DDBINK1

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0EaaP46hTtsZGXLofGR_cPQw6weygfiPJIMdkNdCfPs=w1315-h740-no

Line up a few good men in little red hats and you have a great welcome aboard center.

I am too gullible. I was thinking that this looks like something I have seen in one of the islands. The only thing missing was the steel drum band. :eek::D

I remember my one and only Carnival trip and the only place an adult could get away from the screams of the children was on the deck designated for adult topless bathing. It was greatly crowded and there were only a few Entertainment staff there doing the topless bathing. (and entertaining I might add).

I have actually seen topless bathing on QM2 on two different trips and no one said a thing to them not even the staff. The only person getting some gruff from the passengers was a man who had on a THONG and was sunning his cheeks a bit to much. :eek::eek::eek:

To offer my humble comments to yours, DDBINK1, whatever change there maybe in the world's geopoltical situation has nothing to do with the Eastern European crew's attitudes. For some time, even on HAL, there have been some negative experiences expressed about the good folk who come from those areas, i.e. Pinnacle Grill staff. My experience has been that many of these people have been replaced by the folks from other nationalities, mainly Indonesian and Filipino. The "service culture" is different in these areas than in Eastern Europe, I think.

I have found the Eastern European cultures a bit more gruff around the edges but not in a bad way. Americans tend to be a bit overly happy and gregarious on Vacations. Compare that to some Eastern European natives and they are more reserved and measured around strangers. (at least that is how I see it). Now sometimes there are language translation and emotion translation to interpret between cultures too. It makes for interactions to be difficult but also interesting. The OP noted it could have been some cultural and language issue with how the MD interacted but maybe also a training issue.

I always hope everyone has a great time on their voyages / vacations and doesn't let a short interaction with a crew member make them too upset.

 

First let me say, my husband and I love sailing on the QM2 and will continue to do so whenever we possibly can. But the actions of certain crew members can really have a negative effect on your opinion of Cunard especially if you are first time cruiser or new to Cunard. This is one of those situations (but not the only one) that I experienced recently on the QM2.

 

“Madame, you have paid a very low price….”

 

Standing in line to change my dining table selection, I was very surprised to overhear the Asst. Maître d’ of the Britannia dining room say this to several passengers who had requested to change their table/dining time. As each couple approached the desk, he asked when they had booked, proceeded to check his computer and remarked that they had either paid a very low price and/or booked late, including myself. I could see that the passengers were taken aback by the conversation and somewhat embarrassed.

 

Having been employed in the hospitality industry myself I do not believe the Maître d’ served any purpose by this rather off hand questioning of passengers. He may have a point, but I do not believe this is the way to approach the matter, especially since the conversations could be overheard by others. It was a credit to each of those guests that they left without making a scene. I for one expect more tact, especially from a senior member of staff.

 

Now that I am home I have thought about this and wondered if this had happened to other passengers recently on the QM2. This was certainly not the only occasion during our two recent voyages where a certain sector of the crew (mainly Eastern European/Russian) were not respectful in the way they dealt with passengers. It may be a cultural/language difference but it is not White Star Service.

 

Funny thing is when my husband and I sat in the Royal Court Theater one evening, we got chatting to another lady passenger who brought up the subject of the Maître d’ and his offhand manner on embarkation day – she had also been told that she had paid a very low price. She said that she was going to report this to guest relations but the following day when she went to thank the Maître d’ (her dining time had been successfully changed) he gave her a big hug and kiss. Go figure. :confused:

 

Did anyone else experience this rather bizarre behavior?

Do you think the recent development of a new sort of cold war with the Russian Government had anything to do with this??

The itinerary is the last thing on my mind when booking a cruise. The QMII was the most awesome ship we've ever been on, just because it's the QMII. Our ports of call on the Fall Colors cruises were little logging towns out in the middle of nowhere but we didn't care. Just being on that majestic ship was the experience of a lifetime! But, I do think Americans need to realize that people dress up for dinner on Cunard and should follow suit (literally).

You reminded me of another thing I would have liked to know.

I wish I had brought better clothing for the day time when I went on my first voyage on Cunard. I felt under dressed in my daytimes on QM2. I had great suits and a tux with me for the nights but I generally am a slob at home during the day. Imagine a guy from Tennessee dressing in shorts and t shirts with logo's on them.

The other thing was that I didn't discover Tea Time till the second day and it was fantastic fun. I made friends with the Harpist and actually bought her a adult beverage one evening in the club. We were the only two in there after midnight one night. We had some great laughs that night. The bartender that night was telling jokes.

I think the first Voyage on Cunard is always the most magical/fun of any of the following trips.

The itinerary makes the cruise not the ship or the cruise line.:D

I think you may have opened a can of worms.

I disagree with your statement, respectfully.

I had a cruise on Carnival on a great itinerary and the ship was awful, full of kids not just children but young adults getting sick they drank so much, and the service was that of a one star hotel. What a great pleasure it is to voyage on a Cunard ship with White Star Service and a better clientele.

I was thinking about my own question and one of the biggest things I wish I had known was that the History of Cunard is rich in many ways and I mean that in the best traditions of sea travel.

It reminds me of a more Victorian Era of dressing for dinner and presenting your best to strangers etc.

On a more practical issue, I wish I had been told the difference between a Liner and a Cruiser. I learned it on board the first day on QM2. I was corrected in the elevator by an officer. I mentioned that the cruise was going well and I had not even felt a wave or bump yet. And I got a short lecture on the difference between the QM2 and a cruise ship (in a very nice way).

Which is another thing, I wish I had known what the strips on the sleeves of the officers meant prior to boarding. Would have lead me to say thank you to the Captain in that elevator.

I was reading an article on some travel site recently giving suggestions on how to cruise and I had a thought that the people that contribute to this site could probably do better.

It also reminded me of my first Cunard Voyage on QM2 in the Inaugural Caribbean trip. I actually knew nothing about Cunard except for some basic brochure information. I knew the name of the ship and that it had a planetarium. I also knew to bring a tux. (thank god).

So I was thinking, as a help to future novice travelers on Cunard,

what would you have liked to know prior to your first Voyage on a Cunard Vessel?

I had a guest at my table for dinner in QG restaurant without a question in the past. I was told by the staff of the QG no problem. And they were treated very well by my waiter and assistant waiter. They were greeted at the entrance by the M'D introductions were done and all was great. This was on QM2.

Take it home for a special friend. Cat sitter? I always save it for my sister. She seems to like it.

Is your sister aware of what it is ?

I always wear a cummerbund with a DJ - pleats upwards.

Pleats upwards?

is that a fashion hint??

This idea of blending in on a formal night. I think wearing a Tux is a great thing. If I am the only man wearing a Tux on a formal night then so be it. I like dressing to impress others. I like wearing a Tux on a cruise/voyage and I think others should make the effort. If you don't then watch for that instant when my nose makes a scrunch. It is my disdain thing I do when I see someone underdressed. It only lasts a moment and I would never say anything but I just think formal is formal. So to the original poster who wants to see if her DH will stick out wearing a Tux, He should! And wear it well.

Does anyone know what the dress code was for the night after this spectacle of the ships?

I would hope Formal, Tux required. but I am betting semi formal for some reason.

Queen Mary 2 2004 Inaugural Caribbean was my first Cunard Voyage. I had only one other cruise on Royal Carib. before this voyage. I call it a voyage because traveling on Cunard was far more than a cruise. It was day after day of discovery as to how a ship works, how service can be so appreciated by myself, and eating. I don't think I ever ate so much great food in my life. I had the best time meeting people from all over the world. The staff I encountered on this voyage I still remember by name. I remember an assistant Maitre D that got off the ship in port to get me something I requested at dinner and served it to me the next dinner! I remember my balcony and the view of sun rises with coffee and sunsets with a glass of wine at sea. The fantastic shows, great bars to drink at with friends to meet no matter where you go. I remember dressing in a Tux and almost cursing because I could not get my bow tie tied until my room steward saved the day. Then we both had a great laugh about it. I remember a Sommelier who did not realize I spoke fluent French. The argument was epic, and now looked back on a great fun. I remember trying to figure out how many squares of toilet paper can be sucked into the toilet from the wall mounted roll on one flush. I can go on.

Needless to say, I got hooked and started planning more Cunard Voyages.

I have travelled with a scooter user relative in the past. The doors to the regular cabins were wide enough for the scooter to go through with ease. She had the moderate size person scooter also. Not the small standard one or the Golf Cart. She kept stating she should leave it in the hallway but being a rule follower I made her park it in her cabin. The QG cabins are big enough for turn arounds inside so the use of a scooter is easy enough there. I always worry about the door frames and toes on strangers since she has a vision impairment and seems to like maximum speed. Not to mention the stairwells. Also her scooter had enough clearance to bump over the doorframe to the balcony even without a ramp. Probably not the case with the smaller scooters.

The QE2 Radio Room was the "Computer Center" of its day. Maybe in the future when all our portable devices are directly satellite linked, the current Computer Centers will be turned into an additional bar.:D

Now you are talking !!!! Never enough bars.

Sounds like the radio operators are quite passionate and it takes some doing to get the license. Admirable in my opinion.

If they only had an Italian Opera singer. Now that I would enjoy. The singing at the table side reminds me of a rather cheap restaurant here in Nashville. But to each their own.

Computers are almost perfect. Humans are in error.

I just wonder if the computer systems/programs are out of date on the Cunard Ships? It seems the newest ships are going touch less with arm bands for room keys/payments/charges/identification. Maybe a good level of Tech upgrade is needed??

I liked the review. The poo commentary by all has been amusing and gave me a chuckle.

Having worked in health care for decades, I can confirm that accidents have happened and that finding a poo on the floor in a hallway is quite possible. I really doubt someone did it on purpose.

I have taken QM2 to the Islands multiple times. Always a great trip and I think the staff get excited about being in the warmer areas and always plan to hit the beaches too.

If you take time off the ship on any Island you can find some fun thing to do, a tour to take or the ship has many things to do but remember she is a liner not a cruise ship. I think the QM2 does perfectly well on a Caribbean Holiday.

And to make some humor out of the situation.

Cruise ship features that are missing on QM2 are:

A water slide what the .... were they thinking not putting one on her?

oh wait, that happens in the upcoming refit. right? ? :p

They are calling it Slideboarding, which combines a water slide with an interactive game for those who fail to dress appropriately at dinner, on QM2 you exit the slide tube in the wake thus eliminating the need for casual dress coding.

A rock climbing wall ... now the one they proposed had cane and walker holders on the side and scooter parking spaces near by. For some reason the insurance company had a problem with this. ?? ;)

An infinity pool. Wait, it floats in one, look over your balcony railing. :rolleyes:

Bumper cars although not on the ship itself, you can encounter this great fun in the parking garages after departing the ship and it is included in the parking fees. Be sure to fasten your seatbelts securely.

Sky-diving simulator doo-hickeys where a big fan blows you up from below, that is not really British I believe so not an option that is missed.

BIG glass bubble mounted on a crane that brings you up and over the side of the ship so you can see the whole thing. Seems to me this could all go wrong one day with an unexpected deep sea adventure as a surprise so better off having it on a different vessel. :eek:

A Circus School (now this according to some) has been perfected by Cunard's customer service personnel who I always appreciate for helping me everytime I have been on Cunard Line. This is actually on a ship !!?

Roller Skating Rink / Ice Skating Rink now theres a thought, place it where the helicopter lands. Ice skating only during a chilly day on a winter crossing ?? Perhaps they could hold roller derby competitions while in port??

A Ropes Course -- NO.

I found this on the Internet at the USA visa site.

Under the US Visa Waiver Program, many British Citizens holding a UK passport do not require a US visa providing: Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and traveller holds a valid ticket for onward or return travel. Passport is valid for at least 90 days from date of entry into the United States.

I still wonder what happened to this couple. ??

Cunard does Voyages not Cruises. Hmmm. I just read that and that fits. Just my random thought.