Shropshirekitkat

21 hours ago, Adammara said:

We sail 3 weeks tomorrow, still no cabin, and the ship has full for several weeks!

Our cruise also appeared sold out and cabin allocated 11 days before sailing. I wasn't worried at all - knew we get a nice cabin. Hope yours is allocated soon. 

Booked QV BF category and just been notified of an upgrade to BA - lovely location so very happy with this. 

Towels are provided too. I've seen lots of different dress codes too, I am just always glad to see people exercising. They may not have planned to do this and therefore not had the right clothes with them. But they are still taking the opportunity to use the great facilities and keep those cruise pounds at bay. 

I have a simple view on this. People who pay to select their cabins will pick the best located cabin in any given category. Therefore, by default the cabins that are left as guarantees will be those cabins that no one paid extra to select. Think cabins under the pool area, next to cabin service areas, close to the laundry, next to unspecified white spaces etc etc. And don’t think that an upgrade will mean a better cabin either. The only time that I book a guarantee is if it is the top balcony cabin grade, with no cabins poorly located and the only upgrade possibility is to a suite...

We booked Ocean View Cunard fare on QM2 earlier this year. I selected the cabin that we wanted. 4 days before we sailed I received an updated invoice from Cunard stating we were now upgraded to a sheltered balcony. It was fantastic and we loved the upgrade. I'm not sure I can agree with you Bedruthan. Cunard have their own algorithm.

We visited Verandah on QE in 2015 and found it absolutely wonderful. Beautiful venue, amazing food and we had the time of our life. Fast forward to a trip to the same restaurant on QM2, the venue did not have the same joie de vie, the venue was not as special and we were not drawn to book a meal here. I was very suprised by this and wouldn't really want to eat here.

We were on the recent QM2 cruise to Norway. Lobster was served on the last gala evening. It was pleasant but the prawns were better - they were delicious.

We ate in Verand 2 years ago while on QE and we loved it. Would definitely consider again. Was amazing.

We were on QE last summer, it must have been about 5.45pm, and we sauntered into the Commodore Club and looked at the cocktail menu. "Over the top" was cocktail of the day. We sat down and placed our order. It was amazing, gin, brandy and lots of smoke, served elaborately in a glass teapot. We sat down to enjoy. The waiter came over and whispered to my guest, "Excuse me sir, after 6pm, gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and trousers". He did this very discreetly. My guest returned to our stateroom, quickly changed with appropriate attire and returned to enjoy probably the best ever cocktail.

If they remove the jacket requirement on the Smart Attire nights it means I have one less item to pack.

I would say "smart attire" still includes a jacket! Sorry!

We are also on M22, I've been checking voyage personaliser daily to see what the upcoming formal nights might be as they are something we really enjoy. Perhaps some were interpreting "informal" to mean its dictionary definition, i.e. casual clothing. I quite like the "smart attire" description.

I'm still looking forward to our trip on the QM2 in June, where we can make our own mind up!

Thanks Shropshirekitkat, I have a couple of things already that I'm quite happy about. If the stuffy ladies don't like them, well tough! We're going to the Mediterranean on the Queen Victoria June 8th-22nd. We're really looking forward to it as it's been 4 years since the last one.

 

Good for you loerie, I'd love to witness that. You'd get a high five from me for sure! Some folks on here may not approve though and I think you may count as one of the 50% in inappropriate dress!

Ahh thats a shame, was hoping you might be on our cruise to Norway, also in June. I've only (knowingly) experienced one slightly "stuffy lady" look. It was an informal night and I was wearing white linen cropped trousers, a very bling top with sequins, silver sandals and a silver clutch bag. I'm hoping she was thinking "wow" but it certainly didn't bother me either way. Enjoy yourself xx

Thank you Hattie but I would still love to be able to wear some of the gowns I see on other folks. I know my limitations though.

 

As for Border Reiver's post, we too went out and bought things once the cruise was booked. That still doesn't help me when it comes to dresses, either formal or informal.

 

Yes, Shropshirekitkat, my hubby also shopped at Matalan for his dinner suit and very nice he looks in it. Unfortunately, neither Matalan or TKMaxx cater for me and my needs. Well, not in the formalwear department anyway. Matalan do a nice line in jackets though and hubby has had many an outfit from there. By the way, I am a real northerner (Lancashire or Merseyside, whichever you prefer) and my Dad was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire.

 

Our next cruise is in June and I have purchased clothes already but not dresses.

ancun1 : I hope you can find something that makes you feel special for your cruise, I've noticed on the cruises we have been on its not in the specific detail, but just a general sense of having made an effort, beautiful wraps, a little bling, a gorgeous smile. What cruise are you on?

Like many cruisers on here we wanted to cruise with Cunard and we had neither dinner suit nor evening dress, so we did a bit of a sneaky thing that some others never think of doing - we went out and bought the clothes. Now how clever is that.

Instead of skulking around the ship trying to avoid all the "out of bounds" areas, we went everywhere - in style, like the vast majority of passengers.

Such a simple solution.

Border Reiver - I love this post (probably because you are a fellow northerner) this post creased me up and I love your response. We also love the style and formality on Cunard, and its not necessarily a premium to achieve this. Husband got his DJ from Matalan and myself dressed by TK Maxx. (Other retailers are available :'))

It looks amazing, thank you for the photos, I will definitely be doing this trip!

I love the suggestions you have made for a day in Flaam without taking the train. Could I just ask, when I click on the bus to book this, it states one way, is this an error? I would hate to be stranded out in the countryside! Thank you

Of course Cunard do some wonderful cruises to this area too - you might want to look at one of these also.

Just wondering, I don’t understand why being booked into the Verandah have anything to do with what you wear? Is there a different dress code depending on the stateroom you booked?

Also, can I wear this or must it be a black tuxedo?

PS you pay extra to dine in The Verandah and it sure is worth it.

Just wondering, I don’t understand why being booked into the Verandah have anything to do with what you wear? Is there a different dress code depending on the stateroom you booked?

Also, can I wear this or must it be a black tuxedo?

It was a special birthday and my husband chose to wear his DJ with medals even though it wasn't a formal night, what this means was it was his choice, he felt comfortable, he enjoyed it and it meant a lot, and it had nothing to do with our cabin choice!

Just read safari gals blog on this rainy 30th December, what an amazing read, thank you for spending the time writing this, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to do a world cruise, and have looked at 2019, though Mr SK says "no" to this plan. Never say never though, he once said he would never cruise......

lochinvar, he didn't feel odd man out at all, in fact the opposite, proud to dress in respect of the QE.

Being on a ship is slightly different to other holidays, I think if the captain deems it not safe to dock in one port then that is in the best interests of all. Its not a call I would like to make or to put people in danger, I certainly wouldn't sue either.

We were booked into the Verandah for my husbands birthday and he wore his DJ even thought it wasn't a formal night. It was a lovely evening.

We have never had a problem with our luggage arriving, in fact its been in the cabin soon after we have arrived. So first night is just as the planner says. Usually informal, jackets for men and smart trousers and top for me! Love it!

Just booked Queen Mary for next June. Very excited for this one.