Classiccruiser777

9 hours ago, 2disneydads said:

 (Also, does anyone know if QM2 is scheduled for any refit/refurbishment before June 2025?  Thanks again!)

QM2 is going in for a three week yard visit in Hamburg in about 12 days.

Presently on QM2 and we booked that cruise. Northern lights are caused by solar flares and are due to be very active during 2025.

9 hours ago, renji said:

Is it selection or quality of food?  I am happy with simply grilled fish and veggies, are you experience good that isn’t fresh or high quality?  I hope your trip improves! (And not  only because we board tomorrow 😂😂)

Both. My comparison is present day to pre-COVID. Grilled fish is still available most days, I’ve had the trout and salmon and both were good.

We’re on QM2 since NY and we’ve noticed a decline in the quality of food as well. I suspect the financial losses due to COVID are the reason for the belt tightening. The menus are not as extensive, beef is less prevalent and for the “gala dinner” the “surf and turf” was steak and prawns, not lobster tail. Portions also are smaller.

There are cutbacks evident elsewhere and the exterior of the ship is in rough shape. Rust is prevalent. This is the first time I have ever seen a Cunard ship in such condition.

Live music no longer welcomed us upon boarding, a player piano was operating. No live music or candelabras in Britannia on the “gala” (formal) evenings. The TV options are limited and poor, including the aspect ratio and audio described by the OP. The bookshop is just disappointing, very limited selection and short hours. Cunard should bring back Ocean Books.

Despite these shortcomings we are having a good time. The ship still handles the weather better than any other, our cabin steward is excellent, the cabin is nice and the beds are very comfortable. And QM2 is truly the “only way to cross.” I hope Cunard steps up as the financials improve.

Presently onboard QM2 en route to Quebec. As with the OP, we requested first seating and told by our TA we had it but when we arrived onboard were told we had “anytime” dining. We don’t care for having different tables with different waiters each evening so will work to do what we can to minimize the randomness. Just our preference.

Overall the food and service is good, our cabin steward, Eugene, is excellent and the interior of the ship is very nice. The exterior is in need of serious work with rust being widely evident. I have always been impressed on how well maintained Cunard ships appear to be but this time QM2 is not up to par. In a few weeks she will be in the shipyard for some much needed work, the hull and superstructure will hopefully get sandblasted followed by a much needed coat of new paint. 

The dress code is taken seriously compared to most other lines. https://www.cunard.com/en-us/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack

19 minutes ago, fourmile.ranch said:

Being US based, it's nice to see Fjords included in a 21 day NY-NY round trip. Also the 14 day Canadian NY-NY in October looks awesome. Both new itineraries to us if not to Cunard.

These cruises are staples of Cunard. We're about to go RT NY - Quebec next week and have done several RTs from NY Norway, the UK and the Med. Beats flying by a mile.

After the COVID experience we won't be purchasing any future cruise deposits from any of the lines we frequent. 

48 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

Further thought: I was able to get my shareholder benefit on the December trip. But I think the only fares the shareholder benefit is not valid on is *deeply* discounted fares, like travel agent and tour conductors. I wish there were some consistency.

With the COVID shutdown the balance sheets of the cruise lines are frightful, loaded down with massive debt. All the lines have cutback and/or raised rates and the shareholders of the companies have taken major portfolio reductions. I'm not excusing their behavior but I understand why they're doing what they are.  https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/CCL/carnival/debt-equity-ratio

In addition to all the points the OP made, one very important quality about Cunard that we love is that there are numerous, quiet places to sit and read or do whatever.

I'm top tier on Cunard's loyalty program (diamond) and three stars on HAL's. I also haven't cruised on either line since before the pandemic but in my book Cunard has always been a cut (or two) above HAL in every respect. However, if you are against "dressing up" a bit, Cunard probably wouldn't be a good fit.

On the 3 current queens we’v

54 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Just out of interest, if it’s not intrusive, have you always managed a table for two in Britannia so far? If not, how did that work?

On the three current ships, and we’ve taken many cruises, we’ve always managed to get a table for two In Britannia.

My 2 cents since I wasn't asked (speaking as a diamond level passenger):

• Free WiFi for the cruise
• Complementary laundry services (HAL does this for 4 star members)
• Select/reserve dining table, QG thru Britannia
• Pre-paid gratuities

When buying WiFi at the daily rate, is it by the calendar date or is it for 24 hours beginning at the time of purchase?

38 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

We do not cruise on those big ships. Been there, done that, years ago when big wasn’t even close to what it is now. For this category Oceania has joined Azamara and Viking with non refundable deposits. 
I am not sure about Regent, but I believe that SS has non refundable. SB so far does not. 

One more reason we will be booking far fewer O cruises.

It’s been a few years since we’ve taken a Cunard cruise and there have been some changes since our last voyage. We are Diamond level in the World Club and qualify for the $135 benefit towards WiFi, what formerly had been 8 hours of WiFi time. Next month we will be aboard the QM2 for14 days, a voyage that encompasses two segments, a one week cruise to Quebec from NY followed by the return from Quebec to NY. What we would like to know is will we receive that $135 credit towards WiFi for each segment, $270 for WiFi in total, or is the total sum $135 that we will be credited upon boarding in NY? We are considering additional QM2 cruises, one of which has three segments, another four (retirement is wonderful). Thank you!

Some of the benefits an agent may offer could be "flow throughs" from the agency's travel consortium. 

What is a travel consortium or a travel cooperative? The very very short answer that will get you through a cocktail party banter is this: A travel consortium is a collective of host agencies, travel agencies, and/or travel advisors that join forces and combine resources to increase their industry footprint including buying potential, benefits, & commission levels. 

6 minutes ago, LSuzQ said:

Thanks, LHT28. We actually did secure a two-top for each reservation. My writing is never as clear as I think it is!

Once on board you can check daily to see if additional reservations are available. If so, you can get more reservations.

7 hours ago, buchhalm said:

 

Concerning the latter, I seem to remember it mentioned somewhere that WINTER crossings November to Feb/March are "calmer". Could this be true?

Weather is unpredictable. We have taken many crossings at most times of the year and some have had glassy seas, others a mix of calm and stormy but all very nice in the end. Regardless, QM2 can manage weather better than any other passenger ship.

19 hours ago, LHT28 said:

it does not matter  they have to turn them in 

How do you know this? Who told you?

9 minutes ago, ORV said:

But do you really need a ship map after 11 cruises with O? I know I don't. Especially on an R ship. 

 

Ah cmon man, that's pretty rough. 

No, we don’t. I was responding to the OP’s question regarding changes experienced, that’s all.

Just did a Regatta Alaska cruise in July. Previously have taken 11 other O cruises dating back to 2015. The only differences I noticed are that tea in Horizons offers fewer selections of baked goods, but still ample, and there wasn’t a ship map included in the keycard wallet.

On 7/30/2023 at 4:03 PM, Kynance said:

Port maps & information were not provided alongside the daily programme.

Are they available, hard copy, somewhere on the ship?

And when will the next “prices are going up so book now” announcement be forthcoming?

On 7/26/2023 at 7:14 PM, pinotlover said:

Probably a fare increase Oceania needs, but a fare increase regardless. In these days of staggering debt, if you don’t take Oceania Air ( a profit center); if you don’t take Oceania shore tours ( a big profit center); and you never buy Oceania’s booze ( a profit center), then Oceania is probably either going to be charging you more upfront, looking to replace you with a different customer base , or both. Life goes on.

Couldn't agree more and I understand management's decision to implement "Simply More." The debt NCLH has accumulated is massive, $14 billion according to the linked article. https://seekingalpha.com/article/4621930-norwegian-cruise-line-return-profitability-horizon