Joe33472

Good morning!   No time change overnight, which is really great.  We still have two time changes, so there must be time change tonight and tomorrow.

Seas are a little rough this morning and the wind sounds very strong.  Cruisemapper says light breeze and rough seas.  We're still moving quickly along at 24 knots, which has been the average speed for this crossing.  With one less day than on a typical crossing, we probably have to keep this pace to make it to NYC on time. 

On the cruise planner for today it mentions that we'll be passing by Sabal island, a small archipelago off the coast of Nova Scotia that apparently has a feral horse colony of about 500 horses.  I hope we are close enough to see the island, that would be so cool.   I sent back our binoculars from Italy and wish we had them now.  It looks like we come really close to the island.

I think we're going to go to QG for breakfast this morning to give it a try.  We're not huge breakfast people, but we might as well try it at least once.   We're also going to make a concentrated effort to participate in more of the programming today.   We've found a few things already that we'd like to do.

6 minutes ago, BklynBoy8 said:

Yes, not like the Mega ship out there but there is plenty for all to find to occupy time. Even the selections especially in the Chart Room in the evening. On our bucket list in 262 days from now. 

Totally agree!  More than enough things to do and entertainment to cater to a variety of tastes.   Even lots of folks playing games and doing puzzles in the hallways on floor 2, I think.   Also, during the day, lots of reading all over the ship.   Although we're not much into classical music, the music played in the grand lobby is very nice.  We sat and enjoyed the automatic piano for quite some time this afternoon.  

Dinner was very nice.  We ordered beef filet, mashed potatoes, french fries and Bernaise sauce.  All was great.   Osman heard about "macaroon-gate" and came over at the start of dinner tonight to talk with us about what happened.    It was all positive.  

These were in our stateroom when we got back from dinner:

Day 5 Programme .pdf

Immigration Information .pdf

7 minutes ago, Judyrem said:

Thanks Joe! 🙂

 

I am a Cunard newbie and this provides me with some new perspectives for  my July 27 TA to Hamburg.🤔

 

 

I'm sure you'll have a great time!  Enjoy and safe travels!

We didn't make it to the comedy show (both of us having stomach pains), but we went to the casino for a little bit and then to the Queens Room to watch people dancing.  It was modern dancing and people were having a great time on the dance floor.  It was packed and the band/DJ was good playing favorites of the 70s and 80s.   Lots of people out and about.   Pretty good nightlife of QM2.   No night time shopping.  All stores closed at 9:00 p.m.

2 hours ago, Judyrem said:

Joe, I know you covered food, service and the ship, but how is the entertainment?

 

Hi Judy, we've attended a few talks and are going to the comedy show tonight, so I can let you know how it is.  Many of the dining staff said that the comedy show is really great and that we should definitely go.   

We did a lot of traveling in Europe prior to the cruise, so for the first couple of days we really chilled out.  We haven't noticed any big production numbers (which are the things we typically like to see), but we might have missed them.  We saw two shows in London and a musical prior to embarkation, which is more than we typically see in a year. 

The day is filled all types of activities to meet varying interests.   Those activities definitely cater to the cruise demographic, so there is not so many things that interest us.  We love to watch ballroom dancing, but don't want to learn it, and were not into string quartets or harps.  Not that there is anything wrong with those.  I'm sure it's lovely.   We've gone to trivia and some raffles.  

I think that where Cunard excels are the insight talks.  Really interesting people talking about things that they love. Today's talk was about how to navigate really large museums and I would have appreciated that talk prior to our visit to Europe.  

10 hours ago, Mudhen said:

Next on dining....I will often do a salad and then a couple of apps and/or soup if the mains don't suit me. Then I might actually have some room for either dessert or the wonderful cheese cart. Hoping that it's still there and hasn't been cut....

 

@Mudhen We dropped by PG tonight and spoke to the Maitre D' and he said yes, the cheese cart is still in PG and is exactly the same as QG.  I asked to take a picture and he says, "of course". 

Then I looked at the cheese cart in QG and it was exactly the same.   Here is the picture of the cheese cart in PG.  The one in QG was exactly the same, so no need for a second picture. 

Hope this helps!

14 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

Sorry that wasn't clear - yes, I would rather do more sailings and thus adapt to the cheaper staterooms. My thinking is that there is so much to do on QM2 that even if (hypothetically) I was in an Inside cabin then I would just use it to sleep and shower, and keep busy everywhere from the library to the Lookout. That said I was in PG on QM2 back in January, then sheltered in May 2024, my next is in Britannia Club, then Outside, so I do mix it up a bit. 

 

Taking SO to Britannia will at least show the difference from Grills so that your partner will also be better informed. If the front desk of Britannia says "oh but you are in QG", just let them know that you want to try it out. That's only likely at lunch, breakfast is more of a machine so they probably won't ask for your suite number.

Thank you for the response!  That what was I thought you were saying, I just wanted to make sure.  I'm kind of thinking this too.   Our calculation is something like next summer back and forth to Europe in QG = $20K, back and forth in a sheltered balcony cabin = $8K, plus drink package and some specialty dining = $10K, we'll have $10K to spend in Europe.

8 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

The biggest single factor for me is that I would rather not trade - from a total money point of view - 2, 3 or even 4 sailings in Britannia for just one in the Grills. If money is not an issue then OK, that changes.

 

I also tend not to eat in Kings Court, though I may pick up a coffee there. I am a fan of sheltered balconies on Crossings, the wilder the better! In your shoes I would make do with the Britannia restaurant, which as you have seen has a reasonable menu, advertised in advance, and consider Verandah or Bamboo (etc) once in a while. But you're not going to get 4 lots of butter in Britannia! You can try Britannia for breakfast or lunch, for a change of scene.

Does the this mean that you'd rather one crossing in QG over 2, 3 or 4 sailings in Britannia or the other way around?

I really don't like the Kings Court buffet, but that's not a reflection of Kings Court, I just don't like buffets in general.  Thanks for the suggestion about taking a breakfast or lunch in Britannia!  That's a great tip. Going to suggest that to my SO that we try that tomorrow.   Just for a change in pace.    Yes, if we booked a sheltered balcony, we'd probably do a few specialty dining and the pop ups just to mix things up!  Thanks! 

3 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Are we still talking about the macarons  ? How did you get them in the end ?

A nice gentleman delivered them to our cabin.  The food service manager apologized and said that it shouldn't have been an issue to have the cookies to take away and that he would gladly arrange for delivery of the cookies to our cabin. 

2 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

The lunches are good in Britannia and in the Golden Lion. Carinthia serves  light lunches too. 

That's exactly what my SO is telling me.  We'll eat in Britannia, Golden Lion, and the buffet.  She says that many of the options repeat across restaurants and even the buffet.  We could take three cruises in a sheltered balcony for the price of this one cruise.  🤷‍♂️  She says all this now, but when we're sitting in a sheltered balcony cabin all I will hear about is how small the cabin is and how unbearable it is. Thank goodness she doesn't read this forum.

1 minute ago, Kordy said:

Good points.  As far as @Joe33472 final thoughts on this voyage, what will be particularly useful to me is to understand if the extra cost of the Grill upper class was worth it for him.  I'm sailing next week and I had a choice of going for the Britannia Class, Britannia Club class or the Princess Grill class. I chose the Britannia class and I feel really good about how much I paid (almost guilty), given the experience that I'm expecting.

 

However, I was torn if I should go for the Club or even for the PG or QG. I certainly can afford it, but it would perhaps feel like I'm overspending unnecessarily.  For me, I'm always about trying to find a "sweet-spot" of the best possible experience I can get at a fair and reasonable cost (not the cheapest!  Just fair & reasonable).

 

I am going to be interested to see if Joe will recommend QG or whether he will probably prefer to go for a lower class with Cunard next time, given the large increase in cost of QG vs other fare classes.  This will help me to understand if I should have gone for one the Grills or just stick with the Britannia and just make the most of it, knowing that I'm still getting around 85% of the same experience as everyone else on the ship, without having overspent my $$$.  It's a difficult balance and I don't always get it right !

 

It will be interesting to find out where people feel the "smart" money is when choosing the Cunard class. How to get the best experience at the most reasonable cost - ie the "sweet-spot".  It's different for everyone, of course, but there must be a consensus or a mid-point.

Trust me!  This exact question has been the topic of most of your lunch and dinner conversations.   And like you, it's not a money issue.   It's a value issue.   And despite what many may think, we're already planning our next QM2 cruise.   The question for us, like you, is what class.    We originally booked PG for this cruise, and then I read about ordering off menu at QG and that kind of made the difference for me.  But, in reality, we haven't used that too much.  

The Q5 cabin we're in is VERY nice (albeit old, but we knew that), so it's tough to think about being in a cabin for a week 1/2 or a 1/3 the size of this cabin.  Our cabin on the recent Royal Caribbean was about this same size as this Q5, maybe a little larger. 

Many people say PG is the sweet spot or perhaps Britannia Club.   I'm going to hold off judging what's the value proposition until Saturday when we disembark, but today, I don't think I would say that QG is worth it for the restaurant experience.   But maybe worth it for the room and butler experience, so it's very difficult.    My SO says on our next trip we should do a sheltered balcony and eat in Britannia restaurant and the buffet, but she likes buffets and I detest them.  She doesn't know how much I really hate buffets.  So, it's really tough evaluation.  I really do like this cabin, suite lounge, and butler. 

1 minute ago, Kordy said:

The cookies are a very contentious topic!

BTW - the cookies ended up not being as good as they looked

Wow!  The backside of QM2 is so nice.   We finally made it up there this afternoon.  I wish we were in a warmer climate to take advantage of the pools and decks.  How nice.  We were totally blown away.   I like the tiered deck setup.  I think most cruise ships being built now a days generally locate the pools on the top deck across the whole top deck or decks, so this tiered decking is quite dramatic view.  I love also the stairs going down to the various levels.   Makes for easy access between decks.  

34 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Want a cookie?

The Lido or Kings Court or Artisans Hall. call it what you will  often have a stash of cookies. on request if not in view. A bit like a currency. The server reaches under the counter and puts a couple in my napkin to take away!!😀

Choc chip or cookies with cranberries.

Thanks for the tip!   I love cranberry cookies.  Will definitely give this a try.  

13 minutes ago, DukeBeetle24 said:

I've enjoyed your updates, they've been incredibly helpful and refreshing. Please keep them coming - and I hope you can enjoy the rest of your cruise.

I'm really glad you have found the posts helpful.  I was really only trying to provide a balanced and unbiased opinion of my experiences.  I've definitely given praise where praise is due. 

As a first timer on Cunard, I have no horse in the race.  I don't have a vested interest in a loyalty program or any loyalty to this cruise line.  I am; however, an avid consumer of vacation products.  We take at least 12 weeks of holidays a year.  So, we know what something is good and when it's not.    

3 minutes ago, S1971 said:

 

Absolutely, I also take back a night cap most nights.

 

Nothing wrong with doing either, I thought it was the norm for lots of people.

I just mention that I wanted to bring back a couple of cookies to my room and I'm told to chill out and enjoy my cruise, that I should only eat food in the venue that it's served, get my butler to retrieve the cookies (that I could easily do myself), and because food is served on a plate that I shouldn't expect to be able to take it to my room.   I'm asked how many cruises I've taken, as if I'm the problem. 

Meanwhile, tons of people bring tidbits for snacks to their room, drinks are brought to and from venues, and food regularly is seen being transported down the halls.   AND, the food service manager even agrees, that it should be no problem for me to take away a couple of cookies and apologizes.  

15 minutes ago, Kordy said:

If you're on a drinks package, I would have thought coffee at Sir Sam should be included in the package - surely?

I'm not sure if it's only on the Grills Promo, but I've been charged for drinks (hot and cold) as we go along and the charge is reversed the next day at 10:30 a.m. 

And to be honest, when we went in the other day, I didn't look at the receipt and just signed it.  I thought it was for just the two coffees.   Now I'm going to have to investigate.

4 minutes ago, RK-NC said:

 

It has been our understanding that coffee beverages at SS are an extra charge but the cake/pastry case is complimentary (similar to the complimentary food in Carinthia)

We were in there the other day (drank coffee and had a pastry without leaving the place) and that was my understanding too.   If they charge for pastries then there should be little placards in the display case showing the prices.   We're on a drinks package, so I thought the coffee and pastries were free. 

Just now, Victoria2 said:

I totally understand your frustration but knowing Sir Sam's as a chargeable venue, I would have expected a charge and as it wouldn't occur to me to use it as a 'take away', would therefore not have gone in and asked but would, as I say, asked as a special from QG.

The frustration isn't over the cookie, it's the negative reaction about anything critical about Cunard or QM2.   If nobody has EVER had the desire to ask for a cookie to go from Sir Samuel's that doesn't make it wrong or something that can't be done.  The food service manager said it should be no problem at all for me to take away a couple of cookies.   If they are selling the cookies, EVEN more reason to let me buy them and let me go on my way.  Or even better, have them sent to my room if it's objectionable to some that I walk down the hall with a cookie or drink.  

Just now, exlondoner said:

Certainly that is where I would normally drink a drink. Isn’t that what the bars are for.

 

 

I see so many people walking around this ship carrying drinks and food.  That must be something you personally don't like.  I don't see any problem with it as long as they are careful and are respectful.

15 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

If I was having them at the end of a paid for meal and was too stuffed to eat them then yes, I'd ask for a napkin to take them away.

As a walk in just for one  chargeable item, then no, we wouldn't expect to be able to walk out with any but then wouldn't go in for that  as we'd ask for it as a special from QG.

I had no idea that the bakery items in that venue are chargeable.   Even more reason that they should serve me what I want and let me leave with them.  They never said, the cost was $7 each can we have your card so we can charge them to the room.  

That's like if you went into a Starbucks and said you wanted a coffee and they said that you had to drink it there.   Now knowing these are chargeable makes this even worse.   You can't buy something onboard and leave with it?  That's crazy.   I've gone to bars onboard, obtained a drink and took it with me.   Am I supposed to drink it in the venue?  

20 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I would expect to consume anything I ordered in a particular eating venue in that venue, other than the Lido, though people carrying stuff from the Lido in the lifts is something that drives me mad, because it is so dangerous. But that is another issue. I’m not mad about cakes, but if I ordered fish and chips in the Pub, it would be because I was going to eat them there, etc. It doesn’t seem odd to me, and particularly not something to get upset about. But it is indeed your holiday to spend as you wish.

Big difference between fish and chips and a cookie. 

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I have to agree with you.    Sometimes it doesn't come down to the Macaroon but the principle combined with other failures and disappointment you have experienced. 

Exactly, and people should know about a wide range of experiences.  Many people come to this board contemplating Cunard cruises and like everything in life there are pros and cons.   I just want to share my experiences so hopefully it will benefit someone making a decision. 

17 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Isn’t life too short for all this? Just enjoy your cruise.

I'd enjoy my cruise more if I had the macaroon that I asked for.  

Edited to add:  Maybe others (besides you) would like to know that if they ask for something to take away from Sir Samuel's that they are not going to be able to get the dessert to go. 

We just went to Britannia Restaurant so I could take some photos of the menus to post here and when passing Sir Samuel's we noticed that they had pistachio macaroons available.  These happen to be one of our favorite desserts, but since we just finished lunch we figured that we would ask for a couple to take away and have the macaroons this afternoon.   We were told by the staff that we must eat the macaroons in Sir Samuel's and that we couldn't take the macaroons with us.  They said that was the rule.   We said to yourselves, we'll just sit down, order the macaroons and walk out with them.  But, we're definitely not rule breakers and if that's the rule that's the rule.  Seems like a really dumb rule.   I haven't seen a single macaroon anywhere on this ship since we've boarded and I'm sure if we wait until later this afternoon, all of the macaroons will be gone.  

So, at this point in the cruise, I've just had it with food services, so I went to the front desk to find a manager.  The usually long line was there and I gave up.  There were about 10 or so people in the queue, I think all needing tech support.   As I'm walking away, a man comes from the area in what appears to be an officer's uniform.  I look at his name tag and it indicates that he's the food service manager.  Perfect.  I discussed the "rule" with him. He says there is no rule, and shakes his head.  I say, "What would they do if I ordered the macaroons and took them to go?  Would they tackle me for the macaroons?".  He apologizes and says that he'll have some sent up to our room.  1/2 hour later, still no macaroons.... Not that we could eat them yet, it's just the point.