Ben_83

On 10/12/2019 at 12:16 AM, cook68 said:

Oh are we being tested. Note my original post asked celebrations in any way and not can we have a big fire on the main deck! 🤣
Toffee apples

s'mores

parkin cake

pumpkin spiced lattee

spiced ciders/mulled wines

iris coffee

hotdogs

bangers and mash

jacket potatoes

I am sure some of this could be jazzed up, a la carte or just served in the Lido. Just for fun 😄

 

You missed treacle toffee which is clearly the most important one 🙂

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire_toffee

We did a back to back transatlantic with our son 2 years ago, he was 18 months old at the time. I will try and answer your questions.

There is plenty of room for a cot in a Britannia Balcony,  I have never been in an inside so no clue on that front. We had been warned the cot mattresses were fairly hard so we took a folding cot mattress with us, it made the cot much more comfortable and our son slept well.

We went for a sheltered balcony as like you I worried about the glass balcony with a small child. The sheltered balconies would be impossible for a child to climb. Although it wasn't really an issue as we never left him unattended on the balcony and the door to the balcony could not be opened by a toddler.

The child facilities seemed very nice and the staff were great. As your daughter is 2 she would be able to make full use of them. Under 2 the only facilities our son could use was the night nursery that let him sleep in the nursery from 6pm to 11.30pm. They provided a pager if there were any issues. This worked great for us as we could go for dinner and drink each evening.

Children can only use the swimming pools if they are fully toilet trained, no swim nappies. 

Can't comment on the Grandmother as we didnt take one. You can book adjoining rooms, no clue how far in advance you would need to book to secure one. It is worth noting you may need to book fairly far in advance to take your daughter anyway as there are limits on the number of children onboard and a limit to the number of rooms that permit 3 people. They will not just add a cot to any room, it has to be a room designated for 3 people.

Happy to try to answer any more questions you have but I would definitely recommend Cunard with a child. We are doing another back to back crossing with our now 3 year old next month.

Suit and tie for me, same as any other informal night.

That's interesting, I was wondering what would happen if they were out of compact cars with automatic transmissions, but had cars with automatic transmissions in a higher category, whether they'd give us a free upgrade or tell us we would need to pay the difference.

I normally use Enterprise, my experience with them has been if you have pre ordered the car either online or by phone and there isn't one when you arrive you will be upgraded free of charge. If you just walked in to rent on the day and they had no compact autos I guess you would have to pay for a larger size that did have autos available - however I can't say for sure as I always prebook.

I have just checked Avis UK booking conditions and it says "If there are no vehicles available in the group you booked, the rental location will try to find you a vehicle from a higher group at no extra cost. If they can only find a vehicle of a lower group and you agree to rent this vehicle, you will only be charged for the value of that vehicle."

Have many people had problems with ordering an auto rental car and getting a manual? I use rental cars for work often and always request an auto, I have never once been given a manual. I am happy to drive a manual but have found that by requesting an auto I am far more likely to get an upgrade. Rental companies often have less of the lower graded autos and if none are available they give a higher graded auto at no extra cost.

I recently booked a cruise with Cunard taking our 18 month old. They informed us under 2s are free, at most there would be a £100 admin fee for the 2 week holiday. In the end there was no charge at all. This was booking direct with Cunard in the UK and wasn't any sort of special offer. May be different in other countries.

My goodness! Now that I've been accused of ignorance, it took forever to find what I was referring to about children. Always read fine print.

Under "Frequent enquiries": "Are children welcome on CUNARD"...

"...the number of children in a specific cruise may be limited. Please contact CUNARD for details,,,"

I am sorry if you read my post as accusing you of ignorance, I have reviewed it don't believe I did. I simply disagree with you, which is fine, we are both entitled to our differing viewpoints. You stated in your earlier posts that you don't believe it is a cruise for the under 18s and that young children don't belong at formal occasions. Not views I agree with for the reasons outlined in my earlier posts.

As to the policy of limiting children, my understanding is that these limits are to do with the number of rooms that can accommodate additional people, kids club capacity and spaces on lifeboats. Not really different than any other line that allows kids. While this may put a numbers limit on the amount of kids on board it isn't really different than the limit on the number of disabled access cabins, Cunard aren't trying to 'limit' disabled people, they just have a certain number of rooms. As Salacia mentioned in an earlier post the number of dogs is also limited in this sense, to the number of spaces in the kennels.

Good afternoon Ben.

 

Wow, I really missed a debate by taking a weekend off to enjoy a good footballing weekend.

 

I'm with you and against you here.

 

On the subject of choice of sitting I've always been aware that the early sitting, for some odd reason, is the more popular.

 

Perhaps it harkens back to those older days when 'midnight and chocolate buffets' were popular and folk wanted to give their dinner time to settle prior to taking on a late replenishment. (I paid for it and I'm going to eat it :evilsmile: )

 

But I'm certainly with you on your understanding regarding eating at 6.00 pm. The mere fact that you're almost guaranteed to miss a sailaway or indeed, have had to rush back onboard to get ready would deter me period.

 

Hence I've never, on the odd occasion I've booked a guarantee, worried that I wouldn't get my choice of timing: indeed, in all my cruising I've never needed to approach the Maitre d'to change anything.

 

Incidentally, Ive never experienced a Cunard Maitre d' who has been rude though have often thought they should have been when faced with obnoxious passengers requests.

Good afternoon Richard,

I like you have never encountered a Cunard Maitre D' who was anything other than polite.

I also avoid guarantees, the difference between early saver and cunard fare on my next trip was so minimal that when you factored in the onboard credit you get with cunard fare it made no sense not to book it.

At home I normally eat any time between 6.30 and 9.30 depending on work and how we feel that day. On a cruise I like to have a sit down 3 course lunch and after that possibly enjoy afternoon tea, eating again at 6pm would seem rushed to me.

Ben

:D Aren't people funny!! And I mean in a good way :') I have requested early sitting as I am travelling alone, and 8.30 is too late, I'd end up having afternoon tea every day and overeat! I generally eat around 7. And what's with 'early saver' what's that? I booked my April 18 cruise over a year in advance, simply to make sure I got a single room, and believe me I wasn't offered any sort of saver! Maybe it's. because I booked from Australia? Anyway, my seating time was confirmed immediately.

Nothing wrong with a bit of afternoon tea :)

To clear up what I meant by "early saver". In the UK Cunard offer 2 fares generally for advanced bookings, the Cunard Fare and the Early Saver fare. The Cunard Fare comes with a choice of either onboard credit, port parking, airport parking on fly cruises or coach transfers to the port, you also get confirmation of dining time (although this may not happen if you book close to sailing) and you can select your cabin (although I have been informed this fare can also be offered as a guarantee as well). The Early Saver fare is slightly cheaper but comes with no added benefit, you can specify dining preference but it isn't confirmed until you are onboard and while you select your cabin grade you can't pick a specific cabin. When the early saver is offered and when it stops being offered seems to vary and i guess is based on how fast it is selling. I understand the way Cunard sells its product changes from country to country so I thought i would clarify.

The OP stated it wasn't a saver fare and dining times were confirmed so the stuff about saver fares doesn't really apply.

Maybe, Ben_83, but not all of the Cunard/Carnival cruises are managed by the UK office.

Agreed, it's a big maybe

I received an email saying P&O summer 2019 cruises go on sale 4th September. I know this isn't Cunard but they are both owned by Carnival and run out of the UK offices so I guess it may be around the same time?

I reread my response to Sheteck and want to make it clear I am not knocking your desire to have a child free holiday. I am simply pointing out that Cunard do allow and provide for Children, if the complete absence of kids is important to you then maybe you will find other ships even more to your taste. I do accept that the age profile on Cunard is generally high and think your average age of around 50 estimate may be close to true, but this don't think this means it is a place where kids aren't welcome. My wife and I have enjoyed holidays in the Caribbean in 5 star resorts that don't allow kids and our first cruise together was on the Arcadia, we had a brilliant time - so i am not knocking kid free holidays at all.

We have also encountered bad parents as many others have. On one holiday, also in the Caribbean, there was a couple who allowed their son (about 12) to run riot around the pool on a daily basis. At one point i remember joking with my wife about drowning him to shut him up - not nice on my part but it was in jest. Unfortunately the following day he nearly did drown in the pool, his parents did nothing (they hadn't noticed) and my wife jumped in and saved him. The parents reaction was to glare at my wife and then scream at their son, who was crying and coughing up water, for interrupting their poolside nap. From that point on we simply felt sorry for the kid.

Even well behaved kids will act out from time to time as I'm sure everyone here knows, it's how the parents deal with it. There will always be parents who see holidays as "time off" and let kids run riot but they really aren't the majority - it's just the bad experiences that we tend to remember. A few bad apples don't in my view mean kids should be banned from formal events.

Having heard from my daughter today i am very disturbed at the entire level of service throughout the ship

Dare to ask for a clean fork ....you get rudeness

Shsmpoo ,etc not been replaced in 3 days despite empty bottles and a polite request

Milk cartons not replaced in cabins

Crew doors propped open very early morning and cold air blasting the cabin along with non stop noise as a result

And repeated door slamming

Peaceful holiday =not on your life

Yes i know it was a guarantee and up front but where is consideration for guests at 6 or 7am

As Diamond members we are on there from 25th i am more than concerned

 

Mostly Phillipino staff who i normally think are great so wonder if they are being badly treated by Cunard and dont care

How sad that White Star Service seems to be non existant now

One thing is now certain it will be first snd last cruise on Cunard for daughter and grandaughter

Sorry your Daughter & Granddaughter are still having problems, hope these issues are also resolved.

Hi Ben,

Personally I prefer CUNARD because of their policy on limiting children. It really is not a cruise for under 18.

At the B&W Ball they specifically said keep children in the center of the dance floor. Of course the parents did not and tripped up the dancers.

I am not a snob, but children / toddlers do not belong at such a formal occasion. They were cranky, jumping all around, and disturbing everyone.

Sorry I am confused by all this talk of limiting children? Children are permitted on all Cunard ships, the restrictions i know of is that children must be over 6 months to travel and over 12 months for a transatlantic. They cannot enter the nightclub in the evenings or the casino at anytime. Children that aren't toilet trained cannot use the swimming pools and kids aren't permitted in jacuzzis but this is the same on virtually every cruise line. No major restrictions here.

Cunard provide facilities for kids, including kids clubs for various ages from 2-17 years old, night nursery for 6 months-2 years, cots, bottle sterilisers and bottle warmers. Cunard permit children to eat anywhere adults can eat and they provide children's menus, puree'd food, hipp & hipp baby food as well as the option for them to order from the adult menu. These all indicate they are in fact trying to encourage families with kids, not discourage them. There are other lines that allow kids but offer no kids facilities at all, this would seem aimed at discouraging them. Some ships are restricted to those over 18 (P&O Arcadia for example), but Cunard has no such age restriction.

In your opinion it isn't a cruise for the under 18s, you are entitled to your opinion, but I disagree. If you want a cruise with no kids then I would suggest you check out ships with age restrictions. Cunard is for anyone who enjoys the sort of experience they offer and can afford to pay for it. Sure the lack of waterslides etc may put some young families off, but personally that sort of ship isn't for me - I will stick with Cunard thanks. You give an example of a parent not properly controlling their kids at a ball, does the action of one parent tar and feather all parents in your eyes?

Thanks for the bathroom pictures eroller, they look great. Hopefully bathrooms in the other staterooms are updated next refit.

Oceansandseas - I believe Smokehouse is the American Cuisine specialist dining option in the buffet. It is available on QM2 and QE for a supplement of $17.50 per person.

In my view you can be a "good" tourist by being polite, respecting local customs, at least attempting the local language and spending money in the local economy. Basically all the things the majority will do anyway.

In the eyes of those people protesting I don't think there is such a thing as a "good" tourist, you won't please them and I wouldn't bother trying. Nor would I let a small number of far-left or anarchist protesters put you off. If the only way they can make their point is by destroying other people's property it likely isn't a point worth listening to.

The majority of people in the areas mentioned don't hate tourists and understand that businesses rely on them. They may like to moan about tourists, but they don't support these crazed protesters who are committing acts of senseless vandalism.

Edit - I did grow up in a tourist town and the one thing I remember people complained about the most re tourists was what we reffered to as "holiday mode". This is a state of mind some people enter while on holiday that the normal rules of life don't apply and they can do things like walk across a road without looking. Try not to do this and in my view you are a good tourist.

No it does not and it is the same menu that they offer at lunch. This was one of my complaints about a recent cruise. The offerings on the menu could be broader, for both the entrees and sides. And it would be nice if they offered a different menu at lunch and dinner.

Thanks for the info :)

Does it change every night, or is it a kid-friendly standard menu?

I haven't travelled since my son was born (first trip with him in November) so cannot confirm if it changes every night. However Cunard did also offer that they are happy to puree anything on the adult menu for a young child if they would prefer that.

Ben, no apology necessary. Lord knows, I've misinterpreted more post than just about anybody -:confused:

Thank you for being so gracious. :)

Actually, no, I did not attribute my experience to early or late dining- please read it again. I did state that "there is nothing wrong with families with children booking late dining". Apparently, you assumed I was relating an experience about late seating. "I thought this was worth pointing out" -most of us know this can occur at either seating.:)

Apologies, that will teach me to post at 5am.

To ben_83,yes I am being judgemental based on the fact both kids tired, one constantly yawning. Both getting off their chairs and wandering about, one parent regularly leaving the dining room, the one left behind ignoring anddoing nothing to stop other bad behaviour from the kids. Mother brushing the daughters hair for a good five minutes at the dining table, this was on formal night, not that that makes a difference, lots of other stuff which is just not appropriate in a public dining area, anyway it is clear that these people haven't a clue as to how to teach their children manners. They don't appear to have any themselves. I'm not saying late dining is wrong in all cases for families if they are used to it at home.

I apologise when I read your post originally I took it as aimed at any parent who dares to dine late with their kids.

If the kids are getting up and wandering around then this is a parental control issue.

Possibly the hair brushing is something the mother knows calms her daughter? Hardly normal dinner table behaviour but not really harming anyone. I personally prefer a small glove puppet in the pocket can be used as a distraction between courses.

This couple may well be lacking in manners, it seems likely from what you describe. I just find it hard to judge as we don't know what their motive for the odd behaviour is. For all I know their kids may normally have a nap from 5-7pm and are yawning as they have just woken up.

* for some reason one of Salacia's posts I have responded to has disappeared, not sure why?

Wow, that's some response. I think most of us are familiar with what infants and children do, but that's just a wild guess :)

 

Personally, I don't see "the problem" you refer to, so I don't see the night nursery as a solution. Families should dine together. That is how children learn and how loved ones grow closer.

 

Manners are taught, empathy is hard learned.

 

On my previous post, I related a personal experience. You will note that we did not ask to be moved to a different table because we did not want to cast a shadow on that young family.

 

However, dining was no joy. (My husband and I did try communicating with the family adjacent to the table on the first, saying how beautiful their children were, etc. Apparently they did not speak English and appeared affronted. Quite natural, I suppose, as we are terribly scary looking New Yorkers !:eek:

The problem I am referring to is if Cunard set running times don't align with when your child wants to eat. You could opt for late sitting, feed your child whenever (room servicw/kings court) and so long as they were asleep before 8.30 you can enjoy dinner in peace. Families should do what's best for them. The only childcare Cunard offer for the under 2s is the night nursery so I can understand people making use of it. Spending time with kids is great but some time as a couple is nice too.

You say many are familiar with children and while I sure this is true your post specifically referenced an experience you have had with kids at late sitting. I thought it was worth pointing out this could occur just as easily at early sitting.

I agree: there is nothing wrong with families with children booking late dining.

 

A few years ago, on a QM2 trip, my husband and I had a table for two in Britannia Dining Room, separated by one of those 12 inch dividers with a lamp on top. On the other side was two 30-ish adults and two children: a one year old, and a three year old (approximately).

 

The first night, the youngest let out a scream that you would expect from someone being flayed alive. The staff rushed to the table. We could see that the child was fine, just exercising his or her lungs. Things quieted down - for about half an hour, then the older child started crying loudly. The adult male, presumably father, took the child out for a walk while the waiters kept his food warm...

 

Anyway, you get the gist. I can't imagine how that family enjoyed their dinner that way night after night, but that was their choice, and their right, having paid the fare.

 

In retrospect, the lesson I learned was to have a pleasant chat with the maître d about relocating to a different location in the dining room when conditions are annoying/unpleasant/disruptive...less than romantic when celebrating an anniversary? I don't know how to frame it

 

Cheers,

Salacia

Honestly many young children will cry at some point during dinner no matter what time it is served. The situation may well have been no different even if they had early dining. Especially in my experience if there is a gap between courses (they get bored). All parents can do is show consideration to their fellow dinners and remove the child until he/she calms down.

I am not disagreeing that early dinner would be best for the majority of children, but I do know of kids that eat later. My own son eats later than 6pm, I don't believe this makes me an uncaring parent.

Cunard do offer a night nursery from 6pm to 11pm for children under 2. If you have kids in the age range then you can avoid the problem all together.

There is always a chance you will be given a table near children. Even with considerate parents who remove their little darlings the moment they cause trouble there will be some disruption to surrounding guests. Some people consider it so unacceptable they stick to ships that are 18+.

In reply to peppern and Hattie, I agree, strange for a family with young children to prefer to dine late. I'm sure the children had no say in the subject! And they are the ones most affected as it clear from their behaviour. Anyway, by the time they leave the dining room, it is barely 15 minutes before the 8.30 session. I'm pretty sure it is just selfish behaviour on the parents side, clearly no wish to comply with the fixed 6pm session they were allocated, no regard for what's best for their children and no regard for the waiters.

I agree that they are showing no regard for the waiters, this must be generating a load of extra work. If you aren't happy with fixed time dining you can pay extra from Britannia Club or if the budget doesn't cover that eat in the buffet or order room service. (Or is suppose pick a different line that has different policies)

However I don't really understand how you can decide they have no regard for their children. Possibly they are doing this to try an maintain the kids routine? They may well eat dinner at 7pm at home. While I certainly disagree with how they are going about doing it I consider it extremely judgemental to effectively brand them bad parents for eating later.

I see nothing wrong with booking late dinning with children, if that's what suits your family.