was impeccable however. The burger from the lido grill area was a terribly cheap thing, cooked to the best way it could be by one poor guy doing everything.

I think it could be better.

But Service is what they focus on I think.

Hello all,

I should mention that in my TA's correspondence with Cunard that their rep did say that something would be delivered to our stateroom. I missed that in my elation of the massive problem being resolved.

I feel I must air that publicly. It is only fair.

My now wife however does make the point that a day in Venice was more or less wasted with me dealing with the issue. 

Would it be unfair to ask for complimentary thermal suite access for the duration of the cruise on account of it?  It's something she would genuinely love. We did miss a few activities in Venice we had planned while I dealt with the issue when it reared it's ugly head. Surely such a thing couldn't cost Cunard too much to facilitate?

What are your thoughts?

Cunard have backed down.

Quote from my TA's email:

"You have your balcony cabin as originally booked, they have apologised for the attempt to downgrade and admitted it was an unusual situation"

Thank you all for your help. 

Frankly, I suspect the outcome would have been more unfavourable without it.

You have your balcony cabin as originally booked, they have apologised for the attempt to downgrade and admitted it was an unusual situation

You have your balcony cabin as originally booked, they have apologised for the attempt to downgrade and admitted it was an unusual situation

37 minutes ago, DukeBeetle24 said:

Firstly, sorry to hear this. Secondly, have you been able to speak with Cunard directly? I ask because the transcript you provided mentions they wish to speak with you regarding this, I am hoping that if you have - or are willing to - speak with Cunard directly they might understand the situation this has put you in. Not least of all the stress caused after checking in to your assigned cabin. 

 

I truly hope you reach a resolution that is satisfactory for you both, and you can enjoy your honeymoon together.

My TA has told them that I am expecting them to contact me. He has even furnished them with my number.

The rep he was dealing with waited until 16:55 yesterday to tell him I had until close of business today to come to a decision, and conveniently passed him on to a colleague as they were taking today off.

There is not a single instance of the word "sorry" from Cunards correspondence. 

8 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

I am sorry to read about this, I can well understand why you are angry about this. It won't be any consolation that's the first time I've heard of this, other than when there was a broken pipe and some staterooms were flooded just before departure. This sounds like something else, such as somehow Cunard sold your stateroom twice over without realising it. 

 

The refund is a reasonably sensible amount in that outside cabins tend to be about 20 - 25% cheaper than balconies, and here you are getting a 50%. You can kind of see that in the offer of the 20% FCC for another booking, you can see the margins in play here. 

 

I think only you and your new wife (for which congratulations) can decide whether to go ahead or not. If your TA is any good, s/he should try and get a few perks added as a consolation (e.g. alternative dining meals). There is at least an outside possibility that someone with a balcony, the largest category on board, is a no-show thanks to illness or family emergency, and while I don't want to get your hopes up that is at least a possibility. If the check-in desk can't help check this (they are outsourced agents) then you should have a go with the purser's desk on arrival.

 

If you bought this via a TA as a package, then my reading of the legislation is that you can have the full cost back including flights, hotels and what not, ditto Linked Travel Arrangements bought within 24 hours from the same agent. Your TA should be able to explain the position here, but they obviously will seek to discourage a cancellation on this basis.

 

You also want to know what stateroom they are offering you, at the moment Cunard are only selling obstructed view outside staterooms, which isn't going to add to your happiness.

Thank you kindly.

I honestly wish we went with the first MSC cruise I found when starting out, rather than researching further. At least that way my wife would have been guaranteed a private outdoor space when she wanted to avoid the crowds which overwhelm her.

Frankly, I've let her down. A balcony was her only big ask from me when going on our first cruise.

We've accomadation and flights booked from Istanbul where the cruise ends, so we have to go.

I feel like a damned failure.

I have just one cabin booked. 6017.

As of February 

Here is the start of a redacted conversation between my TA and Cunard which I have specific  permission from my TA to post here. (Why did they not email my TA or myself such important information after being unsuccessful on the first attempt?) Any personal details I share are of my own. My name is Lee Hughes. I am happy to share this openly. It is no secret. 

We've been to dinner, I've had a few glasses of wine and have calmed down somewhat. With that in mind I do realise I need to demonstrate that what is happening to me may happen to another couple on their honeymoon. Here are our baggage tags which I laminated and punched.

Host Hattie I shall share nothing that can identify anyone. Editing out personal details will take some time as I am mobile, hence why I'm waiting until she goes to bed. I have my TA's consent to share the redacted thread here. He says he has seen nothing like this in his professional career.

My TA has shared his email correspondence with me. 

Cunard say they do not have a balcony cabin to allocate me. I have until tomorrow to cancel or accept the downgrade.

I'm literally in the middle of my honeymoon. My wife as of five days was the one who asked to book Cunard over Azamara because of the atmosphere. I literally bought my tuxedo today.

I will share the email thread between my TA and Cunard when she has gone to bed.

I am utterly speechless.

Hi folks,

I am due to embark Queen Victoria on the 13th for our honeymoon. I have booked the cunard fare and a specific cabin. I have checked in.

I have just received a call from my travel agent to inform me that Cunard have oversold their balcony cabins and wish to downgrade me to an ocean view with a 50% refund.

This is simply not acceptable. I am bloody furious. This is my first cruise with Cunard. Is this normal behaviour on their part? Is this how they conduct business?

Has anyone else experienced such behaviour from Cunard?

I shall report back after my TA has spoken to Cunard.

Should they back down I would be happy forgive, forget and move on.

Thank you for any advice you might be able to give.

15 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

Good morning @Ditchcrawler Being ex Royal Navy I, like you,  too take a certain pride in my appearance and often on white and formal shirts use a spray starch: bringing my own.

 

I have never seen any starch spray for sale onboard any of Cunard's ships.

 

Frankly I'd never trust my better evening shirts to the ship's laundry. 

Good Evening @Solent Richard 

Thank you very much. 

41 minutes ago, TowandaUK said:

I plan to take a spray starch that I use often. Would be concerned using a different one for the first time on a special garment. 

To be honest, I'll make any starch work with a bit of testing on the bottom rear of the shirt. I'm picking the shirt/s up in Rome from a low cost place that just happens to fit me well off the peg.so I'm not precious about them.

Still, I suppose it just makes sense to bring something you consider essential.

Hi,

I'm personally a staunch shirt starcher when things start to get a little formal. For me it's a nice little ritual, up there with putting a nice finish on your shoes before stepping into them. 

Is spray starch something one needs to bring aboard themselves? Or, might one expect to find it in the laundry room or via one's room attendant?

Thank you all.

Waistcoat it is.

1 hour ago, 2Oldpeopleinlove said:

My husband wears waistcoats to match the colors of my dresses. He looks fabulous, and we’re both happy. That said, we have no opinion about what others choose. Privately, though, I think men would wear dinner jackets/tuxes every chance they get if they only knew how superb they look in them.

I won't manage any such feat myself, but I might be able to match my haberdashery to her frock. That would be fun!

13 minutes ago, david63 said:

The answer is quite simple - wear whatever you are comfortable with.

I've been reliably informed that white tie is now considered gauche (I honestly would if others were). My intention is to have a bit of fun with this, overdressed is fine. I just want to avoid "comically overdressed". And we all know it when we see it!

I'm usually never spied out of my usual uniform of tweed jacket, brown trousers and brown brogues but a honeymoon is a honeymoon, and to be perfectly honest I'm quite looking forward dressing up a little.

To whit I shall be making my last visit this weekend to the Big Smoke before embarking. What to choose, what to choose?

Would any gents or ladies care to give their opinion on which way to swing? 

I understand the bare minimum is a dark sit and tie, but I have no interest in that. I've spent quite enough time selling used cars in that particular uniform, thank you very much.

Thank you!

Mine are very similar to post #4, so good to hear. I do have to agree with you on the subject of oxfords v derbys for fitment, but being a Country Mouse they're the only pair of black shoes I own!

Not being a dancer myself, what's the advantage of thin leather over rubber for dancing? Mine will be going for a resole before the year is out so I'd say they're plenty thin enough!

Hi all, short time reader, first time poster. The attitude here is one of the main reasons I boked Cunard.

We'll be travelling Britannia Class. The gala themes will be black and white and masquerade. A question about my shoes, Would a brogued oxford in black sneak past the formal threshold?

Am I to understand that one may take a sensible amount of beverages aboard for consumption in one's stateroom or balcony?

How do you guys tip?