BigMac1953

Don't know why you think QG might not be "very full". Cunard will definitely ensure that the higher paying suites are filled. It's the Britannia grade that won't be full. Tables are quite close. Q1's and Q2's will be at the front (to the right as you enter). All other tables are allocated by the Maitre d'. Regular pax are given their favourite tables. Arrive at the restaurant at 1:00pm on embarkation day and if your allocatedtable is not to your liking have a word with the Maitre d'.

Wasn't that a game station of sorts?

Cunard have had a long relationship with the British SBS and frequently allow them to exercise on board the ships when there is no pax on board, e.g. when heading for dry dock etc.. The SBS has also been known to join the ships when near pirate territory.

The movies shown in Illuminations are also shown on TV. There is also a programme listing when the movies are due to be shown on TV for the duration of your trip. There are no DVD players in Grill suites.

Only available in the Grills I'm afraid.

What does that taste like?

The squirtie out of the bottle stuff is fine. You really don't need a bar of soap (in a wrapper). It's much more convenient.

The indoor, deck 12 pool, is very popular with children. It's really a play pool and not for serious swimmers.

Lunch in the Courtyard on a nice sunny day, washed down with a nice crisp white wine.

Her indoors always wears full length for "formal" nights. Shorter, or cocktail dresses are more appropriate for the other nights.

There's so much entertainment, including a DIFFERENT show every night, that you won't have enough time to do everything you want. I've always said, that if you want to get bored, you'll have to work hard at it.

If you pack early, you pack often! We actually have a rail on wheels (like they have in shops), that we assemble in one of the spare bedrooms. If anything gets hung on the rail, then it doesn't get worn before the trip. The actual packing is always done the day before we leave home.

Your butler will help with many things: Have your pillows set the way you like them Fill your fridge daily with your soft drinks as requested Organise your room if you are having a wee party inc. extra chairs, glasses and HOT canapes See to your laundry needs Deliver your fruit and or snacks and nibbles Deliver an early morning cuppa at a set time daily (I hate the coffee machine) and more There is also a room steward and they often work together when making up your room. You will also have access to the concierge who can organise invitations, planetarium tickets and any other reservations required.

Remember, in your room, you do have 2 x litres of spirits of your choice along with as many beers and mixers as you want, all included in the price. Plus a bottle of champagne on arrival.

As I have stated many times, you've got more chance of picking the right lottery numbers than you have predicting the correct weather forecast in the Atlantic. It can be wild in summer and mild in winter.. We've crossed 8 times and experienced it all, and we'll be doing it again next year. One time in summer it was beautiful and the Boardwalk Cafe was open and we could sit out on the open deck for lunch, but that doesn't happen often. Most of your time will be spent inside when out in the open sea, and tee shirt/blouse will be adequate. Obviously, it all changes at 6:00pm. Relax and have fun!

We had our free lunch in the Verandah last year on QE.

As a seasoned QGriller, it is possible to move tables either for a meal or permanently. We've had a dinner with someone that I met on this site as two people on their table were dining elsewhere so we moved for the night. Over the years (and 25+ trips) we've met dozens of people and are still in contact with a great many. We also have at least one cocktail party on board. Your butler will help you organise that if you wish. You will be able to invite all your new friends.

My son and his new wife did Club on 24 April roundtrip, and whilst he had previously been in QG several times, he thought Club was just as good.

The QE2 was too big for Venice so used Trieste instead. They even used her in their tourist brochures, so there's a connection already. A train journey is about an hour to Venice. We were on board when QE2 made her last visit to Trieste and it was a big event with marquees on the quayside with free food and wine and the town band playing. Hundreds of locals turned out. When we sailed away, a police car did donuts at the end of the pier with all the fairy lights on and sirens screaming. Therefore my guess is that Cunard will return to Trieste.

The problem on the QE2 was that the beds moved too easily. Apparently I was happily sleeping and snoring for Scotland, when my wife decided to push my bed away. I was conscious of rolling over then falling on to the floor with a thud and found myself between the two beds. Not happy.

We were on board last November, had lunch in the Verandah, and were jolined by 2 of the entertainers that we've known for several years, as our guests. The food was excellent and the service first class. Ours was a free Diamond, but we paid for our guests, and the plonk.

Yes, no problem. We did it in Madeira.

See my post #10

Take as much booze as you can carry. A friend takes a whole case of fizz. We normally take half a dozen bottles of the Widow and we've been on 25+ trips without any problems. The basic Grill suite is PG and offers no free drinks, unlike QG where we get 2 x litres of spirits that are replenished if necessary.

We've been on 25+ trips with Cunard, almost all QG. We've crossed the Pond at least a dozen times. Our son and DiL just returned a couple of weeks ago from a TA roundtrip in Club, deck 12. They thoroughly enjoyed it, even although our son had travelled QG several times. Hard to say what we wish we knew before first sailing, because we had done our research. There is a daily auto tip charge (now known as Hotel Charge) we do not remove it, but tip a little extra every evening if the service is good. It's never been bad! Get to know the staff, especially your waiters and your sommelier. Some people think they're servants. They're not. They are just people with a different job. The Atlantic is the most unpredictable ocean on the planet. We've sat outside in November, but had fog in summer. Some kind of waterproof/windproof clothing might be useful. However, your skin is waterproof! The pool on Deck 12 (indoor) was closed recently, but usually they will be open. For the last 12 years, we've been using: https://www.tmrchauffeurs.co.uk/ They have luxurious Merc S-Class cars. Soton - London is about £250. Very reliable and will wait if there's a delay. Good luck, but just be prepared to keep chucking hard earned cash at Cunard from now on. We all do it since we've become hooked. Stewart