Victoria2

No idea what you mean, sorry.

We were used to the 'gentle hum' years ago but the reported not so good vibrations of late last year was a whole new ball game so that's very good news. Thank you. I will still report back though, to confirm.

Or it could be a privacy issue eg announcing to the world [well cruising world] 'you' will be away from home?

We will be aft on our next outing so I sincerely hope so!! I will report back.

Conversely, as one who books at rack rates then hears of tremendous free upgrades, it's slightly comforting to know the company might be getting more income. 👍

Hey, as a relative newcomer to Cunard, I must also be third class. We will celebrate our new standing in our not so third class cabin. 😄 All welcome to come and join us!! 🍷 ps Careful of those guns in Devon. I got cracking bruises on my shoulder and jaw for a while from a .22.

I have no fear of losing my favourite ship for the foreseeable future as the tweaks wrought by Cunard and yes, I guess bean counting had a huge input, will ensure she sails for a good few years yet. 🙂 I agree we are few here, indeed minute when compared to actual passenger numbers but folk read these boards and some will be influenced by comment tone as well as content so it's as well to tell it how it is. We can defend the traditional but must also be objective to the reality.

Obviously, he's not been on QV's worldies. The only world I can use to describe some of the Gala attire onboard, is dazzling! And that's just the chaps! 😄 I occasionally think some folk are on a mission to put newbies off Cunard with their own version of 'how things should be done' and thus hurry the demise of a great cruise line. 😄 Hopefully, the reality, as depicted by those of us probably considered below the salt, can continue to reassure newcomers The Gilded Age is over and Cunard is full of 'normal' folk enjoying the wonderful ambiance of Cunard ships. 👍 .

That's interesting. Are Cunard restricting the grades you can apply for, or is QG full on your cruise and so no upgrades available?

Again, kind but nope. We entertain, we provide. However, being cheapskates and non connoisseurs [this thread is waaaay above my pay grade 😄], it won't be the expensive stuff, just Champagne, Sauvignon Blanc and some red my husband likes.

How kind. I accept!😀 I often wish there was some sort of private messaging system where one could connect. Never mind, if ever you’re on Victoria, or Queen Anne next year and we’re on the same cruise, you're invited to dinner at ours. You’ll have to slum it with whatever we have in the fridge the wine list but you'd be most welcome. 🙂

I have no personal interest in staff wages, just as I have no subjective interest whether other folk pay auto- grats or not. It is none of my business other than mild curiosity, but thank you for all the links. They will be interesting reading for many although they contain nothing I haven't already read. When you copied me into your post, as I said, I assumed the emotive language I questioned would be addressed. I am aware of all the points raised. I am not aware though that a company such as Cunard would be paying slave labour wages and it's language such as that I wanted an official link to and not the blogs and reports from non Cunard sources. I quite realise exaggeration is often used to highlight salient points, but there's exaggeration and then there are plain untruths. Exaggeration is bad enough but untruths are downright unfair which is why I wanted, and still do, official information, which as it's none of my or others' business, I doubt I'll get. As an addition to Big Mac's excellent post #39, I recalled a conversation we had with one of our wait staff as he proudly told us of his daughter's achievements at her private school and how she was hoping to study computer engineering at university. His son, had just come back from a school visit [I can't remember the country] with his cricket team. He was SO proud of the fact he could do this for his children. Sp maybe he was a sort of slave, but to his children's future. If so, I can be counted in that number.

All the links given make interesting reading and I'm sure, a high percentage of it is fact but I can't see where specific emotive Cunard points I questioned eg slave labour wages/boosting profits, are addressed.

Major Tom I have been cruising for many years, it's true and solely Cunard over the last decade. I have read 'definitive' information aired on this board which has been proven to be utter tosh but delivered in such an authoritative manner, it's hard to disagree with if you can't prove otherwise. Lots of information is aired on the media but until you provide an official link to all the *Cunard points you've brought up, it's still in the realms of hearsay. Sorry.

We use that website as do many regular travellers. My husband was eligible for an exemption certificate and I jest that mozzies can't read a certificate and so aren't able to bypass those with exemption but in reality, what is the point of going to a country, where a disease is an endemic killer, and not being vaccinated against it. An exemption certificate is no good if you are dead. That was our thought process anyway. We are scrupulous in keeping up will all our vaccinations and would not have transited the Panama Canal, twice, if there had been the slightest Y.F issue.

OK. I couldn't care less what folk do about their individual gratuity protocols as it's non of my business. Staff wages are non of my business either but as you seem to have your ear to the ground re all sorts of Cunard staff issues through your comments on this board, I will ask yet again, please provide official links to corroborate your comments. If it's a case of 'I have heard' or 'it's well known', then that is in the realms of hearsay. Provide the evidence and the hearsay is indeed, fact.

I have tried just about every formula on sale over the years and no non DEET product is effective for me. My husband however has found a marvellous non DEET solution to mozzies. It just involves standing next to me. Given a choice of my blood or his, 9 out of 10 mozzies show their appreciation of mine!!😕

Not ideal for sensitive skin. But as a mozzie magnet, I can put up with it rather than multiple mozzie bites.

My other recommendation, apart from YF jab not required for a canal transit, is take a good Mozzie repellent spray and unfortunately, the best ones contain Deet 50% concentration eg Boots Repel Max.

My contribution to the last paragraph is that there is a slight problem with any YF exemption certs. Mozzies can't read! Levity aside, the lack of YF jab led us to cancel a S.America 72 day cruise a few years ago. We were more than comfortable transiting the canal without YF cover.

We have transited the canal twice. Neither of us have had the YF jab and for the actual canal transit, it's not on the recommended list.

You could do what a fellow table mate did, to celebrate a special birthday. He shared a bottle of Chateau d'quem with the rest of us. No need to re-cork! It is served by the glass too, or it was in years past.

I got the same email. Not that we would book any drink packages but it focuses on 'cover your bar tab in advance' and not 'buy now, it's cheaper'! 🙂

Oh how I agree. With all of it. I mentioned knickers and twisting [and it wasn't any sort of Chubby Checker twisting] a week or so ago about the new ship. Why 'worry' over something which might/might not happen/be true. There are a couple of members here who if they come out with 'a fact', I will take their word for it, an example being 'the removal of grats list' sticky from years ago. Equally, there's a heck of a lot of 'it is acknowledged/I have heard said' etc but if sources can't be provided, it's unconfirmed and thus tantamount to hearsay but hey, it sets the board chattering! 😄

I have no actual idea how the staff are paid or that grats are shared fleet wide etc. I asked Major Tom for his source in #20, so I ask you, where can I find all this information?