Victoria2

The main bit of the 1 balcony, and the 2 balconies, are just as private and are the same depth and width as each other. If you look at the deck plans, the the outer/deeper part of the curve/ shoulder bit of the 1s is visible to other cabins just as much as all the other 'curve' balcony cabins.

We were perfectly content in a 2 but have 1s booked going forward. From my perspective, and I do have photos of both but then the web site has excellent photos too, the 1 seems to be half as big again as the 2s and the balcony gives a slightly angled view rather then the straight balcony of the 2s and there is a sort of privacy half wall where the balcony continues 'round' the corner and so no one can look onto the major bit of the balcony. The furniture in the 2 sitting room was too cluttered in my opinion [see web site photos] -style over substance - and the space wasn't utilised as well as it could be so we had the furniture rearranged. Don't like clutter! 🙂 A minor plus of our 2 was the laundrette which was a hop, skip and a jump away if needed. The main bathroom of the 1 is huge, same space as QVs 2 but then the equivalent in the 2 was absolutely fine and unless you want to hold a party in the bathroom, size difference is of little interest to us. The showers had the same plumbing eg mixers, body jets, rainfall shower head and hand held shower head and hose in the en suite. Both had the extra half bathroom/guest loo, storage was greater in the 1 as there is a walk in 'room' but then for me, all the more space to forget where you've put things and so storage is fine in the 2. Bedroom is smaller in the 2 but more than adequate. Although the area of the 2s is smaller than QV's, the utilisation of space makes them appear larger and quite frankly, both 1s and 2s are fantastic cabins.

The only time we had lunch from 1.30pm was after a late arrival of the ship and so scheduling/embarkation was put back which impacted on lunch timings. If a table for four is requested, the request is usually accommodated. If four friends/relatives want to dine as a four, a linked booking will guarantee they dine together be it on a four top or a larger table.

It would make life easier for table side prep for those and adjacent tables but I hope and assume those who would not be able to sit side by side comfortably would be able to use chair and banquette. That or swap as there does seem to be anecdotal evidence a couple of tables are 'spare'.

I have said in a previous QA 'live' thread that passengers seated at the offending machine were very cooperative in moving for us when we needed to pass to get to the theatre. It must have been disruptive for them as much as us.

'Our' window table for two is also slightly off set from the banquettes so we won't be directly overlooked but I would still feel slightly uncomfortable if we were, overlooked. I can think of past fellow passengers who would NOT be able to sit side by side. Now THAT could be a diplomacy issue for the maître d'. I wonder if bmi will be asked for from prospective banquetters!🙁

I made the same point in May and in July. Vociferously! It is a mobility challenged hazard. Add the pillar and bar stools on the opposite side and quite frankly why planners couldn't see that at the outset just blows my mind.

Hallelujah

Well let's hope sanity finally prevails and the passage way by the casino to the theatre on deck three becomes a thoroughfare and not the obstacle course for those using mobility devices, it is at the moment. REMOVE the slot[s] which is[are] in the way!!!

Speaking as a window tabler, there's a difference between a solo diner facing you, and a 'wall' of diners. I'd have to stop eating peas off my knife and using my fork as a shovel!! 😃

Having seen the seating arrangements, I would not have been happy squeezed in together and so close to my neighbours who I guess would also be squeezed in together. Not that I'm a fan, but I would prefer the chair and banquette rather than 'cosy' banquette. I presume there is still a choice of opposite dining. I would also add, the window tables in front of the banquettes could feel a little 'on show'!

I have to say Easybimble , I had quite a few 'ooof' moments when standing up from some of the chairs in bars and lounges. I managed although some of the evening ooofs could have been put down to Long Island Iced Teas! 🙂 I'm not a fan of 'muzak' either and QV deck 12 has been guilty of that crime on occasions.

I would be fascinated to see how an evac chair procedure was conducted, or would 'we' be absented from the muster?

We have no choice but to book on release as the cabins go but it's definitely a case of cabin price can go up because on a couple of our bookings, lower category cabins were/are more expensive than the price we locked in at. However, flash sales can bring prices down for a short while so, you take a chance whatever you do.

Thanks for the post Easybimble which I found very interesting and understand where you're coming from but for me, Cunard is more than steamers on a prom deck, which I acknowledge are important to some, and the general non trad Cunard hardware of the ship. The daily programmes; the staff, the food [OK its mainly QG for us but I do like a bits and bobs plate in the Lido equivalent], did I mention the staff, the ambiance, the passengers, the dressing up of an evening. I know what you mean when you say QA isn't Cunardy, but she definitely is, and a good substitute for QV and QE for us whilst they are in foreign ports.

That would be a total minus for Princess for me if that's the case. If I ever saw scooter or wheelchair of any description parked in a corridor, the hotel manager would be hearing from me in the first instance.

I must admit, 1.30am is the latest we've been up recently and my own Max Verstappen tries out warp factor hare and not the tortoise down deserted corridors so he is OK night and day in Cunard corridors, unless of course, you're referring to scooters left out in corridors in which case, he would be completely stuck, as would quite a few passengers but I'm assuming that's not the case on Princess as that would be a real SOLAS issue.

The ship might meander, the sun doesn't and unfortunately for cabin's sun position at any given time of the day, one can't legislate for any meandering so advice would have to be from the 'normal' route.

It could have been phrased in a different way but I'm sure cruzerbosun is aware the sun doesn't decide to change its trajectory season to season.

As the sun will set hours earlier, possibly asking advice where the setting sun will be as far as cabin position on the ship is concerned.

I'm not a QM2 fan either but she does have a devoted following. I love QV. like QE and am happy with QA as a QV replacement if QV isn't sailing from Southampton. I base my love though from a QG perspective. I have no idea if it reaches Regent levels as I've never travelled with Regent, but it's pretty special.🙂

It's a Freudian slip on the part of Queen Victoria. She WISHES she was in and around the UK! 😀

There is a reason the tours stop towards the end of August and that's because bear sightings start tailing off. I have kayaked in the park mid August and was told there's no guarantee of seeing bears. We didn't see any but then on another holiday, we stayed at Knight Inlet Lodge [BC] and by kayak again saw a mother and two cubs. It's an expensive trip for a maybe sighting but then, how often are you going to have the opportunity to see bears in their natural habitat. .

Of course it should have been sorted as soon as an issue was discovered but having no idea of the complexities of actually fixing the fault and possible issues involved, eg warranty/parts/timing/trained staff or dry docking until the fault is fixed, I read all the negative comments thrown at the ship and Cunard knowing that no one else knows why either. Whatever, I AM sure Cunard will want this sorted once and for all as soon as possible.

Or temporarily working around until a permanent fix can be sorted.