Victoria2

6 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

I always go against the main flow of strollers when jogging/power walking, otherwise you are constantly saying excuse me, and waiting for people to  hear you or bother to react. Or worse you think you can easily pass on one side or other and they suddenly veer across your path

I'm a law abiding passenger but am starting to see the logic of your post.

I might have to join the  roscoe39  gang!

I think the chairs on the Grills deck look really comfortable [[good heavens, a QA chair compliment from me!!] and nothing wrong with the loungers either. The pads will probably be easier to keep 'clean' than the really thick ones.

Looks good to me so far.

I tho0ught the chairs on the grill deck looked very comfortable [one for   here

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

Probably on the other phone.

Def separated at birth!!!😄

5 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Some of you may remember a review, where someone’s cruise was pretty much ruined by disorderly non-matching cruets. I imagine they will happy with the ship at least. 😀

That must go with the apparent lack of fish knives and forks comment when it seemed Norman wasn't available!😁

1 minute ago, MylesS said:

It really is a great ship, and we’ve had a really positive experience.

 

We are on the younger side, so maybe that’s why, as maybe we fall into part of the group Cunard are trying to attract with this ship. 
 

In my case, Queen Mary 2 is my favourite Queen. I’ve done the others, but she’s always been by “go to”

 

However, after 3 days I think Queen Mary 2 for me will now be for transatlantic and special voyages, and Queen Anne for longer trips.

 

We’re currently looking into spending summer on her this year as we did with Queen Mary 2 last year. 

Thx

We most def can't be called part of the younger set and as I don't like QM2 and we're not flying at the moment, we have no choice.

My cup is always half full and it takes a lot to drain it to empty.

Thank you for filling it up past half way.🙂

16 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Can you imagine the outrage if they hadn’t had a QR? 😀

Quite honestly, given what people are like, lots will complain over everything that is different from any of the other ships, and lots more over anything that is the same. I hate to think of the comments there would have been if social media had existed when the first QM replaced the Mauritania, though even then there would have been others complaining she was old fashioned compared to the Normandie (which she was).

Despite everything, I am still looking forward to embarking on Friday…I think.

We can meet up to compare notes.

Two almost contrasting thoughts within the space of  five minutes.

I'll go with the positive and if tacticalbanjo  is looking forward to their next booking, then that buoys me up for our first.

1 hour ago, Germancruiser said:

Thanks Victoria- as I can see- you took my little joke literally- I know there is a prommenade deck- it´s just that in my book a prommenade deck looks - well like on board the other Queens. LOL.

Sorry. With all the negative promenade deck comments around, I like to be positive...until I've been mown down/have mown down others not going the same speed if there's no way of avoidance. 🙂

5 hours ago, Germancruiser said:

Prommenade Deck- what prommenade Deck? There isn´t any on board QA that would earn that name. LOL. A sheltered walkway rather, with one or two "open spots"!

There is. Deck three.

Promenade is just a fancy, often/seaside'y way of saying walk way and the fact the other  ships have wide/er ones doesn't take away the fact you can walk or jog around the ship.

I shall be getting in my six to nine laps a day, hopefully, even if I have to be more picky on timing in order to avoid popular times for the strollers.

6 minutes ago, tacticalbanjo said:

I watched Georgina Jackson in the Queens Room last night and quite enjoyed myself. A big downside is that there are pillars everywhere which block the view. The room has a retro vibe that wouldn’t miss a bit of Perspex!
 

I can see myself using the room a lot more than I even did before. I know that the changes will upset the dancers but probably not the beancounters because there were plenty of people buying drinks. 

It won't suit the dancers and that's a real shame but selfishly, it's good news for us as we liked the occasional evening entertainment in QV's Queens room.

7 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

You must have imagined the word only. 😀

Thank goodness.😃

18 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Of course you do, like I really need nice white wine on Friday nights or I become fretful.

Only on Friday nights?

What a slacker! 😅

Oh wow

Fig Chutney.

I nearly ate QV out of the stuff last May and it wasn't available in July.

Munster, or failing that a vintage cheddar, rye 'bread and the chutney...who needs a pudding ! Yum yum.

15 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

I haven’t seen anything yet I am disappointed in save the Golden Lion Menu changes but while irritating not a deal breaker in anyway. Hope your Grills experience is up to the usual standards and expectations. I am quite excited for my July jolly especially seeing footage of the bigger deck 4 balconies. So difficult just looking at the deck plan to get a proper idea. 

Thank you.

I know I'm extremely  Cunard biased but I intend to report back and aim to give of my honest and objective opinion as I hope I have done in the past.

Plus of course, some little personal thoughts too. 🙂

Edit

Oops, didn't proof read before submitting!

Just now, maggielou362 said:

Ok, @Winifred 22, exlondoner, Victoria2, et al. all you lovely knowledgeable Cunard regulars: I will take your advice and do the same (advice hasn't let me down yet!) If we all stick together and refuse to pay EXTRA for items and services that were previously included in the fare perhaps Cunard will keep providing the experience that makes it so special and unique. I hope so, I truly want to stay loyal to Cunard because I have fallen in love, despite them deserting us in the Southern Hemisphere!

Lovely of you. 😘

I agree. Don't pay the charges and choose something else.

13 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

The up charges won’t affect my loyalty in anyway. I just won’t choose those items. In the Golden Lion I will just stick to what is free and I only ever have room service breakfast anyway which is still included. 

As another loyal Cunard client, it will take an awful lot more than some up charges before we jump ship from Cunard.

I am just hoping Queen Anne won't disappoint.

5 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

You earlier gave the impression it was standard issue.

I must admit, I got that impression too.

12 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

Just watched a few videos of QG bathroom.  Some may say I'm picky but shower does look a bit small.  Looks very hard to stand back as you turn it on and stay dry until it warms up. Like a walkin shower with controls not under the shower head. Picky yes but this is QG.

Not seen one, but if the shower heads are anything like the 'new' Q1s on QV, The shower head isn't fixed, can be turned away or removed from shower head rail. If that's how the shower is set up, I can't see the problem. In fact, if it IS set up like that, it's great.

16 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

That makes sense; the PG price for the Canaries did seem cheap. Maybe it’s a bit less per 7 days on 14 day cruises anyway. Should be. 

I have all the guest invoices for past, present and future cruises so can refer to them and I wouldn't use the word 'cheap', 'cos it's not. I would say 'less expensive'. 

I would also say The Maiden was expensive. To be expected I guess.

9 hours ago, Selbourne said:

If it’s going to be a Royal, I’d hope for The Queen (Camilla). Sadly The Princess of Wales is out of the equation and it would be odd for it to be The Princess Royal as she’s called Anne but isn’t a Queen! If not The Queen, I’ve always liked The Duchess of Edinburgh.

I'm hoping it will be The Princess Royal although the D o f E would be a grand choice too. Two wonderful royal ladies.

1 hour ago, Poole Boy said:

Price for the maiden is the same as the next 2 week cruise we paid £4k each for P2 for 7 days the next cruise to the Canaries was also £4k each in the same cabin , for  2 weeks, so we have paid a significant premium to be on the cruise , to add to some other comments regarding speed of service, you are not alone, Princess grills was just as bad, for both food and drink, to forever to get even the basics.

I'm sure there was a premium added to the Maiden but although invited to book the original dates [along with others], the cabin we would want wasn't one available and we didn't want the BoB in winter and so can't remember the price structure.

What I would say, and have said before, when comparing like for like, The Canaries are cheaper than other 14 nighters we have taken /have booked.

2 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Well, I don’t know what it is, then. Obviously in your case you don’t arrive waving wads of notes at the M d’H. 😀😀

Ha, spot on. We don't do bribes!

It must have been my charming nature and winning smile wot did it! 😄

and did it thereafter until we went two top after Covid!

edit

Apart from twice, once on segments of a Worldie when the bubble housed two tops and once on an 'ordinary itinerary when again, two tops ruled!

3 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I think it must be mainly cabin. In all our years, we’ve never had a window seat in QG on the Vistas.

Not necessarily.

We were in 'the bubble' on our second cruise onward and that was Q5 -Q2. Glorious views.

16 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

I usually have to face the wall dining with my partner...doesn't bother me in restaurants as my view is just lovely (!), it may do at sea when there is a different sort of view. 

 

I'm not expecting a great table in PG as it'll be only our second Cunard. Last time in QM2 QG we were in the area away from windows, though the views in QM2 QG aren't as good.

 

Any tips for getting a good table? Turn up at embarkation day lunch and be nice to the maitre'd? I mean we aren't first-timers...

 

Anyway, apologies, I was just trying to point out the trade off that I assume they made; more window seats- and the facing the wall tables are not the best I agree, but either a space saving measure (get more tables in that way) or misguided design

No apologies necessary. 🙂

I just happen to 'feel' for those who will be facing a wall when dining in Cunard's top dining 'facility'.

No good table tips I'm afraid although apparently, we soon became known as undemanding and very pleasant to wait staff, and all staff, hence the 'you're family' comment I have heard a few times over the years.

I'm sure that didn't hurt in the early days. Now it's cabin, CWC status and the fact we book within a minute of the itineraries going on sale. Triple whammy really. 🙂

1 hour ago, buchanan101 said:

The QG restaurant is long and thin so it runs the full length of the windows. Seems that some on here would rather have a restaurant where fewer people have window seats? They could have done this by putting Grills Lounge alongside QG restaurant both by window. Would people have preferred that? Probably not..
 

Twice as many people in PG so the restaurant is same length but twice as wide. I’d still rather be in the QG restaurant as more chance of window seat… but we will be in PG in… checks…51 days! 

As one of your 'some people', the Vistas QG restaurants are light and airy and even most of those not sat directly at the window, had a view out.

Now I'm pretty sure we will have a window table and the window tables will be fine for those who are lucky enough to be seated there but at the expense possibly of a few Q. Griller's having to face a wall?

Would you be happy to be sat facing a wall?

I wouldn't.