2 Weeks on the QV; Cunard has become rather like Mrs May

[Classiccruiser777]

We are platinum on Cunard but tried Oceania a couple of years ago. Since then we have cruised Oceania exclusively, though we do have a QV cruise around the UK booked for next year.

[Germancruiser]

I may get the hook - line and sinker- but I did absolutly no like the old QE2. She may have been someting in her hey day- I sailed her shortly before se retired to Dubai. Old and tacky in some areas. As before mentioned it gave no feeling of luxury- AT ALL! Totaly confusing layout- no stairway got one through all decks. Anoying concept! " Charme of the old"- I had a hard time finding it! I don´t know why they keep her that long in Dubai- she is ready for the breakers in Alang!

[roscoe39]

I may get the hook - line and sinker- but I did absolutly no like the old QE2. She may have been someting in her hey day- I sailed her shortly before se retired to Dubai. Old and tacky in some areas. As before mentioned it gave no feeling of luxury- AT ALL! Totaly confusing layout- no stairway got one through all decks. Anoying concept! " Charme of the old"- I had a hard time finding it! I don´t know why they keep her that long in Dubai- she is ready for the breakers in Alang!

 

 

lol...i woudnt go that far.... thems is fighting words around here, she certainly was a ship of her times. When she was launched in the 1960s....she was positively space age... her time was defiantly up, but Im glad I got to experience her several times.

[NSWP]

I agree regarding food and In the Britannia Resturant. We were on a QM2 on the world cruise. There is restricted choice and poor quality food. The drinks were also excessively priced. We stopped ordering wine for dinner. The Veranda restaurant was also poor and overpriced.

 

Totally agree, QM2 overrated. We were on in March, Sydney - Hong Kong. Wine prices over the top, limited food choices, small meals. Tried Cunard once, not for us.:evilsmile:Loved the ship, but not all the things on it were quite as good. QM2 was a bucket list job, glad I experienced it.

 

Cruise price was not too bad around AU$170 per diem pp twin share for Sheltered Balcony cabin in 'Steerage Class.'

[milamber]

Where have you found a crossing for $100 a day? More like £150 and you would need to book a 6 star cruise to have to spend $500 a day!

 

 

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Our last two return crossings, in August 2015 and November 2016 were well under $100 a day. The first one was 20 nights, including 5 nights in New York whilst the ship went up to Boston and elsewhere. £1099 each including the hotel and transfers which is around $71 a day at current rates. The more recent one was a simple 15 night return crossing which was £729 each or around $63 a day.

 

 

We also did a 60 night world cruise segment on the QM2 in 2016, plus 5 nights in Sydney at the end. Total price for the trip, including the hotel and flights back, though not transfers, was £4449 each, around $89 a night.

 

I've seen recent one way crossings at £599 including outbound or return flights which is not far off $100 a night, depending on the crossing length.

 

$500 a day certainly possible if you booked the Grills, but usually less.

[balf]

Our last two return crossings, in August 2015 and November 2016 were well under $100 a day. The first one was 20 nights, including 5 nights in New York whilst the ship went up to Boston and elsewhere. £1099 each including the hotel and transfers which is around $71 a day at current rates. The more recent one was a simple 15 night return crossing which was £729 each or around $63 a day.

 

 

We also did a 60 night world cruise segment on the QM2 in 2016, plus 5 nights in Sydney at the end. Total price for the trip, including the hotel and flights back, though not transfers, was £4449 each, around $89 a night.

 

I've seen recent one way crossings at £599 including outbound or return flights which is not far off $100 a night, depending on the crossing length.

 

$500 a day certainly possible if you booked the Grills, but usually less.

 

Where's the profit though. Cunard cannot possibly even break even at $89 pp. OK someone down the line is going to pay much more to compensate but is it any wonder that standards are in decline.

 

David.

[ToadOfToadHall]

Where's the profit though. Cunard cannot possibly even break even at $89 pp. OK someone down the line is going to pay much more to compensate but is it any wonder that standards are in decline.

 

David.

 

That might be the case, but that's the business model they have chosen.

 

Of course, lots of companies use the same model now; i.e. as low a possible price for the initial product and then charge a huge amount for the add-ons/extras in the hope of making a profit that way. The trouble is with that approach is that people then get used to the initial low price and resent the high cost of the extras.

 

So in Cunard's (and others) case, the cruise price is cheap but then you get hammered for a drink or an excursion. And that more than annoys people - but that's the model Cunard have adopted; they did it.

[Tillylovesseabourn]

Where's the profit though. Cunard cannot possibly even break even at $89 pp. OK someone down the line is going to pay much more to compensate but is it any wonder that standards are in decline.

 

David.

 

Yes David, this is my point. The price of cruising hasn't really gone up in a decade. So at some point it has to, or as you say standards will decrease. I personally would sooner pay a bit more to keep up standards and cruise a little less. This is why i dont really understand all of the people complaining about price increases here and there. My shopping bills at home have gone up significantly in that period, so why wouldn't my cruise. I think Cunard putting the drinks prices up on the sly is very bad, and it should have been managed far better, but prices are on the increase like it or not. People can't have everything, they ether pay for it or see decreases in quality,simple.

[Dorset Cruiser]

Err, no. One can easily spend $500 a day in QG.

 

But you were referring to other lines 🤔. As I say you would probably need to sail 6star (which Cunard is not) to spend that kind of money.

 

 

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[Dorset Cruiser]

Our last two return crossings, in August 2015 and November 2016 were well under $100 a day. The first one was 20 nights, including 5 nights in New York whilst the ship went up to Boston and elsewhere. £1099 each including the hotel and transfers which is around $71 a day at current rates. The more recent one was a simple 15 night return crossing which was £729 each or around $63 a day.

 

 

We also did a 60 night world cruise segment on the QM2 in 2016, plus 5 nights in Sydney at the end. Total price for the trip, including the hotel and flights back, though not transfers, was £4449 each, around $89 a night.

 

I've seen recent one way crossings at £599 including outbound or return flights which is not far off $100 a night, depending on the crossing length.

 

$500 a day certainly possible if you booked the Grills, but usually less.

 

WC sector is not a crossing, so I duscount your $89 a day and not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford Grills, but we all pay the same for drinks on board 😏

 

 

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[Tillylovesseabourn]

But you were referring to other lines 🤔. As I say you would probably need to sail 6star (which Cunard is not) to spend that kind of money.

 

 

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No, I was referring to Queen Victoria,this summer, which without drinks is going to cost us over $500 ppn per day.

[Victoria2]

But you were referring to other lines ��. As I say you would probably need to sail 6star (which Cunard is not) to spend that kind of money.

 

 

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We reckon Q3 on Victoria or Elizabeth seems to average out at around £500 pppd . Q2 and 1 can go over £1000 pppd, double occupancy rates. It all depends on time of year, the area of the world and number of ports visited.

 

You do the conversion £ Sterling-US$. It's a bit more than $500 pppd.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Victoria2

[Jim Avery]

When you discuss "business model" of the Carnival brands you have to look no farther than the US airlines. Low rates, more rears in less space, and charge for every little thing. There are those bucking this trend but for airlines they are not US based and for cruise lines they are not part of the Carnival Corp.

[Queenie1603]

I am looking forward to experiencing Torstein Hagen business model when I sail on the Viking Sun in October. It's her maiden voyage so I am sure there will be some snags but it will be interesting to compare. We are paying about the same as we usually pay in PG though the stateroom is smaller. What I am looking forward to is alcoholic drinks included with lunch and dinner plus free water, a stocked mini bar and you can bring your own drink and drink it where you want. No photos, no casino and an included excursion in every port. We are booked on the QV for New Year - there are no perks, no OBC, no free parking I am not even sure if there will be anything offered to Platinum guests. But we did have a fab time the last time we did this cruise on the QV in Brittania Rest. That's why we are back.

[Jim Avery]

Queenie, I hope you have the very best time on Viking Sun. We board her in LA January 5th. Train them well for us please.:cool:

[Classiccruiser777]

A major expense for cruise lines is the cost of oil which has declined greatly. More than likely, adjusted for inflation, the fuel expenses will continue to decline given the advances in fracking and the substantial carbon fuels in the US.

 

From my perspective another Cunard cutback is in the number of port calls. I suspect there is more expense, and less revenue, docking for a day than staying at sea.

[Germancruiser]

Roscoe- yeah right she was a " space age ship" - alone the Lounge where passengers first got a glimpse of QE2- did you sail her while it was in the orginial livery? I just saw the Lobby nicely redone- more to her " Golden Liner Age" Heritage!

[Glenndale]

We've booked a balcony cabin on Oceania Riviera November 18, 26 nights for roughly $275 pppn

Gratuities included (due to status) plus $1800 OBC

Flights and transfers included.

Speciality restaurants included, speciality coffees, sodas, non alcoholic cocktails included.

Open dining, food excellent.

A smaller, newer ship, 1100 passengers.

We're unlikely to return to Cunard PG or QG based on our experiences. The value isn't there for us.

Too many cuts and snips :(

[Classiccruiser777]

We've booked a balcony cabin on Oceania Riviera November 18, 26 nights for roughly $275 pppn

Gratuities included (due to status) plus $1800 OBC

Flights and transfers included.

Speciality restaurants included, speciality coffees, sodas, non alcoholic cocktails included.

Open dining, food excellent.

A smaller, newer ship, 1100 passengers.

We're unlikely to return to Cunard PG or QG based on our experiences. The value isn't there for us.

Too many cuts and snips :(

Inside cabins get the same benefits at a much lower daily rate. Plus the cabin's fridge is stocked with what you want, again complimentary.

[bill_posters_is_innocent]

In February 2017 We Booked a 7 night east bound TA for the July 6th 2018 crossing QM 725.

The cost including flights was £1700 pp for a QZ grade cabin Number 5047 with an obc of £70 pp.

As I only had to pay 5% deposit I intended to cancel and rebook if the price dropped before

final payment was due.

However, on checking the price a few days ago the same cabin would now cost £2250pp with no obc

and the cheapest inside cabin is now £1680 pp.

The cheapest inside works out at £240 PP per day which is rather steep for a 7 night TA.

Edited July 20, 2017 by bill_posters_is_innocent
forgot to include year

[ATLJC]

I suppose it depends how much the cruise price has been increased by to cover the "free" drinks !

 

For voyage Q820

In a P2 with the drinks package (Rate/Promo Code RD1 & w/ World Club Discount)

Base fare: $7,362

In a P2 without the drinks package (w/ World Club Discount)

Base fare: $5,176

 

Cost of Drink Package: $2186 or $182 p/p/d

 

Seems Cunard is now playing the same asinine game as Holland America has been for some time - building in the cost of "free" into a highly inflated fare.

[RCNslr]

We have taken 4 Cunard cruises and liked them all in QG or PG, QM2 is a great ship even if the officers are a bit toffy nosed sometimes. We now travel on Oceania almost exclusively since the food is usually very good and the relaxed atmosphere more conducive to our ways. Having said this, I still believe the best transatlantic trips are on QM2 and we may return since the airlines seem to running their businesses like they are a bus line.

Can't think of enough compliments for the waiters and service on Cunard that we have received, food is something we all have opinions about, but it is hard to deny that the cruise experience on Cunard is excellent.

[abefroman329]

"toffy-nosed"?

[Dorset Cruiser]

We reckon Q3 on Victoria or Elizabeth seems to average out at around £500 pppd . Q2 and 1 can go over £1000 pppd, double occupancy rates. It all depends on time of year, the area of the world and number of ports visited.

 

You do the conversion £ Sterling-US$. It's a bit more than $500 pppd.

 

Vast majority of people who sail Cunard DO NOT sail in Grills accommodation, so I also discount the $500 pppd 😉

 

 

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[Salacia]

"toffy-nosed"?

 

If you're looking for the definition, see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/toffee-nosed.html