Mareblu

On 3/28/2024 at 2:08 AM, exlondoner said:

As far as I can see, the really major advantage of table cloths is they absorb a lot of noise, which bare wood does not. In a noisy restaurant this can make a huge difference, but may not matter in a smallish space with well behaved Cunard passengers. On the other hand, when I managed to knock over a nearly full bottle of Malbec in QG last summer, I imagine the staff would have been happier without table cloths to sort out.

That's hilarious, although I'm sure you didn't think so at the time.  I believe the reason Cunard has dispensed with table linen in high traffic restaurants (as opposed to main dining rooms where one's regular table is assigned) stems from the pandemic.  It is far more hygienic to cleanse tables with antibacterial and antiviral solutions and a cloth, than to launder the linen, even though high water temperature and laundry solutions could be used.  I must say, however, that it is delightful to be seated at our assigned QG table, bedecked and resplendent (the table, I mean😉)

I can see that Frank really enjoyed his thirtieth birthday.  Happy Birthday, Frank🥂🥂🎉🎊

He has to be a patient patient😇

Same for us in Australia.  The package has been mia for several years.  We were surprised and delighted to receive that special blue  pouch with its luggage tags and well-presented (but yes, generic) booklet last Friday.

14 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Every so often I feel these little bubbles of: excitement? joy? happiness? anticipation? popping up. It has really made a difference to how we feel about this once-in-a-lifetime cruise. Roll on April 30th ... but not until I've finished packing. 🤣

Congratulations Julie and Rolf.  A world voyage is indeed a lifetime odyssey, and your upgrade is the cherry on the icing on the gateau the silver platter 👏

That’s great news.  Take it easy and obey docto’s orders😊

15 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Surgery tomorrow on my achilles. After seeing the surgeon, I will now be out of action for the next 3-4 months. This is very depressing as we were expecting a 8 -10 weeks recovery. We have just cancelled our trip to Europe in June and will be postponing our Cape York trip in July to next year.

Commiserations, Mic and Rosie.  So sorry about your necessary cancellations, too.  Good luck with your surgery tomorrow, Mic.  I know I can say everyone will be thinking of you.  Let us know how you're faring, when you can.

18 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Steady now I haven't watched the race yet.

Thought you’d be watching live no matter the hour, with your known enthusiasm.  Not another word.🤐

19 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Well not having much luck with pies lately, was in Goulburn on Friday and decided to have a pie from Trapper's. They are usually good to great, but not this day. My steak and mushroom pie was made with mince rather than steak, had normal gravy rather than a mushroom gravy and only had 3 slivers of mushroom. At least the pastry was nice.

That’s a shame.  It’s disappointing when you’re looking forward to biting into a tasty pie.  Well, you’re obviously still here, so it couldn’t have been beef wellington with dried mushrooms🫢

High drama in Melbourne, Lyle.  Beautiful day in Melbourne.  Go Ferrari!

25 minutes ago, sogne said:

Southampton local paper is reporting QA arrival as 1030 27th April at City Terminal.

Thank you for that exciting information.  We will still be aboard Oceania Vista in the Med on 27th, but we’re also counting the days to boarding Cunard Queen Anne on 24th May.  Such a privilege to join our fellow QA guests in witnessing and experiencing this iconic voyage.

6 hours ago, elmsliebev said:

Interesting We don't go until October, but I'll be looking out for my information pack! Have a wonderful time. 

 

I’m thrilled to announce that O is once again supplying Australian guests with the luggage pack.  We thought we’d have to print, then fold and staple our flimsy paper luggage tags again, as we did for our Sirena cruise in late 2022.  Our blue folder with information booklet and four impressive luggage tag holders, and printed tags for insertion therein, arrived yesterday.  Delighted and surprised.

St Petersburg?

10 hours ago, ace2542 said:

Remember the NCL Joy. The ship had chinese writing inside for the guests everything in chinese. It didn't take and they had to redo everything. They can't hang their hat on the chinese market.

 

I also remember keeping up appearances the BBC sitcom. I can't explain it for the Americans you just have to know it. If they wanna take on Cuanrd on the T/As they have to bring the days of the keeping up appearances the poshness that cunard has lost capture whatever is it they need to capture. I don't know how else to describe it.

It was hilarious.  Brilliant.  Only the Brits can offer such restrained humour.

1 hour ago, bluemarble said:

 

For what it's worth, I'm coming up with a total of 65 Queens Grill cabins of QA.

Q1 = 2

Q2 = 4

Q3 = 10

Q4 = 24

Q5 = 17

Q6 = 8

Thanks, Blue Leader.

1 minute ago, buchanan101 said:

They are on the Grills Terrace.  Looks a reasonably sized area. Haven't counted the number of grills cabins though...

Thank you!  It does indeed seem a reasonable space overall.

43 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

@Mareblu having only been on the QM2 on a TA, the grills terrace on QA looks way better than the rather poor offering on the QM2. Yes, I know one's a liner and one is a cruise ship ... and I guess given the North Atlantic deck space at the stern is more protected than on top...

 

The QA grills terrace looks pretty good - seems that only Grills have access to the two infinity pools?

 

 

I’m not sure about access to the pools;  I haven’t explored that aspect.  I’ll let you know☺️

7 hours ago, exlondoner said:

I like to do both, and also much enjoy the contrast between lounging on Deck 3 and lounging up on the Grills terrace. The views are both fascinating and fascinatingly different.

Should lounging beckon, I shall happily enjoy the contrast between our balcony (Q3) and the Grills Terrace, although from a perusal of the deck plans, I don't believe Queen Anne's GT will quite match QE's.  However, we most certainly did not reserve our forthcoming British Isles exploration for terraces. 

We are very much looking forward to another Cunard experience, and relish the thought of witnessing, at first hand, Cunard history.  My intention is to review this new vessel honestly and objectively (with the exception of aspects of cuisine, wine, etc. which are always, to a degree, subjective).  At our age, we would hardly expect to be entering utopia on embarkation in Southampton, but we are very excited to begin our own Queen Anne experience. I actually wouldn't dream of passing judgement on anything similar to this life moment for many of our fellow passengers from a keyboard. 

I harbour similar sentiments about our voyage on Oceania's Vista, which we will begin in a little over two weeks.  There are some Vista detractors on the Oceania board who have never sailed on her.  We may not enjoy either experience, but at least we will be able to say we've given them a shot.  It will actually be fascinating to compare two new vessels of different lines.  If we don't wish to return to either, then there are other wonderful ships in both lines, and another favourite, Seabourn, awaiting.

2 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

If folk are interested, then I will, hopefully with other CC members who sail on her in her infancy so we can get a cross section of thoughts of Cunard's 'baby'.

 

I'm a yomper, not a yawner [#26] so the promenade issue won't greatly influence my thoughts as it will others.

Interesting times.

I’ll gladly join you in reporting, Victoria2.  I have absolutely no desire to sail on many of the vessels listed above.  I have no need to lounge on a deck chair, either.  I’ll have a balcony for that, should I find time in my daily routine aboard.  My focus is on Queen Anne, the title of this thread.  While I understand and appreciate learned and Cunard commentators, I respectfully request the negative posters to allow us to board, experience QA’s ambience, and submit our individual review.  

1 hour ago, Yaya_in_Oz said:

Keeping with the art theme.... I was wandering along in the northern hemisphere and came across a portrait of myself 😄 Which town am I in?

 

Venice?

You’re so talented, Lyle.  Your mother-in-law would feel honoured, I’m sure, with such a devoted gesture.

7 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Linda If ok might leave our Far South Coast CC Reunion until you come back from overseas .Raymonds or the Cat club will still be there, lol. Got my son coming down next week for Easter, then I am going to Lakes Entrance , Vic for a road trip, the Wyangala Winery wine cruise and wine tasting/ lunch there will have to appease my cruise hunger. All the best for now, keep packing.

That’s fine, Les.  I’m so glad you’re “going on a roady” as they say, and it sounds really terrific.  It’ll be lovely to see family for Easter, too.  Raymond’s and the Catalina had better still be there, or we’ll all have something to say😉  Keep well, you sound like you’ve moved to the perfect spot.

1 hour ago, colourbird said:

 

...and there are a lot of places to choose from!

 

When we were on Oceania Vista recently, that was a smaller ship with the least number of passengers of any cruise we have been on and that was only time everything seemed crowded. The small restaurants were often crowded, the buffet was too. I gave up on the theatre or finding a seat on deck.

 

The small ships may have fewer passengers, but they are scaled.

 

Ovation is the largest ship i've been on so far and although it was at capacity, people could spread out and there was always space available (except in the theatre when seat hogs would claim whole rows for family and friends who were yet to arrive).

We’re boarding Vista in just over two weeks.  We love the Oceania fleet, our last one, Sirena, is even smaller than Vista.  It’s older though, and therefore not as modern, but still very comfortable.  It depends also, of course, on the accommodation.  We don’t cruise more than once a year, or even two years, so we always reserve a comfortable suite.  We’ve never found an O vessel to be crowded, and we love the more intimate dining venues.  Full is not necessarily crowded, but a vast MDR that’s full would seem crowded to us.  At the end of May, we’re boarding Cunard’s Queen Anne, which is a much larger vessel.  It will be interesting to compare two new ships from different lines.  We’ve sailed in NCL’s Haven, which we really loved, on different NCL vessels.  Much larger than any Oceania ship, but once outside the Haven, the ships did feel a little crowded, simply because there were more people aboard.

16 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Tut Tut Linda, the Batehaven Bakery is just down the road from your holiday house, lol. You had better take Mr and Mrs Duck down there next year.   Couple of Bakeries/pie shops in Moruya, but no GF ones.

Oh, if only we could get there, Les.  My apologies for not being in touch before your move.  The one day we could have come down was the day before your move, so I left it to come another day, and now you're settled in, we'll do just that before we leave in a couple of weeks.  I'll ring you later today, if that's okay?

That’s a shame, but welcome home.

we haven’t had pies for so long, but strangely, felt Garran Bakery calling for lunch today.  Delicious always.