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Queens Grill vs. Yacht Club (MSC)


Bowette1981!
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There are not usually many at all. But in the school summer holidays, I have known of the existence of, though barely been aware of, a fair number. 

 

I can remember one westbound TA crossing, a few years ago, when there were over 300 children on board.

 

The captain even arranged a children's "cocktail" party with sodas and sticky buns.

 

All were fairly well behaved.

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54 minutes ago, BigMac1953 said:

There are not usually many at all. But in the school summer holidays, I have known of the existence of, though barely been aware of, a fair number. 

 

I can remember one westbound TA crossing, a few years ago, when there were over 300 children on board.

 

The captain even arranged a children's "cocktail" party with sodas and sticky buns.

 

All were fairly well behaved.

Oh My God!

 

I need a lie down...

 

😀

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It turned out that there was a whole host of US and Canadian (NATO) military families returning home and just using QM2 as a mode of transport.

 

In all honesty, you rarely saw the youngsters.

 

Stewart

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4 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Bags are taken off you as you arrive at the cruise terminal and the next time you'll see them is when they are put in your cabin. All you then have with you is carry on stuff as you proceed to check in.

Exlondoner has put it succinctly and although the red carpet isn't rolled out [or expected in our case] for Grills passengers, embarkation is usually a doddle.

 

3 hours ago, Bowette1981! said:

Thank you so much, and I'm sure it is!

 

I'm just overly stressing about this as we've been so well looked after by MSC.

 

Our reasons for a change are just that, we love the service but there's a big world out there that's serviced by a lot of ships.

 

I really appreciate your feedback, and will be happy with the carpet at the terminal whatever the colour.

 

G

 

I would add that all Cunard's guests, no matter which accommodation one is destined to use, is 'dropped' at the same point.

 

Separation to the various 'Staterooms' only takes place once onboard via the designated loading point, indicated on one's luggage label.

 

Interestingly I did note that on MSC Preziosa it was the MSC staff who handled the luggage in the terminal and on the jetty.

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23 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

Last October it was Veuve Cliquot, along with the dreaded drain cleaner that we don't touch (PA).

 

Q4's and above get an escort on QM2, but only Q1's and Q2's on the QV and QE.

 

We've done Q3's, 4's, 5's, and 6's on QE and QV, and Q4's, and 5's on QM2.

 

We've often been in our room before 1215 hrs.

 

You should aim to check in no later than 1145 hrs, after which you will be sent to the QG pen. When you're told to board, just watch, as others always mingle in to jump the queue.

 

The boarding order is: QG, PG, Diamond, Platinum and then by alphabetical cards that are allocated on arrival to the Britannia pax.

 

The Grills restaurants open at 1300 hrs, so be there prompt to ensure your allocated table is to your liking.

 

I certainly can agree with that piece of advice though as the occupant of a 'Master' Suite I'd suspect you'll get exactly the table you requested. 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

 

 

I would add that all Cunard's guests, no matter which accommodation one is destined to use, is 'dropped' at the same point.

 

Separation to the various 'Staterooms' only takes place once onboard via the designated loading point, indicated on one's luggage label.

 

Interestingly I did note that on MSC Preziosa it was the MSC staff who handled the luggage in the terminal and on the jetty.

Thanks RIchard.

 

Indeed, it seems MSC have the edge when it comes to embarkation.

 

However, we're still very much looking forward to getting on board and finding our way around!

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1 minute ago, Solent Richard said:

 

I certainly can agree with that piece of advice though as the occupant of a 'Master' Suite I'd suspect you'll get exactly the table you requested. 

 

 

Excellent advice, thank you.

 

Do you know from what time the check in desks at the terminal usually open in Southampton?

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I still reckon that from when we started to get more aware of COVID-19  back in March and to Cruise lines suspending cruising, to now in May 2020 is a Completely different scenario. 

Who would have expected the UK  Government to be paying the wages of over 6million workers  in May 2020 ? 

With the present 6ft social distance recommended and many people scared to travel on Public Transport when restrictions get lifted until a possible vaccine is available, I think many things will be changing , From Possible Suitcase delivery,  arriving in the terminal building, to getting on board  and once on board to what they used to be , before Cruise ships start sailing again .

What those measures will be are  known only  to the bosses and staff who will get trained for the eventual start of cruising. What "used to be" will be in memory and a new style will know doubt be put in place with major changes and tweaks . 

Will Queens Grill on Cunard or MSC Yacht Club ever be the same again ?

It will be very interesting to hear the changes from those travellers venturing into the unknown world of Cruising with COVID-19 around us. When the ships start taking passengers again.

Edited by Pennbank
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14 hours ago, Bowette1981! said:

Excellent advice, thank you.

 

Do you know from what time the check in desks at the terminal usually open in Southampton?

 

I usually aim to arrive at the terminal around 1115 to 1130.

 

As Big Mac has stated, you will be shown to the 'Grills' pen if checkin hasn't commenced and usually straight to Checkin if it has started. 

 

While I'm sure, as an occupant of a Q2 Master Suite, you'll not be overly worried at costs, but do be aware that unlike MSC Yacht Club, a choice of bottled mineral water and selection of wines with lunch, come at a cost.... with a 15% gratuity charge tagged on.

 

I see your voyage calls at Hamburg, where no doubt many German guests will embark for the World Cruise. You may find this review I wrote of a Queen Victoria's day in Hamburg of interest...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/07/08/hamburg-in-a-day/

 

2071815628_QueenVictoriaatAltonaCruiseTerminal.thumb.jpg.8dbed3b212abe2d993c6715ee8effb25.jpg

 

 

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Can I say on my first Cunard cruise in QG I made the mistake of turning up at the time they told me too, 12.30 and was at the back of a 100yard plus queue , even though in Queens Grill. 

 

From then on arrived before  noon and sailed through. 

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The problem I find with these mass market lines having a luxury, first class section, is its really not a luxury experience or good value for the money. I have sailed the Yacht club on MSC, The Haven on NCL and the QG and on crystal, Silversea and Hapag Lloyd. I have found better deals on the luxury ships while the whole ship is uncrowded with plenty of in door and outdoor sitting, high quality food in all the outlets, high attention to service throughout the whole ship and truly all inclusive with no one asking for your room key [except on HL]. The worst cruise I was ever on was the MSC YC because when you left the very small YC area the rest was just out of control!!!

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On ‎5‎/‎3‎/‎2020 at 5:38 AM, Bowette1981! said:

Hello fellow cruisers!

 

After many loyal, and hugely enjoyable, cruises with MSC and their Yacht Club product... the time has come to (quite literally) jump ship!

We love their product and our desire to try new things is born out of curiosity more than anything.

After many hours online we finally decided on a mini (4 night) cruise, next January, aboard the Queen Victoria in a Q2 (Master Suite).

The comparisons will be interesting, I am sure, but my main query is regards embarkation.

With MSC you are met outside upon arrival, taken straight to a dedicated Yacht Club desk and taken aboard within ten minutes at most.

Does anyone here know how the Cunard Grills embarkation compares, and if so would you be kind enough to reply with any experiences you have had?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this, more so to reply and a thousand apolologies if this is peppered somewhere throughout the forums already.

 

Gareth

The was certainly not our experience with the Yacht Club.  After arriving at the terminal in Civitavecchia at the appointed hour, it took us nearly ten minutes to locate an employee to acknowledge our presence and see to our bags.  We were then seated in the general boarding area.  I believe there was juice and rest rooms by way of amenities.  (This was in 2012.)  We were not allowed to embark until general boarding had begun about an hour later.  There was some issue with the local authorities.  Once aboard, things were vastly improved, although we found the YC dining room to be so soulless that we arranged to eat in one of the regular dining rooms one evening and had a lovely time.

 

Anyway, welcome to Cunard.  I hope you will be as delighted with them as we are.

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Thanks Richard!

 

Really useful and I do enjoy your reviews and the way they're easily laid out.

 

Understand and already versed in the drinks charges on Cunard (although unaware until after we'd booked that packages were unavailable of cruises of 7 nights or less).

 

So many of our friends remind us we're cruising with Carnival and Cunard is now the name more the product.


We are under no disillusion on that basis, but have grown tired of the mega ships and their boom boom loud style of entertainment, and think this is what we'll enjoy the most from travelling on a Cunard liner.

 

G

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1 hour ago, Windsurfboy said:

Can I say on my first Cunard cruise in QG I made the mistake of turning up at the time they told me too, 12.30 and was at the back of a 100yard plus queue , even though in Queens Grill. 

 

From then on arrived before  noon and sailed through. 

Thank you very much for the tip!

 

My husband is always way ahead of schedule by nature, so I'm sure we'll arrive well before the time stated on our documents.

 

G

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46 minutes ago, hypercafe said:

The problem I find with these mass market lines having a luxury, first class section, is its really not a luxury experience or good value for the money. I have sailed the Yacht club on MSC, The Haven on NCL and the QG and on crystal, Silversea and Hapag Lloyd. I have found better deals on the luxury ships while the whole ship is uncrowded with plenty of in door and outdoor sitting, high quality food in all the outlets, high attention to service throughout the whole ship and truly all inclusive with no one asking for your room key [except on HL]. The worst cruise I was ever on was the MSC YC because when you left the very small YC area the rest was just out of control!!!

I understand entirely.


I adore YC, and as we know them we get treated above and beyond what is the standard service, but outside of the area the ships are a nightmare. So much so we wouldn't even consider one of their ships without YC even if it was to our dream itinerary.

 

Interestingly our river cruise in November (fingers crossed) is with Crystal and, if we like the product, a future booking one of their ships may not be out of the question.

 

We have tried the Haven twice and, as much as they try, it still feels all too Americana and a little too frenetic for us.

 

Christ, we're getting old...

 

G

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42 minutes ago, hypercafe said:

The problem I find with these mass market lines having a luxury, first class section, is its really not a luxury experience or good value for the money. I have sailed the Yacht club on MSC, The Haven on NCL and the QG and on crystal, Silversea and Hapag Lloyd. I have found better deals on the luxury ships while the whole ship is uncrowded with plenty of in door and outdoor sitting, high quality food in all the outlets, high attention to service throughout the whole ship and truly all inclusive with no one asking for your room key [except on HL]. The worst cruise I was ever on was the MSC YC because when you left the very small YC area the rest was just out of control!!!

 

hypercafe - totally accurate assessment. No chance our household or our friends would ever set foot on MSC or NCL.

 

We purchase an entire ship experience - after all we are a ship - we wish to see the ocean from many perspectives and to be outside in the wind.   The entire ship product has to meet our quality standards. We are not interested in being on a ship with dense crowds, noise, children, guests in wife beater shirts, constant shrilling for sales etc.

 

It is our perspective that the ship within a ship product appeals to people who want a hotel experience, but not so much, requiring a true ship adventure. 

 

To each their own.

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11 minutes ago, 57eric said:

The was certainly not our experience with the Yacht Club.  After arriving at the terminal in Civitavecchia at the appointed hour, it took us nearly ten minutes to locate an employee to acknowledge our presence and see to our bags.  We were then seated in the general boarding area.  I believe there was juice and rest rooms by way of amenities.  (This was in 2012.)  We were not allowed to embark until general boarding had begun about an hour later.  There was some issue with the local authorities.  Once aboard, things were vastly improved, although we found the YC dining room to be so soulless that we arranged to eat in one of the regular dining rooms one evening and had a lovely time.

 

Anyway, welcome to Cunard.  I hope you will be as delighted with them as we are.

Oh no, it's awful when expectations are not met and I'm sorry you had such a terrible time in 2012.

 

In fairness, as I mentioned above, our experiences are above and beyond YC having formed personal friendships with some of those on board.

 

As an aside, boarding with MSC has gradually improved over the years.

 

For restaurants with a little more soul, their newer (but much larger) Seaside and Seaview ships are much improved.

 

Alas, the volume of passengers is not so welcome!

 

G

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2 hours ago, Bowette1981! said:

I understand entirely.


I adore YC, and as we know them we get treated above and beyond what is the standard service, but outside of the area the ships are a nightmare. So much so we wouldn't even consider one of their ships without YC even if it was to our dream itinerary.

 

Interestingly our river cruise in November (fingers crossed) is with Crystal and, if we like the product, a future booking one of their ships may not be out of the question.

 

We have tried the Haven twice and, as much as they try, it still feels all too Americana and a little too frenetic for us.

 

Christ, we're getting old...

 

G

 

One thing I would say about Cunard ships, and this applies whatever level of cabin one has booked. I have always found them to be serene and spacious. Obviously, if several hundred people leave a popular lecture at the same time, you are in a crowd. But, other than that sort of thing, the ship never feels crowded, there always seems lots of space, and there is a soothing calmness pervading the ship. Incidentally, I have used the buffet twice or three times in twenty-odd voyages, so it may well not apply there, however.

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If the OP enjoys Norwegian they may not enjoy Cunard.   When we were in a Q4, we had a bellman escort us to our suite.   We waited a short while until one came for us in a distinct Q4 and above waiting area.   This happened both in NYC and Southampton.

We don’t rush to the pier as that would guarantee a crowd.  Hope the OP is aware that there is a dress code on Cunard.   Believe Norwegian allows passengers to dine in all sort of dress/undress.   We have never encountered rude, elbowing passengers though on a very short cruise the clientele will be different.

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7 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

If the OP enjoys Norwegian they may not enjoy Cunard.   When we were in a Q4, we had a bellman escort us to our suite.   We waited a short while until one came for us in a distinct Q4 and above waiting area.   This happened both in NYC and Southampton.

We don’t rush to the pier as that would guarantee a crowd.  Hope the OP is aware that there is a dress code on Cunard.   Believe Norwegian allows passengers to dine in all sort of dress/undress.   We have never encountered rude, elbowing passengers though on a very short cruise the clientele will be different.

I think you've mixed up the posts. He hasn't mentioned Norwegian

I get the  impression Bowette will be aware of the  dress code and will enjoy Victoria.  It's a shame he only has a short  cruise in which to enjoy his Q2  but as a taster, although the ambience of the ship will not be quite  the same as that of a longer cruise,  the hardware will be the same and his choice of cabin, superb. Walk through the double doors and the space is amazing and whilst not refurbished as the Q1s have been, the 2s position, mid ships, is far superior as far as we're concerned which is why we book them.

Edited by Victoria2
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13 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

If the OP enjoys Norwegian they may not enjoy Cunard.   When we were in a Q4, we had a bellman escort us to our suite.   We waited a short while until one came for us in a distinct Q4 and above waiting area.   This happened both in NYC and Southampton.

We don’t rush to the pier as that would guarantee a crowd.  Hope the OP is aware that there is a dress code on Cunard.   Believe Norwegian allows passengers to dine in all sort of dress/undress.   We have never encountered rude, elbowing passengers though on a very short cruise the clientele will be different.

Thanks for replying!

 

As I've mentioned previously, cruising NCL was definitely not for us.

 

Alas we have encountered the elbowing of fellow passengers on several occasions, and it's always those in an inside cabin (you know, the sort who would step over another human if it meant they could tell you how many cruises they'd done first) who simply don't understand the boarding protocol.

 

Your Cunard experience sounds exactly like what we are used to, all be it with a slightly quieter and more refined clientele throughout the ship - something that is non existent on NCL and in short supply outside of the YC on MSC.

 

Wishing you many more happy cruises ahead once we manage to return to some semblance of normality.

 

G

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5 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

I think you've mixed up the posts. He hasn't mentioned Norwegian

I get the  impression Bowette will be aware of the  dress code and will enjoy Victoria.  It's a shame he only has a short  cruise in which to enjoy his Q2  but as a taster, although the ambience of the ship will not be quite  the same as that of a longer cruise,  the hardware will be the same and his choice of cabin, superb. Walk through the double doors and the space is amazing and whilst not refurbished as the Q1s have been, the 2s position, mid ships, is far superior as far as we're concerned which is why we book them.

You're absolutely right Victoria, we were both hooked from the moment the double doors swung open on the video we saw.

 

I have to say, we were not taken with the designs of the Q3 and Q4 that have yet to be refurbished.

 

But, as you mention, the fantastic positioning of the Q2 was also a major deciding factor.

 

I hope this short introduction to Cunard leaves us wanting more, and we'll definitely be back for longer should it live up to expectations - just don't tell our friends at MSC!

 

G

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1 hour ago, Bowette1981! said:

You're absolutely right Victoria, we were both hooked from the moment the double doors swung open on the video we saw.

 

I have to say, we were not taken with the designs of the Q3 and Q4 that have yet to be refurbished.

 

But, as you mention, the fantastic positioning of the Q2 was also a major deciding factor.

 

I hope this short introduction to Cunard leaves us wanting more, and we'll definitely be back for longer should it live up to expectations - just don't tell our friends at MSC!

 

G

Forgive me for missing the Norwegian connection. Haven doesn't ring a bell with me at all.

 

The 3s aren't at all glamorous  and the layout might one day be rejigged but there are two reasons why we book them as well as  2.

3s are much cheaper than 2s and they are also midships.

 

We travel on Victoria many weeks a year and consequently meet some great people year in year out and two couples we know  always have a stern cabin, old 6 new 4. Neither are impressed with the new layout as they say compared to the 6 incarnation, they are cramped.

 

Beautiful to look at but not as spacious seems to be their verdict. We'll stick midships Q2 or Q3.

 

I'm looking forward to your verdict. I hope your cruise goes ahead and you come back and tell us your approval [or not] rating.

 

 

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My mistake, I confused MSC Yacht Club with NCL Haven.    Is the MSC product much better than the NCL.

 

When Cunard returns to service post COVID 19, we will see what the changes are.  Masks are now required on all U.S. Airlines.   No one sits in a middle seat in tourist and six foot distance is the rule.   I imagine check in will be very different as they try to maintain the distance.   If you get there early, you may have to wait outdoors.   Health checks will be taken even if you are in the best Suite.   There may be no sitting at the bar because of potential virus spread.   Hope we won’t have to wear masks on the QM2, at least on airlines the food is rarely worth eating.
 

 

 

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