WantedOnVoyage

Talk about how times and cruising have changed.... I remember the P&O of CANBERRA days when the Pacific Restaurant, with Jamie the maitre d', knocked Cunard into a cocked hat when it came to food, service and ambience. Cocktails in the Century Bar and down that magic spiral staircase to the restaurant. That was special. Those who think it's swell everyone goes cruising can look at what's happened to P&O since.. we last sailed with them in VICTORIA in 2001 and never went back. It was already changing. I wouldn't recognise P&O now and do not care to find out. We vote with our feet... P&O, then Oceania for years, a bit of Cunard and post 2016, all Cunard. But we also now what we like and value and when the balance tips. With Cunard, at least in the Grills, not there yet.

I like it! We QM2 fans like the fact she is, by this table, the single (and by a good margin) most spacious Cunard ever! But already knew that. QUEEN ANNE isn't comparing too well.... she's c. 1936 QUEEN MARY!

Especially when they are wearing scruffy jeans and a T shirt. You can accuse me of being elitist all you want, but you know what, I liked steamship travel (back when it was called that, too) when it was considered special and had a certain cachet about it. Now I am frankly ashamed to even tell people we are going on a cruise. Cruising is now for everyone. I started travelling by ship as a high school student and even at min student fare on FRANCE and QE2, we got scrubbed up for dinner. It was what made an ocean liner special. Now, a particular sort makes a statement about being an uncouth slob and yes, Cunard and other lines, are just as happy to take his or her money and look the other way. And the local residents of Santorini are being told to stay indoors when the cruise ships arrive with 10,000 "cruisers". Times as we keep being told here are "changing". Oh boy... and how.

Cunard, like many lines, provide venues for those not wanting to "dress up". But the above suggests there is some statutory "right" to do so. Nonsense. Indeed, the confusion of different codes for different areas did even exist until the 1990s or later. Or, back with the old First and Tourist Class system. But there is no obligation on Cunard or line to accommodate, encourage or tolerate (I love that word... you never hear it anymore!) people who find dressing so distressing. Cunard does and very specifically list where you may and may not. Yet selfish people still flout, and deliberately, the code, even in its diminished state. The Slob Snobs want it all. The concensus here is that Cunard needs to do a much better job explaining and enforcing. My point is they rather just take the money and not bother one way or another.

So I guess if you chose not to wear a shirt or shoes indoors on a cruise ship or airplane or restaurant, it's all YOU... your choice, too. You could, I suppose, say it's your choice not to go through a scanner to embark. Or attend a boat drill. It is not a choice when a venue has a stated dress code and you purchase access to said venue. Again, no one is forced to go on Cunard or any cruise line but by doing so, it is about joining what is, by definition, a community. It's not all about YOU. "MY" vacation is staying at home... when you chose to share it with others, others matter.

Point taken and absolutely. Having worked briefly on a ship, albeit a small one (but with a dress code even in the middle of the South Atlantic!)... anything that warrants a complaint should be sufficiently mortfying and concerning since 99.8% would rather suffer in silence and wait till they get home and post the complaint here! Real complaints are rare and a professional cruise staff take it seriously. We had a family aboard complain about not enough for children to do aboard and I was "detailed" to be the kiddie deck sport "czar" for the ensuing three weeks at sea. I wish they had waited instead to complain here! Of course, this was five years before there was a Cruise Critic.

Personally, I think anyone seeing the christening of QUEEN ANNE would think they can wear as they darn please... "Hey Guys....!" But that would be just my opinion. And to think, some here were sure she'd get a royal christening. So much for that... But yes... we should complain about the issues as that raised in this thread. At the time. And take it as high up as the system designed to prevent that as you are able. We had to raise a serious medical diet issue last time on QV and I was astonished at the conflicting layers one has to go through. And the time taken in doing so. Finally, one makes the "times" not be dictated to by them. Especially when one is the customer paying for it.

Really? Is this some new "right" or "law".... last time I looked going on a cruise was a choice not a right and complying with the standards on board is an obligation that comes with the passage contract.

And no "uniform" policy is worse than none at all.

So instead of "dumbing down," (I do love how sensitive some are around here) I'll use "The Hey Guys" Era at Cunard.... and we witnessed the same thing on QV in May with a group of passengers of specific nationality who resolutely refused to follow the dress code and were, in fact, schmoozed by the cruise staff so attired. I did complain at the bureau and they did absolutely nothing. "The respect others cultures" line just enrages me.... I would have reported the individual who said it for starters. Thank you for your efforts... I think Cunard is frankly happy to just take anyone's money at this point and could not care less about their own "dress code." I've said so here and folks thought it was just terrible to point out the obvious. They don't.

You may if you wish. I take this transfer on every Cunard voyage and gotta say Intercruise, Cunard's agents who really organise this, are one of the most efficient components of the whole enterprise. Not sure why you would wish to do this, but you surely may. The coach leaves about 9:00 am-9:15 am. And if you have booked the transfer, your disembarkation time is determined by that, too. Fast track self disembarkation will have you outside the terminal way before that.

Merchant ships taken up for transport duty retained their Merchant Navy crew and officers. They were "hired" or chartered by the Ministry of War Transport. So an H.M.T. QUEEN MARY still had her original Cunard captain, flew the Blue or Red Ensign, etc. And yes, Cunard still carried commercial passengers from September 1939-end 1940 and also aboard the transports but official ones aboard the latter.

I believe the all-time record for a Cunarder (or British liner) in general in total number of passengers carried on the North Atlantic was R.M.S AQUITANIA which landed 3,110 in three classes at New York in January 1921. So maybe QUEEN ANNE will have the somewhat dubious distinction of averaging more passengers per voyage than anyother Cunarder. Not with me among them, either! As for the relative size and merits of the respective fleets of 1958 and 2024, I'd take R.M.S. QUEEN ELIZABETH (1940) over the entire Cunard fleet of today, thanks very much.

Not in my experience... I often "sneak" out on the open decks in blustery weather. Love it. And last time I did so on QUEEN VICTORIA, I had a nice chat with a passing officer, too. Not sure why "they" are so keen to close access to the open decks since you'd get the same blast from your balcony without the exercise. I travel on ocean liners for the ocean. Can't get enough of it.

Well... Cunard helped to invent the "cruise to nowhere" in the late 1920s-30s out of New York when they sent their big liners on 2-night "booze cruises" during American prohibition and the "destination" was the bar when the 3-mile limit was crossed. But, sorry, I know in the QA Era, we are not supposed to talk Cunard history....

One can but hope that these "protesters" never travel or leave home but you might think so, but I could not possibly comment... Then again, we are increasingly "against" cruising whilst were are... cruising. And increasingly content not to join the 10,000 streaming down the gangway from 4-5 big ships at places we have fond memories of. There are plenty of destinations we can be content to say "I'm glad we saw it when..." I far more preferred Barcelona c. June 1975 than today for example. And yes, they (and no one else) turned it into a theme park after the Olympics. Not cruise lines or tour companies. Greed and economy of scale have wrought the Monster Cruise Liners and they seem to be the final straw for many... both ashore and increasingly afloat, too. The Cruise to Nowhere seems the ultimate resort in every sense of the phrase. The S.S. FLYING DUTCHMAN might be the newest RCCL behemoth.

Methinks the issue is not those who look down but those always looking up... or indeed thinking anyone is looking or caring fullstop. I even remember when the Paris Metro had First Class carriages! Now that was class. And no standing, even in rush hour. I started my half century of sea travel as a 16 year old travelling min. Tourist Class on a student fare... the lowest of the low. So know what the "First Class Only" sign looks like from the other side. On Italian Line, though, if you managed to score a girlfriend in First Class, they even wrote you a permission slip to visit her in First (those romantic Italians think of everything)... assuming, quite rightly, she wasn't coming "down" to you... regardless of my teenage charms.

I am shocked that anyone would be shocked that one gets what one pays for... in travel, property, or indeed any consumer good. Possibly confused that "Champagne taste on a beer budget" implies you actually are owed a Pol Roger 1994 when you paid for the Carling six-pack. I remember sailing in the 1939-built BALTIKA from London to Leningrad in 1984 when the Socialist paradise of the USSR was alive and kicking. And BALTIKA was a Hero Ship of the Soviet Union. And yes... she ran with three classes of passengers and no, you did not get to just wander at large either. We carried a large group of Danish Youth Communist League boys from Copenhagen and sailed to the tune of "The Internationale" and yes, the boys were in Third Class and we, including the Soviet Ambassador to Great Britain, were in First Class. What would Karl Marx made of that, I wonder? I suspect he'd travel Cunard in Princess Grill, P2 Grade. Better not best.

Yes... tea is properly served in the Lounge on QM2. We even had a menu although I suspect that's gone now, too. But it was so much nicer than sitting at someone else's table in the PG Restuarant and why we almost never "do" tea on QE and QV. And yes... the quality, almost vanished today (maybe because few appreciate it) of "calmness" and quiet, refined service is worth the cost of admission to us. And why a "jumbotron" overlooking the main pool of QA is such a turn off that I wouldn't set foot on her on that score alone. QM2 IS Cunard. QA is Cunard Lite. And QV is... sigh, just right.

The Grill area on the QV and QE are, to me, simply outstanding... two really excellent expanses of private deck area, a very pleasant (if often inadequate in seating) lounge with stunning views and with the two restaurants adjoining. It's as perfectly situated and conceived premium area one (well me) could ask for. And it's secluded and private too. QM2 still appeals... PG cabins are so superior to QV and QE as to not even compare in decor or feeling of spaciousness and "de luxe" and QG has superb suite locations... we are not keen on being shoved astern as on QV and QE. I like the Grill Lounge too... we had superb service there (best bartender on the ship, too) and it feels spacious and uncrowded. And sorry, no ship afloat has the wonderful lofty ceilings and spacious passageways of QM2 not to mention the real teak wood decks. The Grills Deck, yes... that is often inadequate in space. QA... no thanks. I've seen and heard enough and not for me. My preconceived notions as to her have been exceeded by what I've seen and read. Nope.

I am not sure how classless as a word is offensive when it is used in the context of Cunarders not having classes since... QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. They do not. Cunarders are classless. And yes, unlike an airliner. Exceptfor the examples cited in terms of deck areas. And "interlopers" is quite fitting, too... what would you call people who are where they have no business to be. And signs telling them that? Trespassers? That works, too. If the English language offends, perhaps some other one might be used.

Question answered. As for the merits of the spaces reserved for Grill passengers... that is neither the issue or the question. The Grills Terrace on QM2 is small enough without interlopers and yes if you don't belong there, you don't and that's it. Odd that people fly in airplanes with four completely segregated cabins... good old fashioned "classes" too... without concern or complaint. But no, modern Cunarders are pretty classless (!).

Actually, they are not mirrored.... I do my boat deck laps, too, (nothing like the smell of real teak wood first thing in the morning... none of that horrible plastic of the VISTAs and QA!) and sure, I "peer" in and could see our lovely table all laid and ready. And feeling like kippers when I've reeled off enough laps. Although I think I manage more mileage just getting to and from anything on QM2 as it is..

Among the 9-11 envelopes and pieces of paper littering the rubberised mat on top of the bed at first entering our cabin, is one with vouchers for free Verandah something or rather.... but this is NOT on account of our Diamond "status" but from our travel agency. And yes... they really want that voucher if or when you choose to dine. Diamond perk is "paperless". We travel Grill so would only use it for luncheon and I think it's only for that anyway. On the Vistas, absolutely... on QM2, no thanks!

No thanks.... I'll keep my fond memories of Santorini visits aboard UGANDA in 1981 and CANBERRA in 1995. We've been more than content to stay aboard the last two visits in QUEEN VICTORIA... the last one in May, the call was preceded by a letter warning of the impending horrors ashore but it looked less mobbed than the preceding September. Either way... no thanks. Might visit to supervise the airlift of the poor donkeys to the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, though... they've doubtless had enough of cruise invasion tourism than any human.