Queens Grill Dining Decorum Query

[straightupwithatwist]

Some recent posts on another thread leads me to seek advice from the assembled experts. We're newcomers to Cunard. (Well, I did cross on QM1 as a very young lad, but that was another time and another world...;))

 

We will be in Queens Grill on a December crossing. When initially booking we opted for a table for six, as part of our pleasure in traveling is meeting others from varied backgrounds and experience.

 

However, I'm sure that we won't choose to dine in Queens Grill all seven nights. Will probably skip Todd English, but will definitely want to experience at least one dinner in Britannia (if only for the visual grandeur), and do enjoy at least one laid back night of Room Service (especially if we've earlier indulged in High Tea that day!)

 

Question is, will we be inconveniencing our table mates if we're sporadically absent? I realize that Queens Grill is "single seating," so passengers will arrive at sporadic times. But four of our last five sailings were on Silversea, where you arrive when you want, with whomever you want, and request a suitable table, or join some others already seated. I'm confused by the concept of single seating at a permanently assigned table.

 

Would we be better off changing our seating request to a table for two to allow greater freedom without the fear of inconveniencing others or being "party poopers?"

 

Looking forward to any thoughts and advice.

[Victoria2]

Speaking personally, I'd say on a table of six, missing a couple of nights on a long cruise isn't an issue. On a crossing it would annoy me if my requested table of six became four on a couple of evenings.

We have many Cunard cruises under our belts, all in QG and have yet to dine in any other venue other than QG. We invited our fellow diners for dinner one evening when had a dining table big enough to seat us all and we dined 'as a table'.

 

The seating is open and on the first evening, we somehow seem to decide on a time which suits and more or less arrive for dinner together. Judging by other larger tables, this seems to be a practise which is followed by quite a few in the restaurant.

 

Others will probably disagree with me, but this is my experience.

 

NB

Venue meaning other restaurants. Our in room dining came from the Grills.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Victoria2

[bunkrest]

The idea of joining a table were others maybe well into their meal does seem a bit odd but I'm guessing it must work otherwise they'd be a set dinning time,your other table companions will no doubt be aware as well so I can't see it being a problem.

I don't think you will be able to dine in the Britannia restaurant for dinner as this is set dinning times with allocated tables however breakfast and lunch is free seating which I'm sure you will be able to experience.

I'm booked in a grills suite later on in the year (November) travelled with Cunard before but never in Queens grill and be honest the amount I've paid you'll have to drag me out of that restuarant..😀

 

 

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[pmb1]

... Question is, will we be inconveniencing our table mates if we're sporadically absent? ...

The short answer is "No, not at all."

 

My wife and I have been requesting a table for six in the Grills for years now. And for the same reason you gave, "... as part of our pleasure in traveling is meeting others from varied backgrounds and experience." Without exception we have enjoyed the company of our table mates, and what a diverse collection of sextets we have been a part of. Very rarely has everyone at the table arrived for dinner at roughly the same time, but invariably the more congenial the group, the more likely we were to leave at the same time.

 

Just tell your table mates that although you usually prefer to dine at (whatever) o'clock, you intend to try different dining options so they are not to worry or to wait on nights when you don't appear.

 

One of the advantages of a permanently assigned table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is that it comes with a permanently assigned wait staff. You get to know them and, more importantly, they get to know you and your preferences.

 

Keep your table for six. Bon appétit and bon voyage.

[david,Mississauga]

...

 

I'm confused by the concept of single seating at a permanently assigned table.

 

....

 

This was the tradition in first class when just about every liner offered that level of service. It is a bit different in that the dining time on Cunard is more flexible than it was in most ships with first class, namely 6:30 to 9:00. On many ships it was a set time, with only a little leeway.

 

In my experience in QG, it has been rare for anyone to miss dinner, although there were sometimes empty seats at our table for six at breakfast and lunch. Occasionally a couple has gone to the extra-fare restaurant at dinner and they always told us in advance that they would be absent.

 

As has been said about dining in Britannia, you would have to make arrangements with the maître d' to do this at dinner. I have seen that happen once. But at breakfast and lunch it is open seating, so you can go there any time you want.

[Victoria2]

The idea of joining a table were others maybe well into their meal does seem a bit odd but I'm guessing it must work otherwise they'd be a set dinning time,your other table companions will no doubt be aware as well so I can't see it being a problem.

I don't think you will be able to dine in the Britannia restaurant for dinner as this is set dinning times with allocated tables however breakfast and lunch is free seating which I'm sure you will be able to experience.

I'm booked in a grills suite later on in the year (November) travelled with Cunard before but never in Queens grill and be honest the amount I've paid you'll have to drag me out of that restuarant..

 

 

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We have never felt the urge or need to dine in any other then QG. If it's on-board, you can have it so anything which takes your fancy in other venues, request it from the Head Waiter. The restaurants on Victoria and Elizabeth can't be beaten for elegance and ambiance.

Arranging an approximate time to dine [and it's always worked for us] means you are more or less eating at the same time. We've even managed that on tables for eight and ten.

Very congenial. :)

[axelskater]

If you're dining in QG - don't spend a night in other venues...just tell them exactly what you would like and it's yours, with a bit of notice. The maître d' should come by at lunch each day and ask if you want anything special for dinner. I had wild mushroom risotto a few times, and lots of flambé desserts. Chateaubriand. Duck L'orange. We take the stairs a lot.....

With the possible exception of Todd English because it's a tradition for us, skip the other venues. I like the Britannia and we usually eat there just once, for breakfast. I don't know that you can have dinner there as tables are assigned.

 

We always request a table for two because for us every night on the ship is a dinner date so I can't tell you about arrival times.

[Captiveguru]

Just spent 12 days on QM2. Our first QG experience. We opted for a table for 2. We had many conversations with the other couples at nearby tables. The conversations were probably not as intimate as they would have been had we been at a 6 or 8 top, but the choice was right for us. We could enter into conversations when we wanted to and could refrain if desired.

[Salacia]

The short answer is "No, not at all."

 

My wife and I have been requesting a table for six in the Grills for years now. And for the same reason you gave, "... as part of our pleasure in traveling is meeting others from varied backgrounds and experience." Without exception we have enjoyed the company of our table mates, and what a diverse collection of sextets we have been a part of. Very rarely has everyone at the table arrived for dinner at roughly the same time, but invariably the more congenial the group, the more likely we were to leave at the same time.

 

Just tell your table mates that although you usually prefer to dine at (whatever) o'clock, you intend to try different dining options so they are not to worry or to wait on nights when you don't appear.

 

One of the advantages of a permanently assigned table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is that it comes with a permanently assigned wait staff. You get to know them and, more importantly, they get to know you and your preferences.

 

Keep your table for six. Bon appétit and bon voyage.

 

Pmb1, that makes sense to me. I have yet to experience the Grills, but I think the same protocol you mentioned applies in Britannia Club Restaurant. The unwritten rules for dining at a large table in the MDR is different because there are only two seatings, as opposed to the open dining times available in the Grills and Britannia Club. -S.

[bunkrest]

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread but can any of you regular Queens Grillers tell me how many tables for two there are in the restuarant...many thanks..

 

 

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[pmb1]

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread but can any of you regular Queens Grillers tell me how many tables two there are in the restuarant...many thanks..

There are too many tables for two in the Queens Grill: the side wall is almost solid tables for two with one chair facing the room and the other facing the window or wall and not much space between tables. It's roomier in Princess Grill where couples sit facing fore and aft at tables for two along the windows.

[axelskater]

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread but can any of you regular Queens Grillers tell me how many tables for two there are in the restuarant...many thanks..

 

 

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There are also a few tables for two where you can sit side-by-side facing the large picture windows. They are in the "front" of the restaurant, that is, you walk in, make a sharp U-turn to the left, and there are a couple of small round tables where you can sit side-by-side. One is right near the waiter's station so apparently no one wants it....except us, who like to sit side-by-side tucked into a corner.

[bunkrest]

Thanks for that..

 

 

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[balf]

. On a crossing it would annoy me if my requested table of six became four on a couple of evenings.

 

I don't see that as a problem as long as the missing diners rang the MD to let him know. But sadly courtesies like this are becoming rare.

 

David.

[Mysticalmother]

 

However, I'm sure that we won't choose to dine in Queens Grill all seven nights. Will probably skip Todd English, but will definitely want to experience at least one dinner in Britannia (if only for the visual grandeur), and do enjoy at least one laid back night of Room Service (especially if we've earlier indulged in High Tea that day!)

 

 

Despite what some others have said, it is perfectly possible to arrange to dine in the Brittania restaurant for one night if you so choose. If you do, speak to the Maitre 'D of both the QG and Brittania - and I am sure that you can be seated at a table of 6 or 8 without any problem. We were in Brittania on QM2 for a crossing and were joined by a couple from the Princess Grill on one occasion and had a lovely time with them. The Brittania restaurant is rather nice on QM2, and although the food is admittedly better in the Grills, it might be quite nice to have something ever so slightly lighter for once!

 

We also dined in Brittania on QE on one occasion last year as oposed to PG as we chose to dine with old friends one evening. We were treated extremely well!

 

Have a wonderful time.

[Keith1010]

There is no problem with you dining elsewhere.

 

My recommendation in terms of the Queens Grill is to have all of your meals there.

 

It is an outstanding dining experience and I would not dine elsewhere.

 

Keith

[Victoria2]

I don't see that as a problem as long as the missing diners rang the MD to let him know. But sadly courtesies like this are becoming rare.

 

David.

 

Letting the M'd know has nothing to do with my take on the subject because he won't be affected as he won't be seated at my table. :)

 

I would suggest to Straightup if he/she intends to dine elsewhere on a couple of nights, he/she asks for a larger table of eight or even ten, thus making sure those left to dine are at least six, as opposed to four because six is a more sociable number than four.

 

Apart from occasions when the turbulence of the sea has beaten the need to dine in the restaurant and when we've dined in-room with others, we have yet to meet a fellow table mate when on a shortish [under three weeks] cruise who has dined in another restaurant venue, for dinner, in preference to Queens Grill.

 

Make shortish under two weeks as three weeks isn't shortish. Still haven't met a non QG dinner time, fellow diner though in that time scale.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Victoria2
shortish

[brigittetom]

I don't see that as a problem as long as the missing diners rang the MD to let him know. But sadly courtesies like this are becoming rare.

 

David.

 

If we go missing for any reason, my husband always, without exception, stops by the table at 8:30 to let our table mates know.

 

We now always ask for a table for 8.... so when someone goes missing, there are still 6 for conversation.

[Ballater]

We have dined often in QG, and almost always at a table for 2. As others have said, we have found that the surrounding tables join in on the conversations, and make for a wonderful and convivial discussion. I second the praise for the QG. It's hard to imagine dining anywhere else--it is simply superb!

[straightupwithatwist]

Many thanks to all who replied to my initial question.

 

Just changed our seating request to a table for two.

 

I'm confident that the various lounges, lectures, performances, dances and other shipboard activities will afford ample opportunities for convivial socializing.

 

I must admit that a mandatory time and place for every dinner (and lunch? breakfast?), even if mutually self-imposed by six or eight strangers, seems to belie the very concept of a 6:30 to 9:00 open window for dining and the daily freedom it was designed to allow. But yes, having the same wait staff for every meal is certainly beneficial.

 

To be clear, we have no intention of traipsing off to "alternative restaurants" in Kings Court in search of better cuisine than can be found in Queens Grill, but do want to experience at least one dinner if possible in Britannia as it's one of the more heralded architectural design achievements of the ship and I doubt it's full effect would be apparent during breakfast. I suspect that with the aid of the relevant maitre d's two chairs relinquished by guests who've chosen to dine of an evening in one of the alternatives should be possible to find.

 

Again, thanks to all for allowing us to make a more comfortable and informed decision.

 

Dan

[Lady49Monet]

Many thanks to all who replied to my initial question.

 

Just changed our seating request to a table for two.

 

I'm confident that the various lounges, lectures, performances, dances and other shipboard activities will afford ample opportunities for convivial socializing.

 

I must admit that a mandatory time and place for every dinner (and lunch? breakfast?), even if mutually self-imposed by six or eight strangers, seems to belie the very concept of a 6:30 to 9:00 open window for dining and the daily freedom it was designed to allow. But yes, having the same wait staff for every meal is certainly beneficial.

 

To be clear, we have no intention of traipsing off to "alternative restaurants" in Kings Court in search of better cuisine than can be found in Queens Grill, but do want to experience at least one dinner if possible in Britannia as it's one of the more heralded architectural design achievements of the ship and I doubt it's full effect would be apparent during breakfast. I suspect that with the aid of the relevant maitre d's two chairs relinquished by guests who've chosen to dine of an evening in one of the alternatives should be possible to find.

 

Again, thanks to all for allowing us to make a more comfortable and informed decision.

 

Dan

 

 

Don't worry straightup. If you wish to dine in the Britannia a table will be found. QM2 MD is fantastic and it was my experience that there will be lovely people to chat too. We always request a table for two for dinner but like to socialise breakfast and lunch.

 

 

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[keithm]

Some recent posts on another thread leads me to seek advice from the assembled experts. We're newcomers to Cunard. (Well, I did cross on QM1 as a very young lad, but that was another time and another world...;))

 

We will be in Queens Grill on a December crossing. When initially booking we opted for a table for six, as part of our pleasure in traveling is meeting others from varied backgrounds and experience.

 

However, I'm sure that we won't choose to dine in Queens Grill all seven nights. Will probably skip Todd English, but will definitely want to experience at least one dinner in Britannia (if only for the visual grandeur), and do enjoy at least one laid back night of Room Service (especially if we've earlier indulged in High Tea that day!)

 

Question is, will we be inconveniencing our table mates if we're sporadically absent? I realize that Queens Grill is "single seating," so passengers will arrive at sporadic times. But four of our last five sailings were on Silversea, where you arrive when you want, with whomever you want, and request a suitable table, or join some others already seated. I'm confused by the concept of single seating at a permanently assigned table.

 

Would we be better off changing our seating request to a table for two to allow greater freedom without the fear of inconveniencing others or being "party poopers?"

 

Looking forward to any thoughts and advice.

As to a dinner in Brittania(WHY??)I've done both & the Grills ARE the way to go! If the ship is not fully booked you might be able to get in,but I'd see the Maitre D to see if they can get you in. If you wish to skip dinner a few times in the QG, I'd let my fellow pax(and your waiters know ahead)that way noone will be sitting and waiting. I've seen sometimes in both Britannia & the grills pax waiting for late tablemates. If you're late in Britannia(provide they let you in late)You'll find your time to much more rushed as the staff has less time to get ready for second seating.

[flag fan]

I was considering a Princess Grill cabin for my next cruise, which has the same dinner seating arrangements as Queens Grill and this thread has raised a question for me. Is it expected that everyone at a table will eat at the same time so that? If I decide on an early dinner and am joined by tablemates while I am eating dessert am I expected to sit there while everyone else goes through all their courses. Do diners agree to a set time and then everyone show up at that time every day? This seems to defeat the whole point of the flexibility of no set dining time.

[balf]

If I decide on an early dinner and am joined by tablemates while I am eating dessert am I expected to sit there while everyone else goes through all their courses.

 

If you don't want to, just have a word with your waiters when you are first seated and tell them to serve you right through

 

David.

[pmb1]

I was considering a Princess Grill cabin for my next cruise, which has the same dinner seating arrangements as Queens Grill and this thread has raised a question for me. Is it expected that everyone at a table will eat at the same time so that? If I decide on an early dinner and am joined by tablemates while I am eating dessert am I expected to sit there while everyone else goes through all their courses[?]. Do diners agree to a set time and then everyone show up at that time every day? This seems to defeat the whole point of the flexibility of no set dining time.

The answers to your questions are "No", "No", and "No". See post #4 above.