Victoria2

I would imagine, QA's Grills terrace will be as exclusive as the other Cunard ships' Grills areas. Read into that what you will. 🙂

I have no problem with card in lift slot to access 11 and 12 but anything else is a bit OTT. Oh well, we will see next year!

I guess water cannons are a no no? 😄

I have no idea who is/isn't travelling Grills and so I think the only way the Grill's terrace will remain completely ''secure'' is if the staff monitor it. Will they? Remains to be seen.

How more ''secure'' and ''secure'' against what, or should that be whom? If non Grills passengers want to access the decks, they can, via the stairs and I guess the same on QA and if it is passengers then I know I don't ask for password and identification of my neighbours when I sit ''up there'' but in reality, how many in the Grills areas are non Grills?

1. Can't really advise here. 2. With being a regular Q'Griller, I would say the video clip [rather old video clip by the way] is pretty well accurate although we have never had the Butler unpack or pack as we like to know where our things are and I have regular places where certain items go. You will hear of experiences which don't match up and whilst I don't for one moment doubt they happen as anomalies do happen, it's always good to know how much experience backs up their point of view. One bad experience doesn't mean all Butlers are dreadful. I also think the manner in which you treat the Butler is all part of the excellent service delivered. 3. The general after six dress code isn't as rigid as it used to be and evening dress/suits isn't a requirement every night. Many chaps have followed the relaxation and don't wear jackets on non Gala evenings but ''we'' think that a relaxation too far so my husband always wears a jacket although he does dispense with a tie occasionally. Gala nights are always black tie occasions for us. Others I'm sure will add to this. 4. Who sails QG? We have shared tables with guest celebrity speakers, billionaires [WSJ is good to google on occasions ], a White House advisor, knights of the realm, a reasonably well known artist, a lottery winner, a retired US Air-force General/advisor to the White House, a couple who saved like mad to have their wedding on Victoria whilst travelling QG, a trawler man who worked his way from deck hand at sixteen to a fleet of boats and then ordinary folk like us. In other words, an eclectic mix of great people and who all add to a convivial, interesting dining table. We always travel with Cunard, always QE or QV and always in QG, a few times a year because it's a wonderful way to see the world whilst eating well and being cossetted. Add lovely travel companions into the mix and yes, we love the product.

Carnival shares benefit overview https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

Our favourite cabin, QE and QV, for a couple of cruises was corner Q5 on deck 5 and we enjoyed every minute there, and I don't recall QE vibrations were intrusive. I have my fingers crossed the Cadiz side trip sorted out any QV major vibration problems, because by choice, we booked an aft cabin for our next trip. Enjoy. 🙂

I agree, Be open to a [free] upgrade only if you are prepared to take any cabin offered as the upgrade is automatic and in our experience, the original cabin is cancelled. If not, tick the do not upgrade box. If the upgrade comes with a small premium to pay, then that can be turned down with no loss of originally booked cabin.

I think if the passenger asks to upgrade/change to a higher grade cabin, then brochure difference between the two cabins applies. If the passenger is offered the upgrade without strings, that's a ''freebie''. If the offer isn't ''free'', then the extra amount will be less than the difference between the published rates and in our case, a reasonable additional amount was paid over to secure the 2.

We were upgraded [free] from a Q5 to a 4 on one QV cruise many years ago which led us to booking mid ships from then on. From a Q3, we were offered a Q2 on QE, at a reduced additional amount which did make it quite a reduction on the published price. Unfortunately 😕, we took it. Beware taking upgrades! 🙂 All this was done through our agent and not direct. If you book through Cunard then the communication will be through Cunard.

Do ballroom dancers stamp their feet? I have stamped mine with great enthusiasm in the Queens room but that was during line dancing sessions.

I like watching the dancers in the Queens Room on QV when we're on our way to or from the theatre. From our elevated aspect on deck three. it's quite obvious even to our untrained eyes, there are dancers, and then there are dancers. There are the compact and seemingly very competent dancers and then there are the flamboyant ones who fling their arms out and join those who take up a lot of the floor. They seem to us, inconsiderate of those who just want to dance. This is a holiday, not a branch of Strictly and if the less experienced but enthusiastic dancers get in the way occasionally of their more competent fellow dancers, then tough.

We purchased one basic package in August for our ten night trip which was sufficient for us. As long as you're not both wanting the connection at the same time, you can both utilise the same deal.

All a bit of a bummer for many and all the more reason to invest in more/new technology to ensure those who find the connections ''c..p'', have little to complain about.

Cunard provided the connection for us and a rebate was offered for the day they didn't/it didn't work. My Cunard glass is half full so we will agree to differ.

Ripping customers off isn't a bit strong? If there's no signal, and there wasn't for a day for us AND the Grill's concierge on her system too, then a proportionate rebate is in order and we were offered that, and although I really dislike the new method of paying for it and far preferred the allotted CWC ''free'' minutes, if the system works for most of the time as it did for us, then ''ripping off'' is too strong.

I think this is a bit strong. I seem to recall my description of the WiFi on Victoria last August was ''fickle'' at times but no way could I call it the ''c'' word as mentioned in #5. In fact, apart from the first couple of days, it worked well for us, both in the cabin and around the ship.

We're not foodies at all but we do have an inkling what decent food is so whilst you'll get folk who will knock the product [and it won't be perfect all the time], we have very little to complain about. Can't be all that bad if we keep coming back for more, and so saying, we have a few cruises booked for this and next year already. 🙂

Believe me, they are. I have even managed to get street food cooked to perfection.

Fantastic. We LOVE Victoria. The restaurant is your oyster. Remember, if the ingredients are on the ship, and it does help if the chef knows the recipe 🙂, you can order ''off'' menu, anything you fancy.

When you say ''Grills'', which one are you referring to? Edit I ask as there will be no problem ordering a table meal in QG, but have no idea if that's possible in PG.

Yes. Background, nearly 300 nights QV/QE in QG so have a little experience to draw on. Prior to Covid, we always went for the large tables. Sometimes it worked so the whole table were happy to dine in the evening at a similar time, sometimes it didn't work as well. Either way it didn't matter. We have only ever had one occasion when one couple dined on the dot at 6.30 pm and had almost finished by the time the rest of us appeared and then left the table to the six of us, not even stopping to chat. Their loss. The food is served when fellow diners want it. ''You'' can wait for the next course if you're joined later or ''you'' can continue at ''your'' own pace. Up to the individuals and the wait staff will accommodate accordingly. Most people choose a large table, to be sociable and so are fairly willing to compromise on dining time to a certain extent and although there's no fast rule at all, the norm has been a window of around twenty mins in which to turn up, usually 7.30pm to around 7.45pm being a popular time. As to eating on your own as a couple for lunch or breakfast, that is no problem whatsoever and not in the slightest bit awkward.

Would that be next to the ice rink? Skater dresses, or frocks in some parlance, are very fashionable. Back on subject, I was very tempted by a dress at the charity shop next to where I volunteer, last week. New in but also out before I had chance to buy it. There are quite a few alteration places popping up around and it wouldn't have taken much altering to change it into a lovely top to my specification. I will start looking at the charity sector with new eyes so thank you for the mention on this thread. 🙂

Now that, is TRULY off piste!!!!!!😄