Live from…. Victoria, Cunard Vs Celebrity, Grills Vs the Retreat

[Victoria2]

Fabulous photography and wonderful lights.

 

Jealous? Moi?

 

You bet!  🙂

[groryjm]

On 10/15/2022 at 11:12 AM, swjumbo said:

Really enjoying your posts, especially the menus and food photos.

Few questions please.

What’s the age demographic?

Is QG on a par with Murano and is it relaxed or stuffy?

Any chance you can take a discreet pic of how people are dressed in the evening please? She wants to know what to pack in a few weeks.

Thanks a lot and keep

up the great work!

 I will write a summary of QG and its food in more detail towards the end of this cruise but in a general in comparison I prefer QG.

 

The venue is lighter and more airy with lovely sea views as opposed to Murano’s dark though elegant corners. Murano’s menu is good and well presented with wonderful table side service but QG has a menu that changes every day and I would not hesitate to say that the service is far better in QG especially the tableside service.

 

They are both of an era as to dishes and I would probably put them in the peak of haute cuisine from the 1970s and 80s. Not to knock the food as for both it is excellent, QG having the advantage of changing every day as opposed to Murano’s fixed menu.

 

The one thing I feel both lack is any modern twists and adventurous elements from around the world. Luminae does offer a bit more but it’s menu has relatively few options each day and as there are only 14 menus in it’s cycle if you cruise more than a two or three times a year does get a touch boring.  QG is new to us so at the moment that is not a problem for us here but may happen if we took many QG cruises. I don’t know how often the QG menus cycle.

 

As to dress the standard  on Cunard is much higher and for a formal I would recon by our experience 50% of men are in DJs ( Tuxes)  and 40% of the rest are in dark suits and ties. On smart casual nights the numbers of DJ’s are less but in QG even though the standard is only a collared shirt most are wearing jackets and ties as well

 

This is the theater on the first formal

 

[exlondoner]

And I assume you haven’t found QG remotely stuffy?

[BigMac1953]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

And I assume you haven’t found QG remotely stuffy?

 

My tuppence worth:

 

In over two dozen trips in QG, (on all three ships) not once did we ever find it "stuffy" - quite the reverse!

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, BigMac1953 said:

 

My tuppence worth:

 

In over two dozen trips in QG, (on all three ships) not once did we ever find it "stuffy" - quite the reverse!

Quite so.

[groryjm]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

And I assume you haven’t found QG remotely stuffy?

Personally I wouldn't call it stuffy. It is white glove service and very attentive. Especially when it comes to the tny little details . There are, as with every thing , the occassional miss.

 

Murano, on the other hand, i might be tempted to refer to as "stuffy" though to be more precice pretentious might be a better word and with the subdued lighting and lack of windows I could see were stuufy would apply.

 

Overall so far I feel QG staff get to know ones likes and dislikes very quickly and do make the little things that make all the difference without any fuss where as Murano staff are anything but discrete and tend to draw attention to the things they do. 

[groryjm]

For pre dinner drinkies....am I getting predictable! 😮Ah but my Gastrognomes gin is with a different bitters 😎

 

[Victoria2]

37 minutes ago, groryjm said:

Personally I wouldn't call it stuffy. It is white glove service and very attentive. Especially when it comes to the tny little details . There are, as with every thing , the occassional miss.

 

Murano, on the other hand, i might be tempted to refer to as "stuffy" though to be more precice pretentious might be a better word and with the subdued lighting and lack of windows I could see were stuufy would apply.

 

Overall so far I feel QG staff get to know ones likes and dislikes very quickly and do make the little things that make all the difference without any fuss where as Murano staff are anything but discrete and tend to draw attention to the things they do. 

You've hit the nail on the head.

Q.G. is discreet and attentive, not stuffy or pretentious.

 

I am so glad you are obviously having a great time. 🙂

[LadyL1]

GRORYJM

It is lovely to see the theatre with people delightfully attired, but do you realise that you are contravening the Data Protection Act? By using a photo with identifiable persons without their permission, on social media, is a big blooper these days!

Sorry to be a killjoy.

[Host Hattie]

11 minutes ago, LadyL1 said:

GRORYJM

It is lovely to see the theatre with people delightfully attired, but do you realise that you are contravening the Data Protection Act? By using a photo with identifiable persons without their permission, on social media, is a big blooper these days!

Sorry to be a killjoy.

I don't believe that is the case but if you have concerns please use the report button rather than disrupting a live report.

Thank you 

[DaisyUK]

Really enjoying your blog and pics. Thanks for posting. Am intrigued by the cocktails also! We don't mix our own cocktails, but one thing I found in the QG restaurant is that my Cosmo was perfect every night - a delightful pale pink, with the ice crystals suspended. Not too sweet, not too citrusy - delicious. As my husband will attest, I am somewhat picky when it comes to Cosmo's and very few get the seal of approval.  

[Jacqueline]

To what Hattie said, “Generally, people do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy for anything they do in public. The exception is a performance or meeting where you are informed that taking photographs is prohibited.”

Think about all the photos of the public on social media and in news reports.

Let’s keep to enjoying this thread and not be the social media police.

[swjumbo]

Thank you for your comparisons and for the photos of the theatre. It seems, even on here as on cruise ships, some people complain about anything and everything! Data protection no less. 
I’d better start dieting to get into the old tux.

 

[exlondoner]

9 hours ago, swjumbo said:

Thank you for your comparisons and for the photos of the theatre. It seems, even on here as on cruise ships, some people complain about anything and everything! Data protection no less. 
I’d better start dieting to get into the old tux.

 

I had been expecting comments about people wearing white dinner jackets of Norway. 😀 Not that they shouldn’t be photographed at all.

[groryjm]

12 hours ago, LadyL1 said:

GRORYJM

It is lovely to see the theatre with people delightfully attired, but do you realise that you are contravening the Data Protection Act? By using a photo with identifiable persons without their permission, on social media, is a big blooper these days!

Sorry to be a killjoy.

@LadyL1 you should look at the photos you posted last week. Did you get all of the identifiable persons in your images permission?

[Se1lad]

20 hours ago, groryjm said:

 I will write a summary of QG and its food in more detail towards the end of this cruise but in a general in comparison I prefer QG.

 

The venue is lighter and more airy with lovely sea views as opposed to Murano’s dark though elegant corners. Murano’s menu is good and well presented with wonderful table side service but QG has a menu that changes every day and I would not hesitate to say that the service is far better in QG especially the tableside service.

 

They are both of an era as to dishes and I would probably put them in the peak of haute cuisine from the 1970s and 80s. Not to knock the food as for both it is excellent, QG having the advantage of changing every day as opposed to Murano’s fixed menu.

 

The one thing I feel both lack is any modern twists and adventurous elements from around the world. Luminae does offer a bit more but it’s menu has relatively few options each day and as there are only 14 menus in it’s cycle if you cruise more than a two or three times a year does get a touch boring.  QG is new to us so at the moment that is not a problem for us here but may happen if we took many QG cruises. I don’t know how often the QG menus cycle.

 

 

Have you made any special requests in QG yet?  I normally request a steak tartare at least once per voyage - this will a normally prepared table side.  Peking duck and cherries jubilee are another couple of favourites of mine. You can also then to prepare you a Chinese or Indian banquet one evening - provided you give a bit of notice of course!

 

Drinks wise I got them to make me a passable Ramos Gin Fizz one evening in the   grills lounge - and they make a nice Stinger as well (but of course that’s really easy to make!)

 

Looking forward to reading the rest of your review - I’m really enjoying this thread!

[groryjm]

Sunday was an interesting day with all our Northern lights hunting, some of the pictures from I posted here earlier. A few months ago we visited Istanbul on the Celebrity Reflection only to discover our overnight stop was on a major Islamic festival and consequently very few if any shops were open. Sunday was a bit of deja vue as we walked into Tromso to find yet again a cruise line had opted for a schedualed stop on a day when virtually no shops were open!

 

After kippers for breakfast it was a stroll around the closed town a visit to the Troll museum then back to the ship for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[groryjm]

Monday was a late day after such a heavy couple of nights hunting the lights so we set no alarms and woke only just in time to still get breakfast in the QG. My dearest Gastrognome had headed up a few minutes ahead of me and when I arrived at our table she had managed to get me a Bloody Mary

 

 

 

The day was a bit wet and missy so we spent most of it playing games in our room and watching rainbows interspersed with meals at QG and the odd trip to the Commodores. Actually to us a brilliant way to spend a day though to others it may seem strange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beef Wellington was delicious. Though the need to have it carved at the table seemed a bit unnecesary.

 

 

 

 

[Host Hattie]

Sounds like a great day to me and I'm glad to hear you managed to get a Bloody Mary.

[Bell Boy]

Just now, Host Hattie said:

Sounds like a great day to me and I'm glad to hear you managed to get a Bloody Mary.

They ( QG)  obviously got my Email Hattie 😉 

[cruiseny4life]

4 minutes ago, groryjm said:

The day was a bit wet and missy so we spent most of it playing games in our room and watching rainbows interspersed with meals at QG and the odd trip to the Commodores. Actually to us a brilliant way to spend a day though to others it may seem strange.

Sounds like a near perfect day to me! This is why I love sea days...and thermal suites. That's the only missing piece from your day, but it looks like you thoroughly enjoyed yourself! 

[Se1lad]

9 minutes ago, groryjm said:

Monday was a late day after such a heavy couple of nights hunting the lights so we set no alarms and woke only just in time to still get breakfast in the QG. My dearest Gastrognome had headed up a few minutes ahead of me and when I arrived at our table she had managed to get me a Bloody Mary

 

Based on your extensive cocktail knowledge I’m sure you have already tried these previously - I love a traditional Bloody Mary with about 10ml sherry added, or alternatively substituting the vodka with gin - ie a Red Snapper.

[exlondoner]

16 minutes ago, groryjm said:

Monday was a late day after such a heavy couple of nights hunting the lights so we set no alarms and woke only just in time to still get breakfast in the QG. My dearest Gastrognome had headed up a few minutes ahead of me and when I arrived at our table she had managed to get me a Bloody Mary

 

 

 

The day was a bit wet and missy so we spent most of it playing games in our room and watching rainbows interspersed with meals at QG and the odd trip to the Commodores. Actually to us a brilliant way to spend a day though to others it may seem strange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beef Wellington was delicious. Though the need to have it carved at the table seemed a bit unnecesary.

 

 

 

 

Well, it does give you the chance to refuse a second slice. 😀

[techteach]

You got your Bloody Mary! Hurrah! Just what you needed for that Eggs Bennie. As I looked through the food pics I made a mental note: kippers, avocado salad, scallops, Beef Wellington. I need to check the calendar for our countdown. Thanks so much for posting all of the beautiful pictures.

[Jacqueline]

Thanks so much for sharing with us! Getting excited about our upcoming trip.