Victoria2

Reading through the answers escrick has received, it would seem to me they will fit into a Cunard slot/hole very nicely, along with the rest of us. 🙂

US$$ or ££ Whatever we have handy. At the moment it will be Sterling as we haven't any $$ lying around and I'm not going to buy any just for gratuities to Cunard staff. if I wanted to tip as in #6, I'd take coins.

Of course we want to enjoy a Gala evening but some give the impression elegance is only achievable if wearing 'gowns' and black tie. That is patently not true. Sure, wear a ball gown [not me, one of mine would take up half a suitcase on its own] if it survives the packing but this isn't an Imperial Gala Ball. This is hopefully an elegant evening on a cruise line which is noted for its more formal approach to some evenings. Lovely long dresses, cocktail wear and elegant separates are worn with panache and look lovely. Dinner suits or dark suits will also look great. We want those new to Cunard and those thinking about it to book, not tremble in their boots at the thought of 'not fitting in' and so choose another line. Cunard will die a slow death if that happens as 'natural wastage' occurs. I hope escrick gets the memo Enjoy. You'll have 'a ball'! 😁

Dream of cruising with Cunard? I love Cunard and will defend it to the hilt, but it's a cruise line. A 'nice' cruise line but just a cruise line. Dark suit is absolutely 'fine'!

The word 'gown' is often mentioned in relation to Gala attire but the days of ball gowns have gone for 99% of ladies [and gents too, let's not be discriminatory!]. I have only ever owned two 'proper' ball gowns and they haven't seen the light of day on Cunard for years. I prefer to use the word 'dress'. It's definitely more descriptive of what I see on board and that's only if you wear a dress. Mine are long and are more dressy than a maxi dress if that's of any help. For Gala evenings, I often wear evening trousers and beautiful jackets or tops and I certainly don't feel in the slightest bit underdressed. In fact, I feel better dressed than many. Dark suit as opposed to a tux? No problem whatsoever and don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. The fact you're 'worried' means you care but no need to worry. You'll have a wonderful time. 🙂

and to add to exlondoner I find it a bit difficult to reconcile Tony's Victoria with the ship I know and love but post Covid. 'things' obviously haven't been up to scratch for a few passengers and the thing is, non of us were there to see the state of the cabin; the tea cup; the stained cutlery etc. I have been called out as incorrect when I've said things have happened on the ship when they haven't happened to others but that didn't mean I was wrong. Things happened and if 'you' weren't there, 'you' can't argue they didn't. The state of the cabin is one thing as that only affects the individual passengers, but catering is a another as it affects all passengers so it would be interesting to see what others on the same cruise had to say, I'll watch out for reviews on CC. As for screaming [really?] children, just get up and move and if no space available, walk out and re join later. I've never taken afternoon tea in the Queens Room but I have in PG and we always go a little later if we want a relaxed cup of tea. I wouldn't liken it to anything other than busy at times but go later and it's fine. So yes, it wasn't the most positive of reviews and there might have been an element of over egging at times due to disappointment, I don't know as I wasn't there, but thankfully, not many will experience that unacceptable level of hospitality. All I would say to Tony is your experience is not the norm. I'd say give it another whirl if an itinerary suits but |I'm guessing it might be a case of once bitten, twice shy. Shame really as she really does 'give great cruising'!

P&O have the same requirements as Cunard. *The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is having completed an approved (by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL)) two-dose Covid‑19 vaccination course, or the approved single-dose Janssen Covid‑19 vaccine (plus a booster if applicable). One booster is fine

Cer Certainly was a few years ago as we haven't been able to step foot on a ship since Autumn '19 but with regards to #2, was in a main restaurant [QG] and most definitely post QE2 . 🙂 I have to add, it wasn't my cutlery. I think an ordinary knife is perfectly adequate for most dishes.

They've made appearances on Victoria too.

Our first Alaska cruise [we've managed a few] was thirty years ago and I remember The Times described our actual cruise as 'The Parka and Pearls cruise'. That was an August trip and yes, it was quite cool at times and a light jacket [ parka] was recommended whilst everyone scrubbed up for dinner. So saying, we've had a July cruise when it was really hot so weather is luck of the draw. Definitely take layers, and a light rain jacket is a must. I agree with others; a dark suit and tie is needed for Gala nights in the restaurant.

and book an appointment and cycle to work etc As a linguist, you will know verbing isn't new, but I've never heard it being used with the type of common noun such as 'museum'. Oh well, saves space when texting I suppose and it is 'to the point'!

I think this must be yet another difference between US Cunard bookings and those in the UK or possibly more precisely, my bookings. If seat selection were to be available as soon as the airline released schedules and without prior full payment to Cunard for the air component, I would gladly delay my payment until final invoice.

I was I was intrigued at private suites so had a google. The seats are the same or similar as I remembered so the issues I mentioned will still be worth taking into consideration.

Really? Totally enclosed? Floor to ceiling? Business? Wow. Things have moved on. The last time I flew only the First Class seats were totally enclosed. Business had 'cubicles' but they didn't block out the noise from the bar area and wouldn't have done so from a noisy galley. I couldn't call them totally private either as anyone walking down the aisles could see in if they wanted to. Airlines must have spent a lot of money reconfiguring their seats since we last flew.

'Tell me my dear chap, how do you navigate yourself around a museum and which departments do you go to first' might be a good start Other than that, 'How do you museum' whilst a revolting piece of grammar, is short, sharp and to the point! Not taking any bets against it finding its way across the pond and join upspeak and other imported language quirks. Good Grief, I'm a dinosaur! 😄 Edit Sorry Hattie, off piste again!🤫

'On vast majority of airlines in business when every seat has aisle access seat selection is not important.' Choosing seats in Business can be just as important. Sitting together, sitting with your group, avoiding communal areas where chaps and chapesses on business congregate and loudly get merry whilst trying to out do one another with their anecdotes is amusing to observe but not when you're trying to sleep, staying away from the galley and the loos, all are important to take into consideration when choosing a seat. We got bitten on our very first long haul to Hong Kong with Cunard and all the decent seats had been booked by the time we were allowed to book. Never again. Now we dictate, as I said and pay as soon as the schedules are released.

Must confess, had to look that one up! Now added to my lexicon. 👍

I can take it. My shoulders are broad! 😄

Isn't that interesting. We have good friends in Canada and always refer to them as Canadians. Likewise, our American friends are American. We all have different takes on life and this is yet another area where opinions differ. No problem at all.

Not my quote m'lud.

Interesting about B.A. [has an appropriate acronym]. Adds to my list of why we will never, ever book flights with them.

Our cruises are [were] are booked nearly two years in advance as we book as soon as the itineraries are released or more to the point on some world segments, when our choice of cabins are released. That means the flight component is an unknown quantity at the time of booking but as schedules followed pretty much the same routing, pre Covid, there was a good chance the schedules would be similar two years hence. We dictate the airline, class and date of travel as soon as the schedules are released and then we pay for it upfront. That allows us to have the pick of the seats. Yes it was more expensive but having our own choice of travel and being secure in it being a Cunard 'package', it was and definitely is now, worth it.

Apart from when we had airline points to use up and had a pre cruise stay with friends, we have always had the airfare as part of our Cunard booking. We pay the air component when we book in order to make seat reservations. Pre Covid, it was thought an expensive way of booking a flight and maybe it was but it was 'secure' and now, with cruises cancelled either by out of action ships or the passengers being Covid positive etc pre embarkation, to me it's a no brainer to book airfare as part of the booking.

Ah, Cunard memorabilia is different! I don't call that shopping, it's the occasional necessity!!🙂 I bought a model of my beloved Victoria, 50% off as it was 'the old' style aft'! She had the most beautiful profile and I have her immortalised, pre aft refit, in my sitting room. Perfect.

I'm afraid Cunard shopping arcades don't do very well out of me. I wouldn't dream of making an expensive [$$$$s] purchase onboard as I think you'd get a better deal 'at home' and the only time I've shopped onboard is when I had a lot of OBC to get rid of and I bought out their range of Aspinal large flat pouches.