vcdarty

Hello Whitemarsh (so much enjoy your comments . . .). Yes, I retract "beg," much too strong a word. Sorry. We did indeed make our off-menu requests the night before. In the unhappy case of the cardboard duck that had never seen a turnip, two nights. The caviar provided with our canapés was so substandard that we didn't bother asking in the Grill where, it would appear, a higher quality was available had we known. None was ever offered. Likewise with foie gras. But smallish matters, I guess.

Hello keithm. Yes, we do tip above and beyond, with pleasure--not as a pre-condition, perceived or implied--for service. (Even to Osman, ever as you state, the professional, although after we expressed sad disappointment with an off-menu presentation, his professionalism became glacial.) And although we are infallibly, even obsequiously, polite to our servers, should this really be a condition for correct service?

Like that sundial, I always count the sunny hours. Plenty of them on this crossing.

J

Our first Cunard experience. Previous crossings on the French Line (don't ask when!) and several recent crossings/repositionings on "luxury" lines.

Would we do Cunard again? Maybe. Our Q5 cabin and service fine if not exceptional. Bouncy crossing--four days of force 9 gales. Pitching plenty. Loved it. QM2 the largest ship we'd sailed. Around two hundred pax short of a full ship--Brit to Yank ratio roughly 3 to 1.

Liked the unflashy retro look. Liked the nearly 100% adherence to dress code. Liked the "feel" of the ship. Liked very much the Behind the Scenes tour. So much to like, which we did.

The ship at times felt crowded. At Trivia the Golden Lion was often packed, and extra chairs sometimes appeared. We took one dance lesson, slow waltz, and the Queens Room floor was jammed; despite the efforts of the fair-to-middling instructors, it felt like rush hour on the Underground with music. QLounge often full up for tea as were, toward end of voyage, Commodore's Club and Chart Room pre and post dinner. But pax invariably were happy to share tables when possible.

We took lunch and dinner in QG, 2-top, and found it generally pleasant. Fine service, excellent Dover sole, rack of lamb, venison, lobster newburg. Decent wine list, well priced. On special orders, a mixed bag. Very good sweetbreads starter, very average beef carpaccio, disastrous canard aux navets. Felt the maître d', Osman, slightly oleaginous.

Sorry our butler couldn't or wouldn't provide a single malt as part of the QG bottle offer. "I get in trouble with manager." When we asked about caviar for canapés, were told, "Oh, that's only for deluxe canapés. You have to ask.". We had them from then on. Very sparse and mediocre fish eggs. Likewise in Grill. You had to ask. Beg? Not on offer. Not a class act. Not what we'd experienced on other lines. Multi-tier in QG?

Minor points, perhaps. But it diminished our experience with Cunard. To repeat: would we sail with Cunard again? Maybe.

J

We, too, disembark in Brooklyn on Dec 22, for EWR. Since our luggage situation is rather terrifying, I've engaged Carmel Car Service. They've been our people for many years. Reliable, efficient, and often delightful drivers. Not especially cheap.

J

Working backwards, now. Would Cunard provide transportation from St Pancras to the ship?

Je me doute, but inquiring minds . . . . The $40. Cunard charge for Soton to St. P is frankly hard to believe. By burro?

J

Many thanks, mariners, for the helpful comments. Most appreciated and most kind. (Incidentally, I just checked VP and, much to my surprise and delight, a very nice upgrade has been posted for our December crossing.):D

J

When and if an upgrade should happen, does Cunard's fairy prefer to notify by e-mail or Voyage Personalizer or both? Someone posted here recently that first-timers and/or passengers relatively new to Cunard may receive preference. Comments, please?

J

And . . . while having a good gawk at Grand Central, pop downstairs for a meal at the justly famous Oyster Bar, one of Julia Child's favorites (and mine). You're not far from the Morgan Library, either.

J

While in NYC you must visit the Vermeer show at the Frick, the Leonardo show at the Morgan, and while seeing the small exhibition at the Neue Galerie--have lunch at their delightful Café Sabarsky, so close to the Guggenheim, the Met, and the Frick.

J

Referring to Cap'n Pugwash's remark on how well TE is regarded in the States. He isn't, much. We tried his "signature" joint in Boston, Olives, three years ago. Not impressed. He's more the entrepreneur, with outlets under many names to be found in tourist hotels around the country, than a well-regarded chef.

I wonder what Cunard was thinking. None of the fellow-foodie Yanks we know gives a hoot about TE.

J

Don't know if this would be a helpful contribution to the thread, but for our Dec 15 WB crossing, Q6, we poked about for the best OBC offer among TAs past and present. Eventually settled for $1075 for the cabin from an online agency which must remain nameless.

J

Unless you wish to appear as an unhappy teenager, shirt and tie _without_ jacket is never appropriate. Either skip the tie or wear the jacket. Or look like that imposed-upon kid.

J

and can't recommend Tony (from Goa) and his assistant Diego aka Diablo (from Cali, Colombia) too highly. Also our caring Asst. Maitre d' Arif and a sweet sommelier, Vicente from Cuzco. These guys made a rocky ship experience very special.