QA British Isles Voyage

[Megabear2]

6 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

I tend to agree, but I’ve noticed that whilst the service lifts are present and have large run off areas in front of them, some of the doors to these

areas are very narrow and don’t allow anything bigger than cabin servicing trolleys to pass through - certainly

not cages full of luggage. 
 

I have a horrible feeling that this may be a poorly thought through design flaw and that having to tie up passenger lifts for luggage on embarkation day and the day before disembarkation may be permanent. I hope that I’m wrong as it’s a ruddy nuisance, especially for those who are unable to use stairs. 

Selbourne, I thought of you when I saw the start of the queuing after afternoon tea finished and also because of the cabin surrender rule being back.  I hope it isn't too dreadful in the morning for you and Lady S, it would be such a shame after all the other problems with your room.

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

This doesn't look like anything I've seen on any of the other Cunard ships. Even though it's early there are 10's of cases being moved to the landing on my floor and cages are stacked against the wall.

I was thinking more about embarkation day, when quite a number of lifts tend to be unavailable.

[Selbourne]

7 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

This doesn't look like anything I've seen on any of the other Cunard ships. Even though it's early there are 10's of cases being moved to the landing on my floor and cages are stacked against the wall.

If you have an idle 5 minutes, take a look at the midship lift area on deck 6. It was an obstacle course getting between the lift and our cabin! Like you, I’ve never seen anything like it on any other cruise ship. 

[Megabear2]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

I was thinking more about embarkation day, when quite a number of lifts tend to be unavailable.

Yes, I have seen cases on embarkation day on the other ships but as we know on here was a bit of a mess with muster check ins being halted due to the lift crowding which in turn led to queues throughout the ship.  Some people's luggage showed 6 hours after the boarded.

[Megabear2]

2 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

If you have an idle 5 minutes, take a look at the midship lift area on deck 6. It was an obstacle course getting between the lift and our cabin! Like you, I’ve never seen anything like it on any other cruise ship. 

So it's not just having the broken lift at A lifts putting on extra pressure which is what I thought may be the problem there.  I'll be walking up later to ease pressure for the less able bodied so I'll take a look.

[delgirl]

3 hours ago, Selbourne said:

I am at a complete loss as to why they use the passengers lifts for luggage, with the enormous difficulties that it creates for passengers trying to move around the ship, rather than the service lifts as other cruise lines do. Answers on a postcard……

When we were on QV in december they were using the passenger lifts they also use them on QM2. Makes you wonder if they have any internal lifts. Still love cunard though.

[MylesS]

6 minutes ago, delgirl said:

Makes you wonder if they have any internal lifts

They do on QM2, at least in certain areas. But these are for small carts, nothing heavy (at least the ones I've seen). Also, as mentioned above, there isn't a lot of space to manover large carts to/from the passenger areas.

Edited June 6 by MylesS

[Millieloulou]

Can I just take this opportunity to say a big Thankyou to Megabear2 for all the wonderful comments and photos, so that we could share your voyage.We have looked forward everyday to reading where you have been, and what you enjoyed or perhaps didn’t. It was good to hear your honest oppions to not sailing in “grills”.Hope you will be able to write again on your next voyage.Until then , our very best wishes to you.

[Mickb]

Thank you to all who have posted. You’ve taken us all with you on what has proved to be a most interesting cruise.

[Winifred 22]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

This doesn't look like anything I've seen on any of the other Cunard ships. Even though it's early there are 10's of cases being moved to the landing on my floor and cages are stacked against the wall.

Was like that on QM2 last week. I have always seen them use the passenger lifts. They have special padding that they use to protect the insides of the lifts so doesn’t suggest it’s temporary. 

[Winifred 22]

2 hours ago, Jonem2001 said:

I can only assume some technical problem with the freight lifts - it wouldn’t be any sane person’s way of doing things. 
 

Whether they’ve managed to get the issue fixed (possibly needing a technical specialist to fly in) since embarkation, I wouldn’t like to guess… time will tell. I have my fingers crossed for you all.

They routinely use the passenger lifts I doubt there is any technical problems. I have seen them use the lifts on all Queens. They have specially fitted padding they put on the walls of  the lifts to protect the inside from damage. 

[Selbourne]

Well, to be fair, they got on top of things fairly quickly after my post saying that the lift lobby on our deck was rammed, and we’ve managed to get lifts to and from dinner without difficulty 👍

 

Just had an amusing experience. We

don’t put our cases out until we retire, so that the clothes we have worn today can go in them. The routine is that my wife gets into bed and I briefly don some of my travel home clothes in order to be decent enough to pop the cases out in the corridor. 
 

As I opened the door a young male steward was walking past and noticed what I was doing so, to be helpful, he walked straight into our cabin to take the cases. He just looked at my wife in the bed and said “Good evening Madam” as if it was completely normal. Thankfully we both have a good sense of humour and found it very funny. I thanked him for his help 😂

I always hate disembarkation morning, as it can be a nightmare getting a lift, and it’s now made even more challenging as last entry for breakfast in the dining room is now 8am and not

8.30am as stated in the disembarkation instructions. However, we can sometimes be pleasantly surprised so fingers crossed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Megabear2]

Just managed my walk up staircase A.  Two lifts were out of action as suspected and there was a big cluster in the waiting area on deck 2.  Decks 5 and 6 were totally rammed with cases and cages, deck 7 far more ordered.  There is currently a very busy silent disco going on which led on from the Beatles tribute band who have been performing in the Queen's Room from 7.00pm with just a short break before start again at 9.00pm.  

 

The Queen's Room has been really busy all day firstly with the guest choir, then tea and a talk on art.  It has been a pleasure to see so many people enjoying this space as for a lot of the voyage it has seemed a little deserted and sparsely used apart from the ballroom dancers in the evening.  

 

"The Beatles" in particular had everyone up dancing or singing along and clearly very much lit the touch paper for the crowd.  More things like this would seem to be a good idea.

 

Anyway I shall close with thanks to you all for reading.  It has been a pleasure taking you all along with my view from the cheap seats and I hope that those who wanted a view from down here have found it enjoyable to travel with me.

 

My next cruise will be on the "dark side" as I sail with 23(!)😱 family members to Scandinavia in August on P&O's Aurora so it will be a while until I'm back home on Cunard, again on Queen Anne but next time in a club balcony with my husband to celebrate my 69th birthday and my 44th wedding anniversary.  I'm looking forward immensely to both.

 

Happy sailing to everyone boarding Queen Anne soon, she's different but beautiful. Enjoy!

Edited June 6 by Megabear2

[S1971]

Thanks MB2, it's been a pleasure reading both the good and not so good experiences and the amazing photos.

 

Thanks also to Selbourne for his input, hopefully Cunard have listened and will improve things onboard for those with disabilities.

 

Thanks again and have safe and stress free journey's home.

[Eddie99]

Thanks to Megabear for this lovely thread and fabulous pictures.  I was late finding it, so had a lovely day earlier this week when I started from the beginning and read up the first week in one glorious, vicarious, session

Nice to get Selbourne’s input too

 

I Hope disembarkation is smooth for you both.  It takes the edge off a little when there a problems at the end of a lovely trip (though I hope your disembarkation is nothing like the emergency rescue of two regular posters on the P&O boards, who were stranded in the German floods.  Very dramatic pictures of crowds in life jackets)

 

Thanks again.  Safe onward journey

[DaisyUK]

Thank you from me also, both to Megabear and all the other contributors. Love reading these live from threads.

[Host Hattie]

Welcome back everyone, thanks again for all  the reports on this very interesting cruise. 

I hope disembarkation isn't too painful this morning and I look forward to reading your final thoughts. 

[Selbourne]

So far so good this morning. We left our cabin at 0740 and got a lift straight away (we went up to go down, but on disembarkation morning with a wheelchair you grab one when you can). Currently having a leisurely breakfast and they’ve just called the first coloured sub-group, so I take it that there won’t be the delays reported on the preceding cruise 🤞

[Selbourne]

I spoke too soon - or tempted fate. Disembarkation has now been suspended due to a medical emergency in the terminal. 

[Megabear2]

Just now, Selbourne said:

I spoke too soon - or tempted fate. Disembarkation has now been suspended due to a medical emergency in the terminal. 

Obviously health issues are far more important than our getting off on time.  Hopefully it wondering too serious for the person involved and we will be back on the move.

[Selbourne]

We’re off again. Second group called. 

[Jonem2001]

11 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

They routinely use the passenger lifts I doubt there is any technical problems. I have seen them use the lifts on all Queens. They have specially fitted padding they put on the walls of  the lifts to protect the inside from damage. 

Yes, sorry - I’ve always been aware of the use of passenger lifts for this purpose, but it’s always seemed to be supplemental to the use of the freight/service capacity. The embarkation chaos referred to earlier (and to a lesser extent, last night’s disembarkation processes) seem to speak to an over-reliance on passenger lifts for some reason.

 

It could be a temporary technical issue (freight lifts out of order), it could be process (new layout of ship, new ways of getting luggage routines to optimum), or it could be unconsidered design (carts vs hallway width, as Selbourne suggests). Whatever it is, I’m sure Cunard will want to find a way to shift the balance in favour of ‘behind the scenes’, as inconveniencing passengers will not be desired!

 

I’ll be interested to see how embarkation is reported later, if anyone is aboard - but in the meantime, a big thank you to all who’ve fed in their impressions of QA so far. Much appreciated!

[MylesS]

Welcome back everyone! Thank you for all your posts and pictures. Safe onward travels.

[Sarah1974]

@Megabear2 thank you for your very insightful blog of your cruise.  @Selbourne and thank you - I've enjoyed reading your input too

[exlondoner]

2 hours ago, Mareblu said:

 

Have you escaped the ship, or are you staying on board for the Med? Sorry I’ve just realised this is the wrong thread to ask.