2Oldpeopleinlove

Yes. We switched on board QE last October. Didn’t like the constant change.

“For your convenience, a daily hotel and dining charge will automatically be added to…” No opinion to note here; I just always find the “for your convenience” intro howlingly funny!

Yes, we are indeed lucky in more ways than we ever expected. However, this is the first time we have had gratuities included. We will likely never travel in any grill or even club room, but we are happy just to be on board and very cognizant of the familial sacrifices the workers are making,

We do the same, as well as an extra dollar a drink with the drinks package. The way the corporation handles wages is not within our control, so we just do what IS in our control as generously as we can. If that means we don’t go as often, then that’s what it means. By the way, one doesn’t have to book grills to get gratuities included. We booked our next TA on board last October, and we have grants included for next December.

Yes. There’s a period of about three weeks (?) in November when she’s not going anywhere. We’re excited because we get to go again about a month later…hoping hard they eliminate those shower curtains!

Thanks, H.h, but we plan to buy the drinks package. We’ve done it on board before without paying a $5 premium for the privilege. Too bad they’re doing this.

Well, that’s new! And not happy-making as we have $600 in OBC we’re not going to use for anything else.

I’m not aware of a price difference on board. True?

Oh no!! I’m sure we will be able to drown our chocolate sorrows elsewhere, but boo!

Oh, one more note: the QM2 has a specialty chocolate drinks bar (I’m sure someone will add the name) that makes the package even more worthwhile. I was disappointed at not finding it on the Queen Elizabeth.

Our first time on Cunard, we budgeted $100/day for drinks. After that we realized how much more relaxed we could be with the drinks package. Truth is that we just about break even on it, but not having to think about each drink us much more pleasant for us. The package covers PLENTY of ground, and bartenders are great about working it out so that even slightly over-limit drinks can come in under what is now (I believe) the $13 limit. The package is a luxury, yes, but one we are happy to splurge on so we can turn off all the mental gymnastics we usually do when considering large purchases and small.

My husband does exactly as you describe in your list. He cares not at all whether Cunard changes standards. He dresses to his own standard.

Completely agree! Our first cruise (years ago) was on NCL. We very swiftly tired of dressing for dinner in the specialty restaurant only to feel odd as everyone around us came in cargo pants and baseball caps. (Okay, not everyone, but the behavior of so many who did—lots of drunken shouting so we couldn’t talk at our table—made it feel that way.) Soon thereafter, we landed on the QM2, and we haven’t looked back.

Serene is a great descriptor for Cunard. Our favorite is the QM2, and the most relaxing vacation we’ve ever taken was a roundtrip transatlantic on her. There’s plenty to do, but you don’t have people screaming at you or unpleasant music blasting all the time. It can be very peaceful. And we’ve always found the service and food to be excellent. Specific questions could get you more useful information. What do you like to do? High energy or more moderate? Do you enjoy dressing for dinner? Do you like classical music?

If it’s not for you, then it’s not for a whole lot of others, including us. We will dance as we can and enjoy ourselves. I hope you do the same. Some of these posts sound like territory claiming, and I don’t think we should just acquiesce to that and sideline ourselves.

The Victoria is the only one we haven’t been on. Can you provide a little information that made you feel that way? (So far, we are enamored of the QM2.)

I believe this wording has long been there. It just isn’t enforced.

« Who let the Americans take control of the computers at Cunard HQ?« Wow. As Americans who would prefer formality EVERY night on board, we wonder why this was a necessary or advisable part of the discussion.

We’ve been only on lower decks (4&5), but the only time we had a problem was last time, when a woman in the cabin next to ours was smoking on the balcony.

We don’t know much, but we danced anyway. My husband has had his first total knee replacement and will do the second one in a few months, a schedule we decided on just so he’d be ready to dance on the QM2 when we sail home from the UK in December. please don’t worry yourself about what other dancers think. Have FUN! We did and, as unskilled as we were last time, people approached us to say how much fun we were to watch. Whether they were laughing at us wasn’t our business.

I agree with exlondoner: any dress will do, though a sundress might be a bit odd for evening unless you’re in the Caribbean or some similar spot. I enjoy dressing up (such a nice change from dressing for digging in the gardens!) and so stay with dressier clothes for evening.

Good for you…and the planet! And UK charity shops are even better than the good ones we have here. We never fail to visit at least a few when we come over.

Absolutely! We in central New York are blessed with excellent thrift shops. We buy most of our clothing there now. It takes time, and one must be able to walk away with nothing sometimes, but a (sometimes even new) Ralph Lauren jacket or Jones New York dress for less than $5? Yes, please.

Dissenting voice here. Perhaps I’m a control freak,but we tried using an agent once, and I disliked the remove from direct communications. We’ve never had the drama with calling Cunard that many here describe. I prefer direct contact, and we’ve had deals we’re quite satisfied with booking onboard.

We did do Coriander on a QM2 TA, and it was excellent.