Victoria2

The downside is if you wait any length of time when wanting to book popular itineraries in order to gain any onboard booking perks, the accommodation required might have been booked out.

I know how you feel. I wanted to stay on after our July trip.

Let's face it, if not displaying an item, which as I have said I didn't know existed as such, is an example of 'dumbing down' in Cunard's latest ship, then I think I can live with that! 🙂

From what I can glean over the years, Cunard doesn't have any kind of uniformity with its pricing structure UK/US so it would be interesting to see how any global offering would be implemented.

As david63 suggested, be careful what is wished for. I watch Gary's videos and he is very positive about QA's QG. In fact, he reckons QG is better than most premium lines and the food one of he best offerings at sea.. The 'elevated experiences' he mentions on other lines includes items we would not be interested in such as priority theatre bookings, priority shore excursions and 'other inclusions'. Any really elevated 'experience', will cost. I don't know what premium lines offer as we haven't bothered finding other cruise lines to holiday with but I don't think Cunard QG should try and compete with other lines when the product they have seems to be niche and well received as it is. Now differentiating more between QG and PG, well, that might be up for discussion too but I think both are doing pretty well and certainly not up to me to comment as we've never experienced PG.

I don't wish for any change. We're happy with the UK product as it is.🙂 That saying, if any changes are to be made, the wi fi charge is the only one which would interest us.

I don't know anything about Explora but the only inclusive service missing from our Cunard experience which would be appreciated, is included wi fi. Grats/service charges are already included for some so don't know if that would be a goer for all. 🙂

We don't dine outside so al fresco dining isn't missed. Yes, we are satisfied QA Queen Grillers and there are many of us but I understand it's not for everyone. However, as in all things in life, from my own thoughts, if an experience hasn't actually been...experienced, then opinions on the non experience aren't as relevant as from those who have, experienced the product.

'The Grills' encompasses a wide range of cabins and I have no idea what your experience is but ours is all QG on the Vistas with a cruise in most categories and now Queen Anne so I think we could be said to be on nodding terms with the product. We love the refurbished 1s on QV, having stayed on decks 6and 7 and are totally impressed and are looking forward to booking them again one day but, Queen Anne is just as good for utilisation of space and facilities, if not better. The only thing Victoria has over Queen Anne is the semi open aft balcony and I do like the decor, but QA has the mid ships position so even Stevens there. Same for the Vista 2s. No comparison. QA's might be slightly smaller but the consideration given to the outlay blows the Vista 2s out of the water. QA beats them hands down. QA's lounge isn't as visual as her Vista sisters but many folk use it so it can't be all that bad and as for the QG restaurant, there are folk who apparently quite like the banquette and as for us, we liked tghe restaurant. It's not as traditionally elegant as her sisters but, it fits in with the QA decor. The Grills deck is great, if a little open to the winds and once teething issues are ironed out, I'm sure everyone will be delighted with it. We are still QV'ers at heart but I can't agree the QA QG cabins we have experienced are in any way a let down and neither is the QG experience.

If I had any sway, Victoria would be home porting in Southampton!!☹️ I wonder what 'Grills proposition' might entail!

Oh my, is Cordero's still going strong. It was our favourite dining spot when we used to stay at the Bayshore!

Clotted cream is shelf stable for up to two weeks and doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened.

We were taken on a galley tour by our wonderful then Head Waiter, Tomas [he's a M'd of QA's Britannia now] and these are some photos of our tour. Interesting selection of teas. Not sure if it's half that now.

Well this is a few years old now and was posted at the height of the Covid pandemic so maybe gloves AND masks were medical accessories for a while after.

Teatime titbits Every day across the fleet: 2,000 Afternoon Teas are served. 6,000 cups of tea are poured. 4,000 finger sandwiches are made. 3,000 scones are handmade from scratch. 8,000 linen napkins are laundered and starched. Afternoon Tea is served daily at 3.30pm on all of our ships. https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cunard-stories/time-for-tea

Only Cornish Clotted Cream has PDO status.

Those of us who adore Asian culinary offerings would be delighted to have both the mentioned appetiser and entrée. An 'Asian evening' without having to pre order or pop off to Bamboo!

Only for the noon announcement and we'd keep QA's guns quiet so the sound wouldn't be drowned out.

Hmm I rather like the idea of trumpeters at various points in the ship, QA being slightly larger then M.R. so would need a spread [not a variation on a collective noun by the way] of trumpeters in order to reach everyone, co-ordinating their announcement of noon! 😃

Golly, not only am I not a Cunarder, but being a bit dumb and all that, I didn't realise a ship's bell was so important. We have only cruised since late eighties and mid day has always been announced with the ship's whistle, as have other announcements. As exlondoner indicated, I am amongst the bemused as to why I should be glad it's not easily found when I didn't know it should exist! 😕 I also didn't realise Queen Anne has a 'vibe'. I say Queen Anne rather than ' Annie' [which was the nickname I coined with affection and not to be used in a derogatory sense by me], in order to show my serious side. She doesn't have a 'vibe', new or old any more that QM2 has a 'vibe'. Cunard ships have an atmosphere and as QA is different from her sisters but fundamentally the same too; she will attract newbies to Cunard and thus helping to keep Cunard alive and kicking.

Could start a whole new enterprising venture. Can I put our fridge fairy into the mix? I'll undercut the bars with G&Ts and Sauvignon Blanc. Oh and beers too. Butler might think we have a right pair of winos here but what the heck. To quote a rather well known slogan over here 'every little helps'! 🍷

With you Planning to cruise Buy your own sun bed for the cruise duration? No, No No and did I say NO!!!!!!😅

All crew need to do is 'patrol' the decks, mentally or physically mark an empty sunbed and move 'stuff' from empty sunbeds after, say, half an hour. We saw sunbed reserving on the Grills deck on QA on the couple of sunny days in May but no need in July as it was flipping cold!

Realms of fantasy...for the time being.

cruiseny4life , it's called tradition and it's a tradition many, many Cunard passengers look forward to. I find servers walking/marching out to the Radetzky March, Baked Alaska Parade or Afternoon Tea, kitsch to say the very least but traditions often are and I wouldn't change either marches, for the world! I just make sure I'm not there for them! 🙂