Victoria2

Was he a 'speaker', or a 'Celebrity' speaker?

The Celebrity Guest Speakers in our experience, seem to dine QG.

Thank you for your answers. I was curious as the onboard lectures are a bonus for us and had/ have no influence on the cruise we would book, partly I suppose as we have very little choice of cabins so have to book when the itineraries are released and speakers schedules weren't published that early. Published celebrity speakers often have their books for sale in the bookshop and I have bought and have had two books signed by speakers.

I thought about that when I travelled solo with friends, but not being in P/QG, I didn't pay double occupancy, 'just' 175%.* or it might have been 150%, can't remember as it was so long ago. I suppose the fact Cunard weren't getting the onboard revenue from two passengers might be factored into their thinking. Either way, it wasn't a huge deal, just a teeny bit grating, but nowhere near annoying to put me off booking as a solo. 🙂

So far so good a read too. As usual. 👍

As one who is happy to read once onboard, who the speakers will be for that particular cruise, can I ask a serious question because I would like to understand this. Why does having pre-embarkation knowledge of who the speakers are, matter so much? Does knowing before hand increase anticipation or conversely, dampen any pre-boarding enthusiasm?

There are sample menus on all personalisers for booked cruises. It's a case of waiting to see which of the pop ups are on which particular cruise.

Lady of the Nile Coriander [Indian themed] is very popular so if you're lucky, it will be on the Lido Pop Up rotation whilst you're on your cruise. However, I don't think you'll find out until the two weeks before embarkation what the pop ups will be.

I'm frequently wrong, but then often proved correct. Funny old world! 🙂

Technology wasn't available 'in our time' and so under those circumstances, we wouldn't have had our son sitting there for three courses but then drip feeding food worked for us, with the promise of 'The Pudding Trolley'! The next generation are pretty similar but if any get 'lively', they get taken out so appropriate venues are chosen. It works for our lot. How long for, we'll see. 🙂

Thankfully, we haven't come across this. I'm sure when we eventually do, we'll cope and then put the technology away. One of the celebrity guest speakers who dined with us for the duration of the cruise, kept his iPhone on the table all the time. He was involved in ultra high level humanitarian negotiations and was in 24/7 contact. That, I completely understand. Pac-Man [the only computer game I know apart from Tetris] et al, can wait. 🙂

Not on my watch!!! My bag was full of colouring books/Jnr Puzzler and tricks of the trade to keep children 'busy' if they got restless. Technology may have taken over for many, but table manners are still paramount in our family and technology has no place at our dining table, children or adults.

Ours was also used to dining out and travelling. His greatest love at lunch and children’s tea, was the pudding trolley. We found bread sticks with a butter pat as a dip was the key to a contented toddler when waiting for any meal.

I agree Brilliant idea. We started much later when our son was six. There were only around half a dozen youngsters onboard and he was the youngest. It helped being 'that cute British kid' and he managed to acquire numerous sets of temporary US grandparents. 🙂

If we meet any old friends, we might book in order to dine with them. If not, I'll see if I can 'order in' if I fancy anything off the pop up menus.

I can book from fourteen days before departure so I guess that's when I'll know what the alternatives will be.

No, the list is same six as your personaliser.

'Iron' is a dirty word for me on holiday but I've never had to duck a flying one and in fact, I often wonder where I go wrong when doing laundry as I never come across these 'charming' passengers. Apart from the obvious washing facilities, the passenger laundry is a great place for picking up any tips/ information and of course, any goss! 🙂 As exlondoner says, the ships' laundries are reasonable if needed.

As you know, Head Waiters are also adept at table side finishing if the demand is there so I would imagine the M'd felt comfortable in giving of his time. Senior staff will also tell you if it's not possible to have a table-side finished product that particular evening so their time must be well planned. 🙂

pre, not per, just in case it gets a mention 😁

You will be fine. I don't recall any particular 'always available' dishes specifically mentioned on any menus but that doesn't matter because most dishes are available. Simple/er chicken dish? Just ask. As I have already said, my simple go to is a Fillet Mignon, with a side order of salad and fries, with a peppercorn sauce on the side. One of our table companions on a Worldie was so in need of simple food one Gala night, he per-ordered Hot Dog with all the trimmings, and fries. The rest of us looked on enviously, and salivated. The smell was divine. 😄 So you see, the menus are a guide and not set in stone. Just ask.

Q1 to an inside, they're all cabins to me 🙂

I might be wrong, never having travelled in the Grills on QM2, but I get the impression, QM2 is a different article from her sisters, re PG cabin size. The cabin is our priority and PG on QM2 seems more spacious then on her sisters.

For us, the dining is the lesser part of the QG product. It's a tasty part though and the show is often part of that product. I guess we're just easily satisfied. 🙂

No probs. Along with a few others, Big Mac for instance, I have a lot of QG experience [although not QM2] and am always happy to give tips. Another tip - we changed the late afternoon canapes [hmmm] to sliced fresh fruit. Also, if you want to have a bit of a do with fellow guests in your cabin, ask the Butler's advice on what to have provided food wise. It's one of the QG perks although any drinks above your cabin allowances are paid for. Just make sure your beers, mixers and sodas are piled up in readiness. The fresh OJ comes free too.