bobby1119

I took a small Chinese bamboo "good fortune" plant, which was given to me as a bon voyage gift, onboard QE2. By the end of the 2007 world cruise almost four months later, it had thrived and doubled in size. My wonderful steward who looked after me so well for the entire cruise always admired the plant, so I gave it to him. He still had it when I was on QE2 in 2008 for her final transatlantic crossing. You will have no problems, and the cabin attendant should be able to find a vase.

Bobby, I've been thinking further about what you wrote and I confess to being befuddled by your comment that

"The decision to overnight in New York was taken to allow those passengers with full day shore excursions and plans in New York the opportunity to enjoy their activities which, otherwise, would have to had to be cancelled if the ship merely were to sail a bit later in the evening.

 

I can't help but wonder how many of those excursions can/will be rescheduled for Monday (MLK Day, a Federal Holiday). Certainly, most tours previously booked for Sunday are no longer viable.

 

With all due respect, I challenge the reasoning suggested for the over-night stay in NY which resulted in a change of itinerary, as being attributed solely to Sunday's shore excursions in NY. No, it just doesn't add up as I see it, especially considering the knock-on effects. -S.

That was the official decision, Salacia. Cunard has even dispatched a customer care team from California HQ to assist in the arrangements that were put in place for the late arrival today. I think Cunard has handled this issue very admirably and impressively.

Bobby, we must be reading different local weather forecast, but I certainly hope what you are seeing is correct.

 

Why does the ship need to overnight in NY, as pleasant as that might be for some passengers and problem for others? I understand that she is arriving late in NY by approximately 6 hours (that's not all that uncommon) - but the departure is delayed by more than 24 hours, resulting in a port cancellation in Nassau.

 

There must be a very good reason why Cunard altered the itinerary.:confused:

Hi Salacia,

The decision to overnight in New York was taken to allow those passengers with full day shore excursions and plans in New York the opportunity to enjoy their activities which, otherwise, would have to had to be cancelled if the ship merely were to sail a bit later in the evening.

I think it was a good call by Cunard to over night in New York. Nonetheless, there are some whose onward journeys will be affected.

Weather here in NYC is bitterly cold tonight, but it will moderate by Sunday. The daytime temps will be in the mid 40's, but light rain will arrive by evening.

Cunard is handling this latest weather snafu admirably. The overnight in New York and the hospitality set-up planned at the NY Hilton are a wise call, although some disembarking in NY and FLL will have to do some scrambling to rearrange their onward flights.

All of this is to be expected this time of year, especially with a cruiseship attempting a North Atlantic crossing.

Looking forward to seeing/photographing the ship on Sunday when she arrives.

Nassau is no big loss.

I, too, received and competed the survey.

Follow the money...more revenue-producing opportunities and, probably (sadly), more cuts in the serving staff...this is where the survey is leading.

From what Pepperrn reports, it sounds like Cunard are on the ball and have a good plan in place.

With a detailed explanation like the one copied above which is being disseminated on the company website and through the various social media, no one can complain about a lack of information.

Having worked in PR during my professional career, I can say confidently that bad information or, worse yet, no information, arguably would engender of storm than what Mother Nature is currently whipping up in the English Channel.

Bobby, since your experience is of the Grills, imagine what it is for 85% of the passengers on board in Britannia Category!:eek: -S.

Salacia,

You're a New Yorker like me. I know that you know what my frame of reference is when we are talking about restaurants. ;)

I sail to commune with the sea. If I want to commune with fine dining, I have infinite possibilities at hand on land.

It's always a treat, however, when the sailing on the sea and good dining experiences intersect.

Bon Appetit and Bon Voyage.

hmmmm

that is a great observation but does anyone know what the budget would be per seated guest for a dinner on Cunard?????

I have never thought of it that way till I read your comment. There must be a line item in the budgets of the line that states what they budget per guest for food at a dinner or over all anyway.

Great food for thought. If I may interject a pun.

I once was told by someone in good authority what it is. I could not believe how low it is. When one considers the quantities of food provisions being purchased across the Carnival fleet, it begins to make sense. Still, on such a low per person budget, it's amazing that we aren't eating airline food.

On our most recent cruises in PG and QG, all of these culinary warhorses were offered. Most were competently prepared and presented. No fireworks, however, in comparison to leading restaurants on terra firma where menus are, most generally, more creative and exciting.

Happy New Year !!

 

Well, everyone it's that time again to start the should I or should I not. So again, I ask for your thoughts. The five day to Halifax...how many of you really think it is worth the cost for really only two full days at sea. I mean do you really feel it is worth it for this trip, oh I am so tempted, just cannot make up my mind. It is either this or a Transatlantic.....How many of you get off in Boston or do you just stay on board during this port visit? Booking an inside instead of a balcony would of cost keep the cost down a little...oh, what to do ???

 

Looking forward to your replies !!!

Happy New Year to you too.

I've done the 4, 5 and 7 day versions of the New England/Canada cruise several times. Opt for the transatlantic crossing. The Canada cruises are a yawn in comparison.

;)

Doing away with trays also seems to be an industry means of cutting back on food served and wasted - a way of discouraging people from overloading multiple plates on a tray and then leaving alot uneaten.

A Cunard captain has a dual role. Why do you think he has to go through the nightly ritual that is "the captain's table"? Obviously he has officers who are more than competent to handle the ship in his absence from the bridge.

 

I recall a Pan Am flight back to UK years ago from SF which was delayed until next day due to engine problems. A group of angry passengers were shoutng at staff and things were getting ugly when the pilot appeared. He explained the situation apologised and said he had arraigned hotels for every passenger. Instant calm.

 

What really winds people up is the remote message. No one can ask a question if the captain remains on the bridge.

 

But this a failing on Cunard ships generally. Unless you go to one of the "parties" you can go a full cruise and never set eyes on him. Everyone who ever sailed with P&O captain Hamish Reid would remember his daily morning walk around the ship, chatting to passengers on the way. A remote "this is the captain speaking from the bridge" message is sometimes not good enough.

 

David.

Who was the Captain on this cruise, and who was the Hotel Manager? Perhaps I missed the names in this very long thread.

I agree with Capnpugwash...Many Cunard captains I've sailed with over the years were always visible, out and about, chatting with passengers and crew...especially Captain Christopher Rynd, Captain Paul Wright, Captain Bernie Warner, Captain Robert Camby.

Not having called at Amsterdam this morning due to weather conditions QE is heading south. All we know is that we will return to S'ton on Tuesday. Crew is very nice alas we know that they will miss their last time off before xmas.

Brilliant title for your post!

Lots of complaining in progress already at a different thread.

Sorry for the poster's disappointment. These weather conditions are often to be expected at this time of year in coastal UK and USA waters.

With the exception of a rough wintertime crossing which can be exciting (have done several with QE2, QE and QM2), I often wonder why aren't QV and QE - even QM2 - deployed to warmer climes at this time of year? I read so many reports of skipped ports, closed-off decks, strong winds, high seas, etc.

It seems quite peculiar of Cunard to have two cruiseships (QV, QE) bouncing around during the winter months in European waters and calling at grey, raw and windy ports in Northern Europe or the Med. These are the cruises that historically have been hard-sells and are often heavily discounted. Perhaps cruises to more wintertime-friendly regions and ports would be less prone to bad weather conditions and would perhaps sell better.

I recall that once November and December arrived, QE2, for example, would do line voyages from Southampton to Cape Town via the Canaries, cruises to the Caribbean from New York and/or Southampton, even a cruise to Rio, before embarking on her traditional world cruise in January.

As much as I love visiting the major cities of Europe, I would rather be in sunnier and warmer places at this time of year.

:)

At what point would this current outbreak appear on the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program Report?

In 2012, a well-noted outbreak, which began similarly during UK/European cruises, continued across the Atlantic unabated and into the Caribbean Christmas cruise, affecting scores of holiday passengers and crew. It made US and UK news and appeared on the CDC website.

We sailed last year's 2013 Christmas cruise and arrived armed with Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, etc. The cruise was Noro-incident free, and it was arguably one of our best cruises yet on Queen Mary.

Hoping that the super sanitation in Southampton solves the problem.

Well, yes, I would like to see a voyage that went from NYC to France or Italy, but it would take too long at the current speeds to get there, so I'd rather fly.

 

From my reading, I understand that years ago, Cunard did a few r/t NY Bermuda runs. I'd like to see that again, but it seems Holland America has that route covered in the future. There are Mega Ships make that run frequently, but those ships don't appeal to me. I guess Cunard just surrendered that route, not that Cunard has anything to say about what the wizards at the Carnival Cruise Line dictate.

Salacia,

QE2 did several short 5-6 Bermuda runs every summer season. The 5 day run was NY-sea-Bermuda (2 full days)-sea-NY. The 6 day variation added Newport on the way out or back. I sailed several of these, as well as a 7 day NY-Bermuda-Nassau-Newport News-NY (weird cruise).

How ironic it is that QM2 has HAMILTON emblazoned on her arse and hasn't made an appearance there yet!

I asked the illustrious Peter Shanks why Bermuda wasn't on the horizon; his answer: Bermuda is a problem for us as it is not on the way somewhere. Why can't Bermuda be a destination in itself as it was for QE2? Perhaps the fact that QE and QV have stopped in Bermuda "on the way" somewhere explains their rare port calls.

It has nothing to do with the size of the ship. Breakaway is there every week during the season.

I'm with you - no desire for the megaships that go to Bermuda for the summer season. I'd rather be in traffic in the Hamptons in the summer.

B:rolleyes:bby

Thanks, Bobby, that means a lot to me.

 

Especially if it means I get a wedge of lemon with my fish & chips :D

:rolleyes:

...and I was trying to figure out a way to see the Three Queens in NYC on Jan 3 2016 :o mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

The Golden Lion on his throne forgives you, Salacia ;)

I think the extra days being all at sea is the biggest con that Cunard are doing, I love sea days and in lots of cases prefer them to visiting some dump of a port that I've visited plenty of times; but a world cruise should be exotic port after exotic port but each visit costs Cunard a lot of money. I often wonder quite how much that amount is when we leave early from somewhere exciting. Anyone here have any knowledge?

Quite the case in point.

During the 2007 QE2 world cruise which I sailed, we covered more ports in fewer days than what has come to be the norm for QE, QV and certainly QM2 on their extended world cruises. Moreover, as a result of QE2's speed, the number of continuous sea days between ports was fewer as well.

I often wonder if QE2 were still in the fleet if she would have been slowed down as well and subjected to the dawdling speeds of QM2 and her fleet mates.

It's a different world...cruise, I guess.

Here is the correct itinerary information:

In 2016, all three world cruises will originate and end in Southampton. The three ships will depart Southampton on January 10, 2016. QV and QE will not call in New York.

The world cruises of QV and QE will depart from Southampton on January 10.

QE will sail south to Cape Town and onward, while QV will sail to Fort Lauderdale and onward. The add-on is the January 3-10 eastbound transatlantic crossing of Queen Mary to connect with the QE/QV sailings.

Upon arrival in Southampton on January 10, Queen Mary will cross back to New York and onward around South America.

Very unfortunate that such a legendary liner should have such an ignominious end.

I sailed in this great ship for hundreds of days, including her last true world cruise in 2007. While I have continued to sail with Queen Mary 2 and other ships, nothing comes close to the spirit and soul of QE2.

In retrospect, I think I would have preferred to see her go straight to the breakers after her retirement from the Cunard fleet, however sad that would have been.

We did the Christmas cruise in Princess Grill last year. The decorations and festive atmosphere and events onboard were wonderful. With truly fine sailing weather, it was arguably our best cruise yet on Queen Mary 2.

Enjoy your holiday season onboard!

The comments in this thread make for very interesting reading.

The North American market is Cunard's most difficult-to-sell market. This management move is no doubt an attempt to address this issue.

Many N. America sailings are deeply discounted, especially the off-season crossings. Queen Mary 2 has been almost completely pulled from the Caribbean market which is a difficult sell.

Cunard management will follow the money, understandingly, with little regard to preserving the rich heritage the brand purports to offer.

Lynn, we shared a coffee together a few years ago in Sir Samuel's during a Caribbean run on Queen Mary.

I am so sorry for your illness and for the insurance nightmare you are trying to sort out.

Focus on your recuperation first.

Let the insurance companies burn in hell which is what all of their ilk deserve. I have been through this too.

Bobby