canoncruiser

Alas no, the Verandah on QM2 IS NOT as on the old Queens; in the evening they were night clubs-but I confess I rather like the present, quiet and calm atmosphere. A late friend and I were on QM2 in 2004 after the Olympics; the Olives’ portions were huge-really too much! I’ve not found the service overbearing; there have been changes and ups and downs-which I put down to the rhythms of modern seafaring labor availability. The food is consistent and I think, very good. Personally, I wouldn’t mind some nice modulated dinner piano music. But that’s me-too many venues are too loud with folks having to talk over the entertainment.

QM2 is my absolute favorite-I’ve travelled on her every year since 2004. I have just been on Holland America’s 73 Day Africa Grand Voyage-superb by the way. We left Ft. Lauderdale 3 days after the terrorist attack in Israel - we sailed through Suez and the Red Sea after the conflict had broadened. There were regular and clear - and reassuring announcements from the Captain. Toward the southern end of the Red Sea we passed an American warship on patrol. That was rather unnerving but evidence of what has now come- missile attacks on commercial vessels. I would be surprised -amazed-astonished if Cunard sent their flagship into an increasingly hot war zone-a la Lusitania 1915. Without a sharp cooling down in the war zone, I do not think they will. There’s a new Cunard TV commercial featuring QM2-she would present a fine target. Sorry booked cruisers but I think there will be changes.

Hi, I was just on the Grand Africa for 73 days-The laundry and dry cleaning was superb-quick turnaround and extremely well done. Don’t hesitate to use it.

I have just seen Chris Frame’s video on the Queen Anne on YouTube and I was troubled by what he described as changes being made to the Commodore Club. I have just gotten home from a 73 Day Grand Africa cruise on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. Much was splendid about the HA ship and the cruise EXCEPT what they have done to the Crow’s Nest-their equivalent of the Commodore Club. In earlier years the Crow’s Nest was a splendid bar with a night clubby feel, it was in the front of the ship with views forward and piano music in the evenings. HA has transformed and enlarged the space into a small bar, plus coffee bar, plus games room, plus shore excursions. The bar had a limited drinks selection and with essentially no regular night life as before-in the evening it was nearly empty most of the time. Chris Frame indicates that Cunard is about to effect something of the same thing on Queen Anne with a coffee bar-what else is in store I fear to imagine. Coffee availability is fine - as on QV and QE- but not a facility apart from the Club itself. Chris’s video struck me as an anticipatory apologia for some ‘innovations’ which some Cunarders may find offensive. Hope I’m wrong. He did say that Cunard had nothing to do with it’s creation.

Grand Africa is excellent.-Zuiderdam is a very good ship for such a long cruise.

I am a dedicated Diamond Level Cunarder. I am on Zuiderdam on the Grand Africa Cruise (73 days); The Internet on this ship is superb . My cabin is outside on the lowest deck(1) and the IT is great. I hope my favorite line gets its act together. SOON

I’m on Zuiderdam-rocking along at 19 knots-all is well - except today’s Sunday Brunch; it was awful; more like a tasting menu with days old stuff. The experience has warned me off the promised Sea Food Boil. Otherwise, seas are smooth, cabin comfortable some genial and interesting fellow PAX, Madeira in a few days. 😀

Passing time in my hotel in Ft. Lauderdale-embarking later today for Grand Africa cruise😂. Beautiful day here. I’m ready to sail!!!! Best. to all.

Thanks Ma’am-I’ll go well armed. 😉

No they just said it might be required in certain countries and that upon presenting an MD’s exemption a decision will be made then. Go Figure🤨

Getting ready for my Grand Africa cruise in a couple of weeks-whoo-hoo😂 BUT just got a Yellow Fever vaccination requirement from HA-I’ve contacted my PC doctor and asked for an exemption letter. My last shot was 9 years ago and I am of a 'certain age’. So we’ll see. Bags are being collected on Wed. so packing -packing and packing😊

We went to Venice a while back on QE- our third visit. Had a small evening tour to St. Mark’s-the guide was superb -we got up close to the Pala D’Oro(?) which was amazing as well as the rest of the cathedral in the evening -we were the only folks in the church😄 On another trip on QE we stopped at Santorini; the cable car was busted and I stayed on the ship-BUT quite a few folks used the donkeys and the elevators were ‘in a light blaze’ until the crew were able to refresh the carpets-WHOO😮‍💨

I was on QV from NYC to Dubai-overall a very good experience although there were a few hiccups. We visited Figi-that was wonderful; Cunard should always go there. We could not visit Tonga or the other island(🙄. Indonesia and Maylasia, KL and Penang were wonderful-Jakarta-meh-. Itinerary was altered in December. We did not visit Vietnam , Hong Kong our Columbo-probably Covid and politics. Stewards- cabin, bar and restaurant were very good. The food in Britannia was just OK-not up to Cunard standards-they ran out of certain whiskies😖 I was on QE for the full World Cruise in 2015- it was fabulous, there were no overland-overnight tours this year😞

I was on QM2 Westbound in May. The ship looked great, maintenance was being done-I noticed that the concerns about enclosed balcony signs of rust had bee dealt with, the public rooms looked splendid, the stewards-bar and dining room and cabin were in very good humor-willing and able. Many of them were new, I suspect that because of the ‘pandemic’ and the attendant job losses, there has been a lot of training up to standard. Steven Payne was on board and lecturing; the weather was good. Captain Hashmi was in command; and my friends who had never crossed before had a very good time. I always have a good time on the Atlantic on QM2!

I was pleasantly surprised-when I sailed from Brooklyn an month or so back, I arrived at the terminal around my appointed time 1:30, and I ‘sailed’ right through and I was on board very quickly-no lines nor any standing around.😊

I know this is ‘way back when’ during her Maiden Season, but I had to leave QM2 at Lisbon for a funeral in New York and I flew to the UK and rejoined the ship. I just let the Purser’s Office that I had to ge ‘off ship’. There were no problems.

I and some friends are on QM2 now, at LeHarve and on our way to New York. Anytime dining is NOT QUITE Anytime. We asked for a table at 7 and we were told that ship is full so we could come at 8and a table would be held-Indeed the ship is full and she is in grand shape😊. So far the cuisine is far better that it was on QV earlier this year on the World Cruise. Lot’s of new staff b ut they seem to quite up to the mark.

On QM2 TransAtlantics I like the Commodore before dinner, I always meet interesting people and have good conversations; after dinner I like the Chart Room for Jazz. Both rooms are stimulating. I was just on QV from NYC to Dubai; I liked Chart Room before and after dinner; I am afraid I found the Commodore Club rather dead most evenings. The one attempt at Jazz there was less than stellar. I must say that the bar staff in all places are excellent.

I had a bottle of Nuits de St George on QV My Wine Waiter used a very odd looking corking device and my wine was fine over several non consecutive nights.

Hi, I was on QV from NewYork to Dubai. Was disappointed by the substantial change of Itinerary from SriLanka, the Far East to Indonesia and Maylasia-but I enjoyed the calls in Indonesia and Malaysia. The land tours were well done. My review has been published on this site. I am booked for part of the QA 2025 World Cruise-I took the WorldCruise on QE in 2015-pre Covid and it was superb. I hope they get back up to standards and ports open up. I am a long time Cunard traveler. Bon Voyage

Bulkheads are not problem for me-in fact I’ve just booked one. I especially prefer them on TA’s when the weather can be boisterous.

Once you have made sure that there are no existing rail SNAFUs-the 10:35 train from Waterloo is very fast and very comfortable. If you are in the back off the train-1st or 2nd-the carriages stop opposite the exit and the taxi stand is just outside,

There is Open Dining at Main and Late sittings. I chose fixed dining at 8:15. On board here that means I dine in Britania on Deck 3-at that time there is open dining on Deck 2.

I am on QV right now and I switched FROM open dining to fixed. WHY? Because the ship is not full and open dining late sitting was like a wasteland. Often Britannia was sparsely filled - and sometimes tables were sparsely filled. I am now upstairs at the late sitting and it feels like a real ship’s restaurant , folks talking and laughing and filling up the room.

On QV now - the Britannia is thinly populated during 8PM open seating. Some folks have moved upstairs to an assigned table -some have tried that and come back down. We arrive in Sydney on the day after tomorrow - lot’s of folks getting off -don’t know how many getting on. My serious complaint has been with the food- mediocre to poor and very small portions. Not anywhere near what I enjoyed on QM2 last winter.