BklynBoy8

11 minutes ago, janny444 said:

I have cruised many times with different cruises lines but never with Cunard. Considering a cruise in March down to Lisbon.... which would be the better choice ....an obstructed view balcony....possibly 8036 or a sheltered balcony ?

The Sheltered Balconies are located on Deck 4 thru 6 and the Cabin 8036 according to the Deck Plan is located on Deck 8 which is known for Obstructed Ocean Views depending the Cabin placement. The obstructions are the Tenders and Lifeboats stored at the Deck 8 level.

Maybe someone can report their experiences on Deck 8. I know many report their experiences of a Sheltered which is a different type of cabin. Sort of enclosed balcony which others will explain.

Hope you are happy with your choice.

8 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Someone has to move all that luggage that everyone naturally wants as promptly as possible. And someone else has to sort the mountain of stores coming aboard.

As our connection to many staff on board over the years, most of the staff are known to be assigned to their department. Housekeeping work with accepting luggage from the designated closed elevators to the cabins/suites along the hallways on the floors. While cabin steward ready the turnover for arriving passengers.

Deck hands accept the pallets onto the ship and shuttle them to storage and other locations on the ship.

Wait staff except assigned to the Grills are used to help move along the passengers during the embarkation boarding at the Food Courts. They also help with beverage deliveries to passengers.Have had many great conversations with restaurant staff over the decades and always asked where certain staff we are familiar with are. Ex. Grill waiter needed in KC on the day docking in Port of Call...  Even seen a Grill M'd assisting in Carinthia once.

Their assigned use maybe contained in their contracts. 

32 minutes ago, ew101 said:

A guess is the venues are not open to allow a higher percentage of the staff to have a few hours of shore leave between voyages.   

As we have experienced, they use many for different tasks on the ship. One important one is in the Kings Court and Carinthia to service those boarding and get the job done before New Muster Drill (announcement of Muster Procedures) now done on the Public Announcement.

Past experience in the different Food Court areas, we have seen our future waiters helping in those area. We have heard that especially in NY the crew rarely get too much time for shore leave.

2 minutes ago, JimDee363636 said:

A quick Britannia Club question:

 

We'll be on QA in a Club cabin for the June 30-July 14 sailing. Can we expect the Club restaurant to be open for lunch on embarkation day?

 

Jim 

Jim,

Don't think any Britannia Club restaurants are open on any of the Cunard Ships.

We haven't gone since QM2 is closed.Golden Lion Pub is open for Lunch

All the Grills (PG & QG) are open for Lunch on Embark Day.

On 6/8/2024 at 2:38 PM, Smokeyham said:

I know this thread is a bitt old, but the question still seems relevant.  We recently completed a Southampton to New York crossing on QM2 in Britannia Club and really enjoyed the experience and feel it was worth the extra cost.

 

Here are the upgrades that made this worthwhile to us.  Of course, we paid extra and these items might not be of value to everyone.

 

Priority embarkation in Southampton.  There was a long line to board and the sign on the priority embarkation line only mentioned the Grills passengers, but our boarding cards said "Priority" so we were allowed to bypass the line and use priority boarding.

Assigned Table.  We were able to get a table for two that was assigned to us for the crossing and there was often a line to get into Britannia restaurant, which it was nice to avoid.  Most tables in Britannia seemed to be hold more than two people so if having a table for two is important you might consider this.

 

We enjoyed the flambe dishes which (I don't believe) were available in regular Britannia.

Cabin - We were assigned a high level, midships, cabin (Deck 12) cabin which was quiet and comfortable.  Bottled waters (glass, not plastic) were provided and replenished at no cost.  The cabin layout was the same as regular Britannia cabins.  

Disembarkation - Although we were supposed to get priority disembarkation this did not happen.  If you are in Britannia Club then it is worth asking at the Purser's Desk the night before about this.

Hope this helps if you are considering Britannia Club.

Smokeyham,

Sounds like the typical perks attached to the bookings of Britannia Club Cabins.

We never paid any extra money except the fare that the sailing stated. We also never participated in these recent so called bids talked about in the forums. Not sure if you are talking about that.

All you stated we have experienced over the dozen times we were in the Britannia Club.

Priority Board Line is located in each of the embarking terminals. It is same line used for the Platinum, Diamond and Grill Passengers.

Assigned Table is one of the perks we know many appreciate instead of the various times Britannia Dining Room offers.

The Flambe Desserts are offered for personal preparation at the passengers table. Those offered in Britannia are made by the M'd to be distributed to multiple tables in quantity.

We always were offered Priority Disembarkation on the last day and were assigned a certain time and location we were  directed to. 

So we always experienced all the perks contained in the BC Class. 

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

 The general agreement is that a solution is never going to be implemented although I have not seen much of a problem on high end cruises.

Well it did once was implemented on the Queen Elizabeth 2 when we started sailing on her. They had a system that worked and was properly abitted by all on board with understanding.

The specific deck "Sun Deck" which was the highest deck behind the funnel, was dedicated for reserved lounging and sunning that was supervised. Don't remember the number of lounges but it was over 100+.....

On boarding, a passenger would visit the Sun Deck Staff and select a lounge that they would like to use during the entire sailing. This cost would be applied to the cabin number of the passenger. Then a plastic tag would be placed visible to lounge with the ID of the passenger. 

The Sun Deck Staff would make sure the lounge would be used for only that passenger. Would assist the passengers in monitoring the personal property left on the chair. Also assist in monitoring if a passenger was exposed too long to the SUN. Off tea, iced tea or bouillon during the stay at their lounge. There was never a dispute we saw of and all cooperated.

It can work if it is supervised under the right conditions.

4 hours ago, radar65 said:

Although most cruise lines prohibit it pool chair hogs are allowed to claim pool side lounges for hours before they use with little to no enforcement .  Just leave an old book and an old tote bag on the lounger and it declares "squatters rights " to said chair.  I am an early riser and have seen people doing this at 6:00 am swing buy at 10, 11, 12 still no one using it.  With all the passenger location technology being introduced maybe it's time to have "parking meters" for pool side loungers with some reasonable time frame for use and continued use. What do you think ?

WOW....never thought

2 hours ago, NE John said:

I can’t resist getting into this Italian food fight here…😉 I consulted with my native born Italian DW who grew up in Brooklyn and whose passion is cooking (lucky me). She said that Frutti di Mare is mainly a shellfish dish while that same frutti di mare is part of the soupy/stew-like zuppa di pesce. Along with frutti di mare, zuppa di Pesce can include cod, swordfish, or other firm fish. That zuppa dish is similar to French bouillabaisse. Go to Philadelphia, San Francisco, and of course Brooklyn, and you’ll find variations in zuppa di pesce. So you can’t have zuppa without the frutti di mare. 
 

John, not a fight but matter of opinion and I value our Friendship.....If you ever come in to BK, got an Italian spot to try.. Mention in the future.

11 hours ago, aaaaa said:

Good day, In the Princess Grill, are there any “always available” dishes? Specifically, is a basic salmon or chicken dish available everyday for lunch/dinner?  Thanks.

Having been in the Grill, just ask your waiter to speak to your M'd and they will accommodate your needs. In some ways, they like to be challenged.

My DW had some meals alternated once and with a smile they are very accommodating. The staff in PG were wonderful and we look forward to returning.

2 hours ago, Mareblu said:

Incorrect.  Zuppa di pesce is FISH SOUP.  Marinara sauce (with or without tomatoes) is seafood sauce to be served with pasta (which, of course, should always be cooked “al dente”.  I much prefer linguine or spaghetti marinara to be prepared “in bianco”, or without tomato.  Good extra virgin olive oil, lightly sauteed garlic andchilli (both optional but provide the “pop”), white wine, a variety of fish and shellfish, finish with fresh parsley, freshly ground pepper, and enjoy.  In Italy, btw, it’s considered a sin to add fresh parmigiano, but I confess to occasionally being sinful.

Unfortunately not in Brooklyn NY

Not noted in our menus here as u described.

It is also served in a metal Dutch type oven kettle pot.

Red Wine also used NYC type.

Most Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan Italy restaurant served as I described. These are cooks from the Old Country.

There maybe various methods in different parts in preparation.

But enjoy your way.

Mangia!

14 hours ago, DarrenM said:

1 year and 26 days.

 

My god. I need a drink.

 

And I dont have a drinks package at home.

We started at 609 days away at booking and now down till 285 days to go..

Time will pass and the Calendar will move on......

In all the the decades, years of our sailing in common and connected cabins or suites, have we ever had a problem with neighboring passengers in connected cabins.

Mainly sailing on the QM2, you would think that were anyone on the other side of the wall or door.

Yes, you will on either side if you have a balcony hear others thru the partitions especially entering and exiting on departures and entrances to Ports of Call.

Maybe it's the luck of the draw?

10 minutes ago, Nitemare said:

Yes, there are stores within walking distance from either pier, depending on how she defines walking distance.

With the Terminals being on 12th Avenue - West Side Highway and the street are quite lengthy.

Candy Stores and Mini Superette are not located till about 8 - 9 Avenue and very few on 10th Avenue.

11th Avenue in that vicinity are main Big Automobile Dealerships and some parks.

47 minutes ago, NE John said:

 No waiters dancing on tables etc…

John,

Pls you will never see me buy a ticket for a "boat not ship" like that.

Foot prints in your Baked Alaska.....Say it not so......

Having been Grill Passengers, we have appreciated the Care and Concern we have received in the past.

Also in the Suite, Concierge Lounge, Grill Lounge and Restaurants, we have been cared for with all our needs and requests.

Yes, it is wise to become accustomed to the Staff and Crew that will be attending to you. 

29 minutes ago, Meliador said:

This will be our first Cunard cruise, so I’m a little apprehensive. That being said, I learn so much through this forum, I don’t know where I would otherwise get all this info. Thank you again!! 

Cruise Critics is a valuable and informative forum with opinions, comments and suggestions from those "Newbies" and Veteran Cunarders with vast experience.

Being a Brooklynite and user many times of the BCT, I appreciate the closeness than in the past experiencing the Manhattan terminal.

Being a Grill passenger as we have in the past, you will have to experience the typical check in at the door of documents for the sailing, security both for your self and also the carry on luggage. Making those directing you in the Terminal after security aware of your status Grill (also viewing your paperwork) you will be directed to the Grill, Platinum, Diamond Check In Line. Totally separate from other passengers check in. True, if you arrive on that line, there maybe others of your status which maybe abit long. Compared to the other lines, these do move better. After your Document Check In you will be directed to the Grill Lounge to wait or directed to ship depending the number of passenger directed to avoid a pileup..

We do appreciate the BCT being close to home and not as the other terminals in the city with the size of other ships.

We order Milk or Half & Half from Room Service with our first breakfast in the cabin/suite.

1. We keep the Silver Pitcher in our refrig in the cabin/suite for future use and it keeps for quite long time for future use.

Silver pitcher keeps it very cold for anytime use with those in room use.

Besides being the Planetarium, it is also the Illuminations Theater where there are lectures and the On Board Movies.

Most likely the Movies will be shown in the Evenings.

Never attended the Movies so can't tell you how loud the volume is while being played.

The Planetarium is shown in the Mid Afternoon.

Maybe others have experienced cabins in that vicinity.

4 hours ago, NE John said:

Don’t forget the excellent deluxe hot chocolate service too offered in various venues around the ship. Not the hot chocolate in the buffet area - the real stuff with little marshmallows on top. 

I had the HC in the Golden Lion and it was great. Had it during BINGO. Extra surcharge but worth it.

And the one in Kings Court is very good. Got it when we got home from Amazon and now our HC for the house. Comes in good size bottles, not like the packages in KC.

Being a Brooklynite and also user of the site, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is shared by the Princess, Cunard and recently MSC Lines.

It also which we are not happy with, it is a very expensive lot but is a secure one with security and lighting which gives us comfort when we use it.

There are no reservations like the one in Manhattan, so first come and first served but still should be enough space for all but can be quite a walk when parking later in the day before boarding.

There is no real vending machines for food available so really just to process and board passengers.

Hope this helps.