RobertGraves

8 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Not quite the celebration Cunard hoped for

 

180 years of Cunard

 

 

 

 

In any case, Cunard can celebrate its survival over many adversities throughout all these years, some of them much more severe than the Covid-19. 

This conveys a message of hope in this case, too.

These days of uncertainty, I thought it nice to remind our board that Cunard celebrates its 180th anniversary.

A historic company. Allmost no other current cruise company can claim such a record.

I found this video on YouTube. Some points may be exaggerated, but generally it summarizes nicely some of Cunard's unique aspects. 

I hope posting it here is not against the regulations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS2fIrshpBA
(180 Years of Cunard - Five Times Cunard CHANGED THE WORLD - Cunard 180th Anniversary, 4 July 2020)

Robert

Just now, navybankerteacher said:

Even when sharing a three-across row on an economy class flight?

Humour, godsend humour, thou will save the world! 🙂

Just now, navybankerteacher said:

Of course, if First Century grudges against Boadicea are to be maintained, don’t you think that fat, stupid Queen Anne’s more recent implementation of the Irish penal laws be similarly held against her?

My remark was (not without a humorous tone) to ancient 'brutal' connotations that don't suit Cunard's civilized tradition. Not a call to historical estimations.

And I believe no discriminations should be made to fat people, by the way.
 

13 hours ago, SilverHengroen said:

Berengaria is most definitely named after a historical figure (and a Queen at that!) 

 

I don't know I would call Cunard a particularly international line, either. Outside of Transatlantics and one or two Caribbean cruises (and more recently Alaska) they're almost non existent in North America (Holland America largely occupy their market position within the carnival group). Cunard has quite a tiny mindshare outside of Britain, though like P&O it sounds like they want to establish themselves in Australian cruising. That ship has long since sailed for North America and Europe. It is true they attract a reasonably international clientele, but they are definitely a British-centric brand, the vast majority of their cruises start and end in Southampton. 

I agree. And even promoting itself to its international clientele, I would say Cunard considers its British identity an asset and presents itself clearly as British. 

12 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

For a REAL historical British queen’s name  you can not do better then Boadecea.

Nice observation. However, the name is already occupied (as Boudicca, by Fred. Olsen).

Moreover, it would suit much better to a warship.

Let alone that, heroic and proud as Boadicea was, unfortunately she is commonly more associated with the atrocities commited by her followers, especially to captured Roman ladies, as Tacitus and Cassius Dio report. Things rather far from the civilized tradition that Cunard is proud of...

' that rather ghastly name "Queen Anne". '

With all respect for everybody's opinion, and not really wanting to return to the old name topic, I don't believe there could ever be a better name for the new Cunarder.

Queen Anne, under the Acts of Union, first Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

A sense of unity,  a message from a company celebrating and promoting Britishness.

A name definitely worth of a Cunarder.

Just my two cents' words :)

I apologize if this has been covered here, but I have read that on Pullmantur's Sovereign the dinner menu is the same each night, even though there are sufficiently many options for each course. Is it true?

How many courses is a typical dinner menu, and how many options are there for each course?

Also, where can I find a typical Pullmantur menu, please?

Thank you in advance.

Cunard/CWC said:

"As always, we will be [...] listening carefully to our guests as we define this exciting new chapter of Queen Victoria".

Great! So, please Cunard, listen carefully to many of your guests and leave the Chart Room where it is.

Otherwise, removing a wonderful asset of the ship, as the Chart Room is, will be far from an exciting new chapter of Queen Victoria.:)

----

Sorry, I could not resist...:)

It depends on each one's priorities, but Meteora is undoubtedly worth a visit.

They are monasteries on top of huge, high and steep rocks, - hence their name ('suspended' in air). They have been built since at least the 14th century by monks, who wanted to avoid the all-increasing Turkish invasions.

One only wonders how they managed to build them, with the limited means of that time, right over the abyss. An one of a kind spectacle.

Considering the dire measures the government is taking in Turkey, I wouldn't be surprised if the letter Z was declared illegal (nod to Vassilis Vassilikos). -S.

Very nice nod, Salacia! ;)

The way things go, it wouldn't be much surprising if all Latin letters in Turkey were declared illegal, in favour of Arabic ones.

If true, it is very sad that the beautiful Chart Room will be gone. It is a jewel on the ship's crown.

However, if it has to be removed, Images appears to be a nice substitute. It is adjacent to the upper level of Britannia restaurant, so it is convenient for a pre-dinner drink. Perhaps it could share the same bar with the Midships Lounge.

Now that there is no need for a photo gallery, this space, seeming always deserted, could thus find a proper use.

Interestingly, I forgot to mention that eight Turkish officers have flown to Greece in a military helicopter and sought political asylum there. The Turkish government demands them back, claiming that they used the helicopter to attack President Ergogan's hotel in Marmaris.

No they attacked the hotel and shot out dozens of hotel windows according to local TV here in Rhodes.

Yes, TV media reported that they attacked his hotel in Marmaris, too. Actually, according to various accounts, the Turkish President had left the building just one hour to twenty or even ten minutes before they did (the latter is what he said to CNN). Other accounts say that they mistakenly attacked another hotel in Marmaris. Tourists witnessed and described the attack.

We are travelling with our daughter who has been anxious ever since the I first bombings in Istanbul and it really was the 11th hour before they changed the itinerary unlike all the other major lines!

Perhaps at first place Cunard, seeing general trouble, should have not substituted Istanbul with another Turkish port. Thus they would have avoided this (literally) last minute change.

In any case, let's hope this will not happen with the August 27th itinerary at least.

The Commodore told us this May that [...] there WILL be a Chart Room on board "somewhere"

I would not like to start this discussion again, but let's hope that the Chart Room will remain eventually where it is, as Cunard officials have promised in the past.

As it is, it is one of the most beautiful places on board and ideal for a pre-dinner drink, as it is adjacent to Britannia restaurant. Moreover, its removal would take away valuable space from the many in favour of the few (appr. 5%).

Actually the Chart Room is for many people the main reason to prefer QV over QE, which has sacrificed it in favour of Britannia Club.

Cunard, please find a place 'somewhere' else for Britannia Club and leave the Chart Room where it is.

As trouble continues in Turkey, QV has cancelled calling at Marmaris and will have two days in Rhodes instead. The Captain announced at his mid-day's announcement that all Carnival brands have cancelled callings at Turkish ports for the foreseeable future.

Incidentally, as many here certainly know, Turkish president Erdogan was in Marmaris when the coup started. Just an hour after he left, military action took place and his hotel was bombed.

I do think that Cunard left it too long to make the decision and if they had done so earlier then perhaps there may have been more alternative port options.

Perhaps Cunard was willing to keep intact this most interesting itinerary, but it was the magnitude of the attack in Istanbul, which compelled them to cancel calling there. As it is, last minute choices were certainly limited.

Unfortunately, this cruise changed to less interesting ports, but remember that Cunard is not the only line having to change itineraries. They're probably all scrambling for alternate ports. And it's more than just port changes. They also have to figure out timing for arrivals and departures and yes, fuel to be used.

Well said. And it is very difficult to find ports as interesting as Istanbul is. But Salonica and Volos are arguably not a bad try for a last minute alternative. I wonder if an excursion to the tomb of Philip II of Macedon in Vergina will be available.

Unfortunately, with the recent attack in Istanbul being the climax of 200 terrorist attacks in Turkey during the last year (more than one every two days), passenger safety has certainly become an issue and the writing was on the wall.

On this cruise too. Volos??? Had to Google it and it looks deeply uninspiring.

I don't want to sound like devil's advocate, but Volos seems somehow to be a favourite site to Cunard in recent years, and arguably rightly so. It is the getaway to Meteora, several picturesque medieval monasteries situated at the top of huge, steep rocks. A definitely rare and inspiring site.

And to those interested in ancient mythology, next to Volos is mount Pelion, site of the legendary centaurs. The Argonautic exhibition is said to have departed from this area, too.

We have been to Volos twice on QV and are more than happy to have done so.

I wonder if we will get a refund or some on board credit?

Our experience has shown that no refund or on board credit is offered. Companies argue that under passenger contract terms, which every guest accepts automatically when purchasing a ticket, they are not liable to any compensation in case of changing an itinerary or canceling any port due to safety reasons. Crystal offered once two hours of free drinks for omitting Azores due to bad weather, and that was all.

In case that someone succeeds in getting some king of reimbursement, please inform us here accordingly.

BBC coverage:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36658187

From our experience Cunard has been particularly cautious in such matters. For example, in November 2014 QE dropped La Goulette, Tunis (in favour of Sarante, Albania). We had the chance to remember it when, next March, the attack occurred at the Bardo Museum, killing 9 and wounding 12 cruise passengers of MSC among many others.

Several cruise lines announced earlier this year that they had cancelled calls into Turkish ports, including Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Oceania, Disney, Norwegian, MSC and Costa. Celebrity has cancelled all overnight port calls.

Whatever the case, our thoughts are with the Turkish people. Let's hope that stability will return to the region as soon as possible.

It sounds a possiblity, but looking at the deck plans closer, the photo gallery is not such a big space to replace the Chart Room. And it's considerably narrower.

Perhaps the Midships Bar could be expanded, to include the photo gallery. In this case, the rooms that separate the two spaces should be demolished.

This could create a unified space and a (more or less) decent lounge near the Britannia restaurant for pre-dinner drinks. The bar could stay in the middle, serving both the wings of this space.

In any case, this could not match the beauty of the current Chart Room. Cunard, leave the Chart Room where it is!

8 days or more. If one is in a hurry, use the plane, please.

We have spent 9 days continuous sailing in the Pacific and it was very sad to arrive at port. We love sea days. (Let alone that the ship will last more this way.:))

We have had a triple upgrade. Inside to obstructed oceanview, then to a standard oceanview, and last to a balcony cabin. As to double upgrades, we have been upgraded from inside to standard oceanview, and then to balcony at check-in. And another time, we had an upgrade from inside standard to inside deluxe, then to standard oceanview. (Many thanks, Cunard!)

So, have faith: the upgrade fairy has mysterious ways and can always work its miracles. ;)