Honest opinion of Queen Victoria

[exlondoner]

From reading many review and reports, I think often people’s verdicts are the result of their experiences in the first day, particularly embarkation. First expressions really do count. Unfortunately, much of the embarkation experience is beyond Cunard’s control. The one thing that is at least partly in their control, the timely arrival of luggage, is usually managed very well. But there are other things, partly the result of the impression given by Cunard’s advertising, for instance, some people think they will be greeted obsequiously and escorted to their cabin. They won’t. Sometimes their steward doesn’t appear to say hello, which they really should. The Lido on the first day is rarely at its best, and in fact is a good argument for booking Grills, so you can get lunch in the restaurant. The cabin is not as big as expected: are they ever? By the time people have coped with all that and discovered they can’t find their way around because they can’t read a plan or follow signage, and the lifts are very busy, they are quite miserable. Thereafter every minor fault or inconvenience is noticed and remembered. All the wonderful things barely register.

 

Cunard should put a huge amount of effort into making the embarkation experience as good as possible.

[BigMac1953]

We had this problem in Scotland a few years ago.

 

Typically, spirit measures in Scotland were either 1/4 Gill or 1/5 gill. which is 35ml and 28ml respectively.

 

Scottish people visiting England, would often complain to the barman that their glass was wet, such was the small measure.

 

Now it's 25ml UK wide.

[Pushpit]

9 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 The Lido on the first day is rarely at its best, and in fact is a good argument for booking Grills, so you can get lunch in the restaurant.

Britannia on the first evening can be congested too. Not always, particularly if (e.g.) joining at Southampton for a NY Crossing, when there were quite a few already onboard from Hamburg. I tend to advocate people arrive later on for boarding, don't worry too much about the first lunch onboard - no other lunch gets this focus and there's no risk of starvation - but enjoy a much less crowded and efficient experience getting to the stateroom, and to be forgiving of Britannia's first night. Club doesn't seem to have this problem, it operates within easier to manage limitations.