December Winter EB crossing log

New York is cloudy and cold, and the north Atlantic isn’t going to be any warmer. But there is only one treatment for Regina Nervosa, and I’m about to undergo therapy. The conclusion of a work project allowed me to take a B-2-B crossing. The B-2-B was sold out so the two segments had to be pieced together. And since I was last on board just after the refit, it will be good to see how things have settled down since that chaos. (Recall that I didn’t have towels until after dinner – and that was in the Grills!)

Checking and boarding in Redhook this time took 5 minutes. I arrived a little after 1PM and the lines were not long. (I wrote of long checkin delays in Hamburg and Southampton just after the refit. This Cunard HAD to fix.) I don’t know how full the ship is because the EB had some rock bottom fares last week. As expected in cold weather like this, no cushions are out on the deck loungers. I noticed that the outside clocks have been restored.

Kings Court is looking more polished. Wall sconces and window shades have since been installed and give the area a more finished look.

As evening falls I’m appreciating the lights of Manhattan – how magnificent it looks from this vantage point. In warm weather we’re usually approaching at first light or departing while the sun is still shining. But this winter sailing shows the city at full brightness as the work day is done but the evening is just beginning.

We’re delayed as the ship waits for tour groups. I’m not surprised as Christmas time traffic in the city is always bad but now we have “Trump-lock” in sections of Fifth Avenue near the Trump Tower, which is almost adjacent to Rockefeller Center. (A President-elect gets the same security as a sitting President.)

We are finally underway at 7 PM. Sail-away in the deck 12 pool pavilion is not very well attended – it just doesn’t have the same feel as a celebration out on deck. But some hardy souls are out. The new deck 14 area has now been covered with some kind of rubber matting. Cuts down on noise and gives firmer footing. But near the forward end of the ship the wind is so strong I feel that spreading my arms would have me blown off the ship. It’s calmer back on the platform in front of the funnel, still my favorite area to watch first-timers as we approach the bridge. The ship’s architect is there too, but privately and not as a scheduled speaker. We chat briefly and I verified that he “got the calculations right”.

I’m in BC for this segment and it looks like our table will click right from the start. A red card solo, never did QE2 but now he decided to make up for it and sail back home in this ship. The others are two couples which several QM2 crossings. One man was Chief Purser on the SS United States – immediate connection. All of us have some interest in steam trains and engineering in general.

Although this is the first night, the level of dress is more like semi-formal. Men are wearing jackets and ties, some women cocktail dresses and even one long dress. Dress code ****s like myself smile in smug approval.

Happy sailing! Looking forward to your updates.

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Have a great crossing, Blueriband! We'll be with you on the Dec. 15 segment. We were on the same first run after the retrofit, and then again on a crossing in October. Yes, things have settled down since last summer. No more little fuzzy lumps of carpet lint.

Partly cloudy, scattered hail

As I write this about 11 AM ship’s time, the seas have white caps and we are passing through a scattered hail shower. In the wee hours of the morning there was enough of a break in the cloud cover to see that magnificent star field. Quite symbolic as it comes with the news of the death of astronaut John Glenn, the last surviving member of the Mercury 7 team. As a young girl I recall the excitement and pride we had when we were on the edge of space exploration.

The sea state has white caps, and I miss the old navigational channel which gave sea state as well as wind force and direction. On warmer crossings one knew which staterooms had their balcony door open by the howl of wind in the hall. No such problem on this sailing! Captain Wells is currently master and I believe that Captain Oprey is to come on in Southampton.

RADA is on board. I just came from a Storytelling workshop in the Queens Room. There’s only so much one can do in 45 minutes but it’s a useful skill beyond the stage: after dinner speaking, cocktail parties, entertainment with one’s table mates.

We have 18 canine passengers in the kennels. There has been some recent criticism of the refit expansion, but obviously some have chosen to take their dogs along rather than board them.

In BC I recognize one of my waiters from my last time in PG. He remembered that I like “yellow packs” for sweetening my coffee. That’s service that is very unlikely to happen in an open seating environment.

As is recent custom on EB TAs, we will advance one hour at Noon. For those tracking on the state of amenities, my BC stateroom offered daily fresh fruit. Pillow chocolates are Godiva but re-sized to measure about 1.25in x 0.75 in.

Following although I wish I knew what some of your short forms meant?? EB, red letter solo (from memory), BC - Britannia Cub? :confused: Sorry, we have booked our first QM2 so trying to learn what we can in advance.

Looking forward to following along.

Edit - Should be Red card solo

EB - Eastbound - New York to Southampton, red card solo - first time on Cunard sailing alone.

Friday night, Day 2

Heavy overcast, decks closed

Near midnight on Friday have moderate seas and force 7 wind. Channel 45 is now rolling navigation information. The water temperature (54degF) is warmer than the air (43degF). We have some rocking of the ship and felt some rough patches near the casino – where “bought” some fuel for the ship.

I’ve bypassed some of the production shows as they are all recycling from my most recent time on the ship last July. I did take in the RADA “Cunard Street” as the last time the PA system in the Carinthia Lounge was not working.

Tonight was the first formal night and it was overwhelmingly honored. A winter crossing doesn’t attract the t-shirt and sandals set. At the Captain’s cocktail party Captain Wells mentions the nationalities of passengers and crew - over 500 Americans but over 1500 British. Some choose to pass up these events, but I enjoy speaking with the officers about their jobs. Some were on duty at the refit. Over 2000 workers were living on board the ship and another 2000 in hotels near the shipyard. All that time hotel service had to be maintained.

The HR head trains new crew members in service for the ship. Even if they came off another Cunard ship they still have to learn the service for QM2 since she is a unique ship. Every 14 days there is a major crew change where typically 5-10 of them have no previous ship experience. Another crew member prepares the daily program and an international representative makes the translations into German, French and Japanese. I also got to speak with the Chief Engineer. Earlier today there was a major steam leak while others were reporting smoke.

As I finish this past midnight the moon is waxing and trying to poke through the cloud cover. Only the brightest stars can be seen. No visible ships on the horizon – only some weak moonlight lights the sea.

Hi Blue Riband, thanks for your posts.

I disembarked in NY just as you were embarking, so I appreciate reading about the onward voyage. I was in Cat BB, and that is where we had problems regulating the shower/tap hot water. You haven't encountered any problems, I hope?

Also, the daily fruit basket you mentioned - did you have to request it? I didn't know it was on offer for any category below Britannia Club.

Do you visit the casino? If so, what's your impression of the tables after the refit?

I understand if you don't have time to answer these questions, but I look forward to your next post.

Regards,

Salacia

Also, the daily fruit basket you mentioned - did you have to request it? I didn't know it was on offer for any category below Britannia Club.

A daily fruit basket is listed as an amenity even in an inside, but it's also mentioned that it must be requested.

http://www.cunard.com/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/accommodation/britannia-inside/

A really bright steward could earn some extra tips by offering it on embarkation day, I might think. We've never thought to ask and we've never received a fruit basket.

EB - Eastbound - New York to Southampton, red card solo - first time on Cunard sailing alone.

Thank you very much. It does make a difference to my understanding the post which I am enjoying. So when DH and I embark on our first TA on QM2 are we considered red cards - newbies?

Thank you very much. It does make a difference to my understanding the post which I am enjoying. So when DH and I embark on our first TA on QM2 are we considered red cards - newbies?

Yes, on your first Cunard cruise your cruise card will have a red stripe at one end, so everyone who sees it will know that you're on your first voyage.

After your first cruise you will have Silver status within the Cunard World Club, which puts you firmly into Cunard's mailing list. On your second cruise the card has a silver stripe at the end rather than red.

On your third cruise you'll have Gold status, which gets you some complimentary internet time (120 minutes per Gold member) and an invitation to a cocktail party for World Club members.

It goes up from there - Platinum after 7 voyages (or 70 nights), Diamond after 15 voyages (or 150 nights).

http://www.cunard.com/already-booked/cunard-world-club/

Saturday, Second sea day afternoon

We have a force 6 wind from the NW but the decks – except for 14 – are open. A few hardy souls are using the starboard sun loungers. Aside from the cold it would otherwise be a nice day to sit and read. It’s been partly sunny with the cloud cover to the south of us. The sea state continues to be moderate and near the front it’s possible to see the ship very slightly pitching by changes to the horizon line. Nobody is using the outdoor pools!

I always enjoy overhearing the comments on the motion of the ship by those on board for the first time. “It feels like we’re hardly moving” and my favorite “Sometimes it feels like we’re heading backwards” (!)

We did not advance an hour today so we’ll have a full 24hr day. Many have now had a chance to get into a routine. None of my table mates come for breakfast, preferring instead to order in and get dressed at their leisure. (There were times on other voyages when I wished that others would do just that instead of coming down to Kings Court in a bath robe.)

One thing that I did not mention earlier about the Captain’s cocktail party is that his receiving line is now switched to the starboard side of the ship since the Art Gallery has replaced the former Photo Gallery as the main thoroughfare around Britannia. There is now signage indicating the location of the solo cabins, although the entrance doors are kept shut and blend in with the wall. Cunard seems to be determined to keep foot traffic down through those areas.

As I write in mid-afternoon the cloud cover is growing by the minute. The ship can definitely be felt moving in the moderate sea state. It’s really heard near Illuminations as the foyer chandeliers rattle with the ship motion. Although there’s not enough rattling and rolling to suit those who feel cheated if they don’t get some on a crossing. But the voyage is still young. At the noontime announcement Captain Wells mentioned a storm ahead but we would try to stay south of it.

***

To answer some questions seen in passing - my steward offered the fruit basket. And as correctly noted I indeed noticed and remembered.

The shower water is very hot and has to be dialed back considerably below the 38deg mark.

Casino: 4 tables for card games, 2 roulette tables. No more craps table. The rest is all video slots and games. Some take currency but it's mostly cashless where you can run up your stateroom account with a gambling bank to Cunard's content. I don't know how "good" is as as my gambling skills stink. I bet some money and when I lose it I'm done. I did notice the the video slot starts to pay back a little once one has lost about half the amount deposited - it's probably part of the programming to get one to keep at it since many people will stop once they lost about half their money. And if the casino isn't your thing, they now have scratch tickets. :eek: Well, nobody is forced to patonize this activity.

I spend way too much time in the casino, I fear. The big changes that I noticed, post re-imagining, were the loss of the craps table (OK by me) and fewer slot machines. The gaming area is smaller, but since it's seldom super busy on the QM2, the smaller size is barely noticeable.

Blue Riband, thanks for your post.

Regarding the casino: on the cruise preceding yours, we were asked for our stateroom card each time we sat down at a table. This was a new procedure to me, and I wondered if it was just a one-off. I noticed several times that passengers simply refused to give their card, and that was accepted with no comment.

During sea days/nights on that cruise, the casino was pretty busy. Sitting at a table with several noisy slot machines just feet away became very annoying. Bells, whistles, alarms, and howling sounds emanating from the slots reverberated through the small casino and could be heard in the lobby and even by the elevators. No doubt the noise doesn't bother those that play the slots as the machines were quite active.

Hope the seas are favourable for you tonight. - S.

Perhaps Cunard has a program to rate their players. Asking for a room card would facilitate this but wouldn't be necessary if a player doesn't care to be rated.

Yes, on your first Cunard cruise your cruise card will have a red stripe at one end, so everyone who sees it will know that you're on your first voyage.

After your first cruise you will have Silver status within the Cunard World Club, which puts you firmly into Cunard's mailing list. On your second cruise the card has a silver stripe at the end rather than red.

On your third cruise you'll have Gold status, which gets you some complimentary internet time (120 minutes per Gold member) and an invitation to a cocktail party for World Club members.

It goes up from there - Platinum after 7 voyages (or 70 nights), Diamond after 15 voyages (or 150 nights).

 

http://www.cunard.com/already-booked/cunard-world-club/

Thank you very much for the info and I really enjoy the fact that it seems that you assume after our first, there will be a second and a third and .... I certainly hope that is what happens. :D

Perhaps Cunard has a program to rate their players. Asking for a room card would facilitate this but wouldn't be necessary if a player doesn't care to be rated.

Underwatr, the only casino I've ever visited is the one on QM2 - so I'm a complete neophyte. I don't know what it means to be "rated". (We play cards at home and with friends, but for low stakes and high humour :) ) I did ask why they wanted my room card at the table on board, and the dealer said "so we can see what table you are playing at". :confused:

Anyway, perhaps when you are on board in a couple of weeks you will be better able than I to get the reasons for this new procedure.

By the way, I thought the Christmas decorations were especially lovely this year...hope you and your wife have a very happy cruise. -S.

Underwatr, the only casino I've ever visited is the one on QM2 - so I'm a complete neophyte. I don't know what it means to be "rated". (We play cards at home and with friends, but for low stakes and high humour :) ) I did ask why they wanted my room card at the table on board, and the dealer said "so we can see what table you are playing at". :confused:

 

Anyway, perhaps when you are on board in a couple of weeks you will be better able than I to get the reasons for this new procedure.

Land-based casinos like to know who their best customers are, so they can focus on making sure they come back often. So they have "Players Clubs" with a loyalty card. You put your card into the slot machine, or give it to the pit boss (staff supervisor) when you begin playing and they track your average bet so they can see how much money you're worth. If you're a big enough player you get offers for free weekends, possibly even including transportation to and from the casino. The practice of tracking your bets and determining your value to the casino is called "rating."

I'm aware that some cruise lines will do the same thing - entice their best casino customers to come back with free or very low cost cruises with a tacit expectation that the way to keep being invited back is to continue to be a good casino customer - not necessarily by losing but by continuing to make good size bets for a good amount of time (the law of averages takes care of the revenue).

I'm mostly a craps player so the loss of the craps table means I'm no longer enticed by the casino, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Cunard is interested in knowing who is contributing most significantly to the casino's bottom line.

By the way, I thought the Christmas decorations were especially lovely this year...hope you and your wife have a very happy cruise. -S.

Land-based casinos like to know who their best customers are, so they can focus on making sure they come back often. So they have "Players Clubs" with a loyalty card. You put your card into the slot machine, or give it to the pit boss (staff supervisor) when you begin playing and they track your average bet so they can see how much money you're worth. If you're a big enough player you get offers for free weekends, possibly even including transportation to and from the casino. The practice of tracking your bets and determining your value to the casino is called "rating."

 

I'm aware that some cruise lines will do the same thing - entice their best casino customers to come back with free or very low cost cruises with a tacit expectation that the way to keep being invited back is to continue to be a good casino customer - not necessarily by losing but by continuing to make good size bets for a good amount of time (the law of averages takes care of the revenue).

 

I'm mostly a craps player so the loss of the craps table means I'm no longer enticed by the casino, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Cunard is interested in knowing who is contributing most significantly to the casino's bottom line.

 

Thank you. We're looking forward to it and to seeing the remastered spaces.

Underwatr, thanks very much for explaining why they ask for the room card. I doubt they'll be inviting me for some freebee, but I'll be sure to post if that should happen :)

BTW, even for those never played the craps table, the casino is just not the same: small, noisy - not the convivial atmosphere as it was in the past because most of the casino is occupied by people playing with slot machines - and I suppose that is where the profit originates.

Cheers,

Salacia

Midnight Sunday morning

Cloud cover, wind force 5

Stephen Payne or a jewelry demonstration….I wonder which one I want to attend?

The program for Sunday has been delivered and on Sunday afternoon Stephen Payne will present “Great Cunard Liners”. He’s not a scheduled speaker on this sailing but boarded in New York. Unless he were to recluse himself it’s impossible for him not to be recognized as he is the only naval architect on this planet whose name and professional reputation are known to people who have nothing to do with the shipping business. I’ve not heard this particular talk before and look forward to hearing his perspective on the past Cunard liners.

This evening I finally did take in a production show, “Broadway Rocks”. It’s quite a production for a ship: 4 soloist and 10 ensemble performers in addition to the 8-piece band. Multiple costume changes. It’s an enjoyable and energetic performance that highlights some ensemble performances from Broadway musicals. As I took a walk around the promenade deck the performers were chowing down in the “Aft Buffet”. (This is the smaller buffet area just in front of the D elevators.) After burning all those calories they need to.

There’s always work going on. As I pass the PG a housekeeping crew member is vacuuming the carpets. On Thursday night in QG one of the waiters was applying an iron to a table cloth.

Somebody asked about the shower temperature. Yesterday it was way too hot and had to be dialed almost all the way down to be bearable. Today it was the opposite where it had to be cranked up to get comfortable so there is clearly some problem either the supply temperature regulation.

Today the decks were re-opened and it’s not nearly as cold as it was on Friday night. As I wrote this at night we have two ships off our starboard side. One way on the horizon, and another close that is keeping pace with us. As we are currently at about 22 knots I’m curious as to what merchant ship would have that kind of service speed. MarineTraffic AIS doesn’t show up out here. We’re starting to get some rocking but by this time the vast majority will have turned in for the night and won’t be aware of it.

My first experience with being asked for my room card at the QM2 casino was this past June. I asked Chris, the pit boss, what that was all about. I am very familiar with the loyalty clubs that land-based casinos all seem to have. These casinos track your play, and my experience has been to receive complementary ("comp") points or dollars that can be used for food or hotel stays. They also link up to my email address, and I get occasional offers. Chris on the QM2 told me their system is similar in that they track your amount of play, and if you play enough, you get a free drink. At one point Chris actually came to me and told me that I rated a free drink. No doubt Cunard is using this system for other customer loyalty tracking purposes.

Late Sunday night, 3rd sea day

Wind force 6, heavy cloud cover

23 hour days pass so quickly. After the Noon operational update and lunch there is barely time for one activity before getting ready for dinner. This afternoon Stephen Payne presented his lecture on the ocean liners of Cunard leading up to QM2. He could have gone on longer but Illuminations was already booked with back to back lectures. I caught the tail end of his televised interview with the entertainment director – this is the first time that he has sailed since the remastering. I thought he would have been on much sooner but perhaps her sailing schedule didn’t fit with his professional responsibilities. He’s now scheduled to also speak on Wednesday, which will probably be his Genesis of a Queen talk. Some years ago, in Glasgow, he did a presentation on QE2. To my knowledge he has never presented it on board. Perhaps Cunard fears some kind of passenger insurrection. (On one board there is vociferous anger as in, “They took our ship away from us.”)

I had not tried Sir Samuel's post-refit until today. It’s now for chocoloholics, not alcoholics. Specialty coffees are there but there is no bar. Sweets are Godiva-branded for purchase. Inexplicably the “select your own chocolates” prices are 2 for $2.95 or 4 for $6.50. Anybody see a problem with this math?

I passed on most of the offered entertainment tonight, except for the String Quartet which appeared in the Grand Lobby. It’s quite beautifully decorated for Christmas. (Four steel cables anchor the tree to the floor and two clear nylon cables are attached to the balcony to steady the top.) Just down the hall leading to Britannia is an entire Gingerbread Village prepared by the confectioners.

Tonight I’m able to walk around her promenade deck. Forward the wind is so strong that the prop on Lifeboat 1 is turning. The wind is actually calmer on the port side open deck than in the protected forward and aft areas – perhaps it is a wind tunnel effect. The sky is under complete cloud cover, but because there is almost a full moon the horizon can be seen. No ships in the distance tonight – we’re alone out here. We’re getting a big of bumping and rocking but nothing exciting.

Blue Riband, thanks again for your posts.

During his lecture, did Stephen Payne make any comments about the re-fit? My understanding is that he was not consulted (which seems strange, so maybe I have that wrong?).

I hope they disabled the sound on the slot machines when the String Quartet was playing in the lobby. I noticed that the volume on the slots is adjustable, so perhaps on trans-Atlantics, they lower it to a decent decibel, unlike a Caribbean cruise.

Sorry that the water temperature remains problematic. I didn't report the problem last week, and now I feel guilty for not doing so. Please be careful to avoid scalding.

Regarding Sir Samuels/Godiva ... no more little sandwiches at lunch time? (I didn't stop there because desserts are too much of a temptation for me.)

Snow today in NY, but it will be gone by morning.

Regards - S.

Thanks for the commentary, Blue Riband. You are getting me in the mood. We depart Southampton in only 3 days. Flying to London from Palermo today. Hope the luggage makes it!

We have some pitching the morning and the heavy mist completely obscures the horizon. At times the swells reach mid-level with the windows on deck 2. In the hall with the board game tables some are instead watching the Atlantic and goading it to come up to the windows like the splashing in a washing machine.

The water temperature problem has been fixed - apparently there was some work done overnight as the faucets were sputtering air pockets.

Stephen Payne's QM2 lecture won't be until Wednesday. His presentations had to be fitted into the schedule since he's not one of the original Insights speakers.