exlondoner

It must have been quite splendid.

Within waving distance?

We went on QE a year ago in April, and, as now, there were a number of very negative reviews to read before we boarded. We had a super time. Yes, we were in the Grills, but I don’t think that made much difference. As is often said, there seem to be two versions of each Cunard ship: the one I travel on, and the one that features in quite a lot of reviews, often written by people who never otherwise post. That trip had dreadful embarkation, but what is a couple of hours compared with a gorgeous fortnight? However, I can see if people are vexed by the embarkation, which anyway is not down to Cunard, that could turn them against the whole voyage. Nevertheless, I bet you have a splendid time.

I expect they would have thought of that.

Won’t it be lovely for her if they let her catch the time up? She so rarely gets a good run these days. I know…fuel saving, but it would be nice, just once.

Yes, 9 am seems a very unusual time for a TA departure.

Strangely Vesselfinder has them the other way round, with QM2 first, going much faster.

If that sounds rather harsh, I would add this. If someone turned up while I was mid-ironing, apologised for disturbing me, said they had messed up their timing, and asked very politely if I would mind ceding the iron for a few minutes, without attempting to bully or bark at me, I’m sure I would be happy to help.

No, I don’t. I think it would be good manners to plan your day, so you leave sufficient time to do your ironing without harassing someone else who is doing theirs. If I were to arrive to find someone in mid session, I would either go to another ironing place or come back later. As I say, this is for me entirely theoretical, as I don’t believe in ironing in any circumstances.

Yes, I think it is important to remember that a Cunard ship is not part of New York, or Sydney or wherever you happen to live, and you should not expect the tipping custom to be what you do at home. The basics are set out in the brochure or the FAQs. If you truly intend to tip at every meal, you would be the only ones to do so, which is perhaps fortunate, as it might make service very slow. Also, as has been said, tipping in advance would seem like a bribe, with the insulting implication that the server won’t do their job properly unless they are bribed.

I have never done any of those things on any Cunard cruise, except sometimes a thank you at the end of the cruise.

No, I don’t see why having a small number of items gives you the right to queue barge. Usually, in the supermarket, if I have a trolley full, I might let someone with only one item go in front, but I’m not sure ironing is quite a same. The person in a hurry with only one item is surely capable of planning better and allowing more time rather than expecting someone to give way to them. Of course, none of this about ironing is from personal experience. 😀

It seems to be. There seems to be no mention of pub dinner in the Daily Programme for our QM2 Med cruise last summer.

When we unloaded a medium suitcase plus a small item of hand luggage each, a porter at Southampton asked if we were really going on holiday for a fortnight. 😀 We attended all formal nights appropriately dressed.

I can see it is easier for women though.

Sorry, have I missed the point here? Brit. Club costs a fair bit more than Britannia, and the main perk is the dining, so what is the point of booking it, if one chooses to dine elsewhere?

Thanks. Only a moron (such as I) wouldn’t have guessed that there was a hint in the some names.

I realise I ought to know this, but I rarely frequent the bars in the evenings after dinner, and never drink cocktails, except fruit ones, but do the bars actually have identical drinks choices?

I was wondering whether it made a difference which ship?

Why bother with spread sheets? I have a couple of pieces of paper (see below) and then a wallet folder for each cruise with all documents. I also have a separate paper list of ports visited and dates. (One sheet.)

Certainly on a 12 or 14 day European cruise, I have known the brand of bottled water provided in the cabin change twice.

And could that be the Commodore Clipper entering the harbour?

Could it be St. Peter Port, Guernsey?

I’m sure, but if I weren’t devoted to cricket, I shouldn’t consider him a celebrity. And to me, MW’s only interest is his admirable campaign for a speed limit in the New Forest.

We once had Henry Blofeld, who, I’m sure, is unknown outside cricketing circles.