Solent Richard

6 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

Walking up to the Castle Richard? 

Not today @buchanan101 , we've done that...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2014/08/20/one-way-to-do-lisbon/

Today we were on a Pastéis de Nata mission to find the best available....

************

The rest will be subject to my blog review. 😁

5 hours ago, exlondoner said:

A one off for the maiden voyage I should imagine. 

But the question was 'on embarkation day' which is how I responded.

Having had a degree of experience I do recall on one occasion in Southampton when the Queens Grill was undergoing carpet replacement on the day of embarkation and all QG Guests took lunch in the Todd English.

On 5/7/2024 at 12:18 AM, Selbourne said:

When we were in PG on QM2 we had embarkation lunch in the PG restaurant. We are BC on QA and were rather hoping to have lunch in the BC restaurant as soon as we embark. Do you think that’s unlikely? 

On 5/7/2024 at 7:32 AM, exlondoner said:

Very. It is a Grills perk.

In the Maiden embarkation day we were given lunch along with Princess Grill and Britannia Club passengers in the Britannia Upper restaurant in addition to a group of Cunard executives who were also dining on the adjacent table including Angus Struthers.

We’ve just arrived in Lisbon.

some good news for Grills passengers. There is access to a higher deck from the Grills terrace where photographers can get clearer views…

*********
 

On 5/6/2024 at 6:14 PM, Zeg said:

Is that area near the observation deck? Trying to get orientatated. 

Yes, all part of the Forward complex.

On 5/6/2024 at 2:07 PM, LadyL1 said:

From Cunard webpages re Grills Terrace.

 

Take pleasure in the sweetness of doing nothing, whiling away hours in the beautiful Grills Terrace, exclusive to guests of our Princess and Queens Grill Suites. Accessed with your suite room key, this peaceful space features two infinity hot tubs with a view out to the horizon, as well as an array of different seating options, ideal for sunbathing with a book or enjoying a glass of something cold and some nibbles. Attentive waiters are on hand to attend to drinks orders and other requests, and to ensure that your time spent here is as idyllic as possible. Found in a central location, the Grills Terrace is a superb option for relaxing after lunch, before heading back to your suite to get ready for the evening ahead.

………………

If this is open to all, without any kind of card access, it will become a bun fight for a seat. An appealing area with infinity hot tubs, who wouldn’t want to be there?

I for one, would be extremely annoyed if that does happen, after the huge premium paid for PG/QG.

Be prepared to be annoyed, there is no security to either access and back to the Grills Terrace, the view from the infinity tub…..

biggest bugbear though is NO terrace dining facility. 
 

On our morning walk about we discovered a delightful shaded area nestled between the two forward sun decks. This is not a Grills area….

On 5/6/2024 at 1:08 PM, buchanan101 said:

How is the Grills terrace area policed?

Well I haven’t spotted any machine gun nests. 
 

Seriously though, it’s not.

On 5/6/2024 at 1:07 PM, buchanan101 said:

That's a very interesting take - you can do a fair bit of speciality dining* for the difference between balcony and BC or BC and PG

 

We are on PG 7 weeks from now - I do like the bigger cabin though obviously PGs on anything else than QM2 are just stretched Britannias.  The Grills deck does look good though

 

(*probably every evening if you wanted to...in which case little point in doing BC!)

It’s not a patch on MSC’s Yacht Club however for a comparatively same sized ship. 
 

And perfectly okay if you’re restricted to round UK cruising where there’s no guaranteeing the weather.

On 5/6/2024 at 12:53 PM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

One of the reasons I booked PG is that the renderings made the shaded area seem larger and most other space looked uncovered. I want fresh air but I don't want to bake. Are there any loungers under that little covered area? 

 

Yes , but not many….

On 5/6/2024 at 11:58 AM, MylesS said:

I’ve just gone outside to take these pictures. I’m not in the Grills’ and not in their area when I took these. 

 We are not over impressed with the Grills Terrace. The standard deck  furniture is well below that of Queen Victoria….

….while the funnel exhaust noise is most intrusive while under steam…..

On 5/6/2024 at 9:40 AM, Colin_Cameron said:

It seems I'm not alone in my thinking that the Queen's Room is not large enough. Tonight's World Club party is to be held in the Pavilion, by the pool.

Our WCP is designated for tomorrow evening which is no bad thing as Russel Watson will have completed his giggs.

On 5/6/2024 at 1:19 AM, foodsvcmgr said:

The Queens Room is so stark and sparsely decorated and furnished that it will be easily improved if Cunard chooses to respond to the concerns.

Not so much in need of “redecorating” as merely decorating to the standard of the rest of the ship.

I very much doubt any changes will take place in this area: this is the ‘new’ Cunard and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

With Queen Anne’s larger ship capacity the Queens Room has taken on an additional function- hosting a second entertainer each evening….

…as last night…

We are in a Coruna today and the challenge was to climb the San Pedro Mount and photograph the Canons.

Shock horror, the Panoramic elevator wasn’t operating ( I blame Brexit) so nothing for it but shanks pony.

Job done….

even a view of the ship in the distance….

1 hour ago, ClaireRuss said:

Was there a cost for this show. I recall seeing somewhere that is was bookable for an extra charge. How does that work?

Booked on the ‘My Cunard’ app and no charge. Very popular.

1 hour ago, D&N said:

Is that you in the cage? 🤣

Heavy audience participation but not me, though my thx was later utilised as a prop to save a lady’s modesty…..

😂

A first from the all new Queen Anne Bright Lights Society entertainment venue with Solent Richard and Solent Barbara. 

*********
 

********
 

an altogether outstanding new venture.

51 minutes ago, MylesS said:

Been onboard for nearly 2 hours now. We were sped through check in and security was fairly quick, I think this was because we abided by our embarkation time.

 

Terminal to cabin was about 20 minutes!

 

Had a small wonder around, we’ve booked the spa for the week after having a tour. 
 

Now sat in the Chart Room (which might I add has a fantastic bar!) with a (at least I hope) deserved beer. 

We are of the opinion that this could be our go to bar most pre-dinners. Shades on Celebrity’s popular Martini Bar.

17 minutes ago, D&N said:

Maybe you have the ship to yourselves! 🤣

 

Not really. I know of three ladies that are on board with you.

Well there is entertainment in the Queens Room…

Anyone else onboard?

Continuing our lunch on Queen Anne…

@@@@@@@@@

7 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Is that a half decent "app" now? (Last experience, 18months ago)

It works wonderfully. Though not all gigs are listed yet. 

The early bird catches the Bright Lights….

Sat down to lunch, everything going splendidly…..

@@@@@@@@

@@@@@@@@&&&

And we are onboard

@@@@@@@@

2 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Or perhaps they just fancied a look.

The only 'look' they were interested in was us.

They came in pretty close as can be seen from my photograph over the bow rail.