Live from Qe

[LadyL1]

Yes, we had a very adventurous few days. Left S 'ton and were soon experiencing hurricane force winds, and had been warned of this from Cap'n Wells. Left terminal late because of problems boarding passengers because of the high winds at QE11 terminal.

The NV virus was apparent and there was a deep clean before we boarded but seems to be being handled very well. Still on red Alert.

I fear that there have been some passengers who have suffered greatly because of the combined forces against the QE. Yesterday the list was very noticeable as we crossed the Bay, with the high winds blasting us. Wonderful viewing from the Commodore club!

The good news was that Santa made it to give the children their presents, and we enjoyed yesterday enormously. Food has been wonderful, but one has to feel sorry for the restaurant staff in these conditions.

Today we are basking in sunshine before passing through the S of gib later this evening.

[capnpugwash]

Yes, we had a very adventurous few days. Left S 'ton and were soon experiencing hurricane force winds, and had been warned of this from Cap'n Wells. Left terminal late because of problems boarding passengers because of the high winds at QE11 terminal.

The NV virus was apparent and there was a deep clean before we boarded but seems to be being handled very well. Still on red Alert.

I fear that there have been some passengers who have suffered greatly because of the combined forces against the QE. Yesterday the list was very noticeable as we crossed the Bay, with the high winds blasting us. Wonderful viewing from the Commodore club!

The good news was that Santa made it to give the children their presents, and we enjoyed yesterday enormously. Food has been wonderful, but one has to feel sorry for the restaurant staff in these conditions.

Today we are basking in sunshine before passing through the S of gib later this evening.

 

It sounds like a great trip, shame about the Noro. enjoy the view!!:)

[zider]

I was on the cruise before & the Noro only appeared on the 22nd after we had left Oslo on the 20 thour last port of call & it was mainly effecting members of the crew & i believe that they made a pre-emptive move against the infection so that your cruise would not be adversely effected

Edited December 26, 2013 by zider

[Keith1010]

Glad the weather is now nice and hopefully everything else will go well.

 

Keith

[LadyL1]

Arrived in Cartagena a few hours late yesterday because of our enforced slow progress early in the voyage. At least the sun has shone for the last 2 days!

We are still feeling the effects of having NV on board, remaining at red alert.

Sadly The Verandah restaurant will not be open until 1st January, because of the restrictions. Other venues also closed.

Nothing exciting to report at the minute; perhaps that might come tonight when the first cocktail party is held! On the other hand if we go to the Commodore Club, away from the hoards, it might be a better option. One can just imagine the conversation every officer will have to endure.

[Whitemarsh]

I wonder why they'd close the Verandah restaurant? It's not a buffet.

[safarigal]

I wonder why they'd close the Verandah restaurant? It's not a buffet.

 

I agree, that is kind of weird.

 

I must say we have chosen the Commodore Club over the cocktail parties in the past, I hope you had a good evening. Even under conditions that aren't ideal, all in all I would rather be on QE than in the frozen north!

[Scrapnana]

I wonder why they'd close the Verandah restaurant? It's not a buffet.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder what other venues are closed.

 

Let's hope things clear up soon!

[Whitemarsh]

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder what other venues are closed.

 

Let's hope things clear up soon!

 

Yes, everything needs to be ship shape by the 10th January and doubly so by the 18th January.

[Sail the seas]

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder what other venues are closed.

 

Let's hope things clear up soon!

 

I think they do it to provide extra staff in other areas because of the additional workload of being on red alert

[cunardaddict]

I wonder why they'd close the Verandah restaurant? It's not a buffet.

 

Do to the extra efforts cause by NV they can't staff the verandah.

[Calliope]

Perhaps staff is not available to man the Verandah due to their sickness, or its skilled wait staff is needed in the main dining rooms to fill vacancies.

[LadyL1]

We departed from Barcelona slightly late due to the no show of two passengers. We were informed the ship sailed without them!

On the NV issue there is no change. However, the Captain keeps us well informed and pulls no punches in the daily address as to hygiene etc. Yet I have still seen the odd person trying to evade the multitude crew around the ship with sanitisers. It really beggars belief.

The evening optional dining areas in the lido have been suspended. Also the bars and grills on the open decks are closed as are some sections of the library. The puzzle table remains bare. Even the sales tables on deck 3 remain empty, but for me that is no great disappointment.

All said, we are enjoying this family Christmas break, and hopefully we will have another warm day in Monaco.

The moaners and groaners on this cruise, should really appreciate how the hard the crew are working to give us as much enjoyment through the existing limitations we are experiencing.

Expecting gale force winds again tonight, but I am sure nothing to compare with 2 days after leaving Southampton. That was really something to remember!

[v6jme]

We were onboard on the 13th -23rd December and dined at Prime and Jasmine in the evening so were not affected by the norovirus however one of the female singers was ill as well as a few other staff.

 

We did try to book for christmas and new year but were put on a wait list and told the ship was full.

 

Did 7 Cunard voyages last year, ready to do more next year : )

[Whitemarsh]

The moaners and groaners on this cruise, should really appreciate how the hard the crew are working to give us as much enjoyment through the existing limitations we are experiencing.

 

Don't hold your breath. Some of them are already probably putting the finishing touches to a "worst cruise ever" or "never again" review.

[Scrapnana]

The moaners and groaners on this cruise, should really appreciate how the hard the crew are working to give us as much enjoyment through the existing limitations we are experiencing.

 

This is an excellent point. As much as these precautions might inconvenience us, they make a great deal more work for a crew that already works long, long hours!

[LadyL1]

Good news! It seems "red alert" is now over and the Lido is now self service again. The pool bars are open and it feels so much more relaxed. All the stringent measures taken against NV have at last proved to have produced the required result.

A fabulous day here in Monaco, and as luck would have it, we have docked in the port, port side to. We are on starboard side and from our balcony have the most wonderful views of the mega yachts and The Principality.

So at last we are back to normal cruising, I hope for the remaining duration of this trip. Perhaps Cunard will see fit to give us another Christmas present. How about the suggestion of a credit on a future voyage? After all, we paid a premium price to be on this trip, when the last few cruises were virtually given away. One can always hope! I know it is almost certainly not Cunards's fault that we boarded a ship with NV, but on the other hand the limitations are not what we paid for. I have not said this to whine, as we have really made the best of what we have, and still enjoying this family holiday trip, which seems all the better as the sun shines upon us.

Rome tomorrow.

[Lottie A]

Good news! It seems "red alert" is now over and the Lido is now self service again. The pool bars are open and it feels so much more relaxed. All the stringent measures taken against NV have at last proved to have produced the required result.

A fabulous day here in Monaco, and as luck would have it, we have docked in the port, port side to. We are on starboard side and from our balcony have the most wonderful views of the mega yachts and The Principality.

So at last we are back to normal cruising, I hope for the remaining duration of this trip. Perhaps Cunard will see fit to give us another Christmas present. How about the suggestion of a credit on a future voyage? After all, we paid a premium price to be on this trip, when the last few cruises were virtually given away. One can always hope! I know it is almost certainly not Cunards's fault that we boarded a ship with NV, but on the other hand the limitations are not what we paid for. I have not said this to whine, as we have really made the best of what we have, and still enjoying this family holiday trip, which seems all the better as the sun shines upon us.

Rome tomorrow.

 

Good news that the red alert for Noro is now over. I hope The Verandah is opening again too....we are on QE in a week and I have pre booked it.

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise LadyL1.

[safarigal]

Good news! It seems "red alert" is now over and the Lido is now self service again. The pool bars are open and it feels so much more relaxed. All the stringent measures taken against NV have at last proved to have produced the required result.

A fabulous day here in Monaco, and as luck would have it, we have docked in the port, port side to. We are on starboard side and from our balcony have the most wonderful views of the mega yachts and The Principality.

So at last we are back to normal cruising, I hope for the remaining duration of this trip. Perhaps Cunard will see fit to give us another Christmas present. How about the suggestion of a credit on a future voyage? After all, we paid a premium price to be on this trip, when the last few cruises were virtually given away. One can always hope! I know it is almost certainly not Cunards's fault that we boarded a ship with NV, but on the other hand the limitations are not what we paid for. I have not said this to whine, as we have really made the best of what we have, and still enjoying this family holiday trip, which seems all the better as the sun shines upon us.

Rome tomorrow.

 

Good news that things are back to normal again - both for the passengers and crew, as well as all those who were sick :(.

 

It sounds like the weather is playing fair now, have a wonderful day in Rome!

[Pennbank]

Yes, everything needs to be ship shape by the 10th January and doubly so by the 18th January.

 

Agree !

[LadyL1]

Happy New Year to all!

 

Yesterday was a beautiful day for our visit Corsica. Returned for the celebrations to find the ship decorated and ready for last night's party mode! Very good menu and the midnight buffet was truly spectacular. You would be hard pressed to find fault with anything.

A little information for those who might be interested. The dress code is alive and very well on this cruise. It is hard to find a gentlemen without a black tie when so required, and the informal nights most where a tie. Having said that because of the average age of those on board, one would assume that they are of the generation when correct dress was an absolute must! There are also some stunning gowns/dresses worn by the ladies.

The speakers on board are first rate. Stephen Payne, David Henderson (aviation) thoroughly entertaining, as many on this subject are just too droll. Lastly, Richard Terry ( think David Attenborough) film producer and cameraman. Many of you may have seen his programmes of "Living with the Bears". He is due to lecture again and I am sure his success will spread around the ship. This is the first time that he has undertaken an Insights programme, and sure it will not be the last.

There are about 80 under the age of 18, and the largest group of these must 14-18. Regrettably a few are rather foul mouthed. A shame because this tarnishes them all.

Heading now for Gibraltar tomorrow, and to see what the Atlantic has in store for our passage home.

Thankfully NV now seems like history, but understand that the crew were severely afflicted by this. Perhaps this is why there was such a cut back in the alternative restaurants.

[zider]

As I have already posted I was on the cruise before this one & the Alert on Noro was not announced until lunch time on the 22nd after 2 days a sea after departing Oslo we arrived back in Southampton on the 23rd all fine that is until the 25th when both my wife & I where confined to the house with Influenza & we had been nowhere since retuning home we are now on the mend so Maybe the infection was not Noro after all !!!

[Pennbank]

Depends on how do you define Noro, my definition is spewing from both ends!

 

Happy New Year to everyone.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Pennbank

[severncruiser]

We were on the seventh floor, and it was quite evident on the morning of disembarkation that there was a problem! Stewards wearing protective clothing and all laundry being placed in sealed bags! Only pleased, that as far as I could observe ,everything was being done for the passengers arriving a few hours later!

[LadyL1]

We are now docked in a wet windy La Corunna after another gale force night travelling north off the coast of Portugal. Yesterday the Captain had given us prior warning that this stop might not be possible, but we made it into the port with the assistance of 2 tugs. There were many who really did not relish an extra day in the Bay of Biscay.

We have really seen weather extremes on this voyage: some beautiful days in the Med and everything the elements can throw at us in the Atlantic.

The talented string quartet is now a trio, as one of the performers broke her arm. Not sure if this was weather related or an accident, but very unpleasant for a musician. I do hope that this does not impact her career.

For those of you travelling on the next few voyages you will be relieved to know that we remain clear of NV. It just beggars belief that some of the older folk on this ship have a severe aversion to using the sanitisers unless forced to!

This has been a 3 generation family Christmas holiday, and we have all enjoyed it regardless of the weather and the initial problems. It really is what you make it, but for us it has been an added pleasure to be with the grandchildren, even if we have note seen a lot of them because of their busy "socialising" emanating from The (children's) Zone.

So it seems we will arrive back to a stormy and flooded UK, as it has been since we departed on 23rd December into hurricane force winds. Never mind, all good things must come to an end, but unusually we do not have any further voyages planned. It does appear very likely that we will be on an eastbound TA sooner rather than later: hopefully during the 10th anniversary, as I think that will be very special.