Victoria2

We were quite apprehensive prior to our QV cruise in August but were determined to go. We were very much the odd ones out, passenger wise, when were were out of our cabin as we masked up, decent masks and double filtered, everywhere apart from being seated to dine and having a drink and even then, we chose our drinking venues well and kept away from the more popular ones. We didn't go on any coaches and we sat in boxes in the theatre when we could. Basically, we kept clear of people as much as we could and did our own things. The only place we couldn't, were the lifts but we hoped our masks would help, and maybe they did. We were told 'there's no Covid on Victoria at the moment'. I'm afraid the cynic in me mentally added the word 'reported' to that comment and we kept up our regime. There might very well have been no cases but we took no chance and came home after a wonderful holiday, Covid free. I think you have to bear in mind, the percentage of those who might contract Covid, whether from the ship, a port or were carrying it onboard, against the vast majority who won't contract it and if masks and hygiene rules are adhered to, there is a jolly good chance, Covid will not affect 'you'. There will be those who will say, 'that's not much of a holiday' and I will disagree as it was still lovely, but different. Caveat Emptor.

Cunard is no more technically royal, than British Airways. So saying, it will be up to the company to show any marks of respect to the passing of our beloved Monarch,, just as it will for many companies, institutions and teams, theatrical to sporting etc over the next ten days.

I am in floods of tears

God bless her indeed. Magnificent woman.

The question re jacket [sports/blazer] for Gala nights might have come about if the [ what looks like] velvet evening jacket pictured in the 'what to wear' photographs has been misinterpreted as an ordinary jacket.

I have no idea who has an actual drinks package in QG [ title of the thread] which is wine by the glass, but our package is a wine bin end package which is wine by the bottle, obviously consumed in [sort of] moderation and so is slightly different from the sort of package you asked about. However, as the drinks package seems to be included in your booking, answers won't really make any difference. Enjoy. Cheers. 👍

We have come across this when trying to book world cruise segments. 'Sold Out' on cruises where the itinerary can contain segments, is often Cunard's term for 'unavailable [at the moment]'. The way to check if 'your' grade is available is to do a dummy booking on a longer itinerary which contains the grade in question, eg, on world cruises, dummy book the whole lot.

Some bookings [very rarely UK based and we've never come across the offer] have a package included but the only time/s we buy a package, is when there has been a limited number of a mix of very good bin ends, usually three reds and three whites. Even then, we obviously have to like the products before buying into them. Other than that, we buy the bottles as and when we need them.

#21 Sounds horrendous and so glad you were able to make the ship. Another example why booking flights with cruise is a good idea. If you hadn't been so resourceful, through no fault of your own, you would have missed the sailing. We reckon cancelled self booked flights and it's our problem. Cancelled flights booked as part of our Cunard ticket and it's Cunard's. Still wouldn't help if we missed a sailing but at least we would have been protected, money wise.

Which comments would those be? I'm a prolific exponent of QG and have never and would never even think of equating Britannia as 'slumming' [your word] it. I don't think I'm alone either. Edit Anyone who does make disparaging comments on dress [yes, I hate those and some of the worst have come from those who do not travel in QG], level of travel or any similar comment should be ignored. We each have our own reasons for travelling and quite frankly, are of nobody else's business.

. I would have thought every single member of this board is quite capable of writing a review or helpful posts from a ship if they want to, irrespective of what cabin they're in but most choose not to which is absolutely fine so unless this board uses a 'write a review a year to keep up your membership' which of course is totally ridiculous, then contributions are down to those who either want to give helpful hints from their ship, want to write a blog or write a review once home and levels of cabins are a coincidence

I don't know about etiquette but after being seated, a smile and xxx tea please has always been our go to but unless I want a loose leaf cup of Jasmine tea, I don't think we'll be troubling the Grills afternoon tea staff too much in the future.

A culture of let's see how derogatory we can be about P. A. has been around for quite some time now...the nail varnish remover quip being just an example. It truly isn't that bad and I've drunk it many times when we're invited to friends for drinks, but unless we have guests in for drinks or we haven't 'gifted it on', we set it aside because as exlondoner said, it's not snobbery or disdain, we just happen to be lucky enough to have other cabin supplied bottles to have a go at. Hic

Thank you. I was hesitant at starting this as I have no desire bang on about QG in a sort of boastful kind of way or to let folk know my every move/photograph or post meal details etc as quite frankly, as was slightly referenced to, my ship board life isn't rivetingly interesting so I'll leave that to others but I truly thought I could give some on the spot basic information. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown to this thread and as I said before, I appreciate it. You pose another interesting question and the answer this time could have been so different if there had been many staff changes in our everyday f2f interaction with the staff. The hardware is basically the same if you ignore the décor, which is lighter on QE and having had the same cabins on both ships, it’s not the hardware. It’s the staff. Those who are well known through many nights on QE, will probably say the same about 'their' ship but add to the mix Victoria is known as a 'happy' ship, we are very happy to be part of her family every now and then. 🙂

Interesting question No serious slippages that we came across. Yes there were one or two 'lax' short sleeved shirts occasionally at dinner [QG...Oh My...what's the world coming to!!] but nothing which affected our enjoyment and yes, cabin accessories had to be requested rather than them being automatically provided as in the past but, not an issue. Grills afternoon tea could be considered down graded a bit but again, not a problem for us. You must take into account we weren't as ship wide as we have been in the past and we are very easy to please guests so my main observations are really limited to QG . The staff/ service was as good as ever if not better and the QG food was as good as ever too but then you have to take into account we're not gourmets and don't nit pick. No off menu request of mine was denied. Basically, as far as the restaurant was concerned, nothing was too much trouble. It was a real pleasure to be there. We were looked after so well in our cabin and again, nothing was too much trouble. Television reception wasn't brilliant at times and the internet was a bit fickle at times too' I wasn't impressed initially with the perceived down grading of Diamond internet allowance but on a short [ten nights] trip, it was great to have 24/7 access, even if you did have to keep logging in. Wasn't too impressed with the theatre offerings but the music around the ship was great and the speakers were OK. Front desk were a bit slow/ didn't answer the phone on two occasions but were fine face to face. I'm sure someone more picky than us would find a major slippage but as far as we're concerned, we were delighted with the ten nights we spent on Queen Victoria. 🙂

We [QG] had two half bottles of P.A. which we left, not because it was P.A. but because we had a surfeit of cabin alcohol. The champagne was Laurent- Perrier Rose.

I suppose we're used to specifying rather than waiting/accepting a pour but I'm glad your choice was available. Still think the routine will disappoint anyone expecting something special.

We went for a cup of tea once so maybe my experience wasn't the norm but I asked, as usual, for Earl Grey and my husband asked for 'Breakfast Tea so we had no problem with our choices. Forewarned from my fellow CC members, I asked what other teas were available. Silence. 'I'll go and find out'. The young waiter came back with a scribbled list, which I photographed. Not that I'm interested in timing my tea etc or straining the tea leaves but the whole palaver is nothing like the pre Covid routine. Doesn't bother us in the slightest but I can imagine those to whom 'the tea ritual' is important, the lack of the original finesse would be disappointing.

What a sensible post. I'm afraid I put 'what cabin are you in' in with the 'and what do you do for a living' and 'I paid such and such for this cruise' into the occasionally commented on category, just as in this thread for example,, but direct questions as such I have never experienced in thirty years of taking cruises. Edit Yes, the first two subjects might crop up in general conversation later as relationships between table companions progress but not as direct questions as such.

I don't think I was reading too much into your post but if you didn't really mean what you said, well that's fine. I don't dine 'down' but I will dine anywhere. I doubt very much that our paths will cross but I'm happy to dine with anyone who is happy to dine with me. I would say any senior member of staff, never mind a Maître 'd who chats about their passengers to another passenger in such a way as to appear even slightly disparaging, needs to go on a refresher course in discretion and tact.

Assuming those who ask questions about 'the expensive seats' on a site which is set up for informing others, are out of their depths because they're asking about others' experiences in order to help make an informed decision is frankly, rather sad.

You beat me to it. Butlers do not hover. You can make use of their services as much or as in our case this year, as little as you want. They are at the end of a pager though should you have need of them which is very handy when you forget to tick the butter for the morning breakfast toast! 😄

Hell of an opening line! Yes we travel big cabins, no 'you' wouldn't know unless 'you' dined in the same restaurant or we share our cabin stuff with 'you'.

Thank you. An unexpected bonus of all the deck walking and beautiful food and salads, I ventured onto the scales to see what programme to follow in order to lose the weight I've put on. I have NO idea how I've done it as the wine consumption alone has put me to shame [not really but it sounds good 🙂] but I have put on minus 2lbs! Icing on the cake, which I can eat as I lost 2lbs! 😄 I love Cunard!

Up and ready for action, early! Sadly. There’s a 50% chance you’ll be in 'our' cabin. Take care of it for us.🙂 You’ll be extremely well looked after. I have, by the way, found a fault. Standards are definitely slipping. The wake up call thingy 'has technical difficulties ' at times and as the Purser’s desk wasn’t answering the telephone, I had to actually go down to arrange a wake up call. All cabined up and I had to get dressed again. I shall of course, be writing a strong letter of complaint to Carnival House! 😄