Victoria2

You made a comment and got replies, all of which were pretty similar in their thoughts, however expressed. I would let a one garment be ironed if I had a load to do but that won't ever happen as I don't iron on holiday. The simple answer is, go find another iron and ironing board if the one you want is in use. Love how threads wander. From pressing clothes to bare feet on a flight. 😄 I often sit in bare feet on a flight, apart from shoes on to the loo as I am invariably in open shoes. Raise your ex army voice to me as much as you want. They would still stay bare. Pressing. Courtesy possibly but then may be others want that courtesy extended to them and what was a soul destroying twenty mins'ish, could turn into forever. Put it another way. If some poor soul was ploughing through twelve shirts [really? in one go? does that happen in reality?] it would be courtesy to leave him/her alone in their misery.

I don't know about the elderly running [mind boggles at this picture 🙂]but yes, for anyone, look for another laundry or if that's difficult, send it out to be pressed. Annoying as it is to want to iron one shirt when someone is pressing a load [ironing, on holiday? Mad behavior anyway in my opinion😁] if the ironer doesn't want to yield the iron for a minute, then that's their prerogative and you say you wouldn't be rude so I agree. To ask once, isn't rude, it's an enquiry. To make a point, becomes unwarranted.

A A Clefs 'dor Concierge once told us when he saw our [comparatively] rather sparse luggage as we checked in to a very smart hotel, he could always tell those used to travelling as they had the art of packing 'concisely', sussed!

If I don't have the answer to hand, my method of keeping track of all cruise related issues is quite simple. I lift up the phone and phone our travel [cruise] agent! He taps away and gives me the answer in seconds. 👍

Not in the same league [oops 🙂] I know but a few famous sporting 'stars' have regretted posting photos of their wonderful holidays when coming home to a ransacked house. Why inform the world, however small that particular world might be, you're not going to be home for a few days?

You are quite correct. Other speakers may well dine in QG too but I'm not sure why you quoted me as added to Wagtail's comment with our own experiences based on many cruises. I haven't mentioned the dining customs of non designated Celebrity Insight lecturers.

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I'm not a particular fan of cricket but I know about Blowers. Maybe his reputation is more widely known than you think. I can take or leave motor racing too but MW is well known to me. His exuberance was also well known. Either way, Celebrities generally dine QG. What designates a Celebrity Guest Speaker as opposed to Guest Speaker? Take it up with Cunard, not me. 🙂

'Blowers' became a personality through his sheer exuberance for his craft, as did Murray Walker. Both have been Celebrity speakers.

Celebrity speakers generally are well known outside of their own sphere. I have not come across an Insight speaker labelled Celebrity, on our cruises who hasn't dine QG but then, we weren't on QM2 cruises.

Was he a 'speaker', or a 'Celebrity' speaker?

The Celebrity Guest Speakers in our experience, seem to dine QG.

Thank you for your answers. I was curious as the onboard lectures are a bonus for us and had/ have no influence on the cruise we would book, partly I suppose as we have very little choice of cabins so have to book when the itineraries are released and speakers schedules weren't published that early. Published celebrity speakers often have their books for sale in the bookshop and I have bought and have had two books signed by speakers.

I thought about that when I travelled solo with friends, but not being in P/QG, I didn't pay double occupancy, 'just' 175%.* or it might have been 150%, can't remember as it was so long ago. I suppose the fact Cunard weren't getting the onboard revenue from two passengers might be factored into their thinking. Either way, it wasn't a huge deal, just a teeny bit grating, but nowhere near annoying to put me off booking as a solo. 🙂

So far so good a read too. As usual. 👍

As one who is happy to read once onboard, who the speakers will be for that particular cruise, can I ask a serious question because I would like to understand this. Why does having pre-embarkation knowledge of who the speakers are, matter so much? Does knowing before hand increase anticipation or conversely, dampen any pre-boarding enthusiasm?

There are sample menus on all personalisers for booked cruises. It's a case of waiting to see which of the pop ups are on which particular cruise.

Lady of the Nile Coriander [Indian themed] is very popular so if you're lucky, it will be on the Lido Pop Up rotation whilst you're on your cruise. However, I don't think you'll find out until the two weeks before embarkation what the pop ups will be.

I'm frequently wrong, but then often proved correct. Funny old world! 🙂

Technology wasn't available 'in our time' and so under those circumstances, we wouldn't have had our son sitting there for three courses but then drip feeding food worked for us, with the promise of 'The Pudding Trolley'! The next generation are pretty similar but if any get 'lively', they get taken out so appropriate venues are chosen. It works for our lot. How long for, we'll see. 🙂

Thankfully, we haven't come across this. I'm sure when we eventually do, we'll cope and then put the technology away. One of the celebrity guest speakers who dined with us for the duration of the cruise, kept his iPhone on the table all the time. He was involved in ultra high level humanitarian negotiations and was in 24/7 contact. That, I completely understand. Pac-Man [the only computer game I know apart from Tetris] et al, can wait. 🙂

Not on my watch!!! My bag was full of colouring books/Jnr Puzzler and tricks of the trade to keep children 'busy' if they got restless. Technology may have taken over for many, but table manners are still paramount in our family and technology has no place at our dining table, children or adults.

Ours was also used to dining out and travelling. His greatest love at lunch and children’s tea, was the pudding trolley. We found bread sticks with a butter pat as a dip was the key to a contented toddler when waiting for any meal.

I agree Brilliant idea. We started much later when our son was six. There were only around half a dozen youngsters onboard and he was the youngest. It helped being 'that cute British kid' and he managed to acquire numerous sets of temporary US grandparents. 🙂

If we meet any old friends, we might book in order to dine with them. If not, I'll see if I can 'order in' if I fancy anything off the pop up menus.