Merry Maid

Are you sure you are on the right post . What you are describing and approving is very NCL and NOT up to proper Cunard standards. And unless you are spending your entire day in the gym, there will be way more "Brochure" fashions during the daytime than 50. Have a look in for afternoon tea. Most people do know how to properly attire themselves. Sadly some do not.

Yes I a m sure I am on the right post. I just get so tired of seeing the counsel of perfection reiterated on this board. It is not fair on the questioners. I base my remarks on long personal observation. I was simply trying to give the OP a light-hearted idea of the type of clothing to expect on board. All the clothing from companies mentioned can fall well within the daytime dress requirements with the obvious exceptions. To refer the OP to the brochure photographs is disingenuous to say the least. I know we would love it to be like that , that would be so very nice. But the plain fact of the matter is that it is not and anybody who walks the ship with their eyes unencumbered by the rose tinted spectacles of Cunard orthodoxy can plainly see that it is not. Personally I don't care what people wear it doesn't affect my holiday one jot, although that said I do like to see everyone in their finery on formal nights. My 'league table' may have been constructed a little lightheartedly it is true but it is fairly accurate for all that. And as usual it is usually the chaps who 'Let the Side Down Don'tcha Know'

We would all like it to be otherwise, to be just like the nice pictures but it isn't and never will be again. You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.

In spite of all that Cunard is still the classiest most formal of lines and long may it continue and we do enter a different world when on board, a gentler nicer world BUT people, no matter how much we on here fulminate, it is not Downton Abbey at sea and for all but the very rich it never was.

MM

Providing it's not 'You Guys' (we are a mixed couple) I don't really care as long as they are polite.

MM

Hope that's mostly tongue-in-cheek and glad I've not been on any of your cruises, MM. Never seen anyone wearing a baseball cap or "wifebeaters" (whatever that is - and a terrible expression).

What never??? On a Cunard Ship? Ray, you astonish me. I've seen them at afternoon tea, in the MDR at b'fast and lunch and they are almost de rigeur in Kings Court on some trips.

Maybe one of our cousins can explain the origin of ' Wifebeater'

In the UK I think they are called a singlet or maybe a muscle shirt or perhaps that's something else.

MM

PS Looks like Big Mac has already covered that question.

Ladies.

50% Marks & Spencers

25% Matalan / Primark / TK Max

10% High Street Couture. Jaeger / Klass / Phase 8 / Monsoon et. al.

5% Sports wear

5% Ladies Who Lunch

4% Golf Club Lady Captain

0.5% Any Market Stall

0.25% Eccentric.

0.25% Undefinable (Think e.g. long scruffy mac over pjs and bare feet in Kings Court at lunchtime).

Gentlemen.

Sportswear, Sportswear all the way.

80% Rohan, Jd Sports, Sports Direct, Regatta etc etc.

The remaining 20% will consist of a few men golf club smart.

A few City smart.

There will be plenty of baseball caps worn in both modes.

There will be plenty of football strip.

Rather less of those absurdly oversize Basketball shirts coupled with the equally ludicrously baggy shorts.

There will be ‘Wifebeaters’ and Speedos.

There will be a number of gentlemen following their stomachs which are inadequately covered by washed out, shrunken T-shirts bearing the barely discernible logo of of some long defunct rock band and/or the tour dates.

And of course the unquantifiable. think e.g. short and portly wearing bandana à la pirate, wifebeater, empire builders all accessorised with a large rucksack or a large pilot-style briefcase and sandals worn with socks.

As for people dressing like those in the brochure I think there should be a prize for anyone who spots in excess of 50 during the daytime on any one cruise.

After 6pm on formal nights. You WILL see plenty of passengers about the ship informally dressed. Let’s be honest if you are dining at 8.30 are you really going to gulp down your drink, finished your conversation or game and scuttle off to your cabin at 17.55 to change. After 7.30/ 8pm it’s a different matter, 99% will be dressed as per the code.

Outdoor wear on the North Atlantic is usually Anoraks R Us.

MM

PS I forgot, Whatever you are wearing if it tis beige you'll fit right in.

MM

Apologies that the question has been addressed before. In my defence can i say that I don't visit the site daily or even weekly sometimes. Anyway my puzzle is solved and thank you to all who posted in reply. Can't say I'm too happy about the reply as it means I won't be doing the trip this year. It will be outwith my budget I fear and I don't fancy the accent on the ocean racing. I'm sure those who do like this sport will be well and beautifully catered for. Good luck to them.

Going off to sulk now.

MM

I was looking at Cunard's brochure for TA's next year to check the date of the crossing which takes in July 4th celebrations in NYC. This is a trip I am particularly fond of. Usually QM2 arrives in NYC on July 1st, then goes on up into Boston etc. giving me 5 nights in NYC before boarding to come back to UK. I've done this several times and love it.

The brochure gives QM2 departing NYC on Jun 15, Arr. Soton on the 22nd. There is no sailing from Soton on that date in the brochure, BUT the QM2 is in NYC on the first of July for the 5 day trip to Boston and Halifax as per usual. I cannot find any sailing that would enable her to do this unless she is chartered for this WB crossing. Any ideas anyone?

MM

Personally I think that the mods should ban all tipping threads. The arguments for and against are so well documented on this board and positions are so entrenched. Really, one could construct an entire thread oneself.

And sooner or later the epithets start to fly. Cheap Charlies, tightwads etc. The Americans condemn those who remove the charge, the Aussies declare it's not their custom, the Brits are embarrassed and defensive. Can we not just shut up about the whole thing and get on with what we do ourselves because we will anyway irrespective of any online squabble.

MM

See post #3, and the two links there, for answers to both questions.

Thank you for pointing out those links B.R.

MM

In view of the constant controversy about this subject of which the companies cannot be unaware, if the tip pool (whatever that consists of) is so central to the :)crew's wages why then do the companies provide the opportunity for it to be removed at the whim of the individual passenger?

Curious no?

MM

I have to strongly disagree with those statements. The history of tipping is already documented with the links in post #3 so I won't repeat them here. Unless and until the system is replaced, it is what it is and we all know that when we book on Cunard. To remove gratuities greatly harms the staff by decreasing the income of the crew member. And that is treating the crew badly.

Can we assume then that a steward/MDR waiters whose pax/table remove the auto tips will receive less salary at the end of the month than their ℅-worker whose guests/table leave then on?

Just askin'

MM

An addendum to my post regarding my lost jacket and sweater. Two days ago I received a phone call from a nice lady at Cunard to say that my jacket had been recovered and would be sent to me. So that's nice.

MM

There was certainly a midnight buffet on the QE2 as late as 1999, that was my last trip on her I think. My memory is a bit dodgy these days but I do remember it was a splendid display and I think included ice sculptures and some very fancy artwork with carved veg and fruit and also butter sculptures. My digestion was a lot more forgiving in those days and I attended on several occasions. Nowadays it's Horlicks at 9.30. Ah Well!

MM

If the steward is being logical, they should spend minimal time on 1 to 5 and devote all their resource to cabin 6.

 

On this cruise cabins 1 to 5 have already declared their intention, so there is nothing to be gained by doing anything above the minimum.

 

Cabin 6 on the other hand is an unknown quantity.

 

They may leave nothing, or they might hand over fistful of notes on the last day. If they are not going to leave anything, then nothing the steward does will change that. However if they are going to hand over a cash tip then the quality of service will likely determine how much that tip is.

 

Now obviously cabins 1 to 5 will not be happy and may remove the tips on the next cruise, but that won't have any impact on this steward.

This is an interesting post to me for this reason. I don't really know what EXTRA service a cabin steward can provide to distinguish cabins 1-5 from cabin 6. Does he/she give a few more strokes of the vacuum, or polish the sink a little longer? My cabin has always been cleaned efficiently and everything in it's place but this is what the steward is supposed to do.

I've always dropped a few extra dollars into his/her palm on the final night but I'm hanged if I know why I do this. He/She does not know I will do that, so is my cabin cleaner than anybody else's? Who knows? I've never asked for anything extra indeed I don't know what extras I would ask for. Maybe some pax are more demanding than I. He/she cleans the cabin that's it.

I'm not too interested in finding out about their family or any personal stuff any more than I am the chambermaid at a hotel. I don't want them to be my new BFF. But I always automatically dish out money on the last night to the waiters, bus boys, cabin staff. Why? God knows. Do I want them to think well of me? I may never see them again. So why would I care?

I've never really thought about it before, it's an interesting phenomenon, particularly from a Brit as we are supposed to have such hangups about tipping. I just count the hotel charge as the cost of the trip and never think about it much. The only ones left out of this last night distribution are the bar staff as I consider the 15% per drink ample reward. On my last trip it worked out at rather more than the $11.50pd hotel charge, but I enjoyed every moment and ultimately that's what counts.

MM

Hi Jim, great to see your polished prose once more.

MM

Slightly off topic folks. On both the WB and EB TA after 'Remastering', at the senior officer's cocktail party the ice sculptures, prawn fountains and hot canapés were not in evidence. Was this a settling down thing after dry dock and have they been reinstated? Just curious.

MM

With all due respect........I did mention that this was my personal experience..

Of course you did BT, my comment was directed at the generalisation that frequently appears in smoking threads. No offence intended.

MM

smokers tend to be very sociable....

I have seen this stated several times on smoking threads. Smokers are no more sociable than any other group of people. It is only that they are driven into small enclaves and that they have a common purpose and, dare I say it, a common grievance and thus appear more sociable than other groups. If smoking was still universally acceptable this 'sociability' would not be apparent.

B.T.W. as an ex smoker of everything from cigarettes, cigars, pipe and, in my youth tealeaves, I have known many morose smokers in my time. As for the occasional rule breakers in Churchills there will ALWAYS be those who don't actually break the rules because they simply believe that the rules do not apply to THEM. Exactly the same as the dress code.

MM

Glad the 'You're A Star' cards are still there even though we didn't get them, probably just a settling down thing after the refit. Also at the Senior Officers' Cocktail Party on both legs of the June 23 voyage there were no ice sculptures or 'Prawn fountain or warm 'Small Chow' in evidence. Maybe this was just a settling down omission too. I hope so, it gave a touch of glamour to the occasion (even though I don't eat prawns).

MM

Further to my previous post about my mislaid cashmere sweater. I also realised when I unpacked that I had left my ROHAN jacket in the wardrobe on the ship. . I left it out of my packing purposefully in case it was raining in Soton on disembarkation. But the weather was so fair I forgot all about it.

Message from Cunards lost property dept today to say neither garment had been located. So my carelessness has cost me over £300.00 That'll larn me.

MM

The UK immigration officers were on board for the July 6 EB crossing. very smooth disembark at Soton.

MM

Thank you for your informative posts. One question: is there still a string quartet to play at various times, such as tea in the Queen's Room?

Yes David, I'm please to report the string quartet is still going strong. A different group from last year. 3 female and a male cello player. They play as usual in the queens room, chart room and MDR etc.

MM

You need a tux to all of those things?

As usual on this board when it comes to dress questions you are offered 'the counsel of perfection'. While it is true that the dress code in the brochure states exactly what has been stated above, it's observance is less than 100%. You will see guests dressed informally all about the ship after 6pm on formal nights. It is a pity but it is the reality I'm afraid. The dress code is very important to many contributors to this board, myself included. Unfortunately the interpretation of 'Formal' is often stretched to destruction. Personally I cannot understand the modern abhorrence for a tux or dark suit and tie but it must be accepted that the standard is, de facto, becoming attenuated.

It's a shame.

MM

I have a Question, if I may?

 

Are the TVs showing HD? I know that the TVs are LED and will be at least 1080p TVs, but while on Queen Elizabeth last year, I couldn't help but notice that the actual broadcasts, even on the Movies were showing in standard definition on the new LED TV. Which is a shame, because the fuzziness of the picture really stands out.

Sorry can't help you. Only had the TV on for the safety brief.

MM

Embarkation in Soton on 23/6. As i have priority boarding I was onboard within 20/25 minutes of arriving at the terminal. Still feel awkward about being pushed in front of the next in line. (Not awkward enough to refuse the privilege though)

The check-in lady said she was within an ace of throwing her swipe machine and camera out of the window, they were playing up so much. They worked ok for us though. Afterwards we learned that some people had to wait hours as the system fell over completely. Apparently the same thing happened at Hamburg too. The ship did not leave until 8pm due to a delay with the stores. Capt. Wells apologised to the passengers for the IT failure and explained that the ship left Hamburg virtually empty and had to completely re-store. A Little disappointment as I had thought the three Queens would leave in convoy.

As Happyboating has posted, the new Corinthia lounge appears a big success.

Mixed opinions on Kings Court however which came as a surprise consider the opprobrium which has been heaped upon it in the past. Definitely a nicer place to eat IMO. Bright and clean looking. Only visited three times, Twice on embarkation days for a light tea and once for breakfast. Not sure the traffic flow is any better but that might improve as the place settles down. Staff say quite a few people have expressed a dislike of the new layout.

Theatre. New light and digital imaging technology set up which is very good indeed. Two new shows which I saw. I don't really appreciate musical theatre but the applause was sustained. The old favourite 'Appasionata' was shown once as a matinee. Seems to be a Cunard classic now. Other entertainment was cruising standard stuff. Vocalists, instrumentalists, a musical duo, two comedians, both good. On boarding day there was a half row of seats taped off in Illuminations but that went down to one by the time I got off.

Prices of everything seem to have taken a hike. Cocktails round about 12 dollars now, at least ours were.

Inside cabin deck 10 next to laundrette. Carpet was wet on the side next to laundrette. Steward installed an industrial dryer after a wet and dry hoovering job. Dry as a bone by bed time. A washing machine next door had sprung a leak. That machine was still out of action when we got back to Soton.

The remastering (stupid word, it's not a long playing record) showed in the general appearance, not much interested in soft furnishings so can't really comment. The hull looked lovely v. shiny, no blemishes or scrapes from dockside arguments. We seemed to have new bedding but I think the carpet was old.

One minor thing, the old 'You Are A Star' reward system seems to have disappeared we certainly did not get any forms apart from the general 'Satisfaction' form. Pity that.

Also the invitation to the senior officers' cocktail party was not the Gold trimmed card of yore just a printed paper one in an ordinary envelope. Mickey Arisson was on board and held a Q&A session on the return leg. I didn't go. He attended the general cocktail party at which Capt Wells gave him the credit for saving Cunard which received a storm of approval, of course.

What else? Oh the embarkation at Red Hook was another failure. Our girl tried and tried to get the card reader to work. Then used the next operator's position thus holding up that line, not popular but not our fault. Took about 25 minutes to get it to accept first our passports then our CC then finally issued us with the wrong cruise cards. Still these things happen. Later on we had a note from the purser to say our cards were not recognised and would we re-register.

The two glass lifts. I must confess I had difficulty in remembering exactly where they were. Their removal is seamless. Tried breakfast in Corinthia lounge on recommendation from our table, a bit disappointing, eggs benedict left cooking under lights a la Travelodge buffet. Chef's Galley, normally my first stop for food on boarding, now only does hot dogs, burgers and pizza. No fresh cut sandwiches I'm afraid.

RADA. Did a compilation of death scenes from Shakespeare which was v. Good much better than trying to shoehorn an entire play onto 45 minutes. They also did Pride and Pred. but |I didn't see that, its did get very good reports. They also did a 'Bedtime Story at 10.30 in the Corinthia Lounge a couple of nights. The harpist was still there but this one sings what used to called in my youth 'Torch Songs' old sentimental numbers given her own very individual interpretation. Sometimes so individual as to be virtually unrecognisable. I did miss the old music only harpist.

Daily Programme, pretty much the mixture as before. Quizzes, lectures various classes, e.g. dancing, flower arranging (charge) wine tasting (charge), craft classes dance classes, line dancing, bingo etc etc. If you've sailed Cunard before you know the king of thing. Library - still superb. Book shop pitiful, just pitiful. Ate once in the Verandah, that was nice. Went again for lunch but it was exactly the same menu so decided against. The MD says it's going to be the same menu all the time. Went once to Kings Court speciality dining that was very good too, we went to the Italian night.

Overall. Food in MDR excellent, service excellent,

The Bars as before, I don't know if they have reduced the staff but it seemed to take much longer to get a drink.

Weather fine both directions. Took self disembark in NYC, called off ship at 0645. about 20 in front in homeland security line. Taxi immediately, $25 + tip to W. 40th street, via Brooklyn Bridge, I always like that. Hotel had room available immediately and were out and having coffee in Bryant Park as the clock struck 8.

Can't think of anything else. A terrific holiday on my favourite ship to my favourite city. Been sailing Cunard over 20 years and will always love it.

That's all folks, any questions fire away.

MM

P.S. One sour note, i carelessly left an expensive cashmere sweater on my chair one breakfast. I didn't notice this until later in the morning. Not worried as assumed it would turn up in the purser's office but sadly it did not. That'll teach me to take better care of my stuff.

PPS DRESS. I'm very much afraid people, that this is a battle we are losing by attrition

Well I was going to write a few observations but I see I've been been beaten to the post. (Pun intended, sorry)

Arrived home yesterday from the Wb TA NYC and Eb TA.

MM