rakkor

I'm 6'6" renting is not even an option, plus the cost is way more than buying at M&S - As previously stated elsewhere Marks & Spencer sell a cheap tux which I can get into and can be ordered online for collection in their Southampton store.

We had 5001 in 2021 - Blogged about it here - and although I loved the size and position it was very noisy when the sea was heavy, and we had plenty of heavy seas on that cruise.

We trim to the lines length wise,  then fold over lengthwise again retaining the reference and phone details, then one more fold midway and trim off the ends

These are our last lot from Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09XBBS5XM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I find printing at 130% scale and then trimming to the lines gives a perfect fit when folded

11 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

Perhaps they didn't have any?

When we were in 5001, a lovely P2 cabin, which is really niosy in heavy seas. The waves crashing on the bow thunders through the cabin, we were given ear plugs.

21 hours ago, Underwatr said:

I'm wondering if someone could post a recent Daily Programme from Queen Victoria. I'm booking a trip for October 2024 and I'm interested in how the evening activities stack up against the fixed dining times.

 

Recent changes to the evening schedule on QM2 (we're aboard now) have shortened the times between dinner service start and the corresponding showtime and we've had to be prompt at completing dinner if we want to attend the show. I'm wondering whether this is the case on QV as well.

This is from October 13th - Sea Day heading to Cagliari - All Daily Programmes from that cruise can be found HERE.........

13_Oct.pdf

I probably would, but the creaks and goans from the ship, as she moves, drowns them out.

4 hours ago, NE John said:

@rakkor Question on your recent Oct voyage in PG via your always entertaining blogs. You mentioned that the PG balconies on Deck Four were large. Were you in an accessible PG cabin or just a regular PG room? Are all balconies large?
I see larger cabins, via another site, showing those larger cabins in Four Deck. I’m on Deck Five PG next midship next voyage. 

The deck 4 balconies are larger for both PG and Britannia on both QE and QV, they extend a couple of feet further than the balconies above. The cabins are the same size as all other PG cabins and it wasn't an acessible one

PG Balcony

This is a Deck 4 Forward Britannia Balcony - The Aft balconies have a glass front

I'll also add that we take along a couple of magnetic hooks as Jane's longer gowns can drag on the floor and use them to hang those from the ceiling

Which Ship? - On QE & QV you have a large open hanging space with lots of room, 2/3 the width of the cabin with a full width shelf above and a single full height large cupboard with plenty of shelf space. 

16 hours ago, ClipperinSFO said:

Thanks for posting all these @Jack E Dawson - reminded me why I like PG so much.

 

But here’s something I have always wondered: are QG/PG breakfasts and lunches pretty much identical to Britannia?  My unofficial tests while on board QM2 (looking at the menus and/or lunching in Britannia), is that they are almost 1:1.  The real difference between the Grills and Britannia comes at dinnertime, and with the service levels.  Any thoughts?

I believe the lunch menus are the same for both PG and Britannia, they certainly were the couple of times I checked

We have had a couple of air-fryers in the past, both of which did a good job, but Jane bought me an Instant Pot Ultimate Lid (Ninja also do one) for Xmas, which is one of those multifunction devices, and includes an air-fryer as well as a pressure cooker, sous vide etc,  so as counter top space was limited, the trusty old Philips went to a good home and I've never looked back, pressure cooking a whole chicken and then finishing it off in the air fryer is a revelation, and all done in one pot albeit with a wipe out half way through.

I had a Zoom work meeting while on my September cruise and the WiFi reception in our Britannia room was awful so ended up in a quiet corner in the Commodore Club which didn't stay quiet for long. Jane was policing me and apologising to the people who came and sat by me - I would have used the Admirals Lounge, but the cruise director films their piece for the morning in there in the afternoon.

@transatlantic fan We had both the WC and the senior officers parties on our October QV cruise

And free washing powder as well. Also have a look at the 15 items for $52 offer on the laundry list, which is a bit of a bargain (even more do if you have a platinum or diamond discount) to get big items laundered and pressed and save your trip to the laundry for pants and socks.

I needed Zoom access several times on our last cruise, so decided to bite the bullet and pay for the premium package for the full cruise. We're also Diamond and I felt it was a necessary expense and after the loyalty discount was a couple of hundred bucks. I'd hold off as long as you can into the cruise if the expense is a concern as it gets cheaper by each day passed.

3 hours ago, FLcruiser2011 said:

Does the Queen Victoria currently have Starlink?

 

Thanks in advance.

Yep - With the Premium package I was able to conduct several Zoom meetings on our recent cruise. The only time it failed was in port where I assume the interference was causing my meeting connection to break up, 

8 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

It's not a good option.

 

Over the years, they have consistently reduced the package availability.

 

One of the options used to be champagne, but it disappeared, just like port, just like chateau neuf, and just like all other decent choices.

 

We used to take it, but it became less and less favourable.

I agree - we had a Commodore's package on the last cruise and the selection was very disappointing. No champagne, no rose and no dessert or port. I'm not sure I'd take a wine package again if I couldn't see what I was buying before hand. The brochure I was sent bore no relation to what was offered on board.

The Bay of Biscay is an unknown, it can be really lumpy but also flat calm as we had at the beginning of October

I see you're  from Manchester, so temperature wise it'll likely to be shorts and t-shirt in Lisbon, maybe a little cooler in Vigo - Caveats do apply though, Lisbon in October was chucking it down, so you never know.

Vigo is a nice introduction, easy walk from the the ship, you dock right in town, and some lovely cafe's and a nice little town centre for a bimble around and to buy those things that you forgot to pack.

19 hours ago, NE John said:

Both available in PG too. Illy coffee machines at that and they make very good espresso and coffee. 

Your experiences obviously trump mine - I have a Nespresso at home, so thought "how difficult can this be?" It turned out very difficult, with a lot of faffing and two clean-ups later to get a particulary horrible cup of coffee - It says something when I actually prefer the brown sludge served at breakfast to the Illy coffee served up in the room.

5 hours ago, spirit rev said:

Wondering 

On our upcoming sailing on the QM2, one of our gala nights is themed for the 1920s. When they had the Masquarde Night in the past there were masks for sale onboard. Do they have any 1920s themed props for sale? 

They did on our recent QV voyage, but it was mainly tat, feather boas and flapper headbands etc, Better quality tat is available on-line.

16 hours ago, Cruisin'allovertheworld said:

Hi,

 

I'm going to be onboard Queen Elizabeth from the 22nd of Jan to the 1st of Feb.

 

I am wondering if there is any way to see current or future menus? I've seen the sample ones on the website but I'm interested in accurate information!

 

I have a few allergies/sensitivities and would love opinions on how to handle that whilst onboard.

 

When booking the relevant information was provided but my previous cruise experiences (with Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean) have shown that can have little to no impact on what is actually available to me- more than once I've had to go to the buffet to ensure I'd actually eaten something!

 

What makes any of the additional-charge restaurants worth it? (I'm more looking for statements regarding a better experience, service, range of options etc, rather than specifics of if you like them or not- food itself is so subjective!)

 

Thanks,

Kathleen

I posted the QV PG menus Dinner and Lunch on my blog from last month's Greek Islands cruise (I think lunch is the same menu in the Grills and Britannia) Lunch HERE...  &  Dinner HERE...

13 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

If you are a rightie, you could do it? And your lady wife could take out the bins instead?

15 items for $52, everything comes back pressed!

9 hours ago, sucramdi said:

Do the self-serve launderettes also have ironing boards or steamers? 

But only Right Handed ironing boards, much to Jane's annoyance being a leftie

And even then it's no longer automatic, we never received our Diamond pins on our last cruise - apparently you need to request them from voyage sales.