Victoria2

I suppose being used to large tables in QG I am also used to the occasional slightly different dining times with our table mates and thus also used to courses being served as and when occasionally rather than as a collective. It works perfectly.

Table configuration depends on demand which is why, in my experience on QV, the layout is fluid. At the moment, Covid has pushed many of us sociable types onto two tops and on our August trip, where there have been three large tables [the bubble, behind the desk and by the kitchen] within the area I can see only the kitchen one was a large table.

Luckily for us, from the cabin to the restaurant staff the service, care and attention we received on QV in QG in August was just as good as previous trips. Couldn't fault any of it. Perfection, as far as we were concerned.

I saw one large table in August where normally, I would have seen three. Admittedly, my line of sight didn't stretch to past the kitchen door. By next year, there might be less demand for two tops although our first trip next year will be a two top. I would hope solo passengers would get first dibs on any large table.

Dine when you want but wherever the space is free seems such a good idea. On paper. I think dine whenever you want but on fixed tables will still be B.C's selling point

Always worth asking if there's nothing you fancy. I've had Camembert sent up from the Britannia galley with the rider not to bother if it's not mature.

Six weeks ago

Consideration works both ways. Choose to be seated around a large table, be prepared to go with the flow. If waiting for others to finish the courses you haven't ordered becomes a trial, then ask the waitstaff to bring your main course when you're ready and not wait for others.

Cheese trolley is definitely hit and miss. I've had [or didn't as it turns out] Cambozola which almost needed carving and yet at the same time, Munster which was ready to run off to sea. Munster 5 Cambozola 0. I always ask for the soft ones to be knife pressed now to see how ripe they are but if not ready, they shouldn't be offered. I notice the Stilton is now crumbled, or was on QV, in a bowl. Much easier and quicker to serve and always a good stand by for me if nothing else appeals.

Or how polite you are with your room attendants with your interactions. 🙂

They're not part of EU VAT taxation zone.

Captain would have to be careful they didn't head off in the wrong direction! 😕

Is that a deliberate pun?

I think I'll look forward to reading your posts. We cancelled this trip just over two weeks ago so gutted we won't be there.

Better still if it was life inside the Grills! 🙂 Might have to decamp one night if not possible. Does look fantastic. Right up my street!

and thank you for your daily reports. It's been a pleasure, and really insightful, to read even if the pleasure might not have been yours when writing at times. Loved that seafood platter! Definitely on my radar for next year.

Never fear. When you board your cruise, after a day or two so you are familiar with the wait staff, ask the Head Waiter/Maître' d if there's a possibility you can have a seafood platter like/ similar to the Verandah platter. You might not get exactly the same but I'm pretty sure the galley will come up with a decent plate for you. If I could have cavier every night if I'd wanted, I'm pretty sure some seafood will be available. Ask. In fact, ask and ask! Just ask.

Talking of ravishing, the lady on the table behind ours had the most wonderful figure and her clothes were simply beautiful. Every single night. She never wore long but her dresses were outstanding and I happen to know one of them as I'd tried the same on a few months ago and looked like a sack of potatoes. Expensive ones so probably Jersey Royals at the time but still sack like. On her, it looked the expensive garment it was. She was the epitome of why Gala dressing doesn't necessarily mean long dresses are a must.

Also useful to note for any newbies reading, it isn't compulsory to wear a different outfit for every Gala night. I have to own I got a bit 'dressed out' in August and actually dared to re-wear a long dress on the last Gala session, which I wore for the first simply because it's my favourite and I know it really suits me. Luckily, being a tops and trousers dresser for the other evenings, I can re-wear black trousers with the different tops/jackets/over shirts. Really, at the end of the day, unless a particular out fit is amazingly stand out'ish no one is going to notice, so you're pleasing yourself. I'd also say 'your' partner but I don't think mine would notice unless it was spectacularly awful and I don't posses anything in that category. 🙂

That is most definitely, a seafood platter! So what did Mr HH have? 😀

Just bear in mind, the outlay might be different for US bookings. Hopefully, the facility will return for UK bookings in the future. Until then, I will have to make do with just the offered $400 onboard booking benefit which will be most useful as sadly, with the $/£ exchange rate at the moment, every little, really does help. Also bear in mind, folk love QE too so if an itinerary pops up which floats your boat, go with that, on either.

Major tom I don’t believe I’m mistaken when taking these bookings at face value. I do believe you are so disillusioned with the company, you are willing to think the worst of them. I do hope you find out the reason behind the present FCD embargo for UK bookings. I have a good idea why so it will be interesting to see if you find out something similar.

I give up! It's not a risk! What part of T&Cs when booking must be honoured is hard to understand? You really do have it in for Cunard if you won't accept that.

If you read my post I did say 'Booking a '24 cruise to transfer to '25 would work under present UK T&Cs' and 'How long this 'offer' will last is anyone's guess'. UK T&Cs, not US T&Cs. Those UK T&Cs might change for future bookings but the UK T&Cs I described will have to be honoured and to be quite frank, the low deposit of £175 per booking for the $400 benefit is worth the punt so hardly 'one hell of a risk'. 🙂

You must know more than I of Cunard's future booking conditions. Have the T&Cs I described changed or do you know for definite, when they will?