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No. My understanding was that Open Dining was introduced for 2023 and 2024 voyages that went on sale in May 2022 and then for all voyages on QM2 from 1 November 2022 onwards. I did wonder if this was why second seating was so empty, but I assumed that if the same number of people were still dining in QM2 from the same kitchens in the same general time frames that it would still be relatively full. It appears fewer passengers are choosing to eat in Britannia than before or somehow they are turning tables more quickly. I also wondered if this trend continues if they can actually now go to a single seating for all fixed dining passengers? This could be one silver lining to result as I recall dual-staged dining was one of the changes in moving from QE2's silver service in Columbia/Mauretania to QM2. When my kids were younger on QM2 we would struggle to get to the 8pm sitting after dropping them off in the Kid's Zone which did not open until 8pm, so the 845pm last orders now feels awfully late, and I don't like it if that is a result of Open Dining. I assumed it was more this particular ship's Master seems to favor noon clock changes instead of midnight, so more time was needed to break from lunch.

We sailed on Celebrity Apex in March 2023 in the North American region. As you probably know, the Edge class ships (including Apex) do have a different restaurant selection than the other ships like the Silhouette, and while we wouldn't necessarily rate it above what we have experienced from Cunard in prior years, it was distinctly better than Cunard this year in our subjective opinion for the main restaurant offerings in terms of food quality. All four X main restaurants were full every night. I would say I have always found Cunard food good, hence why this recent crossing was disappointing. The French Toast picture and pancakes being too dry are exactly what we found too. I don't know if its reliable measure but I take it as a signal at least a large majority are "voting" with their feet, on all prior crossings Britannia has always been close to full in both early and late sitting, and on this crossing which was sold out it had only 33% of seats filled in second sitting on the first night down to 15-20% by the last two nights (including a gala). We used to see the senior officers sitting at the large table in the center and did not see them this time either (but noticed a number at Verandah). Either the food has deteriorated or expectations/tastes are not being met in some regard at Britannia for many passengers.

Sounds wonderful, enjoy!

It was the talk of the corridors and Kings Court; at first people were worried they had clogged it only in their cabin somehow.

I think my case rests. If you love bread and butter pudding with custard (which certainly was served at my school if not the 29 years of yours), pigs in blankets (UK version meaning sausage in bacon, not puff pastry) with your turkey-gravy-mash served twice daily and if you generally favor large portion sizes over quality, then you are probably the target consumer of Britannia Restaurant's current offering. Nostalgic comfort food is still to be found here; its not reliably executed it seems, but then school meals and nursing home dinners never were meant to be. I rather like to the think that classic ocean liners would strive to serve the best contemporary food of the day; somehow CCL's competitors and even its other premium brands are better managing to do this.

Latest breakfast menu attached. No french toast. It may be different for Britannia Club. There is something called French Toast served daily in Kings Court but it looked a bit more like a fruit cake/mincemeat pudding.

Having recently completed a seven-day transatlantic voyage aboard the Queen Mary 2, our first Cunard experience post-pandemic pause and just after a couple of recent cruises on Holland America Line and Celebrity X, and we felt it useful to share a quick review. Our oceanic résumé is not devoid of experience with Cunard; we first sailed on the QE2 back in the early 1970s in tourist class and have enjoyed QE2 and QM2 since. Our opinions are subjective and your experiences may be different. Ship's Condition and Ambiance No surprise, the Queen Mary 2 exudes grace, with her public spaces and Britannia class staterooms still manifesting a timeless elegance. Despite the weather-beaten hull courtesy of the North Atlantic, the ship has maintained her lustre, particularly the spaces rejuvenated during the 2016 refit, such as the Corinthia Lounge and Kings Court. Classic venues like the Commodore's Club and the Library continue to enchant. As for The Verandah, it may not rival Celebrity's Edge-class dining experiences but offers a congenial atmosphere, apparently even attracting senior officers for the meals. Crowding and Capacity The ship's additional staterooms and trimmed public spaces render her a tad more crowded than originally designed. The feeling of congestion particularly manifests in the Corinthia Lounge and Kings Court, possibly exacerbated by the ship sailing near full capacity. Day-Time Programming The roster of daytime activities remains robust, if not improved. The insight lectures and guest speakers, particularly those focused on arts and culture, were engaging and well-selected, despite not always boasting A-list credentials. Guest Demographics Our voyage was predominantly comprised of first-time or novice Cunard travelers, along with a ~20% sprinkling of gold, platinum, and diamond tier guests. With 700 passengers extending their journey in Southampton, the voyage skewed toward an older demographic, which we found less diverse than previous Cunard experiences in terms of age, nationality, and lifestyle, impacting our enjoyment to a degree. Dining Experience The culinary offerings in Britannia and Kings Court were underwhelming. The menus were reminiscent of lackluster British school meals, brimming with comfort food slathered in uninspired gravy and custard. While the nostalgia is palpable, the execution leaves much to be desired. Breakfast in Britannia lacked options like waffles and French toast, and the versions served in Kings Court were unrecognizable. In the past we would place HAL or Celebrity in similar overall quality, but would now rank Cunard a distinct third by comparison on this trip. We actually couldn't wait to get off the ship for better food. It can't all be about cost, as Cunard are the only line we've been on in 2023 that routinely still serves steak in the main restaurants, but unfortunately even this they managed to make un-tasty. Alternative Dining and Atmosphere The Corinthia Lounge provided a decent lunchtime alternative, although some dishes were served lukewarm. Golden Lion Pub, however, remained consistent in its food quality. Britannia restaurant was sparsely populated during the second seating, resulting in a somewhat drab atmosphere. Traditions and Social Events Certain cherished rituals like the chef's parade have been discontinued, although it would have been hard to genuinely express the same awe that we used to given the current product; the once universal Captain's reception has been replaced by a modest half-glass of sparkling wine left at your table on first gala night. Yet, World Club Party, Senior Officers' invitationals, and other events are still in full swing. Boarding and Immigration Boarding was fast with no health checks and no paperwork or pictures assuming one did these online. Immigration onboard was rapid, its certainly the easiest way to get into the UK we've ever seen assuming you can pass the electronic background checks, as they didn't even match passports to what had been submitted online or even to stateroom cards just a quick glance at whatever photo you show them and wave you on. Onboard Technology The Wi-Fi service, fast and reliable in public areas, was surprisingly unavailable in staterooms, a point clarified only after speaking with the Hotel/Guest Services director as the official policy. Technical issues were addressed with ambivalence by the staff but ultimately resolved after some persistence. Satellite service appears to already be using Elon Musk's Starlink Maritime service by SpaceX, but is let down by poorly maintained access points in the corridors. Maintenance Issues In five decades of sailing with Cunard, we've never encountered a ship-wide plumbing issue until now. Shockingly, the vacuum pumps that power the toilets failed, leading to a total outage. What's more, there was no official communication or updates regarding this pressing issue, making it especially inconvenient for those cabins housing three or four occupants. The problem was eventually resolved, but the lack of an apology or even acknowledgment from the ship’s staff was an oversight. The engine maintenance issues earlier this year are already well documented. Final Thoughts Compared to recent voyages on Holland America and Celebrity, this Cunard experience lagged in culinary and technological standards while maintaining par in service quality. The removal of "White Star Service" from their website is perhaps a silent admission of limitations. While transatlantic crossings hold an irreplaceable allure, based on this experience, we’re inclined to explore other options unless opting for Cunard's Grills class, which we believe still holds promise.