LittleFish1976

Well spotted, Lissie!

It was slightly tongue in cheek and I apologise for the offence it has caused you. I do believe though that it's where most of the pressure comes from to make the dress codes more casual. The US market is much larger than any other single market with its population of over 330 million people. Cunard already exhibits its commitment to courting (or indeed, catering to) this market by offering certain perks that are not offered elsewhere, not limited to drinks packages included in fare but also such things as the continuation of the Future Cruise Deposits which are unavailable to the Rest of World areas, special sales and so on. It is in fact a US brand, so its current direction makes some sense. Of course there are people from North America who like to dress for dinner, such as yourselves but I fear that your own personal attitude does not reflect that of your fellow countrymen and women who are very vocal in their preference for a very casual mode of dress.

They've gone well beyond 'attempting to signal some loosening' - they've thrown the Gala evening dress code out the window. What an absurd line to 'put on a Tuxedo for one night and channel their James Bond alter-ego' - basically tells you they now consider black tie to be a 'costume' which people might like to indulge in, just like Hallowe'en, for example. Who let the Americans take control of the computers at Cunard HQ? How disappointing.

That's very true and will be compounded by the effect that skimming the staff from the existing three ships to staff the fourth will have. I addressed a question on this topic to a member of staff when I was recently on board. I'll try not to be too dramatic in my assessment of it but it is going to be a very complex and difficult operation for them to staff the new ship whilst trying to retain some semblance of the aura of Cunard on the existing ships and appropriately competent staff. I won't repeat verbatim what was said to me (in case it was not exactly accurate) but they do plan to take a lot of staff from the existing ships. I think they can ill-afford to do this. The better staff seem to be reserved for certain areas of the ship (i.e. Queens Grills areas) (QE is the one I was aboard recently) and some areas of the ship are staffed by people who don't seem to have been trained in basic good manners let alone a Cunard way of treating passengers. They need to invest more in recruitment and training. I would include the administration staff in this.

You can also get a light lunch or snack in the Carinthia Lounge regardless of cabin grade. Room service is also always available at no extra charge (unless you want certain special items).

Also, @Zanny I'd avoid the cruise line tours where you have lots of people crammed together in a bus or even a tender. I think the better option is organising your own sight-seeing. I'm just off an 11 day cruise this morning. Fingers crossed I seem to have avoided the covid on board but I know a lot of people come down with it a day or two or three after disembarking. I'll let you know whether my mask protocol and social distancing worked!

That mention of the 14 days prior seems to relate to the whole concept of 'proof of vaccination' i.e. being vacccinated against covid/ primary course. I don't think it means you can't have had, say, a 5th covid vaccination less than 7 days before your cruise.

Who says you're not allowed to have a vaccination within 14 days of the cruise? If they say that it would mean that the vaccinations you're relying on for proof of vaccination were completed at least 14 days ago - you can have additional ones just before sailing.

I think the crews prefer USD. The ships all go back there and the currency has a higher value than the others you mention.

Being consistent with wearing a well-fitted (firmly sealed) N95 mask is good protection. I have been wearing mine everywhere on this ship except when eating or drinking and as for that, choosing to sit as far away from others as possible and in well-ventilated areas. You're better off sitting in an open area than up against a wall or partition so the air flow is better. I'm on a ship where the covid numbers are increasing and mask wearing has been basically non-existent except for a handful of us passengers (and all crew). It's now day 11 and I don't have it yet. I'm hoping not to get it of course and have to fly home tomorrow so I guess I won't risk eating anything on the plane. Your husband being a smoker is more likely to get covid and more likely to spread it so you'll be at the mercy of his behaviour too!

Captain of Queen Elizabeth announced ac ouple of days ago that there had been 'an uptick in covid cases' and that masks would be a good idea. Well, things got serious quickly as he announced yesterday that the advice from their land-based health team was that masks must be made compulsory immediately. Crew have all been wearing masks since we boarded on the 14th February with varying degrees of commitment to covering their noses. Anyway, there are still some hold-outs amongst passengers but most have complied and staff are enforcing compliance in the buffet, at least. Most passengers will disembark on Monday, 27th in Melbourne although some will get off in Sydney tomorrow and there are quite a few on board who are going on to Singapore (and probably beyond). The ship appears to be listed still as tier one on the NSW site.

I've been in a Q3 cabin midships on QE on deck 8 and don't recall hearing the slightest peep from the Lido above, or any other noise. In contrast, I'm currently on QE in the same position but on deck 5 and it's much noisier. I can hear doors slamming quite frequently; chairs dragging (from where I don't know); and machinery-type noises which I'm guessing must be from 2 decks below such as when they're setting up the gangway in port. I'll be interested to hear what others report about deck 8 on the QE.

But rule number one of the opera is NO COUGHING!

Check the information on the price of the drinks package on your Manage My Booking link. You may find that the price charged once on board is slightly higher than if you purchase before boarding; $75 versus $70 per day.

I'm currently on board Queen Elizabeth. It's a 'beautiful' day in Cairns for those who like it very hot and very very humid! The sun is shining now so the intensity has increased. The ship's crew have been using the very calm sea conditions since leaving Eden (at the latest) to be doing a great deal of work on deck - lots of painting, scrubbing and repairing or adjusting parts of the lifeboats. Today, while we're docked in Cairns, there's at least one fellow hanging on a device cleaning the ship's windows which should make certain people heard complaining about the dirty windows, happy. Number of passengers on board as reported to me by a member of crew is around 1,600; a number of passengers pulled out when the itinerary was changed.

I'll mention this as it has often been a topic of discussion on these boards. Today I attended the WC Captains Cocktail party held in the Queens Room. The event was very well-attended and didn't show any signs of cutting-back (although, to be honest, I've not bothered attending these events in the past). There were drinks aplenty - champagne; mimosas; wine; Bloody Maries as well as juices and so on. There were large platters of hors d'oeuvres circulated by the many staff who were serving. There seemed to be many officers and other uniformed staff there as well. The Captain paid tribute to the three passengers with the highest nuumber of cruise nights under their belts, although as there is no raised stage to use in the Queens Room, it was impossible to see to whom he was referring. Bouquets seemed to be presented to them. Lots of happy chatter in the room, which was still going at reduced strength when I departed a little after 12 to go to lunch. At that point the Cha Cha lesson had started in the room anyway which was a subtle hint to everyone to move on.

I haven't yet tasted it.

There is one thing I'm a bit salty about; instead of having a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne waiting for me in my cabin as a 'Welcome Aboard' gift, I had a bottle of Kirkland champagne. I felt sure it was a supermarket I had seen somewhere, probably the UK but I've just looked it up and it's the Costco homebrand - $24.99. I'd call that a cutback.

Overall service is excellent, mostly it couldn't be improved. I'm not dining in Britannia but was speaking yesterday to some people who are and they were describing a lamb dish they had in that dining room (lamb Wellington, made with backstraps) which sounded absolutely delicious. I've had the odd bite to eat in the Lido buffet - food very good as previously. In my opinion, the Lido is much nicer to be in than the buffet on QM2. Much less busy and the decor is better. People speak highly of the shows. I'm not that keen on them but I'm probably more picky than most. They're good fun and that's enough for a cruise ship I think. There is live music around the various venues on the ship which is very high quality. Also, ballroom dance professionals doing the occassional performance in the public areas such as Queens room. They have music all the time in the Queens room, still, for dancing. Yacht Club also has late night entertainment such as karoake (which was very good fun) and dance music (not my era but plenty of people were enjoying it). Speakers are very professional; I had already seen the forensic dentist on this cruise (as a speaker, not as a client!). I look forward to hearing Michelle Payne, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, tomorrow. There may also be another speaker. In my experience they sometimes bring another speaker on during the course of the cruise. The trouble is having too many activities that clash and having to make choices although as you would know the talks are recorded and replayed on the TV later. There's still lots to do - no cutbacks evident in entertainment. I think there are some very subtle cutbacks but not the sorts of things that would affect one's enjoyment (not as many bits and pieces left in the bathrooms but they are available on request).

Many thanks, Hattie! Being on-board was the holiday that I had planned so I'm thrilled just to be here. The ship is looking sparkling in my opinion. Lots of painting going on and cleaning of balcony windows. The sofa in my cabin has been re-covered and all the carpets look either new or as good as. The crew all seem happy and attentive. Everyone seems to be making the best of the change of itinerary. Overall, it's a very happy ship.

I can only compare the Queens Grill restaurant on QE with the Princess Grill restaurant on QM2, and for that comparison I can say that, yes, the QG restaurant is better. Having said that, I'm on QE at the moment in Queens Grill and some of the cooking isn't as good as I have previously experienced. I've even had to send a couple of dishes back which I don't make a habit of. Lunch today was particularly good and I wonder if it's a matter of who is in the kitchen which is a problem as all the staff should be equally good. The staff in QG are very good and will notice if you're not enjoying something and will whisk it away and ask you what you would prefer instead. The QG cabins as you are aware are a lot roomier on the QE than the Princess Grill cabins. Try it then you'll know! Having the fridge stocked to your taste is a convenient perk.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131256342/temporary-morgues-set-up-at-napier-port-hastings-hospital-amid-cyclones-devastation

QM2 is more expensive than the Vista class Cunard ships, no doubt about it. Cunard is not more expensive than Princess; I set myself a budget and have looked (and booked) with Princess but was surprised how expensive they are. With Cunard I book early to get a better price or book when they are having special promotions so that I get more for my travel dollar. First one I went on though was a New Year sale price for a 4 day cruise that left shortly after booking. I don't know how you'd know who was sailing in Grills unless you asked them? The people I've met in the Grills are from all walks of life - ordinary people like myself who set their travel budget and spend it in the way that makes them happy. They're usually just ordinary people giving themselves a special holiday. I don't have multiple cruises per year; I have one if I'm lucky. I'm glad you've found a cruise line you like - I have too (with free laundries!)

Nightly wearing of jackets to dinner for men went out on Cunard several years ago. They do have Gala evenings/formal nights - just like on other lines i.e. Princess - where men are expected to wear a jacket and a shirt with a collar but you can always eat in a different venue thereby avoiding wearing collar and jacket. Bloke I sat with this evening to do a quiz with was wearing an ordinary polo shirt and some sort of trousers (didn't notice actually), no jacket.

All you have to do is take a RAT before you get on the ship and take a photo of the result! Is that the very strict rules you're referring to?