exlondoner

Perhaps they should simply go back to calling them formal nights, which raises no expectations except in terms of dress.

Please believe that I always dress according to the code and I often enjoy seeing what others are wearing. I don’t find the dress code particularly onerous, after all one has to wear something, so it may as well be the right thing. However, I still sometimes wear the black dress I bought for formal nights on our first crossing in 1997. I would rather spend what money I have left after my huge annual donation to Cunard on other things, like books. 😀

Well, that is obviously your choice, but it isn’t inevitable. I would take two or perhaps three dresses, but then I find clothes deadly boring.

There is no rule that says she needs a different frock every night, however onerous the dress code. 😀

I should have thought an obvious reason they want embarking passengers to board as early as possible is in the probably vain hope of getting away on time, or nearly. They probably don’t want to miss the tide again. And I, for one, had no idea that was a danger in arriving at or departing from NY.

Why would a viral outbreak cause delays?

This all seems quite reasonable. But, really, formal wear really doesn’t require extra suitcases, particularly given you have to wear something anyway. I realise an extra pair of shoes each makes extra weight. But the formal nights are spread out, so stuff can go to the laundry between and be worn again.

I don’t go any more, but it partly depends where people have come from. Sometimes they’ve been wearing a tie for work, and come from there, but less and less often. When my husband takes younger members of his family to ballet matinees, he doesn’t wear a tie. He would have done thirty years ago.

All a matter of taste. I can’t bear eggs, which has a limiting effect on breakfast, but there you go.

I always enjoy the rack of lamb, Dartmoor lamb, if you are lucky. Delicious and not too massive, unlike the duck.

Also you may wish to start on them before the suitcases arrive. The luggage often arrives amazingly promptly, but not always.

The lasagne is my fav. too. Alas, on our 14 nighter on QA we didn’t have it once. If I’d realised it wasn’t going to happen, I’d have asked for it, but I didn’t realise until too late.

Metaphorical hugs.

Yes, all those things, particularly the sense of serenity. Just get to the Library as soon as you can on embarkation day. There are many passengers who love it as much as we.

I completely agree, an excellent way to recharge after lunch, and, though they vary, often a high standard of musicianship.

It is indeed strange that negative comments about changes on Cunard seem invariably to focus on the dress code. I think mine were the only comments I have seen on the lack of classical concerts on our recent voyage.

Young people indeed.

The ones I see on Cunard mainly seem to relish it, so there is something for everyone. And, while there are US passengers on most voyages, it is only TAs on QM2 where there are a lot.

No, he sat there stewing. It is quite difficult to undress mid-act.

The ROH certainly doesn’t, though I did once see a chap in a dinner jacket, an unwise choice on a very hot day.

If you think dressing up is going out of fashion, you should have seen Waterloo Station on Saturday. It was as crowded as I have seen it, largely with people dressed very glamorously on their way to the Royal Ascot race meeting. Very few of them can actually have been in the Royal Enclosure, the only place where such dress is compulsory.

People here don’t often make personal complaints about individuals, though I’ve seen a few about people who were publicly rude to the staff. However even if a dozen people here complain about you, that is a tiny, tiny proportion of Cunard passengers, so who cares?

@Host Hattie Are you OK at work?

They won’t reintroduce jackets openly, but there are times when I think the air con is a ploy to do it surreptitiously. 😀

Glad it is suitably picturesque.