The Grills- Princess vs Queen

[Nick&Simon]

Upon further investigation (which basically means I was not completely right the first time) the PG benefits listed in the brochures seem to vary by date and geography.

 

Agail I have never heard anyone complain or mention complaints of PG guests being in the Queens Grill Lounge on QM2 (either Hotel or punter).

 

There are of course already service differences between cabin cats on QM2 and QV/QE.

[Nick&Simon]

Ok, just for fun how about this...

 

In my conversations with Cunard management there seems to be general agreement that two venues on QM2 are a disappointment:

 

1. Queen's Grill Lounge.

2. Chef's Galley.

 

Given their proximity, how about changing the combined space to:

 

1. Verhanda Restaurant and separate bar.

2. Smaller Queen's Grill Lounge.

 

Veranda Restaurant and Bar chargable, but free for PG and QG. That way a bar/lounge for PG and QG only bar/lounge.

 

This isn't something I advocate, just mulling over options.

[William Dean]

Don't forget that QE2 had, for many years, a Queens' Grill Lounge where PG passengers were admitted. It is hardly a new concept.

 

And in all my time on QE2 I never heard anyone complain about the PG passengers.......

 

WD

[Nick&Simon]

Wiliam: no just complaining about the Rosenberge's. ;)

 

I miss those days.

[nfcu]

It is hard to believe that QG guests are complaining that PG guests have access to the Queen's Grill Lounge. If I'm sitting in the Queen's Grill Lounge having a cocktail and behaving myself, how does anyone else know if I'm a QG or PG guest?

[William Dean]

Wiliam: no just complaining about the Rosenberge's. ;)

 

I miss those days.

 

I never had cause to complain about the Rosenbergs. Like us, they were QG regulars.

 

But yes, I too miss those days. We shall not see their like again.

 

WD

[Salacia]

It is hard to believe that QG guests are complaining that PG guests have access to the Queen's Grill Lounge. If I'm sitting in the Queen's Grill Lounge having a cocktail and behaving myself, how does anyone else know if I'm a QG or PG guest?

 

For that matter, in public areas of the ship, every passenger is expected to behave, no matter what category they booked. Speaking as a confirmed Britannia passenger, it makes no difference what category cabin a fellow passenger has booked; no one asks and no one cares. What does matter is behaving in accordance with both the ship's rules and social norms - afterall we are all on the same boat. I certainly hope that Frills passengers work out their differences and keep to themselves - a selection for which they pay dearly.

 

Cheers,

Salacia

[Salacia]

This could be an ideal opportunity to create employment, what Cunard need is Door Supervisors, or what used to be called Bouncers to keep these uppity PG folk away from the uber class. Cunard won't do that though, I am willing to wager that they will resort to razor and barbed wire, I have already invested heavily in the manufacturers shares. I gaze fondly from steerage up to those inhabiting Mount Olympus and I bask in their reflected glory.

 

[laughing]

 

Hey Capn, reflected glory...Cripes, Britannia passengs can do that too! All we need is mirrored sunglasses :D - See :cool: <---Kewl, right? Cheers, Salacia

[Whitemarsh]

It is hard to believe that QG guests are complaining that PG guests have access to the Queen's Grill Lounge.

 

I agree, and I don't believe they are. Believe me, that lounge would be empty if it didn't cater to a combined PG & QG clientele.

 

The only time I saw it routinely full was during the afternoon tea service.

 

So far only there has only been one post to suggest that QG passengers are complaining about PG passengers being allowed into the QG lounge, and the poster heard it from AMEX - see below.

 

Due to complaints of those paying Q, I was told that P will no longer be allowed in Q area?

 

Ditto

My views are what I heard from AmEx Centurian Cruise Desk.

 

I don't know what source AMEX gets their gossip from but it's clearly not accurate.

 

The CC Members who post on the Cunard board are not afraid of expressing their opinions - which is great. If PG guests being allowed into QG was such an issue, I'm sure we would have heard about it before - right here on these boards.

 

If I'm sitting in the Queen's Grill Lounge having a cocktail and behaving myself, how does anyone else know if I'm a QG or PG guest?

 

Well they don't, unless they remember you from their restaurant.

 

QG guests are maybe a little more out there. On our voyage we had the 'Russian Boho' couple and the 'Crazy Grill Guests' traveling in Queens Grill. Both sets were pretty interesting.

[BlueRiband]

Sorry to resurrect this somewhat dated thread, but has there been any change on the QM2 accessing the Concierge Lounge, the QG Lounge, and the Deck 11 Grills area since last February? Both PG and QG passengers were welcome. However one of the more scathing member reviews has now suggested that these are QG-only areas.

 

Does this perhaps change with how heavily the ship has been booked? If the access policy keeps changing nobody is happy. Those who paid a QG fare are not happy to lose the privacy to PG guests. Those who paid PG fares would be disappointed that areas accessible one one trip are now off limits.

[Louise D]

It was not changed during the World Cruise but I cannot say what has happened in May or June.

 

The only complaints I heard from QG passengers related to the Concierge Lounge, which was often overcrowded - and some people sat there a long time. However, I do not think anyone actually said anything about this to Cunard, we were just talking among ourselves. Also, I did not take time to observe if the overcrowding was due to PG or QG passengers. I just by-passed it if it was too crowded.

[BlueRiband]

It was not changed during the World Cruise but I cannot say what has happened in May or June...

 

Thank you Louise D., before I posted this a check of the Cunard site specifically listed these as "exclusive ammenities" under their description of the QG category. (That's the opposite of the access policy from last December when these were for "Grill Guests".) The Deck 11 area was very enjoyable and to now find it is off limits would be a real disppointment. The voyage I'm on is essentially sold out so paying for an upgrade or getting a visit from the upgrade fairy is not going to happen.

[cunardfanatic]

not travelled in QG for a while now but it used to be if you had booked a suite with a butler they would meet you upon boarding introduce themselves and escort you to your suite not sure if this is still the way I have read on reviews others have had this but only in the higher category QG suites (Q1, Q2, Q3 & Q4) but there is always a member of crew on-hand to point you in the right direction to your stateroom as for the difference between QG & PG its mainly size and location on the ship the restaurants are the same size just the decor is slightly changed QG is graced with gold lamps ect on the walk through to your table whereas PG is silver, caviar is available every night in QG whereas its available once every so often in PG. My advice is for a longer voyage go QG and a shorter go PG either way which ever Grills category you book you will get exceptional service and enjoy every moment.

 

Hope this helps

 

J

[keithm]

[laughing]

 

Hey Capn, reflected glory...Cripes, Britannia passengs can do that too! All we need is mirrored sunglasses :D - See :cool: <---Kewl, right? Cheers, Salacia

Ahh..but my glasses are mirrored on the inside!

[keithm]

not travelled in QG for a while now but it used to be if you had booked a suite with a butler they would meet you upon boarding introduce themselves and escort you to your suite not sure if this is still the way I have read on reviews others have had this but only in the higher category QG suites (Q1, Q2, Q3 & Q4) but there is always a member of crew on-hand to point you in the right direction to your stateroom as for the difference between QG & PG its mainly size and location on the ship the restaurants are the same size just the decor is slightly changed QG is graced with gold lamps ect on the walk through to your table whereas PG is silver, caviar is available every night in QG whereas its available once every so often in PG. My advice is for a longer voyage go QG and a shorter go PG either way which ever Grills category you book you will get exceptional service and enjoy every moment.

 

Hope this helps

 

J

We did a Q-6 last Nov. our butler met us after we dropped our hand luggage. She was very nice & helpful. Some in the same level(with a different butler) weren't too pleased with the service. I still feel that politness can really determine your cruise. Being in a catering company we find the bridezillas get less than the nicer folks.

[david,Mississauga]

There has often been an inconsistency in the listing of amenities for PG vs QG. One example that comes to mind is the personalised stationery that is sometimes listed for PG and sometimes not. On our May crossing the crew indicated there were no plans to change access to the Grills areas. On Cunard's Website, the "Grills Experience" section mentions the Grills Lounge, Terrace and Concierge are available for QG and PG guests. The 2012 brochure confirms this.

 

Although the Concierge Lounge did sometimes get crowded, it was my experience that most passengers spent little time there so that wasn't a problem. I find it an attractive lounge, but an inside room doesn't encourage me to linger.

 

As far as being shown to QG accommodation upon boarding, I have noticed that those travelling in Q4 or above are given a red card at check-in. When they board the ship a crew member, seeing the red card, will then escort the passengers to their suites. Those in Q5 or below are merely pointed in the right direction. On our last crossing on QE2 in April 2008 we were escorted to our accommodation even though it was merely a Caronia stateroom.

[Lake Barcroft Sailor]

We were in the lowest QG level on the final crossing to America of the QE2 and were escorted to our cabin (which was actually a little around the bend from the Midships Lobby, where we entered, so it wasn't that long an escort). We were in a Q6 on the QE's first crossing and in a Q4 for a Victoria TA. In neither case were we escorted to our cabin, so I quess the days of escorting all QG passengers to their cabins are gone.

[BigMac1953]

We had a Q4 on QM2 in May and had the escort. On Friday we will be in 2 x Q3's opposite each other, so it'll be interesting to see if we are offered an escort, not that we really need it as we've had one of the exact same rooms before.

 

Stewart

[William Dean]

We were in the lowest QG level on the final crossing to America of the QE2 and were escorted to our cabin (which was actually a little around the bend from the Midships Lobby, where we entered, so it wasn't that long an escort). We were in a Q6 on the QE's first crossing and in a Q4 for a Victoria TA. In neither case were we escorted to our cabin, so I quess the days of escorting all QG passengers to their cabins are gone.

 

Everyone was escorted to his cabin on QE2. It wasn't a QG thing at all.

 

WD

[3rdGenCunarder]

Everyone was escorted to his cabin on QE2. It wasn't a QG thing at all.

 

WD

 

True, even in lowly Mauretania decks we were escorted to our cabin. I used to feel sorry for the new crew members who didn't know their way around all the decks. Once or twice, we had to lead our escort to our cabin.

[William Dean]

True, even in lowly Mauretania decks we were escorted to our cabin. I used to feel sorry for the new crew members who didn't know their way around all the decks. Once or twice, we had to lead our escort to our cabin.

 

We had that too - the Penthouse fooled most of them. Indeed, anything with a cabin number beginning "8" seemed to produce a look of horror!

 

WD

[3rdGenCunarder]

We had that too - the Penthouse fooled most of them. Indeed, anything with a cabin number beginning "8" seemed to produce a look of horror!

 

WD

 

Right, because if 5 was the lowest passenger deck, 8 must have been under water!!! All that money for a cabin in the bilges! :eek:

[William Dean]

Right, because if 5 was the lowest passenger deck, 8 must have been under water!!! All that money for a cabin in the bilges! :eek:

 

I think Eight Deck was the tank tops? But of course, being dear QE2, life wasn't that simple.....

 

Very confusing to those who weren't regular, so to speak.

 

WD

[billyvegas]

I was in a Q2 last October we were given the red card whilst checking in at Civitavecchia but wasn't told what it was for. No escort for us!

[Jrhmdtraum]

Thank you Louise D., before I posted this a check of the Cunard site specifically listed these as "exclusive ammenities" under their description of the QG category. (That's the opposite of the access policy from last December when these were for "Grill Guests".) The Deck 11 area was very enjoyable and to now find it is off limits would be a real disppointment. The voyage I'm on is essentially sold out so paying for an upgrade or getting a visit from the upgrade fairy is not going to happen.

 

Why should you feel disappointed?

 

That is similar to flying business class on Singapore Air, and being upset that you cannot sit up in first class