Bell Boy

Oh I forgot,  OK on special occasions  I don't mind wearing a Paper Hat if invited to dine with the Hotel Manager 😅 😉 

14 minutes ago, RJChatsworth said:

We have completed over 50 voyages on Cunard but never at Christmas or New Year.  Apart from decorations etc what is different?  We don’t particularly want extra quizzes and parties but what is the attraction please other than to get away from the cooking and washing up?  Are the meals the same with the addition of turkey on Christmas Day?

 

Experiences that would entice us for once away from family get-togethers would be appreciated?  The Canaries would be our favoured choice.

 

 Christmas Jumpers, stateroom doors decorated and dozens of children - Turkey on the menu that is no different from throughout the year,  and  not forgetting, high prices.  If you want a Christmas experience with close family, grand kids etc then it's ideal.     

For me I give it a miss  .   

No two evenings in the Main Dining room (on open sitting) are going to be the same. You will need to managed your dining arrangements on the day . 

1 hour ago, colingu said:

Can anyone advise from their own experiences how late (ie days before sailing) did Cunard allocate saver fare cabins?

I've been known on one occasion to have a saver fare cabin allocated at 'Check -In'. Dropped off luggage in the usual way, however, I attached a large 'Luggage label - name CLEARLY printed'  ( in addition to labels supplied).

No problem, luggage was outside the door on arrival.   

2 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

It was, I believe,  in 2018 when we had to transfer accommodation in New York. Our steward contacted the Housekeeping Manager who said no to the hanging trolley and apparently said that is no longer done. The steward said it was a recent change in policy and he was surprised the manager wouldn't allow an exception.

 

I'm pleased to read that the convenience has being restored - at least on some voyages. We have to change cabins next September on a Southampton-NY-Québec voyage.

When you mention New York I'm assuming the above experience was on QM2. There is one thing that irritates me with Cunard Line , there is often no consistency in the onboard service delivery across their fleet. 

I often wonder if some of these inconsistencies are a result of an individual Snr Manager on the day.

As I have mentioned in a previous post I witnessed the hanging trolley ( Q.Vic) in action in December 2022

I'd also like to mention in 2020  ( Queen Victoria South American cruise 78 days) after the first leg of the itinerary I transferred to another stateroom for the remainder of the cruise . The hanging trolley was certainly in evidence, transferring  my six Evening Jackets, Five suits plus dozens of shirts - Britannia category - solo guest 😉    

17 hours ago, ExArkie said:

Interesting that we did not get the hanging trolley in December 2022. Perhaps because we were moving from PG to QG, but we had to pack everything not our suitcases. 

Well that's shocking considering you were 'in the Grills'.  The example I quoted above was deck Six   Britannia category. ( the date was December 23rd morning of disembarkation at Southampton)   

Edited to add;  Just to clarify, QG,PG, Britannia balcony, inside or ocean view should make no difference to the 'hanging rail trolley procedure/s', for years this has been standard.  Lost count of how many times I've transferred (B2B)  in the past.

If one experiences any hassle with their transfer you should contact the Housekeeping manager immediately. 

3 hours ago, stan01 said:

 

A hanging trolley is great news, that would be wonderful and easy to do!  Thank you!

This is the standard procedure and has been for years .  It was was only 'temporarily suspended' during the pandemic, another useless procedure even though it had no scientific evidence.

The hanging trolley and moving procedure  was in evidence on my last cruise as recent as December 2022. Observed a couple a few doors away moving to a new Stateroom on a disembarkation day.      

On 12/8/2023 at 6:12 PM, Victoria2 said:

Ah, the cabin we had in July. Folk came to our cabin for a bit of a do too, and our cabin on deck seven and...

 

Nice to know we'd be considered lacking in airs! 😅

  Airs/Hairs Oh that blessed predictive / or was it spell check 😅  these Apple laptop devices they love to have their own way - It had already challenged me twice on Mauretania   .  Often have to smile when some  refer to Corinthia Lounge ( QM2) rather than Carinthia . 😅   

2 hours ago, D&N said:

I would call a room for sleeping in or anything else one might do in your private space on a ship, a cabin. I would apply that to rooms on sleeper trains as well.

I can understand that a multi roomed cabin could be described as a suite (of rooms).

From a practical point of view [cabin & suite] have the same number of letters if one is writing the word, but a larger proportion of folk are likely to spell the former correctly.

 

To me cruise lines use the term stateroom in promotional material simply to try and impress.

Couldn't have said it better  D&N  

On a previous cruise in 2022 I met a delightful couple who invited me for drinks - the conversation went something like this  Quote;   "We'd like you to join us for drinks in our 'Cabin'- 6204 tomorrow evening"

on arrival it turned out it was the Mauretania suite. 😉

No hairs and graces from this couple 👍 

27 minutes ago, Underwatr said:

Not sure but I think the umbrage may have been at the use of the term "cabin" rather than stateroom.

I think it's about as important a distinction as calling a cruise on Cunard a "voyage," frankly.

Or referring to them as Rooms, as the author did in their post 168 

9 hours ago, transatlantic fan said:

I don't have any photos for these so called cabins as you put it.

The steward was kind enough to show us, and I had no intention of getting him in any trouble by putting them on here.

Oops  sorry if you found my question irritating , you provided interesting information I'm sure I'm not the only one who would have liked to have seen/hear more.  

18 hours ago, transatlantic fan said:

Forgot to say the new rooms also have the very nice glass shower bathrooms. 

You can also tell the new rooms as the stateroom doors are a matt wood.

I'm surprised that you haven't any photos for us . By the way, are these 'so called new cabins' at a premium .   

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

I wouldn't bother. We never upload photos and it's done when we check in.

Me too, and even when one has gone through all the trouble of uploading one , the check-agent often takes it again .

Re the 5.15pm 'Senior officers party',  it might be wise to double check with 'Voyage Sales' or Concierge  (don't waste time at the Pursers desk) to confirm if there is a later reception at 7.15pm .

Last month there were two, my  travel companion friends received 5.15pm and I received 7.15pm , we were all dining at 8.15pm .  

33 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

More confusing. I got off on the 19th and we definitely were at Mayflower.  We left from QEII but most definitely returned to Mayflower. 

Even departing from QE11 terminal , Check-In procedure is immediately as one walks through the main door , 'Security' takes place after the check -in waiting lounge .   

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Thank you. Interesting. Whenever I’ve embarked there, security has been last. They must have completely reorganised it.

You are correct,  passing through Security 'AT Mayflower Terminal' takes place after check-in . Probably with all the excitement of embarking QM2 after the major refit the author may have been confused - unless the ship departed from City Terminal  on the day ?   

43 minutes ago, 2Oldpeopleinlove said:

We will be happy with two half bottles as we drink it only as an additive to orange juice in morning mimosas.

And if you don't managed to use the unopened one, you can take it home with you. 

1 hour ago, MCC retired said:

For many years , the bottle of Pol Acker was the subject of jokes and undrinkability comments .

Seems now that the bottles are half of their original size , everyone is upset?

 

Your are correct, 👍  and not only that !  during the first few weeks when Cunard returned back to regular service in 2021, due to the pandemic and shortage of supply and demand  there was an uproar when they were not delivered' to every stateroom on Embarkation Day.

Have to admit, I was one who often questioned this to the cabin steward,  even though I've never touched the stuff. 😅   

Pleased it has now been rectified, Thanks for coming back to us .

Clarification why the 'HALF bottle/s of Pol Acker ;

The other month whilst I was onboard Cunard, I was determined to get to the bottom of this new concept of 'These Half Bottles' . Speaking with F&B manager and Snr Housekeeping  it appears ( apparently this came from guest feedback 🤷‍♂️ )  Two half bottles over a 'couple of days', during a lengthy itinerary are more welcome than a large bottle, I understand this feed back came from the many 'solo guests' who I expect were unable to consume a large bottle  without it loosing it's fizz 🤦‍♂️  lol 

I wouldn't know, I've never touched the stuff .

4 hours ago, babs135 said:

With the introduction of bidding for an upgrade I was wondering whether free upgrades are a thing of the past or do they still exist?

The new concept of bidding for an upgrade is slightly different  from the occasional free upgrade . Free/involuntary up grades are usually only within the 'Same Category' - and yes thy are still around.

Often when we make a face to face booking we are asked if we agree to an upgrade - One needs to think twice before accepting the box to be ticked , whilst an upgrade maybe to midships or a higher deck , it could also be opposite the laundry, under the Lido  or a noisy Air-con / white space unit . 

If you are happy with the particular cabin you have selected - stay with it 😉

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

Turkey, if it's got all the trimmings.

I love a turkey dinner. especially if I haven't cooked it! 🙂

Good job you are not on a certain P&O cruise this month  ( not suggesting you would)  Apparently on this November itinerary  guests have been enjoying the concept of 'Tinsel & Turkey' - not only that, have been encouraged in advance to pack & wear Christmas Jumpers  😱   Paying thousands of pounds for this experience sounds more like a Warners Weekend Break 😅  

59 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

I don’t normally carry one but I could do, fair point👍🥂

Totally agree with you, neither do I carry a cell phone around with me ( when onboard) Enough of all this nonsense of booking 'this and that' on that new blessed App thingy . Call me old fashioned but I enjoy  face to face interaction with the crew member ,especially if it involves a booking for alternative dining , more often than not, it secures me a good table position . 😅

You are completely wasting your time speaking to you cabin steward or the Purser desk.

You ask to speak with the 'Customer Service manager' and ask him/her to raise a maintenance issue immediately.  re a Cabin Change , Customer service manager is the only person who has the authority to move guests to another cabin ( Cabin changes go through him/her) 

Good Luck - let us know how it was resolved. 

59 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

We arrived at the terminal at 12.15 and there were plenty of vacant check in positions. The waiting area was very full due to the build up of QQ, PQ, Diamond and Platinum levels (our level) which got called in order, the security queues build up due to the initial rush but it’s only 10 mins or so. They hold early arrivals who are not priority boarding outside until after the priority levels have started to clear the waiting area. Maybe the people in the queue that you saw with later boarding times were of a priority level because they were definitely checking status before entering the terminal.

Pre Assigned check-in time were introduced in 2021 as a direct result of social distancing and the lengthy check-in procedures  which were necessary at the time . We remember well the extensive 'documentation checks' when, we were directed to at least THREE separate agents/desks in ordered to have all our documentation confirmed . There was also on -site LFT testing and the time taken for the correct results, therefore assigned arrival/check-in time were need during this time to spread out people and to allow for over crowding/social distancing  

Today those procedures no longer exist,  check-in procedures are back to normal and they have been greatly helped by the introduction of the new  'On-line check-in system , reducing the time taken when the guest is directed to a check-in agent.

In a previous post I mentioned a former colleague of mine is now working at the Southampton Cruise Terminals.  In conversation, ( the 'second time over this last month')  she has confirmed that any 'Cunard' guest who presents a boarding card which indicates they are 'Diamond or Platinum' EVEN if they happen to arrive earlier than the time stated on the boarding card, they will be directed immediately to the 'Priority check-in line'. She gave me to understand that this works reasonably well at the 'Mayflower & Ocean Terminals', problems usually arise with the check-in system procedure at the QEII terminal. She indicated that no two days are the same at the cruise terminals , usually it runs smoothly once the first call for embarkation has taken place (usually between 1/1.30pm) and since the new on-line system was introduced, even if some guests arrived slightly ahead of their indicted time, often due to having to rely on train schedules and other public transport. She gave me to understand no one will be turned away, however, on very few occasions one may have to stand line for a short time to allow for check-in desks to become available.