5 night QM2 October

[cruzadict]

thinking of booking this short cruise as a quick fix in October but reading some of the reviews on the short cruises, I am having second thoughts. Are they really as raucous as they appear. After all it is only one night shorter than the former transatlantics.

[Cruachan]

thinking of booking this short cruise as a quick fix in October but reading some of the reviews on the short cruises, I am having second thoughts. Are they really as raucous as they appear. After all it is only one night shorter than the former transatlantics.

 

The shorter cruises certainly do seem to have built up a somewhat unenviable reputation down the years for that kind of thing and also, occasionally, for lower standards of food and service. However, they are also very often the subject of "hit and run" posting (a topic that has been discussed on here more than once) and this makes it somewhat difficult to sort out fact from fiction.

 

I'm a firm believer that any cruise is more about what you make it. It's a big ship and it ought to be easy enough to avoid any unpleasantness of that nature.

 

J

[Ray66]

I've recently been on the QE for 5 nights and I've also done three 4-nighters and I've never noticed lower standards of food or service nor have any of them been "raucous".

 

We even had the chef's parade and were presented with menus last month which I hadn't expected on a 5 night cruise.

[The Real PM]

thinking of booking this short cruise as a quick fix in October but reading some of the reviews on the short cruises, I am having second thoughts. Are they really as raucous as they appear. After all it is only one night shorter than the former transatlantics.

 

rau·cous [ráwkəss]

adj

1. unpleasantly loud: loud and harsh-sounding 2. noisy: characterized by loud noise, shouting, and ribald laughter

Personally, the word "raucous" and Cunard don't mesh in my mind. I would say Cunard ships are anything but raucous.

 

My advice would be don't take these reviews to heart. Many of them are fabricated by less than honest people or at the very least people whose expectations are beyond reality.

[Whitemarsh]

The shorter cruises certainly do seem to have built up a somewhat unenviable reputation down the years for that kind of thing and also, occasionally, for lower standards of food and service. However, they are also very often the subject of "hit and run" posting (a topic that has been discussed on here more than once) and this makes it somewhat difficult to sort out fact from fiction.

 

I'm a firm believer that any cruise is more about what you make it. It's a big ship and it ought to be easy enough to avoid any unpleasantness of that nature.

 

J

 

I had a conversation with one of the waitresses in the Commodore Club about the short 'party' cruises. She was very positive about them and I got a real sense that she enjoyed them, and that the bars took in a lot of money.

[Cruachan]

I had a conversation with one of the waitresses in the Commodore Club about the short 'party' cruises. She was very positive about them and I got a real sense that she enjoyed them, and that the bars took in a lot of money.

 

It's good to hear some positive comments about the short cruises from you and also from Ray. To be totally honest, I don't really have a dog in the fight as I've never done a cruise shorter than 11 nights. But they have had more than their share of adverse comment on here - although, as I said, sorting the wheat from the chaff in that regard is particularly difficult.

 

J

[Lynnewob]

We've done 3 recently.

 

The 2 night in Oct to Cherbourg was horrible and we said never again! This was in Princess Grill - not the best service and it was a case of "it's only a short trip, we can't be bothered with you". There were an awful lot of extremely drunk people on board in the casino on both nights.

 

Lo and behold, we opted for a 3 night in May which was like chalk and cheese and a fantastic trip. We were in Britannia and looked after brilliantly by the restaurant staff throughout. The guests were a mixture of age groups which was really nice but certainly nobody falling around drunk like the 2 nighter.

 

Have just returned from the QM2 5 night jubilee trip in Queens Grill and again felt the service was lacking - it's as if they can't be bothered as to the staff thinking "it's only a short trip". The butler and room steward were exemplary but it was the waiters and table position that left a lot to be desired, only 1 smiled and made conversation throughout. The sommelier was much more personable than the waiters. Fellow passengers were lovely on this trip and I think everyone was in jubilee mood, the only disappointment being no red arrows and the fireworks weren't the best due to the weather and low cloud.

 

I'd say try it, nothing ventured nothing gained - it all depends on your fellow passengers and staff as to what you make of it.

 

We will do short trips again but having had the best and worst, will take it very much as it comes.

[snorklinbarb]

I've recently been on the QE for 5 nights and I've also done three 4-nighters and I've never noticed lower standards of food or service nor have any of them been "raucous".

 

We even had the chef's parade and were presented with menus last month which I hadn't expected on a 5 night cruise.

 

I've only been on one short voyage on QM2 and certainly don't recall it being raucous in any way. Booked for the 5 nighter out of NYC on July 1st.

 

Is there any way you could post the menus here? I've got my 92 yr old father & 85 yr old lady friend along which means some advance thought about menus. It would be just wonderful to get an idea.

 

I've done an extensive online search trying to find the 7 nt menus from any ship as I figured it would be 5 of our nights. Came up empty handed.

 

Thanks!

[north east girl]

Just come back for the same trip as Lynnewob and had our meals in Brittania restaurant and the service could not have been better. The waiters were very attentive and the wine waiter very helful with our wine choices.

 

The QM2 was full and that made it quite hard to get a seat in the Chart room on a evening sometimes. Never saw any body drunk or loud. The Commodore Club always had seating available at any time in the evening.

 

Overall we had a brilliant time the only problem was it was too short a trip. We have done a few short trips and always enjoyed them.

 

Catherine

[cruzadict]

Thanks very much for all your replies. Going to book it and make the most of it. We have done 10+ cruises on QM2 but never shorter than the 6 night transatlantic so this will be an experience for us.

[BlueRiband]

thinking of booking this short cruise as a quick fix in October but reading some of the reviews on the short cruises, I am having second thoughts. Are they really as raucous as they appear. After all it is only one night shorter than the former transatlantics.

 

I'll find out shortly. I'm booked on a QM2 5 nighter in a couple of weeks and it will be my 4th and shortest voyage on the Mary. If Cunard is indeed skimping on food and service quality it would be a marketing blunder since these "taster" cruises are supposed to appeal to first timers.

[Host Hattie]

I've also just returned from the Jubilee 5 nighter. Nice to meet you both !

 

I was a little apprehensive as I'd read the reviews of the short cruises but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

As northeastgirl says the ship was full so the bars (& even G32) were pretty busy but that just added to the atmosphere.

There were a few multi-generation families aboard but we never saw anything untoward. I would have no hesitation in doing another short cruise, especially a 4 or 5 nighter.

[Ray66]

I've only been on one short voyage on QM2 and certainly don't recall it being raucous in any way. Booked for the 5 nighter out of NYC on July 1st.

 

Is there any way you could post the menus here? I've got my 92 yr old father & 85 yr old lady friend along which means some advance thought about menus. It would be just wonderful to get an idea.

 

I've done an extensive online search trying to find the 7 nt menus from any ship as I figured it would be 5 of our nights. Came up empty handed.

 

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure how to upload menus to here and I'm not sure how long the menus last for. I've got 10 menus from our 14 day cruise last year and they are all different.

 

There are sample menus for each ship on Cunard's website:

 

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Ships/Queen-Elizabeth/Dining/

 

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Ships/Queen-Victoria/Dining/

 

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Ships/Queen-Mary-2/Dining/