First time on Cunard ... What should I expect ?

[Nancy&Frank]

We have done many cruises, mostly on Holland America.  How does Cunard differ ?

 

[Covepointcruiser]

Which ship, cruise or transatlantic.   It will make a difference.

[Pushpit]

And may I also ask what led you to choosing a Cunard sailing? For example, was the itinerary attractive?

[3rdGenCunarder]

I used to think of HAL as "Cunard Lite," but HAL has slipped so badly, that it's less than "lite."

 

Expect much better entertainment and more variety than on HAL. More to do during the day, especially on a transatlantic. "Gala nights" really are gala, and most people dress better than on HAL gala nights. You don't have to wear formal clothes (gown and tux) but you won't be alone if you do. "Smart attire" on non-gala nights is smarter than a lot of what I've seen on HAL. 

 

Food depends on your dining room. More choices as you move up from Britannia to Club to the Grills. 

[Nancy&Frank]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

I used to think of HAL as "Cunard Lite," but HAL has slipped so badly, that it's less than "lite."

 

Expect much better entertainment and more variety than on HAL. More to do during the day, especially on a transatlantic. "Gala nights" really are gala, and most people dress better than on HAL gala nights. You don't have to wear formal clothes (gown and tux) but you won't be alone if you do. "Smart attire" on non-gala nights is smarter than a lot of what I've seen on HAL. 

 

Food depends on your dining room. More choices as you move up from Britannia to Club to the Grills. 

Doing the 25’ World Cruise on the Queen Anne and then the QM2 transatlantic back to NY.  
Was very disappointed in the HAL 23’ World Cruise.

[NE John]

16 hours ago, Nancy&Frank said:

Doing the 25’ World Cruise on the Queen Anne and then the QM2 transatlantic back to NY.  
Was very disappointed in the HAL 23’ World Cruise.

What were your sources of disappointment on HAL? 
Ironically, the QA is build on Pinnacle class, similar to some bigger HAL ships. 
However, QM2 is very unique and won’t have a cruise ship feel, for better or worse. There are many activities during the day and dressing up after 6pm is a big deal so try to embrace it. If you’re looking for a change, a QM2 TA will be a change because the ship itself is the destination with seven nights at sea. 

[Nancy&Frank]

@NE John

The crew was fabulous !
I am a 4 star Mariner so I have a lot of HAL experience.

Food was mediocre at best.  Lots of repetition.  Portions very very small.

The main stage was dark once a week.  2-3 times a week they played B rate movies no one had ever heard of.  They had a man showing you his yo-yo skills as a main show.

HAL Singers and dancers had 15 shows for a 128 day cruise.   
No port talks except for the Cruise Director telling you of a few HAL sponsored places.

No lecturers speaking to any of the places we were to experience.

Virtually nothing to do during the day except Arts & Crafts on sea days that were only available to the first 200 people to sign up.  And, this was set up as 2 groups so was was really every other sea day.

No special set up in dining room for theme nights.  (The excuse was that all the decorations were left on the Amsterdam when sold & there was no place to store them on the Zuiderdam)

There was nothing GRAND about this Grand World Voyage.

[Nancy&Frank]

@NE John

I am looking forward to my first TA one the QM2😊

Edited August 9, 2023 by Nancy&Frank

[NE John]

3 minutes ago, Nancy&Frank said:

@NE John

The crew was fabulous !
I am a 4 star Mariner so I have a lot of HAL experience.

Food was mediocre at best.  Lots of repetition.  Portions very very small.

The main stage was dark once a week.  2-3 times a week they played B rate movies no one had ever heard of.  They had a man showing you his yo-yo skills as a main show.

HAL Singers and dancers had 15 shows for a 128 day cruise.   
No port talks except for the Cruise Director telling you of a few HAL sponsored places.

No lecturers speaking to any of the places we were to experience.

Virtually nothing to do during the day except Arts & Crafts on sea days that were only available to the first 200 people to sign up.  And, this was set up as 2 groups so was was really every other sea day.

No special set up in dining room for theme nights.  (The excuse was that all the decorations were left on the Amsterdam when sold & there was no place to store them on the Zuiderdam)

There was nothing GRAND about this Grand World Voyage.

Im very sure you’ll have a much more active and positive time onboard Cunard ships. 
But since QA is new to us all, we are all wondering what kind of Cunard experience that will bring us.  
On the TA on QM2, you’ll love the real wood walk-around promenade deck. Hopefully the weather is good enough to take advantage of it. And the library too. 

[jaypo63]

Hi Nancy & Frank,firstly,what a fabulous picture of you both ☺️

what type of cabin are you in on Cunard? We are lucky enough to be in Queens grill and I cannot complain about anything there,we do use the buffet for lunch though as there is much more choice of food and it's good too.

Entertainment is always a hit or miss as it comes down to the individual taste but a yo-yo demo?? Woohoooo lol good films on Cunard either in your cabin or they show one every in the cinema but not sure on a world cruise.

hope you both have fun x

[Underwatr]

One thing I've noticed on HA (Amsterdam and later Eurodam) was dance floors in every lounge with suitable music in each one at some time throughout the day. On QM2 if you're intending to dance it's pretty much the Queens Room.

QM2 shows movies in Illuminations which is about as good a movie theatre as I've been to on land (with the exception of the heated recliners that I now see at many land-based theatres). Great sound, 3D projection capability.

Edited August 13, 2023 by Underwatr

[3rdGenCunarder]

13 minutes ago, Underwatr said:

One thing I've noticed on HA (Amsterdam and later Eurodam) was dance floors in every lounge with suitable music in each one at some time throughout the day. On QM2 if you're intending to dance it's pretty much the Queens Room.

QM2 shows movies in Illuminations which is about as good a movie theatre as I've been to on land (with the exception of the heated recliners that I now see at many land-based theatres). Great sound, 3D projection capability.

 

QM2 also has G32. I think I read somewhere that they sometimes do "silent disco."

[NancyDrew1953]

A couple of comparisons from my perspective based on my experiences (on HAL in Australia/New Zealand earlier this year and on the QM2 late last year - both times standard balcony cabins).

 

As others have stated, activities are generally more plentiful on the QM2. In addition to evening entertainment, the day time Insight lectures are generally very good to great.  There is also a real library on all the Cunard ships (QA will have one).  
 

QM2 still provides nightly turndown service with chocolates every night, but no towel animals ever (unlike HAL).
 

Quality and variety of food in the main dining room is better on QM2, but the service in HAL main dining room is generally better.  The buffet, particularly salads, is better with HAL.
 

Service on QM2 is good, but not as friendly or cheerful  compared to HAL.  Also, senior officers are somewhat more visible on HAL. In my experience, problem resolution is slightly better on HAL.

 

The one big advantage HAL has is in the area of technology - better Wi-Fi (although hopefully QA will be as good) and a much better app.  The number of in room movie and TV choices are also better on HAL.

 

I really envy your World Cruising…..it is my goal (someday).

[Nancy&Frank]

8 minutes ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

I really envy your World Cruising…..it is my goal (someday).

I appreciate your perspective 🥰

[Nancy&Frank]

9 hours ago, jaypo63 said:

Hi Nancy & Frank,firstly,what a fabulous picture of you both ☺️

what type of cabin are you in on Cunard? 

hope you both have fun x

Thanks for your compliment.  We are traveling in an oceanview room so we will not get to experience the Grill amenities.  
Just glad and thankful to be able to go on this voyage.

[MrsPeel55]

18 hours ago, Nancy&Frank said:

Thanks for your compliment.  We are traveling in an oceanview room so we will not get to experience the Grill amenities.  
Just glad and thankful to be able to go on this voyage.

 

it is indeed a beautiful photo, those smiles make me smile (and that is a hard task as am having one of those bad days!) 

 

Same feeling of gratitude for us in general, regarding cabin grades... we are also not in the grills, booked a balcony with some perks added, will be our first Cunard, looking forward now with just 3 weeks to go.

We have friends and family who have sailed ocean view, others balcony, all had marvellous experiences, all of them a few years back, but judging by the experiences of some people here in the boards, I think we can have also a great experience outside the Grills. 

all the best to you guys ❤️ 

[Betsycruiser2]

As a first time cruiser on Cunard Queen Victoria in Oct. 2023 to see the northern lights in Norway, I am interested in info on laundry. Does the QV have a laundry package or a per bag price for the 12 days or is it all per piece?  It would really simplify my packing if I could rely on good laundry service. Just got off a Holland America 25 day cruise and their laundry service was outstanding and reasonable priced

[Victoria2]

If it helps, this was the laundry list in July 

[Betsycruiser2]

8 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

If it helps, this was the laundry list in July 

 

9 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

If it helps, this was the laundry list in July 

Thanks. I had seen the individual prices. Seeing the per bag price lets me plan better. 

[SusieAV8R]

7 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

If it helps, this was the laundry list in July 

Victoria2, what is the 50% surcharge on this laundry list?

[NE John]

10 hours ago, Betsycruiser2 said:

As a first time cruiser on Cunard Queen Victoria in Oct. 2023 to see the northern lights in Norway, I am interested in info on laundry. Does the QV have a laundry package or a per bag price for the 12 days or is it all per piece?  It would really simplify my packing if I could rely on good laundry service. Just got off a Holland America 25 day cruise and their laundry service was outstanding and reasonable priced

There is also free self-service washers/dryers on most “hotel” floors. That service includes free detergent too. Sometimes not all machines are working but it gets the job done for many items. 
There are two irons in each laundry room too and a drying line in many stateroom cabins. 
Plus, you get to meet others. Just make sure you mind when your time is up as the next passenger waiting will remove your clothes from a machine if not tended. 

[Host Hattie]

4 hours ago, SusieAV8R said:

Victoria2, what is the 50% surcharge on this laundry list?

It's for same day service 

[Victoria2]

4 hours ago, SusieAV8R said:

Victoria2, what is the 50% surcharge on this laundry list?

Hattie is correct and it's extremely efficient.

For us, we give the laundry to the butler when breakfast is delivered and it's  back, usually around five'ish and definitely before dinner.

 

 

[MrsPeel55]

@Victoria2 thanks for this. Am I right thinking Specialist service  is Dry Cleaning?

Edited August 30, 2023 by MrsPeel55
typos again

[Victoria2]

25 minutes ago, MrsPeel55 said:

@Victoria2 thanks for this. Am I right thinking Specialist service  is Dry Cleaning?

Never having used the option, I wouldn't 100% like to say but I would have thought so but there is no actual 'dry' cleaning as such onboard. The company is at pains to stress it's a sort of  'wet' kind of cleaning, as mentioned on the laundry list.

 

If an article suddenly needs dry cleaning on our short  [two/three week] trips, then I wait until we get home, so I do try not to spill my soup on delicate silks!  🙂