3rdGenCunarder

There is a very helpful site about HAL ships called HALfacts. People post pictures and reviews of specific cabins. I found a review for one of the cabins next to the blank space. Apparently, it's an emergency stairwell.

4156 – Nieuw Statendam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

8 hours ago, NE John said:

I read somewhere that the practice of a room full of hundreds of diners twirling post-meal used napkins is frowned upon in these high-alert sanitary days. Maybe that’s a reason why these chefs’ parades have disappeared. 

4 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Good. The passenger clapping and twirling of used napkins, of the chefs as they 'marched around the restaurant on HAL to the Radetzky March was always a low light of the final dinner. I didn't realise it still happened on Cunard as the only time we ever saw a chef was if the M'd hauled the Executive Chef up for a table chat and that didn't happen very often.

I have always thought the napkin twirling was disgusting. I don't mind the parade and the applause, but flinging about whatever bits may have fallen into one's lap is horrible.

2 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

The only sit down restaurants available will be the buffet or Golden Lion for non grills guests. I think the opening of Britannia was something special for the Maiden Voyage. I personally always eat in the Golden Lion on embarkation day. 

Good idea to have lunch there before everyone else finds out about it.

13 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Thank you to all who have been posting and taking us along on this voyage. I’ve read all 13 pages and my apologies if I’ve missed what I’m looking for.  I’m interested in a picture of the port side balcony cabin 4174 and 4176. They appear on the deck plans to have a double wide deck due to the white space. I’m also curious what that white space is. I’ve booked this cabin for 21 days in August 2026. Many thanks for any help you can provide. 

No idea, but HAL's pinnacles have that space, too.

3 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

Kathy,

I don't understand some of these LACKS...on board. On our past sailing with you especially in the PG and last July on board they did not have Darjeeling Tea. I had to settle for English Breakfast and Earl Gray offered to me. But if you went to the Champ's High Tea Service they did have the high class darjeeling available.

 

I am thinking of bringing my own Darjeeling next March on board to have made for me if still not available. Embarrassing isn't it.

 

Darjeeling Tea I remember was the Classic Tea served on the Queen Elizabeth 2 always available. 

 

Fortunately, they still have Assam, which I like, but I do miss the Darjeeling. HAL used to have a nice Darjeeling as their "house brand" tea, but that's been gone for years. 

The Fever Tree seems to be gone, and on QV last fall, I couldn't find any ginger ale. Ginger beer is not the same thing. 

On 3/29/2024 at 11:22 AM, elmsliebev said:

and marinara to me (UK) is a pasta sauce with seafood! 

 

Just been having the "how much drink can we take on board" conversation with relatives we're travelling on QA with soon. We've decided on a couple of bottles of champane for on their balcony and they'll take some rum as well. Already got the premium alcohol free drinks package but I'm disappointed ginger ale might no longer be on it. I do hope the Sicilian lemon is still available. 

I do not understand the lack of ginger ale. Doesn't anyone want that as a mixer any more? It's about the only soda/pop/soft drink I like. And if I'm feeling a bit of mal de mer, that's what I want (and NOT diet, feh!) I think a quick run to ASDA in Southampton is in my future...

On 4/9/2024 at 5:54 PM, BklynBoy8 said:

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy I've heard

That's what they call it. Gravy of any sort at breakfast does not appeal to me.

Your definitions of gravy and sauce match mine. A Jersey Girl grows up knowing this! 

11 hours ago, bluemarble said:

 

Here's a screenshot posted by @Pushpit last September showing the main menu for "My Voyage". That's the same timeframe I last sailed with Cunard. I do not know if they have added any more functionality since then, but this will give you a general idea of some of the information and services available through My Voyage.

 

Thanks! Looks similar to HAL's Navigator, which works well when it's in a good mood. I like being able to check menus and the daily programme.

1 hour ago, bluemarble said:

 

Sorry, no, the My Voyage process is based on connecting to the intranet site "myvoyage.cunard.com" once onboard ship using the ship's wifi. None of the information found on My Voyage can be accessed from home.

 

There is a webpage for "myvoyage.cunard.com" which you can access now from home, but it won't get you very far. That page simply discusses accessing the real site once on board and how to bookmark it on your device for easy access.

What information will it provide once I'm onboard?

On 5/5/2024 at 10:28 AM, ClaireRuss said:

Its not an app, you will be able to access the My Voyage web page when onboard and connected to their Wifi. You won't need a wifi package to view this page.

Does it have any more information or functions than I can see on my computer at home? Like see menus or daily programs?

1 hour ago, King Amo said:

This is where the marked jogging track on the upper open deck on the Constellation was so nice. Great views, bags of room to not get in people's way, and left the wide promenade deck free for those meandering, sitting or playing shuffleboard etc. 

The HAL Pinnacles have a jogging track on the top deck. It's around the Pavillion roof. But on QA, there isn't a clear way around because of the Wellness Studio. 

2 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

Be prepared to be annoyed, there is no security to either access and back to the Grills Terrace, the view from the infinity tub…..

 

biggest bugbear though is NO terrace dining facility. 
 

 

 

On our morning walk about we discovered a delightful shaded area nestled between the two forward sun decks. This is not a Grills area….

 

 

That will be annoying. I didn't pay all that money to lounge in a thoroughfare. 

That covered area looks nicer than the Grills Terrace. I've seen fleeting close-ups of that furniture but didn't know where it is.  I suppose I'll have to get up at 5 AM to "claim a seat...

5 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

No Deck 9, in among all the Q5s and 6s, and a most depressing space it is.

Totally agree about tea. The Grills Lounge on QM2 is fairly miserable as well. Queens Room much more impressive, and there is music.

It's a lot of years since I was in PG on QM2, but now I remember it. Rather a sad space. 

46 minutes ago, NE John said:

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. 

I would say tea in the Queens Room, although it is likely to be crowded. It's more of an "experience" than the Grills Lounge. Get there early to beat the crowd!

Isn't the concierge in the Grills Lounge on 7 on QM2?

27 minutes ago, Jim9310 said:

Has this been clarified? 

On a future voyage, I have a balcony cabin on deck 11.  Will I or won't I be walk to go and use the rear deck on my cabin's level?

It looks like you'll have to go down to 9 and then up again. 

9 minutes ago, tacticalbanjo said:

It’s a beautiful day here, the Pavilion Pool

is packed. So of course they’ve decided to shut the bar at 3.30pm. No one seems to be taking much notice of the little signs saying the bar is shut because it’s so nonsensical. Edit: Now quite shut at 3.55pm despite plenty of people round the pool. Bizarre scheduling. 
 

The pool here is bizarrely shallow. They can’t have filled it because my 5’4” self can comfortably stand in the deep end which advertises itself as having a depth of 5’11”! Hopefully they will fill it all the way soon as trying to swim results in grounding yourself about halfway along. It was nice and warm today and I’ve enjoyed a lovely swim and a soak in the whirlpool while kiddo is looked after 3 decks up in the Play Zone. 
 

The gelataria is a nice touch. The rum and raisin was delicious. And if you prefer a Mr Whippy they’ve got the temperamental machines inside so you can enjoy a free ice cream. I’m glad they didn’t take the free stuff away when they added the paid for stuff. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a good old Mr Whippy. 

Translation for US readers, think Dairy Queen. 

21 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I wonder if this one way system is actually sensible. It means joggers are constantly getting stuck behind amblers like me, who can’t easily see them. To avoid stiff necks and possible collisions, it would be better if joggers went one way, and strollers the other, so each could see the other coming and take suitable action, don’t you think?

I don't think it will help much. The space is awfully narrow, so the strollers will still have to squish against a wall to get out of the way. Perhaps the narrowness of it will drive the runners to the machinery in the exercise area. 

The pictures of QA's "promenade" deck look worse than I remember Koningsdam being. I wonder if the extra length has made the narrowest parts longer.

1 hour ago, MylesS said:

For anyone who may be interested, I overheard they’re aiming to offer the behind the scenes tour from the 3rd of June. 

Ooh! Thanks for the heads-up!! I will definitely enquire about that. I loved the tour on QM2.

36 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

 We are not over impressed with the Grills Terrace. The standard deck  furniture is well below that of Queen Victoria….

 

 

….while the funnel exhaust noise is most intrusive while under steam…..

 

One of the reasons I booked PG is that the renderings made the shaded area seem larger and most other space looked uncovered. I want fresh air but I don't want to bake. Are there any loungers under that little covered area? 

37 minutes ago, Colin_Cameron said:

While we're on the restaurant, the spiral staircase between the two levels is so narrow that it serves no practical purpose.

 

So I like the restaurant,  I like the cabin, I liked The Bright Lights Society (although until they change the show it will be a one off novelty). The theatre, while not a patch on QE or QV, is much, MUCH better than it appeared in the renderings and early photos. It's wider than it looked and it's not the same slope the whole way back. As you move back the seats are on a steeper rake,  improving the view.

Good news that the theater is better "in person."

9 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

Bet they hated that loosing their “audience”.

Actually, he was unusual in that he was satisfied if I gave him a small smile. 

8 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

We had that in Europe for a while while Pol Acker was resting.Last cruise back to Pol Acker though as you say was a full bottle not a half. 

I had a bottle of Italian sparkling wine on QE in Alaska right after the restart, when they somehow couldn't get Pol Acker. I liked it, and was disappointed on my next cruise on QM2, when the dreaded PA had returned. 

9 hours ago, safarigal said:

Interestingly enough, I was quite excited when we entered our stateroom on Queen Anne, and saw an ice bucket with a bottle in it. Yay, the Pol Acker is there! But no, it was a bottle of Cunard Prosecco instead. 

 

It was very nice, but lacked that familiar rust taste.

Something to look forward to! I wonder if it's the same prosecco they serve at the bars? I like it better than their posh fizz (Perrier Jouet?). Bring back the Veuve Cliquot!!!

Just now, exlondoner said:

Well, I have asked to be moved, particularly in the days of smoking, but that is rather different.

We asked to be moved in one of the PG restaurants on QE2 because we were at the edge of the "smoking section" (no divider, just an imaginary boundary). Several heavy smokers made it a miserable dinner. One couple smoked constantly. I don't know how they managed to get in a meal, too. 

And to go back to the banquette discussion, didn't one of the PG restaurants on QEs have a row of banquettes? I have a vague memory of that being the smoking area.

Just now, exlondoner said:

I’m sure you were like and always homed in on the pupils sitting at the back. 😀

I once assigned the class clown to a seat in the back row so his antics (generally mimed, not vocal) distracted only me, but not the other students.