exlondoner

Le Gavroche in Brook Street closed in January.

It may be astonishing to you, but I don’t think it is remotely astonishing, just sensible.

He is usually available for a while on embarkation day. See note in our DP from last month.

If you didn’t have the alc menu for the first night, they must for some reason have been in a major state of chaos. On all five ships, when I have been in the QG, for at least 20 years I have ordered the Dover Sole from the alc on the first night, and managed to remember to do it at lunch. So I would guess something went wrong, perhaps simply that they missed it from your menu folder, though I think they usually put other things on top of it rather than remove it entirely.

What exactly are we talking about? Last month the auto gratuity used up most of my obc and showed as such on my bill. Previously when I was once unable to spend an unusually large amount of obc, I was able to add the residue to the tip pool, but not for particularly individuals. But that has changed perhaps?

But in addition you can order from the QG restaurant when it is open. I think the breakfast menu may have more choices too.

There were stewards all over the place. I think they have gradually got themselves better sorted since the maiden voyage. And I think one should expect a degree of disorganisation on the maiden. Equally I think one should be justified in expecting a commemorative bit of Wedgwood such as they hand out at Christmas.

Well I had a very nice gin and tonic in an amazingly impressive space, open to the sky.

I thought the hanging space was huge. Not as huge as the bar thing admittedly.

And I for one would also highlight the openness and generosity that seems to come naturally to many US people in a way not necessarily the case with Europeans. 😀

I think, if you look back, you will notice I said that some of the behaviour described does not at all seem to be standard US practice. But you must admit that tipping is much more of a favoured thing in the US, and sometimes ahead of the deed. 😀😀

Is it the practice to pre-reward schoolteachers too?

I’ve been thinking about this a bit more. Senior Maître d’hs are, I imagine, pretty well paid, unlike more junior members of staff, so don’t need the money in the same way, so there is no need to think about that. What I was a classroom teacher, I was probably considerably worse paid. If a father had come up to me at the beginning of the school year, brandished a fistful of fivers, and said, ‘Make sure my girl gets an A,’ I should have been shocked and appalled - and deeply insulted. I wonder where the difference lies.

Or email them to the family member for him/her to print out.

Sorry I miscounted. The original number was nine digits.

Our first world Club numbers, issued in 1990s, were ten digits, then quite soon they were changed to two letters, five digits, and another letter. (UK)

I have actually requested a table change twice, as opposed to,saying wistfully, ‘I suppose there’s not chance of a window?’ . In both cases it was on QM2, and in both cases I asked to be moved from a table we had had before and hated. The first time it was easy because lots of people were getting off in Hamburg, leaving lots of leeway, and we got given a window table. The second time, everyone wanted to move their table, often to be nearer the door, if they were not good walkers, so we got given a table we much preferred. On neither occasion was money proffered, nor did it strike me as a possibility, so I am clearly very naive.

Where are you going to? Hope they are OK.

I always thought aft was more a direction than an area.

Can you talk us through the arithmetic? How does $20+15% come to more than $25?

Ah, until not so long ago, they were proper labels with a bit of string. I never used anything to secure the looped ones and there was never a problem.

I thought they came with a bit of string to tie. And a nice picture of a liner on.

It is a large area. Equally, there is so much gorgeous outside deck space that I cannot see the Grills Terrace being particularly attractive for lounging to those not entitled even in the sunniest weather, except to rebels. As a cut though, much more.

I don’t think someone could convincingly claim ignorance. But it is really not a big deal.

Why will it annoy you? You won’t know who is doing it and whether they are entitled. It seems a sensible shortcut to me, and I speak as a QG passenger. In fact I was the only person I noticed using it. I would be much crosser to be challenged by a fellow passenger than for an occasional person to use it to avoid a silly walk. Lingering and making a noise is a different issue. Trust is a good thing.