In Queens Lounge on QV any hot drinks i.e. coffees, teas and hot chocolate were free so I should imagine it would be the same on QM2 if not I would find it very strange and disappointing.
Cannot help thinking due to experience of open dining on other cruise lines for few years of large queues waiting at MDR for dinner is being highly exaggerated. There might have been a few problems with the initial conception on Cunard but would be soon sorted out. In all the cruises we have done open dining we have only ever been given a pager once in all the cruises. Sorry but first sitting at 5-45pm and 8-30pm far too late and having flexibility is a great step forward.
We enjoy the flexibility of eating when we want and can vary day by day depending on whether a port day or sea day and what we have eaten at lunch time. I think the only downside for Cunard is that some that have booked BC for the flexibility of open dining might now book a balcony and eat in Britannia and lose Cunard money.
Depends on cruise line, some you can, but normally the MDR is open say for example 6 pm to 9-30pm and you turn up at anytime at your discretion. One day you could turn up at 6-30 and the next day at 8pm if that what suits you
The food in PG on QV for dinner was excellent but do think that the lunch was a lot poorer on the same cruise last year on QE. It was that poor we visited the buffet and also ate burger/chips on deck rather than eat in restaurant.
You can always have a bad experience and having done many Princess cruises where anytime dining has been available I can honestly say never had a chaotic or poor experience. I think you must have been unlucky as that is not the norm.
Be careful purchasing from comparison websites as there might ney a difference in the small print. I had a quote from one company via a comparison then went on their website to compare price and insurance site was more expensive. I phoned to ask why and was told not exactly same policy as the one on comparison was not as comprehensive and was adjusted just to make it come higher up in comparison sites price wise. Read the small print and buyer beware.
That is what was said when P&O introduced freedom dining and even they were late to the game after Princess. It now transpires that freedom is more popular than fixed dining.
Unfortunately the customer comes first and if that is what the customer demands then Cunard have to supply that or lose custom. I am sure Cunard sort out the problem of waiting staff as end of the day they run a cruise line to please customers and not staff at the expense of customers or if they do customers will walk and go somewhere else.
Why should it mean a poor and chaotic experience done freedom/anytime dining for a few years especially on Princess and have never had a poor or chaotic experience or any difference of food quality.
But staterooms in BC are exactly the same as balcony in Britannia and now you can get open dining in Britannia MDR is it worth the extra cost for the only benefit is an uplift in food.
With P&O very poor reputation of not answering phone calls or if they do being on hold for considerable amounts of time would never consider booking direct.
Having just returned from QV in PG and the new introduction of open dining as a dining option I honestly don't think it is worth the huge extra cost of PG over booking a balcony and having meals in Britannia MDR.