Pre-Cruise Concierge

I knew Richard was a very important man, but now I'm really impressed that you had Donald Trump in your suite:

 

Nice one Toad. :'):')

If only I could tell what that guy actually did but my lips are sealed.

By the way, I think Solent Richard is much more attractive than either Trump or Bannon. I am sure we all can agree on that! Thank you, Richard, for the beautiful pictures of our amazing suite. I pinch myself every time I think about it!

And I can, with hand on heart, honestly say I never slept in 'your' bed with Melania while the only dubious connection I have with Steve Bannon is that we both served our individual countries in their respective Navies.

As I stated in the opening post...we have two suites that are only four doors apart (9080 and 9065). I would like to have the same butler serving both suites.....

Hi again Whirled Peas.

Glad you enjoyed my photographs.

On a serious note I cannot see why your request cannot be met as, though your respective suites are different categories, having checked the deck plan, they are very close together.

Nice hotel The Goring. Very handy for those Buckingham Palace Garden Parties.

I am going to follow the proper protocol and contact my TA, asking her to contact Cunard about the butler request. We are six weeks out. Should I call now or wait a few more weeks? If that doesn't work, then I will just have to deal with that issue on board. As for the other requests (the hosted dinner with a presenter), do you folks think that is a subject I should ask the TA to broach or wait and talk to the concierge once onboard?

Another off topic question: I live in Alaska. I was thinking of bringing some Alaskan smoked salmon to offer as gifts to our suite crew and to the concierge. This would NOT be in lieu of tips. (I am a firm believer in tipping and let's not begin that thread again, OK?) But would it be odd to bring such gifts?

As to The Goring Hotel, I love it. This will be my third stay there in three years. They actually remember me from past visits! When I emailed to book a reservation, the reservation person asked after my husband, who was recovering from cancer surgery the last time we were there. What other hotel in the world has staff like that? Staying there is not just a place to park our bags and to sleep, it is part of the vacation itself.

Where will you be boarding?

Importation of meat products is tightly regulated in most countries. You might not get out of the destination airport with it (to say nothing of how a gift of smoked fish might affect the recipient's roommate...).

Excellent point! Not worth the trouble. I will keep my stinky fish to myself.

I sent a lengthy email to my TA with all of my questions and requests. She called Cunard, and they told her to submit the email to them (which she did) and that a pre-cruise concierge would contact me about two weeks prior to my sail date. Hmmmm. I will let all of you know if that happens.

Bell Boy, How were you able to make those arrangements regarding your butler before your cruise? Who do you know that I don't know?

I doubt very much one would be successful in requesting a particular Butler 'once onboard', however, it is possible to arrange this 'well in advanced' ( I've managed to do this on two occasions)

Trying to arrange a particular Butler and their assistant crew member once onboard, could cause quite a hassle. He/She may have already been allocated suites at the far end of the ship or even on a deck above. Not only that, it would appear to look like a snub to the crew member that has already been allocated to take care of you. ;)

I sent a lengthy email to my TA with all of my questions and requests. She called Cunard, and they told her to submit the email to them (which she did) and that a pre-cruise concierge would contact me about two weeks prior to my sail date. Hmmmm. I will let all of you know if that happens.

 

Bell Boy, How were you able to make those arrangements regarding your butler before your cruise? Who do you know that I don't know?

Ah, those were the days Bell Boy.

Cruisers and Bruisers of the North Atlantic. :evilsmile:

I remember the days of the Concierge contacting us for any requests. Not for some time though :(

I sent a lengthy email to my TA with all of my questions and requests. She called Cunard, and they told her to submit the email to them (which she did) and that a pre-cruise concierge would contact me about two weeks prior to my sail date. Hmmmm. I will let all of you know if that happens.

 

Bell Boy, How were you able to make those arrangements regarding your butler before your cruise? Who do you know that I don't know?

Hello W P, arrangements re the Butler, I called my 'personal cruise specialist' at Cunard Carnival house. who fixed it for me. To be honest as a solo, I do prefer to have a male butler rather than a female, this request is now in my profile with Cunard whenever I choose to travel Grills. I believe anyone can make these sort of requests , so I don't think I'm the only one, however, it's less hassle to arrange special requests well in advance before crew members are rotated.

Just to pick up on a comment in one of your posts, re a 'hosted table' for your daughter (fashion cruise next month) , if you encounter any problems, leave it to me I'll get it sorted for you once we are onboard, I know several of those who are doing the presentations/lectures ;)

Bell Boy, You and Solent Richard are my cruise heroes! Thank you so much. I really look forward to meeting with you on this fashion week cruise.

BTW, as this cruise approaches, I already am beginning to grieve for the reality of disembarkation day. So I have tentatively booked my next Cunard cruise: Dubai to Southhampton on the QM2 in March/April 2019. I truly wish I could cruise more often, as some of you folks do, but I am still a working woman, and I also have to accommodate my husbands desire for more adventurous land-based holidays, which shall suck up all of my leave time in 2018.

Bell Boy, I can't thank you enough for all of your kindnesses to me and my little group. I hope I can find a way to reciprocate some day.

Bell Boy, You and Solent Richard are my cruise heroes! Thank you so much. I really look forward to meeting with you on this fashion week cruise.

 

BTW, as this cruise approaches, I already am beginning to grieve for the reality of disembarkation day. So I have tentatively booked my next Cunard cruise: Dubai to Southhampton on the QM2 in March/April 2019. I truly wish I could cruise more often, as some of you folks do, but I am still a working woman, and I also have to accommodate my husbands desire for more adventurous land-based holidays, which shall suck up all of my leave time in 2018.

 

Bell Boy, I can't thank you enough for all of your kindnesses to me and my little group. I hope I can find a way to reciprocate some day.

Good morning Whirled Peas.

I'm so pleased Bell Boy and myself have proved such a help to you.

We both, very often, come in for a bit of stick on here due to our penchant for socialising (fraternising?) with the officers onboard and, God forbid, hosting our own parties.

It does have its advantages of course: as does making similar contacts though Facebook groups.

Prior to his promotion, we would always request a certain butler via a direct onboard 'channel' and, similarly, when I had an aunt, who had made a late booking to join friends was desperate to join their Britannia seating and table, one email made it all happen.

You are going to have one amazing time: Bon Voyage

Richard, Your wife is gorgeous! You are a lucky man.

I admire people who can easily socialize with anyone and who can be gracefully assertive to insure that they have a positive experience, whether it is on holiday, at work, or otherwise. I struggle with that sometimes, and so I admire those qualities in others. I have pursued this thread so that I could learn from others, such as you and Bell Boy, how to accomplish that. Thanks to everyone who has responded with their advice. It really has been helpful.

And I confess, I come back and look at the photos you posted of our Windsor suite every day. My arms are black and blue from all of the pinching I have done to them, just to insure that I'm not dreaming...

Vanessa

:'):'):') Oh Vanessa that's not his wife , That's the 'Divine' Ms Dragana ... Senior manager, onboard Voyage sales QM2/Q.Vic., who will often look out and take special care of Cunard guests

As they say ....."It's not what you know",.... "it's who you know" that makes every voyage/cruise memorable ;)

Good morning Whirled Peas.

 

I'm so pleased Bell Boy and myself have proved such a help to you.

 

We both, very often, come in for a bit of stick on here due to our penchant for socialising (fraternising?) with the officers onboard and, God forbid, hosting our own parties.

 

It does have its advantages of course: as does making similar contacts though Facebook groups.

 

Prior to his promotion, we would always request a certain butler via a direct onboard 'channel' and, similarly, when I had an aunt, who had made a late booking to join friends was desperate to join their Britannia seating and table, one email made it all happen.

 

 

You are going to have one amazing time: Bon Voyage

:'):'):') Oh Vanessa that's not his wife , That's the 'Divine' Ms Dragana ... Senior manager, onboard Voyage sales QM2/Q.Vic., who will often look out and take special care of Cunard guests

 

As they say ....."It's not what you know",.... "it's who you know" that makes every voyage/cruise memorable ;)

Thank you for pointing that out in my absence over the weekend Bell Boy.

Sometimes, of course, one can wish.

And to put the record straight here is the the real Mrs SR entertaining and enjoying a meal in the Kings Court Coriander section with another very special member of onboard staff...

OMG! :eek: :') started this thread with the phrase "I am embarrassed...." and now, dozens of posts later, I am again embarrassed. Richard, please convey my apologies to the real "Ms. SR." And let me say, while I find the lady in the red fuzzy jacket to be quite striking, she also is a tad intimidating for this brown little bunny from Alaska. The real Ms. SR truly is lovely and more approachable-looking. I hope to meet HER on a future cruise.