Victoria2

Lunch time sushi was prepared in the Grills galley as the sushi restaurant isn’t open at lunchtime.

I love Q V. Full stop and QA is not QV but we are having a relaxing holiday. Can’t compare the two so I won’t until possibly a resume. The Queens Room is probably not going to be a ballroom dancer's delight but it’s getting a lot of use and seems very popular. I Can walk around the prom deck so that suits me. I’m not keen at all on the lobby but then, it’s a lobby and not a place we ever linger in. So far, we are definitely not displeased and will be keeping our future bookings intact.

Our next door neighbours said the sun deck was very crowded this afternoon. If 'incomers' do become an issue, there is no way anyone can tell from the keycards who is Grills and who isn’t. Time to bring back the little Grills symbol?

Also UK based. Our agent is the go between us and Cunard. He takes payment details but like IMniles, the payment goes directly to Cunard and not our agent.

It's a lovely area with loads of space. I haven’t seen any men in black with hip bulges under their jackets. If passengers start complaining of 'incomers' the frosted glass doors which separate the areas, might be able to facilitate a card reader. Maybe. However, as there are loads of sun deck areas, it might not be an issue.

We’re being treated, starboard, to a great water display from a tug. The tug actually pirouetted many times right in front of us. Any nearer and I’d be inviting the tug pilot in for a cup of tea. 🙂

The ship has a busy feel but as we have spent day time hours on decks 10&11, it’s difficult to quantify 'how busy'. You won’t be disappointed with deck 11, and the hot tub situation ( can’t see the attraction myself) and yes, afternoon tea is served on deck.

Went for a mooch around on the way to the library and can now concur re coloured chevrons. My aide-mémoire being blue fin for forward and red arrow for aft.

The California Rolls this lunchtime were as good a sushi offering as any I’ve had in a pukka restaurant. No idea if they were prepared by the dedicated Sushi chef, or not. I will ask. The Peking Duck last night was a triumph, if a little too much for the two of us but we valiantly did it justice! 😀

Pickleball court on Anne is on deck 14, forward.

If you read through with particular reference to #60, you will find I have a husband in a wheelchair and as I was answering Selbourne, he will realise I speak as a fellow chair pusher!

Had no idea about lift lobby colours so that’s interesting I guess as long as you remember if sky blue pink is aft and purple spotted carpets are forward etc. Takes me all day to remember what day it is and again, I’m guessing that’s the sign of a relaxing holiday. Spent a good few hours under the canopy in the Grills sun deck, deck 11. It’s a great space and far better than The Vistas so that’s a huge plus. Afternoon tea was served and a waiter continually patrolled the area to take orders from the bar. I will ask if he takes coffee orders ( free from deck 10 lounge) today.

If my arm gets damaged this cruise, I have a sneaking suspicion I shall be 'having more words' with Cunard about their lift policy on their newest ship.

In all seriousness now. Don’t dread them. The strategy is, stand at the head of the couches, monitor the lifts eg which floor and are any heading in your direction, be prepared and dash for the appropriate lift. Of course, there will be times when one lift overtakes the other in true Max Verstappen style which does set you back a lift but you will get one. Truly, it becomes a game! 😃

Crisps and peanuts on tables last night .

It’s all a mystery to me too and maybe the letter we received contained mistake? I will endeavour to investigate. 🙂

We had a table for eight in the boondocks on our first cruise. Second one, we linked up with folk we’d met on that table and again, we were Q5 and they were Q1. We had a fabulous table for eight and pre Covid, we had that table every cruise, even without our Q1 friends.The M'd even jested we had our names written under the table cloth! He knew we loved that table and for some reason, we were definitely favoured. No money changed hands and no secret handshake. pPost Covid, we’ve gone two top and I’m sure being known to staff played a part but most definitely, cabin grade will be a factor. A newbie in a 1 or a 2 will, I would have thought, merit a favoured position but bear in mind, there are different opinions occasionally on what position is favoured.

Beauty of QG. I too love sushi and will be ordering it as off menu as I have done frequently in the past.

Not only was the Insights lecture excellent this morning ( how many speakers can hold a whole theatre in thrall as she spoke without notes for forty five minutes) but last night’s Bernie Flint, at the tender age of around seventy one, had a full theatre in fits of laughter. Wonderful, real entertainment.

We have quite a few cruises booked on her and whilst she’s not our beloved QV, we wouldn’t dream of cancelling on the showing of the last couple of days. 🙂 Can I take up your ‘decrepitude' comment and link it to my bugbear, namely, the lifts. The engineering team have GOT to sort out the timing of the doors. I sat waiting for a lift with a chap on sticks who told me he’d missed a lift as it was empty but he couldn’t get there in time. Considering the mobility issues onboard, this is NOT good enough Cunard!

Quote A complimentary lunch at an alternative dining venue ( valid till 23 May 2024). Alternately, you may prefer to have dinner where a supplement of $30 will apply. To avoid disappointment, early booking is highly recommended… ….. Glean from that what you will. We have been told all the venues were booked solid on the Maiden but then, that might have been a combo of Maiden and the comped extra obc in lieu of the lunch.

Unless I misread, on a very quick perusal, the Diamond perk on this QA cruise, is a lunch at one of the alternative venues, or dinner for a $30 supplement.

We haven’t got a whirlpool bath but we have the most amazing shower set up but not sure if it’s the same across all QG cabins. Same for the hair dryer. Ours is a Dyson which as a brand, is far superior to mine at home. Whether it’s better than mine for the very significant extra cost, jury is out after just one trial but as a cabin hair dryer, it’s fabulous.

We were elsewhere before dinner last night but I saw crisps, olives and peanuts or it might have been a bar mix, on a table as we walked past. Didn’t look closely at all but I’ll look more closely, tonight. Not a place we will think of using much but it was pretty full pre dinner so some obviously like it. Not seen it during the day so no idea how popular it is for morning coffee etc.