deedub68

We are big news junkies! What stations are available on the stateroom televisions? CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc..........Thanks!

QV selection was spotty. MSNBC, CNBC, Sky and BBC World news. Notable and surprising exception missing was CNN.

MSNBC was sacrificed when World Cup games were on, but normal service resumed shortly after the games finished.

Fox was there if you want to classify them a "news" service.

Of course, through socialising, I generally gain my own first hand experience as opposed to 'hearing' tittle-tattle.

How rude. The first hand related experiences of other cruisers is not to be lightly dismissed as "tittle-tattle". We have shared tables before, at breakfasts and lunches, but only when all of the tables for 2 are already occupied. Even those experiences have turned us off shared tables for good.

We work too damned hard for our money to take a chance on a shared table impacting our enjoyment of a cruise. Having just returned from V821 Iceland and the Fjords, I am very happy with our choice, and will choose the same going forward.

Frankly, when sailing with Cunard, I would consider any table for two, at whatever level of accommodation, rather self defeating.

I most strongly disagree. It's a matter of choice.

To us, the purpose of a cruise is not to socialise, it's to experience the vessel and the destinations. If we felt the need to socialise we would select a 6 or 8 person table in Voyage Personaliser. We select a table for 2 so we can enjoy our own company and make the most of the cruise.

Not everyone is a social butterfly, and I have heard enough horror stories of obnoxious and overbearing individuals at mixed tables to swear off shared tables forever.

Despite the fact you despise my generation, this is well researched and thought out and a fair analysis of the report.....time will tell, and if the dress code descriptions remain a year from now then you may be correct. One thing that I do consider to be true is that the 'Millennial' generation do have a very positive view of cruising. All our kids, in their late 20's and early 30's now, love cruising and I know many at work who do so also. The one thing I do notice however is that they are much more interested in the, so called, mega ships with all their bells and whistles....so not certain that Cunard can align with that element of Millennials aspirations.

Thank you for your kind words, and please note my ps was meant as an attempt at humour, not offense.

Agreed regarding milennials and their preference for megaships, however the time will come when they will want to try something a little more premium. I would suggest Cunard’s introduction of their new terminology is preparation for the day when the destination is equally as important as the vessel to take you there.

Despite the fact you despise my generation.

Perhaps you missed the part where I mentioned this was a quote from a third party. I should clarify by stating that this particular sentiment is not shared by this particular writer.

I've spent some time thinking long and hard about what has prompted this "terminology change" from Cunard and I think I have an answer.

Below is a link to Carnival's 2017 Strategic Report and IFRS Financial Statements. The Strategic report makes for interesting reading.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Njg5NDgyfENoaWxkSUQ9Mzk5OTEyfFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1

I quote from Section 1:B:II:b: Positive Demand Trends:

From a demographic perspective, two age groups, the Baby Boomers and the Millennial generations, have in recent years experienced trends that positively affect demand for cruising. The Baby Boomer generation likes to pursue an active lifestyle and has the desire and the means to travel and enjoys multi-generational cruising. The Millennial generation has now surpassed the size of the Baby Boomer generation and represents the fastest growing demographic segment of the vacation industry. This group expresses a strong desire to travel and share new experiences, a mindset that should continue to foster growth for the industry. A recent study by the American Society of Travel Agents (“ASTA”) indicates that the Millennial generation has as positive a view of cruising as the Baby Boomer generation.

So let's think about what Baby Boomers and Millennials would respond to in terms of terminology. I have no doubt Carnival has spent a LOT of money to do just that in order to make Cunard an aspirational brand for the higher-income earning bracket within those key groups.

Would "Formal" and "Informal" work? I don't think so, and I suggest Carnival's research has found the same.

"Smart Attire" and "Gala" is probably more likely to be terminology that the newer cruisers might respond to positively. I'm sure focus groups have identified just that.

So...will we see baseball caps or dress denim in the Britannia dining rooms? Highly unlikely. It's in Carnival's interests to keep the Cunard brand exactly where it is: luxury travel, but not "ultra luxury". That moniker has been adopted by the Seabourn brand if I read this document correctly.

In my humble opinion, I don't think Carnival would be well served to turn Cunard into a more diluted version of their current offering to appeal to a wider base. I think what they are trying to do is make the brand a touch more accessible to the affluent Baby Boomer & Millennial by using terminology they will respond to rather than terminology that might have been found relatable by generations prior to these groups.

ps.

In all this should I, as a Gen X-er, be a little miffed that we don't even rate a mention? To quote a clever twitter contributor "Whenever I see Millennials and Baby Boomers arguing it seems they forget there's a generation between that despises them both!"

We only had one couple criticize us. In their defense, we (actually me) are really bad.

I am certainly not a dancer and don't intend to be, but my reaction to criticism of this nature would be blunt and forthright.

Every cruise line has extra deep cleaning if there has been illness, and I am certainly glad that they do.

 

Try to enjoy the remainder of your time.

Agreed. I'd prefer they take an extra couple of hours to be thorough with cleaning than risk a dose of norovirus. That'll ruin your trip way faster than a little wait time to board.

Thanks for the hint about booking in advance.

I can second this: booking in advance will greatly enhance your experience. You could wait for an hour or so in a fairly dreary cafe if you don't.