Live from the 2015 QE World Voyage

[Aunty Ree]

Hi All,

I am so looking forward to joining the cruise in Dubai and although I have read some of the thread of this cruise, there is so much wonderful contribution I have not been through it all and I wonder if anyone is making arrangements for a 'quick' trip to Gallipoli during our Istanbul stopover?

Marie

[maggiemou]

Hi Carolian

 

Aqaba is still showing as a port of call on my VP too and I have a tour booked for the day.

 

I wonder where maggiemou got this from?

 

I suppose we'll have to wait and see.....

 

andhow

 

Hello andhow,

I asked Janix, John if he knew if you were still going Petra as I had heard in an email from someone they thought it may be off due to unrest. I can not confirm this so I was trying to find out if it was true. My husband is busy making a DVD at the moment to sent to John and Andrea in case they don't make it:( We would hate for anyone on board QE to have to miss this stunning location.

[maggiemou]

Sometimes I feel for the the gentlemen dance hosts..... night after night, dance after dance, sore feet or no sore feet, tired or not, these old guys must put forth, dance crisply, and communicate politely and intelligently for weeks on end.

They must get paid allot. Not! Unsure if they can even enjoy meals in the MDR. Besides the Queens Ballroom, they must attend other functions. Suspect they often catch the 'Cunard Cough' and transmit it freely, and probably don't feel too well at times. They may not be spry old boys, but continually do their best, which is probably pretty good. One can argue that they are 100% dance slaves. At least they get free laundry so they hopefully don't have B.O.; report otherwise.

Suspect, too, that a few of the single ladies are expecting a Cunard Fred Astaire good looker gentlemen dancer to sweep them off their feet maybe in more ways than one.

Oh, well. Guess one could jettison the tired two-left-footed gentlemen dance host and simply resort to asking a fellow passenger to dance. Now that would be exciting, yes? Or, maybe ask the Captain for a QR quickstep.

Keep on dancing, and have fun!

 

I agree the dance host do not all have an easy time and have to dance for their supper.

I met a dance host whom we got friendly with on QV. He was Canadian. He told my husband & I he danced on the ships as it took him away from the hard winters of Canada.

He did not get paid. He got his food and a shared cabin with another older gentleman. He had to pay an agent a daily fee of something like $50. He said it worked out cheaper than his winter heating bills. :)

They have many extra duties to perform all for no pay. They have to dance all evening and they are not allowed to dance with the same lady more than once in one hour. They have to escort the ladies back to their seats. They can not ask a lady to dance if she is with a partner/husband. She has to be on her own.

On a world cruise you get many ladies who come on alone to dance and some of them are there every year.

I think the hosts do a very hard job as some of these ladies who come on year after year, and can be very demanding indeed. They expect to be dancing with one or the other hosts all night long.

I think if an host is not up to scratch Cunard do remove them. We had a host taken off the ship on the QE world cruise in 2014 and another host whom I know from QM2 world cruises stepped in at very short notice to replace the one that had to leave. The replacement host told me he had 24 hour notice to get prepared and join the ship. It can be a tough life I guess.

[fantasy51]

I am one of those single ladies who cruises in order to dance. I have met some fantastic hosts but have also come across others who did not impress me. Two years ago I would have said they were overworked. After my last cruise in December, I felt that had been redressed and perhaps they were underworked. They were only in the ballroom for 2 hours each night on that cruise, and only danced when the band played. They did not start 'work' until 9.45 each evening and did not have many other duties.

 

I can accept that their dancing is of varying quality and that they are not Fred Astaire. What I find difficult to accept is that they don't follow the guidelines. More and more I see the hosts playing favourites. On my last cruise I sat with the two most attractive ladies in the ballroom. On the night they were absent I had 12 dances; on the nights they were there I might only get 7 dances while my friends would hardly get back to their seats before another host would ask them to dance. One host (the best dancer) was hard-working and fair but the others were not.

 

I have heard stories from a friend of one host who didn't ever come to the ballroom and other hosts who really only danced with a clique of 5 or 6 ladies. On one cruise one of her tablemates, a statistician, sat upstairs for fun and charted the dances and told her of one lady who had received five times as many dances as she had during the night. Favouritism is rampant!

 

Most single ladies do not complain about this treatment. I know I wouldn't because I think complaining might make things worse because the atmosphere could become a bit charged. However, there have been times I have returned to my room almost in tears (generally towards the end of a cruise when I'm getting over-weary and emotional LOL) because it is not nice to sit there being ignored while those around you are dancing continually. My sense of fair play is up in arms! On other occasions when I have been one of the 'lucky ones' who gets her fair share of dances, I have been known to introduce the host to one of my seat mates who has not yet had a dance. It has annoyed me when the host has said to her 'I will be back later to dance with you' but has never come.

 

I don't expect to dance every dance. My health is not up to it. In fact, on one cruise on QV where there were fewer ladies and I was dancing a lot (and generally being asked to dance every fast quickstep!), I had to leave the ballroom at 10.30 on a few occasions, and even had to have a couple of nights off because I was exhausted. What I do expect, though, is to see fair play. I think it happens on about half my cruises, but other passengers have experienced it less often than that.

 

Rant over. :D

Edited March 28, 2015 by fantasy51

[Janix]

Hello andhow,

I asked Janix, John if he knew if you were still going Petra as I had heard in an email from someone they thought it may be off due to unrest. I can not confirm this so I was trying to find out if it was true. My husband is busy making a DVD at the moment to sent to John and Andrea in case they don't make it:( We would hate for anyone on board QE to have to miss this stunning location.

 

Hi Maggie et al,

 

Nothing has been heard about Aqaba, and I doubt whether any decision will be taken this far out. There has been news about unrest in the peninsular, and on sky the other day it mentioned that the Egyptian navy was bolstering forces for the Suez canal.

 

AFAIK there have been no changes up to present, so hopefully we will get to Aqaba this year after missing out last year, but one never knows !

 

John

[Janix]

I'm sorry to hear about this. One of my favorite things about Cunard is the dress code. How difficult is it to change out of blue jeans or shorts in the evening???:confused:

 

Kathi, you took the words out of my mouth !

 

Hope you are still enjoying the memories.

 

John

[maggiemou]

Kathi, you took the words out of my mouth !

 

Hope you are still enjoying the memories.

 

John

 

I agree also as I am an avid dresser upper :) as you know so I can not for the life in me see why anyone would not want dress up? However, it is bad that Cunard are not enforcing the dress code as it will go down hill unless someone takes control of the situation.

[pepperrn]

I've heard from friends on board that they are disappointed with some aspects of the world cruise.

 

In particular the decline in standards, with complaints made by them to the head waiter and maitre d' about a number of things. They have said that the purser's desk and the tour office leave much to be desired. Indeed one of them talked to the hotel manager about "the lack of consideration to world cruise passengers", for example over the arrangements for the diversion to Kobe. But also about the discourtesy of the new Captain in not having a reception line at her first cocktail party for full-world cruise passengers, despite its being mentioned on the invitations.

They have told me that the full-world cruise passengers are the only major group she has declined to meet formally. She shakes hands with those at the welcome parties for new embarkees and for gold platinum and diamond members. All her response has been is to say she's "not obliged" to have a reception line for full-world cruise passengers as they met the previous captain...

 

I wondered if anyone currently onboard, either full-world cruisers or those doing segments, had their own observations or further comments to make?

Edited March 30, 2015 by pepperrn

[Pennbank]

So I was not the only one to find declining standards on QE !

[Janix]

Saturday 28th March – Nha Trang

 

After clocks were set back again last night we arrived in Nha Trang 0800 hrs, with assembly in the Royal Court Theatre for 0830 and then awaited our tender ashore. There seemed to be many people doing this trip, and there were delays getting people ashore again. We eventually hit solid ground nearer 0930 than the planned 0900 time. On most occasions whilst on excursions we have been late and not made the suggested tour commencement time, making the tours a lot more rushed, but rarely are they extended in time in order to leave as scheduled.

 

Our first visit to Vietnam, a tender port and it decides to rain. However I can verify it was warm rain, and the wearing of a ‘plastic mac’ made little difference, it was wet outside and it was wet inside. We were given an official card to carry with us at all times, instead of carrying our passports which are retained by the Pursers office on board. At the end of our visit to Vietnam a collection box was provided in order that these cards could be collected and returned to the authorities. There were warning that lost cards could be charged for, but we have not heard of anyone losing them.

 

We took the Nha Trang highlights option, which was a half day tour of around 4 hours, and our first stop was the Nha Trang Stone Church built in French Gothic style in grey stone at the top of a small hill which offered views over the surrounding area. Once we were allowed off the coach we were confronted by street vendors trying to sell shirts, caps, postcards and other such items. Our tour guide had informed us all about this, and we were told to stay together as a group to ward off the vendors – safety in numbers perhaps. Unfortunately, like a shoal of fish with predators on the outside, any strays were soon picked off by the vendors, and if one got you others soon arrived. It does make life interesting though, and as we progress through south east asia the training will continue.

 

The church was a typical Christian church and there were several brides and grooms having their photos taken in the grounds outside, according to our guide prior to their actual wedding services elsewhere, in this communist country. The clothes were definitely western style, but perhaps glammed up a bit, and we were not sure whether they were hired just for the occasion or were kept afterwards, but they seemed to be high quality silks etc. There was a story about the gravestones used to line the walls of the ascent to the church, but I did not catch the full story – something to do with the graveyard land being required for another purpose ?

 

Following this we visited the Long Son Pagoda, which is the oldest pagoda in Nha Trang, with two decorative dragon balustrades marking the entrance, and several white Buddha’s in various positions with one very large one up many steps at the top of the hill. The rain was now easing and fortunately had stopped by the time we arrived at our next stop.

 

We then crossed the Xam Bong Bridge, another landmark to view the Po Nagar Cham Tower, a complex of towers built in the 8th century, and another sacred site, particularly for those wishing to bear children. There were several towers built out of red brick/stone each containing a small shrine and to enter legs and arms had to be covered and shoes removed. Worshippers were placing food for the God’s on the altars and waving and placing incense sticks in the requisite receptacles. There were a few small souvenir shops adjacent selling both religious and tourist souvenirs. We then walked across the bridge, viewing QE at anchor in the distance before visiting the local Dam market place. Here we had time to visit the many stalls selling all sorts of paraphernalia, tourist items, clothes and the fish market.

 

Following this we visited a silk embroidery workshop where young ladies were sewing the most intricate designs which when finished were virtually photorealistic. Although seemingly good value for money, the majority were a little large to transport and I am not convinced that such close work under bright lights would not cause harm to their eyesight. However they were beautifully made.

 

Our final stop was made at the Oceanographic Institute initially set up by the French, which is one of the largest in Asia, and we were able to quickly walk around viewing various fish, turtles sharks etc. There were also many specimens in a large room collected over the years and preserved for future research purposes. The institute was adjacent to the port so it was easy to return to the ship after a quick rummage amongst the stalls in the port area. We did not wait long for a return shuttle and returned to the ship by 3pm for a late lunch and a rest from heat and humidity.

 

After a rest it was soon time to prepare for dinner and Variety Showtime in the Royal Court Theatre with the Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers in a tribute to ABBA and Richard Gauntlett with a variety of Vaudeville entertainment rarely seen in this price range !

 

And so to bed. Zzzzzzz

 

John

[Janix]

So I was not the only one to find declining standards on QE !

 

I don't think so, several people have commented on this, and the laissez faire attitude in various parts of the ship.

 

John

[Janix]

I've heard from friends on board that they are disappointed with some aspects of the world cruise.

 

In particular the decline in standards, with complaints made by them to the head waiter and maitre d' about a number of things. They have said that the purser's desk and the tour office leave much to be desired. Indeed one of them talked to the hotel manager about "the lack of consideration to world cruise passengers", for example over the arrangements for the diversion to Kobe. But also about the discourtesy of the new Captain in not having a reception line at her first cocktail party for full-world cruise passengers, despite its being mentioned on the invitations.

They have told me that the full-world cruise passengers are the only major group she has declined to meet formally. She shakes hands with those at the welcome parties for new embarkees and for gold platinum and diamond members. All her response has been is to say she's "not obliged" to have a reception line for full-world cruise passengers as they met the previous captain...

 

I wondered if anyone currently onboard, either full-world cruisers or those doing segments, had their own observations or further comments to make?

 

This does seem to be the case, unfortunately.

[when irish eyes]

Hi All

 

We are joining in Singapore just about to leave today. For a bit of info. we tried to book the Petra excursion but it was full. However its now available again so we have booked it.

[Janix]

Sunday 29th March – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

 

It appears that many Saigon residents prefer to call the city Saigon so as that is how I came to know it I will continue in a similar vein. 8 million people live here and you can tell ! It was very hot and humid today with temps approaching 32C and mostly fine blue skies. What a change from the last couple of weeks.

 

After passing Sapphire Princess ? moored a little further downstream, we arrived in Phu My port at 9am and joined our coach for a long trip of 9 hours to visit the ‘Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City’. Again we left a little later than scheduled at around 10am to leave the port and join the melee of motorcycles on the road to the city that signifies life in this part of the world. It really is quite daunting negotiating the weaving ranks of motorised transport here. Definitely not a place for self drive.

 

A long day with many places to visit on a tight schedule, but the trip was worthwhile and this area of Vietnam seems definitely on the up. On our trip into the former capital of South Vietnam we passed all manner of constructions from glossy house and high-rise to poverty stricken ‘sheds’ and everything in between. Massive temple complexes beside the road to small shrines, small cafes with hammocks so bikers could rest, and shops selling everything from food to tiles and building materials. Soon we hit the new toll road from which motorcycles were excluded and we sedately drove the much quitter road into the city.

 

On entering the city we took a new tunnel, where traffic is segregated by the number of wheels each possess i.e. 2 or 4 wheel traffic each had its own lane/lanes and crossed under the Mekong to the other side of the city. We passed by the wholesale market and Chinatown in the 5th district before heading for the first district at the centre, all the time going with the flow of the masses of motorcycles. It seems as though it is every man for himself on the roads, and although crash helmets are mandatory (along with only 2 people on a bike or scooter) I’m surprised there are not more accidents. They do not look left or right, just gun it straight to where they want to go !

 

Our next stop was the Chinese Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to the sea Goddess and protector of sailors before heading for lunch at the Grand Hotel. And what a grand lunch we had, accompanied by local singers and dancers in costume.

 

The National History Museum was next on the list and here we saw the unique water puppets and had a quick tour of the museum itself, We then drove to the ex-presidential palace Which is now called the Reunification Hall where on 30th April 1975 a tank from the north crashed through the gates marking the end of the Vietnam War.

 

Following a visit to a Lacquer Factory we were shown the Notre Dame Cathedral, City Hall, the Rex Hotel, Opera house all older French style buildings and the central area where a new subway station is being built with help from the Japanese. This is due to open in 2017 and should ease traffic somewhat. Our guide said it will go 30km nearly to Phu My port, so that should make DIY trips easier in a few years time.

 

We took the same road back to the port, passing the many paddy fields which also support many ducks, another Vietnamese delicacy, and arrived back at the port at 1815, ready for our departure at 1700 hours.

 

We found Vietnam a fascinating country and definitely good value. Maybe we will visit again in the future. In fact all the recent ports have been interesting in one way or another and maybe require more investigation ?

 

Today 30th march is a restful seaday and we are currently cruising in a NW direction up the Gulf of Thailand towards our next port of Laem Chabang for Bangkok tomorrow.

 

John

[Janix]

This does seem to be the case, unfortunately.

 

However I understand that a lot of time and effort was required in order to cope with the bad weather experienced from Sydney and considerable resources were required in order to rearrange everything for our port call to Kobe. I have been told the Captain spent considerable time on the bridge at this time, and maybe the safety of the ship comes before a drinks party, which may have accounted for her very brief attendance ?

 

John

[Janix]

Internet intermittent today.

 

John

[pepperrn]

... I understand that a lot of time and effort was required in order to cope with the bad weather experienced from Sydney and considerable resources were required in order to rearrange everything for our port call to Kobe. I have been told the Captain spent considerable time on the bridge at this time, and maybe the safety of the ship comes before a drinks party, which may have accounted for her very brief attendance ?

Hi Janix,

 

I'm sure we all quite understand about safety coming first at all times of course. There is no higher priority. And rearranging the visit to Japan could not have been easy.

 

However, I think my friends are surprised that in the three-and-a-half weeks since leaving Sydney she hasn't made one appearance (that they've seen) at a formal gathering of the full-round-the-world-cruisers, even when the weather and sea conditions have been good or excellent.

 

Maybe she's not heard of the old adage about a ship having three sides, port, starboard and social?

 

Best wishes to all on board QE :)

Edited March 30, 2015 by pepperrn

[maggiemou]

Hi Janix,

 

I'm sure we all quite understand about safety coming first at all times of course. There is no higher priority. And rearranging the visit to Japan could not have been easy.

 

However, I think my friends are surprised that in the three-and-a-half weeks since leaving Sydney she hasn't made one appearance (that they've seen) at a formal gathering of the full-round-the-world-cruisers, even when the weather and sea conditions have been good or excellent.

 

Maybe she's not heard of the old adage about a ship having three sides, port, starboard and social?

 

Best wishes to all on board QE :)

 

I think it is a shame if the Captain is deliberately avoiding world cruise parties. All other Captains on previous world cruises I have taken, always attend and do the line up hand shake, even if they have met you before. It is what makes it all feel special. :) I know sometimes we go into the parties via the opposite end and just meet the deputy Captain, but for some people it is all important to them. I did a world voyage on P&O in 2013 and the Lady Captain never showed her face for the most of the cruise till until we were 10 days from Southampton. Captain invisible was her name.:) These Captains seem to forget that along with the safety of the ship they are there to keep the passengers who pay their wages happy. :D The Commodore still has time for passengers and so should any other Captain.

Last year on the world cruise there was an issue that was raised and investigated as to why world cruisers were on longer invited to as many cocktail parties. Cunard had cut many of them out.

I wrote to ask why this was so? Answer was to save money of course, but as I pointed out by removing world cruisers from such parties they were not saving anything, You only get half a glass of cheap sparkly wine , two if you are lucky. By stopping a few hundred people from attending they loose more in respect as people find it a mean gesture.

I was on the first two segments of this years world cruise and I have to admit there were a few problems with wait staff in the dining room . Many of the staff were new and did not seem to have the "white star service " attitude.

I have been following this thread and I have said constantly to my husband how glad I am we did our world cruises before the standards drop to low. Reading on here about the lack of dress code standards, show what a difference a year can make. Two years ago on QM2 one of the head bar staff would go around the bars and request anyone in non formal wear to leave.

Now it seems no one does this from what I have read on here and from emails from people still on board.

I feel this world cruise has had quite a few set backs one way or another, and it is a shame when the weather changes plans. I do hope people are still enjoying their time onboard and I am sure they will have a good time in the forth coming ports of call.

[Host Hattie]

Hi Janix,

 

I'm sure we all quite understand about safety coming first at all times of course. There is no higher priority. And rearranging the visit to Japan could not have been easy.

 

However, I think my friends are surprised that in the three-and-a-half weeks since leaving Sydney she hasn't made one appearance (that they've seen) at a formal gathering of the full-round-the-world-cruisers, even when the weather and sea conditions have been good or excellent.

 

Maybe she's not heard of the old adage about a ship having three sides, port, starboard and social?

 

Best wishes to all on board QE :)

 

How many full World Cruise only parties have there been in that time ? Has she missed one/two/three/more ... ?

Edited March 30, 2015 by hattie the cattie

[pepperrn]

How many full World Cruise only parties have there been in that time ? Has she missed one/two/three/more ... ?

Hi hattie the cattie,

 

I've no idea to be honest, I've not been told. However they made the point, as I reported earlier, that...

... She did "not hav(e) a reception line at her first cocktail party for full-world cruise passengers, despite its being mentioned on the invitations".

.... Plus "Her response has been is to say she's "not obliged" to have a reception line for full-world cruise passengers as they met the previous captain..."

Which seems an odd attitude to my friends (and, it must be said, to me also). Half the trip had one captain, the other half has a different one. Is it asking too much to think one might be introduced to both, when one is on board for almost four months?

 

I'll await further details (that I've requested) about the other issues before posting again.

 

Best wishes to you :)

[maggiemou]

We had Captain Christopher Wells onboard last year for part of the world cruise and then Captain Alistair Clark for the remainder. Both attended the world cruise parties and did the line up for hand shakes/photos etc.

[alibabacruisers]

Hi John and Andrea,

 

Thanks for continuing to post your blog and we are missing you already. It sounds like you had hectic days, both in Nha Trang and Saigon with a lot to see. We look forward to read your next adventure.

 

Ali says he wishes he was there to enjoy a beer with you! We still have not gotten back into the usual sleep routine and work (yes that four letter word) has been totally FULL ON!!!

 

I hope the M&G after HK went well. Was there a good turn out? I miss everyone! Tell all hello from us!

[Janix]

Hi Janix,

 

However, I think my friends are surprised that in the three-and-a-half weeks since leaving Sydney she hasn't made one appearance (that they've seen) at a formal gathering of the full-round-the-world-cruisers, even when the weather and sea conditions have been good or excellent.

 

Maybe she's not heard of the old adage about a ship having three sides, port, starboard and social?

 

Best wishes to all on board QE :)

 

Hi pepperrn,

 

There is only one Cocktail party per sector for full RTW cruisers, and she did attend the last party but not for long, but did say a few words ?

 

John

[Janix]

Hi Barbara,

 

Good to here everything ok, bar the 4 letter words :-), as you know Karen hosted the last M&G but it was not well attended. A lot of people simply forgot about it I'm afraid, but they missed out on a treat as Stan repeated the monologue he did for the passenger talent show !

 

Apologise to Ali for me, tell him I will have his beer !!!

 

John

Edited March 31, 2015 by Janix

[Janix]

31st March – Laem Chabang for Bangkok

 

Had fantastically warm, sunny, but humid weather for yesterday’s sea day for our passage in calm seas up the Gulf of Thailand. Lectures included a port presentation about Port Kelang by Gavin, our port presenter followed by Cunard Insights Lectures by Ian Roberts entitled ‘Bangkok and Sihanoukville, Tom Mangold entitled ‘Thee Tunnels of Cu Chi’ and by Captain Howard Deck entitled ‘The European Navigators – September 1765 to today (and beyond)’.

 

Another formal night last evening and the entertainment was provided as a variety show by the Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers with their James Bond themed set, followed by the Three Tenors with their ‘Magical evening of Broadway, Pop and Opera’ which once again was well received.

 

We docked early this morning at around 6am, and many people were required to assemble at 6am onwards for tours to the City of Bangkok. There were a total of 12 different tours available today with all the Bangkok tours slated to leave between 6 and 7 am. Non Nuch village was 0715 and several other such as the Sanctuary of Truth and sea turtles between 8 and 9am with the last tour to the Elephant Village leaving a 0845.

 

A shuttle bus service was also provided to take people to Pattaya and this ran between the hours of 9am and 3 pm with roughly 45 minutes each way. This was our option and we left the ship at around 10am, but there were no shuttle buses. It was nearly 11am before we actually left the port and headed into a very hot and humid Pattaya, arriving at the Bay View Hotel, the drop off point just before 12 noon.

 

We spent the couple of hours we had looking around a couple of shopping centres and the Big W centre where Thai jewels, and other Thai specific artefacts and memorabilia were available to purchase, before returning to the Shuttle bus at 1445 for our return to the ship. On arrival at the port we discovered there was quite an adequate shopping area in the terminal building, so the odd purchase was made there.

 

As I type this at 7pm we have just been informed by the Captain, that everyone is back on board the ship, well past the all aboard time of 1630. We would have loved the extra time in Pattaya which for us was far too short, but the ice cream obtained on board in the Lido on our return was very welcome !

 

So at 1925 we are just letting go our lines and leaving Laem Chabang for our overnight passage to Cambodia and the port of Sihanoukville, which is another tender port.

 

John