How to set up a Meet & Greet on QM2?

Our May 10th TA seems to be in need of a Meet & Greet and I was wondering how do we set one up? There seem to be a number of newbies to Cunard, and since my husband and I have sailed on QM2 before I thought I'd (gulp) volunteer. Any suggestions from Cunarders would be much appreciated...

 

Thank you for volunteering. These are always great meetings. As to the time, you might want to phone Cunard and get the usual events on the first sea day to avoid conflicts

 

Our experience- on our first QM 2, no interest in a Meet & Greet. On the second out of New York heading to Caribbean it was held 3:00 PM the day of embarkation. Why so early? That thread indicated people wanted to get together to arrange private excursions

This entire discussion reminds me of Sir Winston Churchill's comment--two countries separated by the same language.

 

Please note that at no time did I ever say that people talked about how much they paid, but instead discussed, among other topics, strategies for saving money and accumulating the maximum amount of Onboard credit. I honestly can't figure out how so many of you are hearing things I am not saying.

 

In any event, if learning money-saving strategies is considered nouveau (whatever the heck that is supposed to mean) and tasteless, I could not care less. I would much rather be the person who was able to use good information to take 6 cruises a year with lots of onboard credit on all of them, than the tasteful and whatever the opposite of nouveau is person is, who lacks that knowledge and can, therefore, only afford one cruise a year.

 

Of course, for those of you who are wealthy beyond concern, saving money truly is unimportant. We, however, have worked very hard and to build a very comfortable retirement, and I am very greedy and want to get as much as possible for my dollar. That's just me

Edited April 27, 2015 by PunkiC

This entire discussion reminds me of Sir Winston Churchill's comment--two countries separated by the same language.

 

Not really.

 

You keep saying that (i.e. people keep misunderstanding what you meant) but then attempt to clarify what you meant by repeating the same things; i.e. tips for saving money on your fare, on-board credit and so on.

 

I really can't see that anyone can misunderstand what you meant. You are being very clear to me.

This entire discussion reminds me of Sir Winston Churchill's comment--two countries separated by the same language.

 

Please note that at no time did I ever say that people talked about how much they paid, but instead discussed, among other topics, strategies for saving money and accumulating the maximum amount of Onboard credit. I honestly can't figure out how so many of you are hearing things I am not saying.

 

 

Maybe because of this from a previous thread

 

Our recent South Pacific cruise on the Queen Victoria was only booked about a month out and we paid a lot less than anyone else to whom we spoke and less than half of what the same cruise is selling for now.

It is the term "Meet and Greet".

 

I (and many others it seems) take this to mean a casual, relaxed, informal, cocktail party-like gathering of passengers in the Commodore Club on the first sea-day, after lunch.

 

People gradually arrive, without fuss, over the space of fifteen minutes or so (and leave just as informally, as they say "oh, is that the time? I've got to be in the Chart Room at three" or similar).

Often people mingle and introduce themselves individually to others, there are many conversations going on at once. People chat in twos and threes about all sorts of subjects; the next port of call, the weather, "Is this your first time on board QM2?" etc. It is a chance (as someone above said) to put a face to an on-screen name.

 

Yet again myself and Pepper have the same view !

 

Last time we were on the QV, we met two people (well, couples) who post here regularly (i.e. a face to a screen name) at the "Meet and Greet".

 

And it went exactly as you describe. It started out with people arriving a few at a time and people sitting in a circle and it tended to be one person speaking at once but as time went on, multiple conversations started up and it went from there until people drifted away.

 

Also, as soon as the waiters spotted a group was forming they would come over and move tables and chairs so the group was better positioned (and of course it was good for them because not that many people tend to be in the Commodore lounge in the early afternoon, well, at least not drinking, so they also sold a few more pints ! )

 

The big plus was then as the cruise went on you would see the people whom you met at the M&G around the ship so then you would talk more.

You never know how the M&G's might turn out. One of ours only had one couple and one single. We had a great time and it got me invited and introduced to all the friends of Dorothy in the Commodore Club when I walked by the meetings, escorted to Abba night, a dancing partner, and always, compliments on my choice of evening wear. Win win :)

We have been on close to 40 cruises and have attended many Meet & Greets, as well as organizing a few Meet & Greets

 

Each time depends on the group and ship officer participation

 

Ship officer participation- When they come they normally give a short welcome and circulate the room making sure all are happy. If a problem, then it is immediately fixed and I can remember on one cruise line where the ship, not Cunard, took some wine or alcohol away from a guest on embarkation. With a little discussion the officer phoned up and had the bottles delivered to the cabin

 

Just show up at an agreed upon location- all have had name tags available. Topics in the one on one conversations ranged all over the map including sharing advice on private excursions, cruise fares, etc. Great source of info. Next step up is the person organizing makes up a keepsake name tag.

We have experienced two other options- i) For those who want to, they bring a souvenir from their home city and swap; ii) Cabin hop- members attending walk around to see the various cabins

 

Queen Suites- One of the Meet & Greet participants got along so well they had a second Meet & Greet in one of the Queens Grill Suite. This was amazing= we pooled our alcohol, we gave the list of guests to Cunard and they personally had them hand delivered to each member's cabin, and Cunard supplied the finger food, glasses, cups, coffee, etc. A Senior officer phoned and requested to attend, which he did and circulated talking to the guests one on one. A memorable experience. Cunard is a class act and goes all out for these Queen Suite's party

 

Highly recommend

 

Hope these experiences provide food for thought

Edited April 27, 2015 by DGF

Maybe because of this from a previous thread

 

Ah yes, but that information, the fact that we paid less than half, came from the internet, not the Meet & Greet. It is rare that people say, "I paid $x,xxx.xx" for this cruise, but it does occasionally happen, just as it happens from time to time at dinner or in casual conversation anywhere on the ship.

 

We have attended two Meet & Greets that had a dozen officers, including the Captains, in attendance. One was on HAL and they supplied champagne and appetizers. That Captain was a really sociable fellow and we met him several more times on the ship an when we went ashore. That was strictly a walk around and talk, cocktail like meeting with about 50 passengers in attendance. Having so many officers, as well as the champagne, made that lots of fun.

 

The other was on Princess, where the dozen officers included the Captain, the Deputy Captain,and the Cruise Director, along with 9 other officers attended. At that meeting, which had over 65 passengers, we spent about 30 minutes chatting casually with the officers. After they left, we had an organized meeting where we introduced ourselves and had a Q&A/discussion session which was then followed by a gift exchange which was a riot. Easily the most interesting and fun Meet & Greet I have ever attended.

 

The most officers who have ever attended my Meet & Greet on Cunard was 5. There were only about 30 passengers in attendance so we did a bit of a mingle with the officers, followed by an organized Q&A session with the officers which was highly informative and marvelous fun. After the officers left, we introduced ourselves and had an open discussion on cruising. That was also very successful.

 

Every time I have organized a Cunard Meet & Greet, almost all of the attendees have told me it was the most interesting and valuable cruise meeting they had ever attended. Oh yes, we always end them by having the folk who have organized private tours identify themselves so that the folks joining them can get together and make meet-up plans.

 

If you are ever on a cruise where I put together a Meet & Greet, you should come just to see what you think. Heck, you might even really like it. :)

As a (reasonably) dispassionate observer having yet to sail with Cunard (I hope to shortly) I do like the sound of PunkiC's Meet & Greets. I sometimes wonder if we are all a little too quick to criticise if something doesn't seem to fit precisely our ideal. Perhaps we should just be grateful that someone is passionate enough to organise an event that we can choose to attend or otherwise. After all, we are all on holiday.

As a (reasonably) dispassionate observer having yet to sail with Cunard (I hope to shortly) I do like the sound of PunkiC's Meet & Greets. I sometimes wonder if we are all a little too quick to criticise if something doesn't seem to fit precisely our ideal. Perhaps we should just be grateful that someone is passionate enough to organise an event that we can choose to attend or otherwise. After all, we are all on holiday.

 

Well said. Enjoy your vacation and speak to those you wish too. I personally like the ideas from PunkiC. i like to hear all the different views especially if the criticizm is left at home and we each take want suits us.

 

thanks again for pleasant conversation

Ah yes, but that information, the fact that we paid less than half, came from the internet, not the Meet & Greet. It is rare that people say, "I paid $x,xxx.xx" for this cruise, but it does occasionally happen, just as it happens from time to time at dinner or in casual conversation anywhere on the ship.

 

We have attended two Meet & Greets that had a dozen officers, including the Captains, in attendance. One was on HAL and they supplied champagne and appetizers. That Captain was a really sociable fellow and we met him several more times on the ship an when we went ashore. That was strictly a walk around and talk, cocktail like meeting with about 50 passengers in attendance. Having so many officers, as well as the champagne, made that lots of fun.

 

The other was on Princess, where the dozen officers included the Captain, the Deputy Captain,and the Cruise Director, along with 9 other officers attended. At that meeting, which had over 65 passengers, we spent about 30 minutes chatting casually with the officers. After they left, we had an organized meeting where we introduced ourselves and had a Q&A/discussion session which was then followed by a gift exchange which was a riot. Easily the most interesting and fun Meet & Greet I have ever attended.

 

The most officers who have ever attended my Meet & Greet on Cunard was 5. There were only about 30 passengers in attendance so we did a bit of a mingle with the officers, followed by an organized Q&A session with the officers which was highly informative and marvelous fun. After the officers left, we introduced ourselves and had an open discussion on cruising. That was also very successful.

 

Every time I have organized a Cunard Meet & Greet, almost all of the attendees have told me it was the most interesting and valuable cruise meeting they had ever attended. Oh yes, we always end them by having the folk who have organized private tours identify themselves so that the folks joining them can get together and make meet-up plans.

 

If you are ever on a cruise where I put together a Meet & Greet, you should come just to see what you think. Heck, you might even really like it. :)

Your meet and greet sounds nice. However, when I organized MY meet and greet, every ship officer came. All passengers attending were given full refunds of their fares. The captain also let each and every attending guest drive the ship (albeit only in a circle less we hit something whilst driving). Every passenger attending bragged on me continuously for about three hours following the event, and I was offered a job by Cunard to organize everything for them in the future. I did, however, turn this down as I had many other very important things to do.;);):D:D

Your meet and greet sounds nice. However, when I organized MY meet and greet, every ship officer came. All passengers attending were given full refunds of their fares. The captain also let each and every attending guest drive the ship (albeit only in a circle less we hit something whilst driving). Every passenger attending bragged on me continuously for about three hours following the event, and I was offered a job by Cunard to organize everything for them in the future. I did, however, turn this down as I had many other very important things to do.;);):D:D

 

DWhit, I'm delighted that you were so well supported, how is the tuxedo by the way?

Your meet and greet sounds nice. However, when I organized MY meet and greet, every ship officer came. All passengers attending were given full refunds of their fares. The captain also let each and every attending guest drive the ship (albeit only in a circle less we hit something whilst driving). Every passenger attending bragged on me continuously for about three hours following the event, and I was offered a job by Cunard to organize everything for them in the future. I did, however, turn this down as I had many other very important things to do.;);):D:D

 

Thanks for the smiles - they're always welcome.

2.30pm sounds good to me. I'm the one that looks like Santa:)