BostonSusie

OK- since you ask! My daughter is studying for an advanced degree at Uni. Duesseldorf and my husbnd has a mother in Germany- For health reasons I cannot fly long distances-Soooo,if I want to visit Europe I sail or swim! From anyplace between Toronto and Miami the only option is Cunard out of Brooklyn NY. Because necessity forces me to sail QM 2, that does not mean my opinions and evaluations and observations are not valid and worth considering! Anyway- Holland America beat out Cunard in cruise ship ratings this year and I can well understand why! As H. A. sails to Europe from Florida I am unable to sail with them. Too bad for me!

Stop being Snarky about who is and is not trained or educated in, or aware of "Ballroom Etiquette". I am well aware of the rules of the road on a large "formal" dance floor- You guys don't get it! My request was not to change the Ballroom, but to simply open up more venues on Cunard for slower, romantic, or older couples, one of the latter I sadly have become. Having sailed over 15 times on various cruises and ships the thread about "sticky" floors and clumsy waiters is a bunch of malarky! And for what it's worth, both Canadian and American schools generally offer Ballroom dancing as part of their Phys Ed programs, or as an alternative, there are lots of private dancing schools for teens and pre-teens. So save the outmoded jingoistic remarks for reality-based situations! Just someone, please, pass the word to Cunard that a little space in the lounges for a slow two-step foxtrot would be appreciated..That's all I wanted to bring forward for discussion.

I always fill in my Post-cruise questionnaire. I try to be as polite and positive as possible and have made my suggestions known many times. I am always complete and elaborate as necessary on my comments. I have never, never received so much as a "thanks your comments have been received" , to say nothing of notice that my comments might actually be addressed or acted upon. I firmly believe these questionnaires go directly into the wastepaper basket- Does anyone out there have any experience that might contradict this assumption! That would be encouraging and a real positive note! S

Bob- I have sailed many times on R.C. and NCL and Celebrity and 7 transatlantic QM 2 Sailings-To Canada, To The Caribbean, Thru the Mediterranean! I know about space constraints etc. I'm not asking for a lot of space- just a 10 x 10 area when the combo is playing and the stage isn't being used for Trivia! I have seen very very few times when the lounges are so full that this could not be reasonably accommodated. It is only a suggestion, among others, I made that would make sailing more enjoyable! No big deal- Anyway- where there is a will there would be a way. Apparently, Cunard does not think this activity option is important. So be it. Thanks for your sensitive and thoughtful responses. S.

Thank You very much- first for taking my concerns seriously and secondly, for giving me and my husband some good suggestions that might help us really enjoy our up-coming cruise. This will be our 7th transatlantic with QM 2- we have just given up expecting any real fun on our sailing- I think your suggestions will give us the courage to try again- and your response has helped me realize I am not alone! Thanks, Susie

"All these fancy-schmancy show-offs are very off-putting, intimidating"

This is the kind of comment I can't understand. What should Cunard, or any other cruise line btw, do?

 

Put a sign "do not intimidate your fellow passengers"?

Yes- of course, we danced in the "disco" after dinner-It's for a younger crowd and It only opens after 10 pm! And no- I do not expect dancers to change their styles in the Queens Ballroom. I'm only suggesting that a bit of dancing in a quiet corner of the lounges or the Carinthia Room would not go amiss for us less practiced dancers ! What is so hard to understand! Don't you dance a little without wanting to glide around a big crowded ballroom! So, maybe you wouldn't understand anyway!

No Silly- Royal Car. does not regularly sail transatlantic- Simply changing ships does nothing to improve the situation on Q M 2. My hubby and I are not silly hormone-driven teens- I was only trying to add levity! We're in our 60's and can no longer negotiate the dance floor as smoothly as we used to but we still like to do a simple foxtrot or cha-cha in a smaller more romantic setting! Your response is not too helpful- there you are- thanks anyway. BostonSusie

Dear Cunard and QM 2 Administration,

Alright, I’m willing to put up with the worst food on the high seas ( even Royal Caribbean is Soooooo much better)- An upper deck buffet area that always smells like old fish! And is designed by someone who does not eat there-nothing where it should be in relation to dietary norms: bread and rolls nowhere near the cold cuts or cheese, no butter anywhere near where you would use it-no cutlery handy anyplace, loud ice cream machines that sound like a 747 taking off in the dining area! (Have you gotten them fixed yet?) etc. etc.

What I really regret is that there are no romantic little dance areas set aside in any of the cocktail lounges where a couple could have a romantic dance before or after dinner-

The Queen’s Ballroom couples look and act like contestants or rejects from America’s Got Talent (or not!). All these fancy-schmancy show-offs are very off-putting, intimidating and don’t leave much room or atmosphere for an anniversary or birthday couple to “slow dance’ and cop a little hug or squeeze.

PLEASE, couldn’t you set aside that 10’ x10’ piece of floor that nobody needs for a little dance space near the music in the Carinthia, or Lions’ Den, etc., or in the main central area! These places are seldom so crowded that it would not accommodate such an improvement.

EASY FIX- very romantic and fun and would be greatly appreciated! I have heard other passengers mention the same issues. Sailing on QM 2 should be a higher-classed experience when in reality it is a poorly planned tribulation. Sincerely, Susan