exlondoner

Traffic.

When we called at Boston on QE2 in 1997, not long before Logan became notorious for other reasons, the aircraft lined up on the runway waited until QE2 had passed before beginning to take off. Very wise to avoid even the remotest possibility of the embarrassment of crashing into that tall red funnel, if an engine or two failed. Or perhaps they were just enjoying the view.

Totally agree about the need for seadays.

It won’t tick Boston off the list, it will just nurture the desire for a much longer visit to this gorgeous city. (Not as nice as London, of course, but close.😀)

I think they must have a special test for waiters, counterpart to the tender test. Instead of stepping across an 18” gap, they have to show they can squeeze between two tables 10” apart.

Less sand? 😀

Little of this appeals to me, and I did realise the screen was private to the cabana, but I fear you will be dreadfully disappointed by the Cunard experience, though I hope not. 😀

Why be positive? It leads only to disappointment. Whereas we pessimists are always being pleasantly surprised. Anyway, there must be a reason Cunard timed the naming for her third voyage. It could simply be that they want to do it in Liverpool, it could also be that they are confident the ship will be ready by then but not necessarily before. 😀

You shouldn’t need to see them, though they are usual so nice that is in itself an agreeable experience. There should be a letter awaiting you when you first reach your cabin. If it is 32 days, I think we are on the same voyage. If the ship is actually ready…

Just to add. I’m pretty certain, but haven’t checked, that my letter came from the Grills Concierge. If you are not in the Grills it probably comes from the World Club reps.

Unless they’ve changed their practice again, when you embark, you will get a letter from the Grills Concierge, mentioning various things, including your entitlement to a free or reduced price meal, and telling you how to book. There is no longer an actual piece of paper.

To some of us, well, at least one, the Grills Terrace sounds much much nicer. I can see little to attract me in the cabanas, if only because they sound so claustrophobic with a view in only one direction. But I’m sure you would be able to achieve much of it on the Q1 balcony, if you have a remotely decent butler. Why on earth would you want a TV (of any size) when you can watch the sea? And on a calm day, there is the Grills Courtyard for dining, which some people enjoy. I usually find it a bit breezy. What you also omitted to mention, which I think makes quite a difference, is how much extra the cabana is, on top of the already high prices. But from what you say, I’m sure you’ll be disappointed on the Vista. 😀

Yes, I agree there is little to say in favour of the Grills Terrace on QM2, except it is very well protected from the wind.

Given the fairly limited amount of specialty dining places, the fact that there are likely to be a fair number of diamonds with vouchers, the possible desire to give everyone a reasonable chance to get some experience of speciality dining, and the enjoyability of food in the MDR, I think it fairly unlikely such a package will be offered, let alone that it would be value for money.

That is only for the maiden voyage. We are on the second voyage and have not been told that.

I don’t know about Seabourn, but have certainly found the Grills Terraces one of the high points of the Vistas - metaphorically, but also, of course, literally. Especially when the ice creams appear in the middle of a hottish afternoon.

I do think painting the hull black has an amazing effect in making a ship look much more like a ship. 😀

As you probably know, I think QG, even lesser QG, on the Vistas is lovely. I don’t think I would much enjoy being on a smaller ship, which, even with an excellent passenger/space ratio, is inevitably going to feel claustrophobic. However, I do think after a month greatly enjoying another ship, it would be hard to feel positively about the differences, let alone any defects that appear. So I would leave it. 😀

On the other hand, I think you will hate it, especially after all that time on Seabourn, being lulled into their ways. I think it will be very hard to think positively about any thing on Cunard. I would cancel.

Wasn’t that roughly what I suggested? But you are getting compensation on the MV, in the form of extra credit, which you can use for one of them if you wish. In effect, you are getting a choice.

And where do you think we’ll be able to use our World Club vouchers? I would guess Tramonto and perhaps Aranja for free, and Aji Wa and Sir Sam’s for a reduction.

I’m sure Cunard won’t miss an opportunity to sell some quite expensive drinks. 😀

I have never found the close spacing of the tables to be a problem - and it is sometimes extremely close in the QG. But, because you are on separate tables, there is no pressure to make conversation beyond ‘Good Evening’ as there would be on a shared table, yet if you want to talk a bit, it is near enough to do so. I can see it could be difficult if one were next to a very opinionated person with a very loud voice, but I feel that rarely happens on Cunard. 😀

Yum. It certainly won’t be included in the fair with turbot on the menu.

In what way is this progress?