WantedOnVoyage

You've never worked on a ship then.... your cabin, no matter how small, is a sanctuary and your cabin mates are the most important part of serving in a ship... your shipmates. And you always go ashore with them, too. The first goal being to pay for and choose your own food and drink. As long as it's not "ship food." I shared a cabin with three cadets, half my age, and we always had shore leave together. Working on a ship is not being a galley slave. If you're young, especially, it's... a great experience.

I did not appreciate that the Scilly Islands are "overseas"? One learns so much on this site, no?

So... yes, the last real working overseas mailship was indeed R.M.S. ST HELENA (II).

I'd be interested to see evidence that QM2 has carried mail, Royal or otherwise, on her now somewhat irregular crossings, other than passengers' postcards. Indeed, I have never seen any document by Cunard using "R.M.S." as a prefix. When QE2 came out, Cunard discouraged use of the prefix and she did carry mail as they thought it sounded "old fashioned". But menus, etc., printed aboard referred to as "R.M.S. QUEEN ELIZABETH 2" and I have not see QUEEN MARY 2 similarily referenced. I believe she may have been "conferred" R.M.S. by the Post Office as a honorary tribute but the last true overseas Royal Mail liner was ST. HELENA (II). She flew the Royal Mail pennant, too, franked her own mail and carried all classes of mail and parcel post. When I briefly served in R.M.S. ST. HELENA (I) she did as well of course. We really did carry mail and "R.M.S." was not some honorary title but her reason for being. Most of our first class mail for the island was flown into Ascension Island and loaded there for the three-day run south to St. Helena.

The reality is: we care more about the "dress code" than anyone at Cunard ashore or afloat. During three plus week aboard QUEEN VICTORIA in May there was NO effort at enforcement of it by any staff member, in any public venue. None. Shorts and tees during Gala Nights. Not common but not exceptional, either. Indeed, I saw passengers so attired in the company of cruise staff. "Hey Guys"... Cunard doesn't care about their dress code. Or those of us who do.

Or maybe those whose aspire to 19th hole evening attire might choose to "live" instead aboard the 96.6 percent of cruise ships and lines that think that's "smart evening attire" and leave the one line that aspires, with its core customers, to something other than chinos and "polos".

So... nine pages later, I submit the above as evidence. And rest my case. You may dress as you wish. Cunard care not. And apparently, carry your beer in lifts and from pillar to post, too. As they say, "it's all good." The "Hey Guys Era" of Cunard is.... real. Makes one pine for "Ships Have Been Boring Long Enough" c. 1969. Well, makes me pine. And thank you, Bluemarble... you are the Metrics Man par excellence.

Me, I'd like a proper trans-Atlantic service back... so shorter crossings and more of them, more frequently. It is all but impossible to use QM2 as a liner for any kind of practical overseas trip with two weeks used just over and back and so few crossings. It's pleasure but of little purpose. "Getting There is Half the Fun" yes... but I'll like to get back, too, in less than a month or more, thanks very much.

When I crossed on FRANCE in August 1974 (50 years ago!) she was loafing along on a 6-day crossing not 5 to save fuel. It didn't save her and one missed quadruple screws churning out 29 knots! But at 16, I still thought she was pretty "neat" even as a slow coach.

Ships are aged more by market and marketing than anything else. Although mechanically, one can argue that much of QM2's uniqueness and capabilities have already been compromised with the dismal 7-day crossing rather than 6 days she was meant for, let alone 5 days. That is the speed of a CAMPANIA c. 1900. If she loafs along like that, she'll last forever but all that expensive gas turbine fit is largely wasted now. If you ever had the pleasure... the thrill... of crossing the North Atlantic in five days on the steamship QUEEN ELIZABETH 2... now that was special. A real crossing. Not an Atlantic cruise. Oh and yes... three formal nights, too. And jacket and tie the others. So there!

Or, you might find Cunard is, in 20 years, no different from Princess, Holland America or RCCL, too. So who cares if they "survive"... as what?

Appreciate, too, that a "Gala Night" does not solely (or least did not in the past) imply just an "elevated dress code" but also an enhanced menu (in all restaurants) and entertainment. So by removing gala evenings, they effect other cutbacks and the dumbing down is relentless. We are booked (for now) in Queen's Grill so the menu aspects are not a concern but those in Britannia complaining about no lobster and little if any escargot etc. might consider that the thin edge of the wedge going forward. As for Cunard's intentions, I refer you to the bolded part of their reply which certainly suggests this is not a one-off but a new policy going into 2025. And yes... some of us have been sailing with Cunard for rather longer than most on this board I suspect and naturally resist the continued dimunition of "our" line more than newcomers might.

We are booked (and did so the moment it was released) QUEEN MARY 2's 11 January 2025 35-day West Indies cruise from Southampton, having done the same, but slightly shorter version in 2023. This 35-day voyage has no fewer than 21 full days at sea and and two six-day at sea segments. And according to the calendar this 35-day cruise has precisely FIVE formal or gala evenings. Five. So that's fewer than one a week and wholly at odds with what Cunard even purports as an average (two a week) in their website. I immediately contacted Cunard about this and received the following response: Thank you for your email. I am sorry that the changes we've made to the scheduling of our Gala/Formal nights has affected your voyage and your perception of Cunard Line in a negative way. Please know that I fully understand and appreciate your point of view and actually share it. I will forward your comments to my superiors on your behalf. Your Diamond level status, loyalty, and views are greatly appreciated. My best wishes, and welcome back, You will note the bolded comment. So it appears that Cunard is indeed continuing on its relentless dumbing down of its core product and indeed reducing the number of gala nights, although possibly not to the extremes of this particular voyage. This seems to be the onset of a new "Hey Guys... Era" at Cunard.

Maybe I'll hold out for the better deals on Cunard's Dominion Day sale... which seems befitting given the origins of the company, no? Then again, did not R.M.S. BRITANNIA first sail from Liverpool on 4 July 1840? But I know we are not supposed to talk about Cunard history and "heritage trail" anymore in the era of QUEEN ANNE so we'll stick to the "deals" her extra capacity have elicited. I think the "Sail Soon" offers have far more prospect anyway...

Oh we buy own travel insurance and of the coverage that suits US... not a third party. The notion of 2 mn. quid as minimal coverage is astonishing enough that no U.S. travel insurance even offers such coverage. Travel insurance should be our personal choice... not Cunard's. Now that is sensible.

I am always astonished at these U.K. insurance requirements... but I can state positively from my experience only, I have never seen anyone at check-in producing anything more than their boarding pass, credit card and passport. And since there is no separate queue for nationalities or "markets", that's another consideration. I have a U.S. passport and my wife a U.K. one and we've never been asked. Then again, we always book in the U.S. if nothing else than to get around these astonishing insurance requirements. In the U.S., you cannot force anyone to buy travel insurance, either.

Well I would relish kippers in my cabin but I think only my cat would relish the lingering aroma for the rest of the day.

May one order off the Grills breakfast menu for breakfast in your cabin??? I rather think not, for starters the menu is not even circulated to cabins, only lunch and dinner. I do remember "back in the day" when the Grills had their own augmented room service menu but it's been years since they offered that.

Personally, I'd rather Cunard value me... the passenger, in Britannia or QG or anything in between more than smoozing a couple of "vloggers" (a term I was mercifully ignorant of before QUEEN ANNE). Indeed, Cunard decided to build a new ship, should have know the impact on staffing and ensured it did not effect passengers, especially on its existing fleet let alone its flagship. We were more than happy with the service we got aboard QV last month but apparently they denuded the flagship of many experienced and valued staff and apparently in disdain for QM2 passengers' experience. Even a pair of "vloggers".

Thank you....

That was surely not an extra cost option in PG last month. Or at least one listed. If it were, I would have complained immediately. Either offer it on the main menu or not. Right now, it seems they might concentrate more on serving hot food than figuring out ways to nickel and dime those already paying top dollar.

Really... there surely was none, at least listed, when we were in PG in May. They start on this tack, especially in the Grills, and we will be taking our custom elsewhere. Forking over $25,000 and then being charged $19.95 for something "extra" in the same dining room. Forget it.

Good grief... don't give them even the hint!!! Too many lines are "upcharged" to distraction already!!

Well as a Grill passenger (who doesn't even like lobster!), I can say that some of the cutbacks like no canapes in "Tourist" and greatly increased drink prices has managed to kill off a lot of the buzz and bustle of venues like the Commodore Club (at least on QV). Hopefully, it will show in the bar receipts which is all that matters nowadays. The ying and yang of product and custom always prevails in the end...

Trust me.... I have been sailing in ocean liners for half a century (starting with SS FRANCE in August 1974) and worked briefly aboard one and the basic complaints you have articulated would make any steward or maitre d' cringe. Give them a chance to make it better and they will. Honest. I have sailed with Cunard since 1977 and it's not perfect and when it's not... tell them and they will do their best to make it so.